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Quickly we followed Albeury to the end of the corridor. We were about to descend the stairs, when an unexpected sight arrested our attention. Up the great stairway, slowly, very carefully, came four men carrying a stretcher. The form extended upon it was completely covered by a white sheet, all but the feet a man's feet. Behind and on each side were men, apparently gentlemen, all strangers to me.
Berrington," Albeury cut in, "you must forgive my brusqueness your breakfast will be brought to you in a moment; when it is, don't eat it. Make any excuse you like, but don't eat it." "Good God!" I exclaimed, instantly guessing his thought, "surely you can't suppose " "I can, and do suppose. More than that, I am practically certain that "
An instant later he was in the hall, preventing Simon from answering the call. Quickly he returned, while the bell continued ringing. "What's your code Morse?" he said sharply to the men. "No secret," the elder man answered. "Quick, then go; if it's not for you, say so." Carefully the man Albeury had cross-questioned unhooked the receiver. He held it to his ear, and an instant later nodded.
Then she spoke again: "This man," she said, indicating Albeury, "has been speaking of you. He tells me that he has advised you to return to England, and I have told him it is now too late. You won't see England again, Mr. Berrington I tell you that quite openly, before this police officer, whom I have known for many years.
He turned to the men. "Come over here, both of you," he said sharply, and signalled to me to release my man. I did so. To my surprise, both men seemed cowed. In silence, and without attempt at violence, they followed Albeury across to the escritoire. At that moment it was that the bell of the flat rang loudly. Without stirring, we stood expectantly waiting.
Stapleton, who is staying in this hotel and is mixed up with the gang, and I want to watch their movements while retaining my disguise." "But of what use is your disguise," Albeury cut in quickly, "now that, as I told you, these scoundrels are aware of your identity, or will be very soon? You have no idea, Mr. Berrington, of the class of criminal you have to deal with.
At last her true nature was revealed to me. It was an awful moment, father awful!" Far into the night the three of us remained talking. At last, when we rose to separate, Albeury turned to me. "I sleep with you in your cabin to-night, Mr. Berrington," he said quietly. "And I have arranged that one of the stewardesses shall share Miss Challoner's cabin.
These two men," I indicated them, "belong to the gang in the sense that they are employed by it; but they have now turned King's evidence." In a few words I outlined to him exactly what had happened. As I stopped speaking, Albeury interrupted. "And if you will now listen, Mr. Osborne," he said, "you will hear a complete statement of facts which should interest you."
"You are mistaken," Albeury answered. "They didn't come for robbery, but on a more serious errand to put an end to you. I know the methods of this gang pretty well, I can assure you. You would have been found dead, and your man dead too most likely, and the circumstances attending your death would all have pointed to suicide, or perhaps to accidental death. But we've not much time to spare. Come."
She's promised to start afresh, lead a straight life, if only I'll marry her; she has indeed, and, what's more, she'll do it." I heard Albeury snort, and even the scoundrels, who had stood by looking on and listening, grinned. "In forty-eight hours she'll be arrested and sent to jail," I said calmly. "Don't be such an utter idiot, Jack!" He sprang to his feet. "Jasmine arrested!" he cried.
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