At the first stop Labar confided to Penelope a couple of wires to hand from the window. He had no intention of taking his eyes from Larry. One could never tell. Thus it was that at Charing Cross a couple of men from Grape Street were available as an escort for Larry, leaving Labar free to see the girl safely settled at an hotel till some more permanent arrangement could be made for her. Thence he made his way to Scotland Yard where the omnipotent Commissioner of Police himself, was waiting to receive some account of the affair and to offer his congratulations. By the time Labar reached Grape Street the remainder of the prisoners had been brought up from Lydd and Moreland was there to wring his hand and perform a little war dance. "So you've hooked Larry after all. Good for you, old bean. Let's go and have a drink, and you can tell me all about it. Gad, I wouldn't wonder if they made you an Assistant Commissioner after this." Labar hooked his fingers in the lapels of his friend's waistcoat and held him at arm's length. "Don't you be so mighty familiar with me, Inspector Moreland. Remember that you are talking to your superior officer." "Gosh, they haven't?" Moreland opened his eyes in a wide stare. "Boy, there's some live people at the Yard still whatever the papers say. Chief Inspector Labar, if you'll leave off throttling me for a second, I'll take off my hat to you. How an idle blighter like you got away with it is beyond me. Now a real industrious, hard-working fellow like myself never gets a chance." Arm in arm the two departed for the threatened libation to Labar's promotion. As they stood in the little snuggery of a bar, known to a select few in one of the alleys off Piccadilly, Moreland paused with his glass in his hand. "There's something about you that I can't account for at the minute, Harry," he said. "There's a smug complacency which makes me feel that success isn't going to agree with you if--if it isn't due to something else. Tell me has the wedding day been fixed?" Labar came as near a blush as his tanned countenance would allow. He grinned a little shamefacedly. "One or two things to think of first," he explained. "For instance there's the question of a best man. If I could find some fellow who wouldn't let me down by playing the clown I might be inclined to persuade her--the lady--to settle it as soon as possible." "You want a serious-minded, good-looking fellow, a man of distinction and presence. I am flattered by your offer. If I have no more pressing engagement on that day I'll be at the ringside. Now I'll pay for one more drink and we must be on our way." The two friends parted, for there was much to do on the morrow, and Labar, at least, felt the need of a night's rest.