He resolved to put his cards on the table. “Now, look here, my friend, you don’t know me from Adam. I will tell you frankly I am here for a purpose. I’m not a detective in the usual meaning of the term, although I was for some years at Scotland Yard. I am no longer a recognized officer of the law, I am on my own, as a private inquiry agent. Here is my card. My office is in Craven Street, and my name is Grewgus.” The man’s mind took in the situation swiftly. “Ah, I see it now. You followed me that night from the street where the party was--I forget the name of it now--you followed me into the pub. You took me home, not because you were a particularly good sort of a chap as I thought, but because you wanted to find out where I lived.” “You’re a smart fellow, Newcombe, I can see that quite plainly,” said the detective, thinking a little flattery might be judicious. “I think you and I shall get on quite well together presently, when we know each other better. Now, first of all, I want you to get this thoroughly into your head, that I am not acting on behalf of the law. Unless you recognize that, it is not likely we shall go very far. Do you believe me?” Mr. Newcombe hesitated a little before he replied to this straight question. “Suppose I say I do, just to make things more comfortable between us,” he said presently. “You are here on behalf of somebody.” “Quite true,” answered Grewgus promptly. “On behalf of private parties.” A cunning smile overspread the Colonial’s features. “What is it you want to find out?” he asked bluntly. “I want to find out as much as I can about that man you had the altercation with the other day, Mr. Howard Stormont, the owner of Effington Hall, and apparently well off. At any rate, he seems to spend a pretty good amount of money.” Mr. Newcombe thought things well over before he spoke again, in a disjointed sort of way as if he were giving utterance to his own thoughts. “Private parties you said. Well, I’d wager a bit I can guess who the private party is--that nice-looking young fellow I met down at Effington who’s going to marry the pretty niece. He thinks there’s a bit of mystery about, and he wants to get to the bottom of it.” It was evidently not much use fencing with this shrewd, hard-headed Colonial. “I won’t say you’re right, and I won’t say you’re wrong, Newcombe. Think what you like. Of course, you’ll understand that in my delicate position I can’t afford to be too frank.” “Neither can I, in my position,” said the Colonial with a grin. “Granted. Well, now let me put things as they appear to me. You can tell me presently whether I am right or wrong. It is evident you know something about this fellow who appears prosperous enough now. You had fallen upon bad times, that we know from his own admission.” “Oh, he has told that, has he?” cried Newcombe, with something of a snarl in his voice. “He didn’t mind giving me away, did he?”