They looked at one another in consternation. Maisie White was the daughter of a man who, next to the colonel, had been the most daring member of the gang, who had organised more coups than any other man, save its leader. The news that the daughter of Solomon White was meeting the Chief of the Criminal Intelligence Department, was incredible and stunning. "So that's it, is it?" said the colonel, licking his dry lips. "That's why Solomon White's fed up with the life and wants to break away." He turned to Pinto Silva, whose face was set and hard. "I thought you were keen on that girl, Pinto," he said coarsely. "We left the way open to you. What do you know about it?" "Nothing," said the man shortly. "I don't believe it." "Don't believe it," broke in the girl. "Listen! There was a matinée at the Orpheum to-day and King went there. I followed him in and got a seat next to him and tried to get friendly. But he had only eyes for the girl on the stage, and I might as well have been the paper on the wall for all the notice he took of me. After her turn, he went out and waited for her at the stage door. They went to Roymoyers for tea. I went back to the theatre and saw her dresser. She is the woman I recommended when Pinto put her on the stage." "What sort of work is Maisie doing?" asked the saturnine Crewe. "Male impersonations," said the girl. "Say! she looks dandy in a man's kit! She's the best male impersonator I've ever seen. Why, when she talks----" "Never mind about that," interrupted the colonel, "what did you discover?" "I discovered that Stafford King comes regularly to the theatre, that he takes her to dinner and that he visits the house at Horsham." "Solly never told me that--the swine!" rapped the colonel, "he's going to double-cross us, that fellow." "I don't believe it." It was Crewe that spoke. "Swell" Crewe, whose boast it was that he had a suit for every day in the year. "I know Solomon and I've known him for years," he said. "I know him as well as you, colonel. As far as we are concerned, Solly is straight. I'm not denying the possibility that he wants to break away, but that's only natural. He's a man with a daughter, and he's made his pile, but I'll stake my life that he'll never double-cross us." "Double-cross us?" the colonel had recovered his wonted equanimity. "What has he to 'double-cross'?" he demanded almost jovially. "We have a straightforward business! I am not aware that any of us are guilty of dishonest actions. Double-cross! Bah!" He brought his big hand down with a thump on the table, and they knew from experience that this was the gavel of the chairman that ended all discussions. "Now, gentlemen," said the colonel, "let us get to business. Ask Hanson to come in--he's got the figures. It is the last lot of figures of ours that he'll ever handle," he added. Somebody went to the door of the ante-room and called the secretary, but there was no reply. "He's gone out."