"No, it won't do, Sir Henry--it won't do! Even your voice, though you sunk it a few notes, was familiar enough to me. But hang it, man! What did you do it _for_? That's what gets over me. That you should stick up me, one of your closest friends, a man that worked himself to the bone when you stood for the division--and all for the sake of a Brummagem watch and a few shillings--is simply incredible." "Simply incredible," repeated the magistrate, with a smile. "And then those actresses, poor little devils, who have to earn all they get. I followed you down the road, you see. That was a dirty trick, if ever I heard one. The City shark was different. If a chap must go a- robbing, that sort of fellow is fair game. But your friend, and then the girls--well, I say again, I couldn't have believed it." "Then why believe it?" "Because it _is_ so." "Well, you seem to have persuaded yourself to that effect. You don't seem to have much evidence to lay before any one else." "I could swear to you in a police-court. What put the lid on it was that when you were cutting my wire--and an infernal liberty it was!--I saw that white tuft of yours sticking out from behind your mask." For the first time an acute observer might have seen some slight sign of emotion upon the face of the baronet. "You seem to have a fairly vivid imagination," said he. His visitor flushed with anger. "See here, Hailworthy," said he, opening his hand and showing a small, jagged triangle of black cloth. "Do you see that? It was on the ground near the car of the young women. You must have ripped it off as you jumped out from your seat. Now send for that heavy black driving-coat of yours. If you don't ring the bell I'll ring it myself, and we shall have it in. I'm going to see this thing through, and don't you make any mistake about that." The baronet's answer was a surprising one. He rose, passed Barker's chair, and, walking over to the door, he locked it and placed the key in his pocket. "You _are_ going to see it through," said he. "I'll lock you in until you do. Now we must have a straight talk, Barker, as man to man, and whether it ends in tragedy or not depends on you." He had half-opened one of the drawers in his desk as he spoke. His visitor frowned in anger. "You won't make matters any better by threatening me, Hailworthy. I am going to do my duty, and you won't bluff me out of it." "I have no wish to bluff you. When I spoke of a tragedy I did not mean to you. What I meant was that there are some turns which this affair cannot be allowed to take. I have neither kith nor kin, but there is the family honour, and some things are impossible." "It is late to talk like that." "Well, perhaps it is; but not too late. And now I have a good deal to say to you. First of all, you are quite right, and it was I who held you up last night on the Mayfield road." "But why on earth--"