he interview we can go
into in detail later, but it must be so arranged that Beamish will see
Mr. Merriman's hand in the whole thing. On the 25,000 pounds being paid
the incriminating notes will be handed over. You will explain that as
a precautionary measure you have sent them in a sealed envelope to
your solicitor, together with a statement of the whole case, with
instructions to open the same that afternoon if not reclaimed before
that by yourself in person. Now with regard to your objection, Miss
Coburn. I quite realize what an exceedingly nasty job this will be for
you. In ordinary circumstances I should not suggest it. But the people
against whom I ask you to act did not hesitate to lure your father into
the cab in which they intended to shoot him. They did this by a show of
friendliness, and by playing on the trust he reposed in them, and they
did it deliberately and in cold blood. You need not hesitate from nice
feeling to act as I suggest in order to get justice for your father's
memory."

Madeleine braced herself up.

"I know you are right, and if there is no other way I shall not
hesitate," she said, but there was a piteous look in her eyes. "And you
will help me, Seymour?" She looked appealingly at her companion.

Merriman demurred on the ground that, even after taking all Willis's
precautions, the girl would still be in danger, but she would not
consider that aspect of the question at all, and at last he was
overborne. Madeleine with her companion's help then rewrote the letter
in her own phraseology, and addressed it to Captain Beamish, c/o Messrs.
The Landes Pit-Prop Syndicate, Ferriby, Hull. Having arranged that he
would receive immediate telephonic information of a reply, Willis left
the house and was driven back to Brighton. Next morning he returned to
London.

The Girondin, he reckoned, would reach Ferriby on the following Friday,
and on the Thursday he returned to Hull. He did not want to be seen with
Hunt, as he expected the latter's business would by this time be too
well known. He therefore went to a different hotel, ringing up the
Excise man and arranging a meeting for that evening.

Hunt turned up about nine, and the two men retired to Willis's bedroom,
where the inspector described his doings at Bordeaux. Then Hunt told of
his discoveries since the other had left.

"I've got all I want at last," he said. "You remember we both realized
that those five houses were getting in vastly more br