Then there came without warning an interruption which seemed equally startling to all of them. Without any preliminary summons, the door of the office was thrown open. The detective, Brodie, followed by a man in plain clothes out with an unmistakably professional appearance, entered the room. The latter closed the door behind him. Brodie approached the little group. The girl's eyes were lit with terror. Harvey Grimm dropped his handkerchief over the jewels, whilst his partner stepped forward. Aaron Rodd's tone was harsh with anxiety, his face seemed more drawn than ever. "What do you want here?" he demanded. Mr. Brodie smiled tolerantly. His eyes were fixed upon the table. He pushed the questioner on one side and lifted the handkerchief which Harvey Grimm had thrown over the diamonds. Then he turned towards his companion with a little cry of triumph. "That," he declared, pointing to the jewel upon the table, "is one of the Van Hutten diamonds." "I do not understand," the girl said quietly enough, although she was shaking from head to foot. "It belongs to us. It is the property of----" "Cut it out," Brodie interrupted brusquely. "We'll talk to you, young lady, at police head-quarters." The girl turned to Aaron Rodd. "Who is this man, and what does he want?" she cried. "Is this a trap into which you have drawn us? Is it a crime, here in England, then, to offer jewels for sale?" "We'll talk this all out at the police station," Brodie intervened curtly. "Inspector?" The man in plain clothes stepped forward and took command of the situation. "My instructions are," he announced politely, "to ask you both to come with me to the police-station." The old gentleman simply looked dazed. He rose to his feet obediently and turned towards the girl. She patted his arm reassuringly, but there was a look in her face which brought a sob into Aaron Rodd's throat. He was filled all the time with a silent fury. He cursed the moment which had taken him into the Embankment Gardens, which had brought Harvey Grimm once more into his life. The single look which the girl had flashed upon him was like a dagger in his heart.