"Of course you're not in anything," he bantered. "Yes, it was Selby, and it is ten chances to one that the usher would recognise him again if he saw him. That would mean--well, they don't hang folks at Dartmoor." He looked at his watch again. "I expect Pinto will be about an hour and a half," he said. "You will excuse me," he added with elaborate politeness "I have a lot of work to do." He cleared the drawers of his writing-table by the simple process of pulling them out and emptying their contents upon the top. He went through these with remarkable rapidity, throwing the papers one by one into the fire, and he was engaged in this occupation when Pinto returned. "Back already?" said the colonel in surprise, and then, after a glance at the other's face, he demanded: "What's wrong?" Pinto was incapable of speech. He just put the cheque down upon the table. "Haven't they cashed it?" asked the colonel with a frown. "They can't cash it," said Pinto in a hollow voice. "There's no money there." The colonel picked up the cheque. "So there's no money there to meet it?" he said softly. "And why is there no money there to meet it?" "Because it was drawn out three days ago. I thought----" said Pinto incoherently. "I saw Ferguson, and he told me that a cheque for the full amount came through from the Bank of England." "In whose favour was it drawn?" Pinto cleared his throat. "In favour of the Chancellor of the Exchequer," he said. "That's why Ferguson passed it without question. He said that otherwise he would have sent a note to you." "The Chancellor of the Exchequer!" snarled the colonel. "What does it mean?" "Look here! Ferguson showed it me himself." He took a copy of _The Times_ from his pocket and laid it on the table, pointing out the paragraph with trembling fingers. It was in the advertisement column and it was brief: "The Chancellor of the Exchequer desires to acknowledge the receipt of £81,000 Conscience Money from Colonel D. B." "Conscience money!" The colonel sat back in his chair and laughed softly. He was genuinely amused. "Of course, we can get this back," he said at last. "We can explain to the Chancellor of the Exchequer the trick that has been played upon us, but that means delay, and at the moment delay is really dangerous. I suppose both you fellows have money of your own? I know Pinto has. How do you stand, Crewe?" "I have a little," said Crewe, "but honestly, I was depending upon my share of the Gang Fund." "What about you, colonel?" asked Pinto meaningly. "If I may suggest it, we should pool our money and divide." The colonel smiled. "Don't be silly," he said tersely. "I doubt whether my balance at the bank is more than a couple of thousand pounds." "But what about your private safe?" persisted Pinto. "A-ha! You didn't know I knew that, did you? As a matter of fact, Ferguson told me----"