"I'll bring him to you in an hour's time, or so," was the inspector's answer, and when he had gone Lucie returned to my side. "You are upset, Mr Leaf. What has he discovered? Anything startling?" "No," was my response. "Only a fact that surprises me. Really nothing which has any important bearing upon the affair. Ah!" I sighed, "how I long to be strong enough to leave this place and to see Ella. Will you endeavour to see her? Tell her I am here. I must see her--must, you understand." "I'll go straight to Porchester Terrace," she promised. "But if you see that man Gordon-Wright say nothing. Do not mention me, remember." "I quite understand." And as the nurse approached, Lucie took my hand, bending for a moment over my bed, and then left me. An hour later my friend the detective was again at my bedside, accompanied by a short, thick-set, black-bearded little man, typically Italian. "I hear you have been sent to England to effect my arrest," I exclaimed in his own language. "That is so, signore, though I much regret it." "You need not regret. You are only doing your duty," I said. "But I merely wish to assure you that I have no intention of trying to escape you. In fact, I couldn't walk the length of this room at present to save my life. I'm too weak. But before you place a constable on duty here, I would ask you one favour." "What is that?" "To convey a letter for me to the secretary at the Italian Embassy in Grosvenor Square. He will give you instructions regarding me." "Then you are known at the Embassy!" the police agent exclaimed, in surprise. "I think you will find that I am." The nurse brought a pen, ink and a sheet of paper, upon which after great difficulty I wrote a note recalling my confidential visit regarding Nardini's death, and explaining that the police were in error in thinking that I had any hand in the death of the guardian of the Villa Verde. I had been at the villa, I admitted, but out of curiosity, as I had watched the action of Miller and his companions. If any one were sent to me from the Embassy, I said, I would make a confidential statement. When I had sealed the letter, the police agent took it, and next morning I received a call from the official with whom I had had a chat on the occasion of my visit to the Embassy. To him I explained the whole circumstances in strictest confidence, and described the secret hiding-place in the dead man's library where were concealed a number of official papers that were evidently of great importance. He heard me to the end, and afterwards reassured me by saying:-- "We have already given the police _commissario_ instructions not to take any further steps against you, Mr Leaf. We quite accept your explanation, and at the same time thank you for this further information you are able to give us. A search shall be made at the spot you indicate."