stupor. Foyle picked up the dainty little revolver from the floor
and, jerking the cartridges out, placed it on the mantelpiece.

"You can never tell what a woman will do," he said to himself. "All the
same, I think I have saved Ralph Fairfield's life to-day."

CHAPTER XV

Heldon Foyle was more deeply chagrined than he would have cared to admit
by the disappearance of Waverley. It was not only that one of the most
experienced men of the Criminal Investigation Department had fallen into
a trap and so placed his colleagues in difficulties. The very audacity
of the _coup_ showed that the department was matched against no ordinary
opponents. There is a limit even to the daring of the greatest
professional criminals. If there were professionals acting in this
business, reflected the superintendent, the idea was none of theirs.
Besides, no professional would have written the letter threatening the
Yard. That was no bluff--the finger-prints proved that. To hold a
Scotland Yard man as a hostage was a game only to be played by those who
had much at stake.

Only one man shared Heldon Foyle's confidence. That was Sir Hilary
Thornton. To the Assistant Commissioner he talked freely.

"It's an ugly job for us, sir, there's no disguising that. Naturally,
they count on us keeping our mouths shut about Waverley. It's lucky he's
not a married man. If the story of the way he was bagged becomes public
property we shall be a laughing-stock, even if we get him out of his
trouble. And if we don't, the scandal will be something worse."

"Yes. It's bad--bad," agreed the Assistant Commissioner. "The Press must
not hear of this."

"Trust me," said Foyle grimly. "The Press won't."

"I don't like this affair of Lady Eileen Meredith," went on Sir Hilary.
"After all, she has a good right to know the truth. Wouldn't it be
better to let her know that Grell is alive?"

Foyle jingled some money in his trousers pocket.

"I hate it as much as you do, Sir Hilary. I can't take any chances,
though. Grell knows we know he is alive. When he finds that this girl
has not been told he may try to communicate with her, and then we may be
able to lay hands on him and Ivan, and so clear up the mystery. There's
another thing. As far as our inquiries through his solicitors and the
bank go, he couldn't have had much ready cash on him. He'll try to get
some sooner or later--probably through his friends. He's already tried
to approach Fairfield."

"I s