Thus the result of my inquiries went to confirm my suspicion that the ingenious pair of malefactors had taken possession of the place temporarily, in order to pursue their nefarious plans. There was a garden at the rear. Might it not also be the grave wherein the bodies of their innocent victims were interred? That afternoon, at four, I met Jack Marlowe in White's, and as we sat in our big arm-chairs gazing through the windows out into the sunshine of St. James's Street, I asked him whether he would be prepared to accompany me upon an adventurous visit to a house in Bayswater. The long-legged, clean-shaven, clean-limbed fellow with the fairish hair and merry grey eyes looked askance for a moment, and then inquired-- "What's up, old man? What's the game?" He was always eager for an adventure, I knew. "Well, the fact is I want to look around a house in Porchester Terrace, that's all. I want to search the garden when nobody's about." "Why?" "In order to satisfy myself about something." "Become an amateur detective--eh, Owen?" "Well, my curiosity has certainly been aroused, and I intend to go to the house late to-night and look round the garden. Will you come?" He was one of the best of good fellows, overflowing with good humour and good nature. His face seemed to wear a perpetual smile of contentment. "Of course. But tell me more," he asked. "I will--afterwards," I said. "Let's dine together somewhere, and turn in at the Empire afterwards. We don't want to get to Bayswater before midnight, as we mustn't be seen. Don't dress. I'll bring an electric torch." "I've got one. I'll bring mine also," he replied, at once entering into the spirit of the adventure. "Only you might tell me what's in the wind, Owen," he added. "I'll tell you afterwards, old chap," I promised. And then we separated, agreeing to meet at eight at a well-known restaurant which we often patronized. That night, when the curtain fell at the Empire, we both went forth and strolled along to St. James's Street to get a drink at the club. The later we went forth on our nocturnal inquiry, the better. I recollected that look of terror and astonishment on Forbes's countenance when his gaze had met mine outside the bank--a look which showed that he had believed me to be safely out of the way. He had never dreamed I was still alive! Hence it seemed to me certain that the pair of malefactors, having secured the money, would at once make themselves scarce. How, I wondered, could they have known of Jack Marlowe, unless they had watched us both in secret, as seemed most likely. That they would not return again to that house of horror in Bayswater seemed certain. Towards one o'clock we took a taxi off the stand outside White's and drove to Porchester Terrace, alighting some distance from our destination. We passed the constable strolling slowly in the opposite direction, and when at last we gained the rusty iron gate we both slipped inside, quietly and unobserved.