Crushed, cowed, beaten and powerless, Spedding awaited judgment. What form it would take he could not guess, that it would effectively ruin him he did not doubt. The trusted lawyer stood self-condemned; there was no explaining away his companions, there could be no mistaking the meaning of their presence. “Send your men away,” said Angel. A wild hope seized the lawyer. The men were not to be arrested, there was a chance for him. The “Borough Lot” needed no second ordering; they trooped through the doorway, anxious to reach the open air before Angel changed his mind. “You may go,” said Angel to Connor, who still lingered. “If the safe is to be opened, I’m in it,” was the sullen reply. “You may go,” said Angel; “the safe will not be opened to-night.” “I----” “Go!” thundered the detective, and Connor slunk away. Angel beckoned the commissionaire who had first interrogated Spedding. “Take charge of that bag, Carter. There are all sorts of things in it that go off.” Then he turned to the lawyer. “Mr. Spedding, there is a great deal that I have to say to you, but it would be better to defer our conversation; the genuine guard will return in a few minutes. I told them to return at 10 o’clock.” “By what authority?” blustered Spedding. “Tush!” said Angel wearily. “Surely we have got altogether beyond that stage. Your order for withdrawal was expected by me. I waited upon the sergeant of the guard with another order.” “A forged order, I gather?” said Spedding, recovering his balance. “Now I see why you have allowed my men to go. I overrated your generosity.” “The order,” said Angel soberly, “was signed by His Majesty’s Secretary of State for Home Affairs”--he tapped the astonished lawyer on the shoulder--“and if it would interest you to know, I have a warrant in my pocket for the arrest of every man jack of you. That I do not put it into execution is a matter of policy.” The lawyer scanned the calm face of the detective in bewilderment. “What do you want of me?” he asked at length. “Your presence at Jimmy’s flat at ten o’clock to-morrow morning,” replied Angel. “I will be there,” said the other, and turned to go. “And, Mr. Spedding,” called Jimmy, as the lawyer reached the door, “in regard to a boat you have chartered from Cardiff, I think you need not go any further in the matter. One of my men is at present interviewing the captain, and pointing out to him the enormity of the offense of carrying fugitives from justice to Spanish-American ports.” “Damn you!” said Spedding, and slammed the door. Jimmy removed the commissionaire’s cap from his head and grinned. “One of these fine days, Angel, you’ll lose your job, introducing the Home Secretary’s name. Phew!” “It had to be done,” said Angel sadly. “It hurts me to lie, but I couldn’t very well tell Spedding that the sergeant of the commissionaires had been one of my own men all along, could I?” CHAPTER X SOME BAD CHARACTERS