"There seemed to have been a little flaw in our plans, Hargreave," said the alert, good-looking man as I sat with him in his cosy chambers in Half Moon Street that morning. "The police evidently got wind of the fact that old Morley was meeting you, and Benton tried to impersonate him. I know Benton. He's always up against me. He might have succeeded had he made the hump on his back a hard one, eh?" he laughed, as though rather amused than otherwise. "But he didn't know the password," I remarked in triumph. "No! It was fortunate for you that I had arranged it with old Morley," said the man with the master-mind. "One must be ever wary when one treads crooked paths, you know. The slightest slip--and the end comes! But, at any rate, last night's adventure has sharpened your wits." "And it has cost us the 'A. C.'!" I remarked. "Bah! What's a motor-car more or less when one is working a big thing!" he exclaimed. "Never let ideas of economy stand in your way, or you'll never make a fortune. In order to make money you must always spend money." I often recollected that adage of his in later days, when the pace grew even hotter. Rayne paused for a few minutes. Then he said: "I've already heard from old Morley on the telephone half an hour ago. He was on the bridge and watched the fun. Then he discreetly withdrew and went back to his hotel in Clifton. He declares that you acted splendidly." "I'm much gratified by his testimonial," I said. "I've arranged that he shall meet you to-night here in London--outside the Three Nuns Hotel at Aldgate. Go to Lloyd's and get a car. At half-past seven it will be dark. Drive up, go into the bar and have a drink. You'll find him there and recognize him by his deformity. Outside he will mention the password and you will drive him where he directs. That's all!" And the man who had, on engaging me, so particularly wanted to know if I could sing, and had never asked me to do so, dismissed me quite abruptly, as was his habit. His quick alertness, keen shrewdness and sharp suspicion caused him to speak abruptly--almost churlishly--to those about him. I, however, now understood him. Yet I wondered what evil work was in progress.