notes of the more easily negotiated
denominations; various foreign securities, realizable in Paris. And
there was an open cheque, signed by Cardlestone for ten thousand
pounds, and another, with Elphick's name at the foot, also open, for
half that amount. Breton examined all these matters as Spargo handed
them out. He turned to old Elphick.

"Guardian," he said, "why have you or Mr. Cardlestone given this man
these cheques and securities? What hold has he on you?"

Old Cardlestone began to whimper afresh; Elphick turned a troubled face
on his ward.

"He--he threatened to accuse us of the murder of Marbury!" he faltered.
"We--we didn't see that we had a chance."

"What does he know of the murder of Marbury and of you in connection
with it?" demanded Breton. "Come--tell me the truth now."

"He's been investigating--so he says," answered Elphick. "He lives in
that house in Middle Temple Lane, you know, in the top-floor rooms
above Cardlestone's. And--and he says he's the fullest evidence against
Cardlestone--and against me as an accessory after the fact."

"And--it's a lie?" asked Breton.

"A lie!" answered Elphick. "Of course, it's a lie. But--he's so clever
that--that----"

"That you don't know how you could prove it otherwise," said Breton.
"Ah! And so this fellow lives over Mr. Cardlestone there, does he? That
may account for a good many things. Now we must have the police here."
He sat down at the table and drew the writing materials to him. "Look
here, Spargo," he continued. "I'm going to write a note to the
superintendent of police at Hawes--there's a farm half a mile from here
where I can get a man to ride down to Hawes with the note. Now, if you
want to send a wire to the _Watchman_, draft it out, and he'll take it
with him."

Elphick began to move in his corner.

"Must the police come?" he said. "Must----"

"The police must come," answered Breton firmly. "Go ahead with your
wire, Spargo, while I write this note."

Three quarters of an hour later, when Breton came back from the farm,
he sat down at Elphick's side and laid his hand on the old man's.

"Now, guardian," he said, quietly, "you've got to tell us the truth."

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

MYERST EXPLAINS

It had been apparent to Spargo, from the moment of his entering the
cottage, that the two old men were suffering badly from shock and
fright: Cardlestone still sat in his corner shivering and trembling; he
looked incapable of explain