"I see that danger--van Heerden is a mighty clever fellow. He may be married before I trace them." "You say that Homo doesn't know about the girl, what does he know?" "He has heard of van Heerden. He has heard probably from the girl Hilda Glaum that van Heerden is getting married--the underworld do not get their news out of special editions--he probably knows too that van Heerden is engaged in some swindle which is outside the parson's line of business." "Will he help you?" "Sure," Beale said with quiet confidence, "the man is broke and desperate. The police watch him like a cat, and would get him sooner or later. McNorton told me that much. I have offered him passage to Australia and L500, and he is ready to jump at it." "You have explained the scheme?" "I had to," confessed Beale, "there was no time to be lost. To my surprise he didn't like it. It appears that even a double-dyed crook has scruples, and even when I told him the whole of my plan he still didn't like it, but eventually agreed. He has gone to Whitechapel to get the necessary kit. I am putting him up in my flat. Of course, it may not be necessary," he went on, "but somehow I think it will be." Kitson spread out his hands in despair. "I shall have to consent," he said, "the whole thing was a mistake from the beginning. I trust you, Stanford," he went on, looking the other in the eye, "you have no feeling beyond an ordinary professional interest in this young lady?" Beale dropped his eyes. "If I said that, Mr. Kitson, I should be telling a lie," he said quietly. "I have a very deep interest in Miss Cresswell, but that is not going to make any difference to me and she will never know." He left soon after this and went back to his rooms. At four o'clock he received a visitor. Parson Homo, cleanly shaved and attired in a well-fitting black coat and white choker, seemed more real to the detective than the Parson Homo he had met on the previous night. "You look the part all right," said Beale. "I suppose I do," said the other shortly; "what am I to do next?" "You stay here. I have made up a bed for you in my study," said Beale. "I would like to know a little more of this before I go any further," Homo said, "there are many reasons why I want information." "I have told you the story," said Beale patiently, "and I am going to say right here that I do not intend telling you any more. You carry this thing through and I'll pay you what I agreed. Nobody will be injured by your deception, that I promise you." "That doesn't worry me so much," said the other coolly, "as----" There came a knock at the door, an agitated hurried knock, and Beale immediately answered it. It was McNorton, and from force of habit Parson Homo drew back into the shadows. "All right, Parson," said McNorton, "I knew you were here. What do you make of this?"