He put his hand to his tie and found that his collar was the exact size. Quickly and methodically he searched through his pockets; his handkerchief was where he always carried it; his keys were in his left trouser pocket; his money and knife in his right. Each in its own correct waistcoat pocket he found his nail clippers, his sovereign purse and tiny card-case. His cards were intact. Plunging his hand into the inner pocket of his coat he discovered that his notebook was in its place. Almost instinctively he opened it and turned over the contents; nothing whatsoever had been disturbed. So utterly dumfounded was he that he sat down heavily again upon the couch and stared at Mme. Estelle. Madame laughed, showing her fine teeth. “You are a little puzzled,” she suggested. “Truly,” said Westerham, “I was never so puzzled in my life. Can you tell me what it all means?” “I would that I were able,” said Madame, earnestly, “but it is quite impossible.” “These things,” urged Westerham, stretching out his limbs, “what is the meaning of it? I can quite understand,” he added bitterly, “that it might be necessary for Melun to chloroform me for various reasons, but one of those reasons was apparently not theft. “Indeed,” he added, with a wry smile, “the captain seems to have been spending money on me. “Tell me,” he cried, starting up and then falling back weakly, “tell me what all this means. I have had my fill of mystery during the last week.” “Don't you think,” suggested Madame, quietly, “that it would be best to begin at the beginning? Surely it would be more reasonable for you to ask why you were chloroformed and brought here.” “Well,” said Westerham, “why was it?” “It was done,” said Mme. Estelle, “because it was necessary to make you a prisoner for nearly thirty hours—and it was the only way to do it. You see,” she added lightly, “you are a strong man, and I don't blame Melun for declining to risk a struggle with you.” “But I don't understand any better now,” Westerham complained, passing his hand across his forehead. “Why should I be made a prisoner?” Mme. Estelle touched his arm and looked earnestly into his face. “Because,” she said slowly, “it was necessary to ensure that you should see Lady Kathleen to-night.” “To see Lady Kathleen to-night,” cried Westerham. “When and where? Not here, surely?” “No,” answered Madame, with a little smile, “not here, indeed. “Events,” she went on, “have taken a very sudden and curious turn. Yesterday, I tell you frankly, your own life was in considerable danger. You may think it very cold-blooded and horrible of me to say such a thing, but I know that Melun had practically come to the conclusion that you must be put out of the way in order to save trouble. “But I was averse to that, and, thanks to the plan I suggested, it was found unnecessary to do you any harm.”