"Neither can I," said the colonel thoughtfully. "You're a pretty clever girl, Lollie, and I'm going to make it worth your while to get close to that fellow. He's the one man in Scotland Yard that we want to put out of business. Not that we've anything to be afraid of," he added vaguely, "but he's just interfering with----" He paused for a word. "With business," said the girl. "Oh, come off it, colonel! Just tell me how far you want me to go." "You've got to go to the limit," said the other decidedly. "You've got to put him as wrong as you can. He must be compromised up to his neck." "What about my young reputation?" asked the girl with a grimace. "If you lose it, we'll buy you another," said the colonel drily, "and I reckon it's about time you had another one, Lollie." The girl fingered her chin thoughtfully. "It is not going to be easy," she said again. "It isn't going to be like young Spillsbury--Pinto Silva could have done that job without help--or Solomon White even." "You can shut up about Spillsbury," growled the colonel. "I've told you to forget everything that has ever happened in our business! And I've told you a hundred times not to mention Pinto or any of the other men in this business! You can do as you're told! And take that look off your face!" He rose with extraordinary agility and leant over, glowering at the girl. "You've been getting a bit too fresh lately, Lollie, and giving yourself airs! You don't try any of that grand lady stuff with me, d'ye hear?" There was nothing suave in the colonel's manner, nothing slow or ponderous or courtly. He spoke rapidly and harshly and revealed the brute that many suspected but few knew. "I've no more respect for women than I have for men, understand! If you ever get gay with me, I'll take your neck in my hand like that," he clenched his two fists together with a horribly suggestive motion and the frightened girl watched him, fascinated. "I'll break you as if you were a bit of china! I'll tear you as if you were a rag! You needn't think you'll ever get away from me--I'll follow you to the ends of the earth. You're paid like a queen and treated like a queen and you play straight--there was a man called 'Snow' Gregory once----" The trembling girl was on her feet now, her face ashen white. "I'm sorry, colonel," she faltered. "I didn't intend giving you offence. I--I----" She was on the verge of tears when the colonel, with a quick gesture, motioned her back to the chair. His rage subsided as suddenly as it had risen. "Now do as you're told, Lollie," he said calmly. "Get after that young fellow and don't come back to me until you've got him." She nodded, not trusting herself to speak, and almost tiptoed from his dread presence. At the door he stopped her. "As to Maisie," he said, "why, you can leave Maisie to me." CHAPTER IV THE MISSING HANSON