y! If I did my duty, I'd gaol you. But if I did, it
would be punishing the innocent for the crimes of the guilty. It would
kill that dear old man to learn this; and so he's not going to learn it,
and the law's not going to get its own." He twitched out his hand, and
something tinkled on the floor. "Get up!" he said sharply. "There's the
key of the handcuffs; take it and set yourself free. Do you know what's
going to happen to you? To-morrow morning Dr. Phillipson is going to
examine you, and to report that you'll be a dead man in a year's time if
you stop another week in this country. You are going out of it, and you
are going to stop out of it. Do you understand? _Stop_ out of it to the
end of your days. For if ever you put foot in it again I'll handle you
as a terrier handles a rat! Dollops?"

"Yes, guv'ner?"

"My things packed and ready?"

"Yes, sir. And all waitin' in the arbour, sir, as you told me to have
'em."

"Good lad! Get them, and we'll catch the first train back. Mrs. Bawdrey,
my best respects. Captain, all good luck to you. The riddle is solved.
Good-night."

CHAPTER VI

THE WIZARD'S BELT

It was exactly three o'clock when the two-forty-seven train from
Victoria set Cleek down at Wandsworth Common, and it was exactly fifteen
minutes later when he was shown into the modest little drawing-room of
17 Sunnington Crescent by Mrs. Culpin herself, handed an afternoon
paper, and left in sole possession of the place.

The letter that drew him to this particular house at this particular
time had come from Mr. Narkom, and was couched in these words:

MY DEAR CLEEK:

A most amazing case--probably the most amazing you have yet
tackled--has just cropped up, and I am all eagerness to have
you hear the astonishing details as expeditiously as possible.
The client is one Captain Morrison, a retired army officer
living solely on his half-pay; so the reward--if any--must of
necessity be small. His daughter, Miss Mary Morrison, a young
and extremely attractive girl, is involved in the amazing
affair, and it is at her earnest appeal that the matter has
been brought to my notice. As the captain is in such weak
health that a journey of any distance is out of the question,
I shall ask you to meet me at Wandsworth Common, where he
lives. Will you, therefore, be at 17 Sunnington Crescent,
Wandsworth, this afternoon between the hours of three