Before us was a row of long French windows. One of these the man known as Sam attacked in a methodical way with a short steel jimmy, and in a few moments he had noiselessly opened it, and while somebody showed a torch, we all entered what was, I found, a long and luxurious drawing-room. "Mr. Hargreave! You remain here!" said the girl Cranston, who now assumed the leadership. "If occasion arises don't hesitate to use your torch. All you have to do is to keep this way of retreat open. Leave all the rest to us." Then, still guided by the ex-footman, she disappeared with the four men. What was intended I could not guess. We had broken into one of the most magnificent houses in England, and no doubt an extensive burglary had been planned. I waited in the big, dark room for nearly twenty minutes, when suddenly I heard heavy, stumbling footsteps returning, and became conscious that the men, aided by the woman, were carrying with them a heavy human form. It was enveloped in black cloth and trussed up firmly with stout rope. "Say, are you all right, Mr. Hargreave?" inquired the American girl-crook. I replied in the affirmative, whereupon she whispered: "Good! Come right along. It's worked beautifully. The old boy started up to see me at his bedside, and put on his dressing-gown to talk to me. Oh! it was real fun! He dared only speak in a whisper for fear the servants overheard. I told him I was thirsty, and he took me into his study. We had drinks, and I put him quietly to sleep with a couple of drops of the soothing syrup. When he comes to himself he'll have the shock of his life. Six months ago in Philadelphia--when I wanted some money--he defied me. Now it will cost the old skinflint a very big sum if he wants to see the light of day again! If he won't pay up, well, we are none the worse off, are we?" A quarter of an hour later they had placed the unconscious form of Sir Joseph in the car, and, bidding farewell to the three stalwart men, who were, no doubt, professional thieves from London, we started back swiftly through Farnham and Aldershot, thence by way of Reading and along the Bath Road to a lonely house somewhere outside Hounslow, where the American girl stopped me. There the unconscious man was carried in, and while the others remained in the house--which I think had been taken furnished and specially for the purpose--I was ordered to return to London alone, which I did, most thankful to end that exciting night's adventure. * * * * * On my return to the garage off the Tottenham Court Road at half-past three in the morning, the man on duty told me that a man's voice had inquired for me about nine o'clock. "He seemed very anxious indeed to find you. But he told me to give you a number--number ninety-nine! Sounds like a doctor, eh, sir?" remarked the man. I stood aghast at the message. "Are you sure that was the number?" I asked.