of news vendors rushing
along with late editions of the evening papers.

A church clock not far away slowly struck six, but she held no count
of time. A kind of drowsiness was upon her, and the foggy atmosphere,
coupled with intense, damp cold, acted as a kind of soporific.

She may have waited years, or only a few minutes; she did not know,
but presently her father came back. His presence there under the
lintel of the door seemed to have roused her from her torpor, as if
with a swift, telepathic current. As he stood for a moment beneath the
electric light, adjusting the collar of his coat, she saw his face
quite distinctly: its expression told her everything. Luke's arrest
was imminent. It was but a question of a few hours, moments perhaps.

"I am going to Exhibition Road at once," he said, speaking quickly,
like a man deeply troubled.

And without waiting for her assent, which was a foregone conclusion,
he gave the chauffeur the address: "Fairfax Mansions, Exhibition
Road"; and added, "drive as fast as you can!"

Then he jumped in beside Louisa. The taxicab moaned and groaned whilst
it manoeuvred for turning; then it rattled off once more at prohibited
speed.

"It is," she said simply, "only a question of time, I suppose?"

"The warrant is out," he replied curtly. "Any moment now the police
may be at his door."

"Uncle Ryder is convinced of Luke's guilt?"

"Absolutely."

"Beyond that what does he say?"

"That unless Luke chooses to make a bolt of it, he had better plead
guilty and intense provocation. But he thinks Luke would be wise to
catch the night boat for Calais."

"They'd get him back on extradition."

"Tom says they won't try very hard. And if Luke keeps his wits about
him, and has a sufficiency of money he'll be able to get right through
to Spain and from thence to Tangiers. With money and influence much
can be done, and Tom says that if Luke will only get away to-night he
himself is prepared to take all the blame and all the responsibility
of having allowed a criminal to escape. It's very decent of Tom,"
added the colonel thoughtfully, "for he risks his entire future."

But the sorely troubled father did not tell his daughter all that Sir
Thomas had told him in the course of the brief interview.

In effect the chief of the Criminal Investigation Department had given
a brief alternative by way of advice.

"A ticket to anywhere via Calais at once--or a revolver."

And he had added dryly: