Carne handed them a formidable-looking document, and they read it in turn with ostentatious care. As soon as they had professed themselves willing to append their signatures to it, the sham detective took it to a writing-table at the other end of the room, and then ordered them to be unmanacled, so that they could come up in turn and sign. Had they been less agitated it is just possible they would have noticed that two sheets of blotting paper covered the context, and that only a small space on the paper, which was of a bluish-grey tint, was left uncovered. Then placing them in charge of the police officials, Carne left the room and went upstairs to examine their baggage. Evidently he discovered there what he wanted to know, for when he returned to the room his face was radiant. Half-an-hour later they had left the house in separate cabs. Rooney was accompanied by Belton and one of his subordinates, now in plain clothes, while Carne and another took charge of Maguire. At Euston they found special carriages awaiting them, and the same procedure was adopted in Ireland. The journey to Queenstown proved entirely uneventful; not for one moment did the two men suspect the trick that was being played upon them; nevertheless, it was with ill-concealed feelings of satisfaction that Carne and Belton bade them farewell upon the deck of the outward-bound steamer. "Good-bye," said Maguire, as their captors prepared to pass over the side again. "An’ good luck to ye. I’ll wish ye that, for ye’ve treated us well, though it’s a scurvy trick ye’ve played us in turning us out of England like this. First, however, one question. What about O’Grady?" "The same course will be pursued with him, as soon as he is able to move," answered the other. "I can’t say more." "A word in your ear first," said Rooney. He leant towards Carne. "The girl’s a good one," he said. "An’ ye may do what ye can for her, for she knows naught of our business." "I’ll remember that if ever the chance arises," said Carne. "Now, good-bye." "Good-bye." On the Wednesday morning following, an elderly gentleman, dressed in rather an antiquated fashion, but boasting an appearance of great respectability, drove up in a brougham to the branch of the United Kingdom Bank in Oxford Street, and presented a cheque for no less a sum than forty-five thousand pounds, signed with the names of Septimus O’Grady, James Maguire, and Patrick Rooney, and bearing the date of the preceding Friday. The cheque was in perfect order, and, in spite of the largeness of the amount, it was cashed without hesitation. That afternoon Klimo received a visit from Mrs. Jeffreys. She came to express her gratitude for his help, and to ask the extent of her debt. "You owe me nothing but your gratitude. I will not take a half-penny. I am quite well enough rewarded now," said Klimo with a smile. When she had gone he took out his pocket-book and consulted it.