oyed," he
said. "Blackmail suggests to me a vulgar attempt to obtain money."

"Which is generally very badly wanted by the people who use it," said
the girl, with a little smile, "and, according to your argument, they
are also justified."

"It is a matter of plane," he said airily. "Viewed from my standpoint,
they are sordid criminals--the sort of person that T. X. meets, I
presume, in the course of his daily work. T. X.," he went on somewhat
oracularly, "is a man for whom I have a great deal of respect. You will
probably meet him again, for he will find an opportunity of asking you a
few questions about myself. I need hardly tell you--"

He lifted his shoulders with a deprecating smile.

"I shall certainly not discuss your business with any person," said the
girl coldly.

"I am paying you 3 pounds a week, I think," he said. "I intend
increasing that to 5 pounds because you suit me most admirably."

"Thank you," said the girl quietly, "but I am already being paid quite
sufficient."

She left him, a little astonished and not a little ruffled.

To refuse the favours of Remington Kara was, by him, regarded
as something of an affront. Half his quarrel with T. X. was that
gentleman's curious indifference to the benevolent attitude which Kara
had persistently adopted in his dealings with the detective.

He rang the bell, this time for his valet.

"Fisher," he said, "I am expecting a visit from a gentleman named
Gathercole--a one-armed gentleman whom you must look after if he comes.
Detain him on some pretext or other because he is rather difficult to
get hold of and I want to see him. I am going out now and I shall be
back at 6.30. Do whatever you can to prevent him going away until
I return. He will probably be interested if you take him into the
library."

"Very good, sir," said the urbane Fisher, "will you change before you go
out?"

Kara shook his head.

"I think I will go as I am," he said. "Get me my fur coat. This beastly
cold kills me," he shivered as he glanced into the bleak street. "Keep
my fire going, put all my private letters in my bedroom, and see that
Miss Holland has her lunch."

Fisher followed him to his car, wrapped the fur rug about his legs,
closed the door carefully and returned to the house. From thence onward
his behaviour was somewhat extraordinary for a well-bred servant. That
he should return to Kara's study and set the papers in order was natural
and proper.

That he should co