The street of Clonmore, the single street which runs from end to end of the village, presented a most unusual appearance when Miss Blow, followed by the other three ladies, emerged from the hotel. A long line of vehicles stretched from the door of the post-office to the barrack. There were two cars, each holding four policemen. They had their carbines between their knees and presented a most warlike and determined appearance. Next came a third car, Jimmy O’Loughlin’s, with two policemen on one side of it, the side left vacant being intended for Mr. Goddard. Behind it was Lord Manton’s dogcart. Jimmy O’Loughlin was on the back seat, Lord Manton sat beside the groom in front. Next came the waggonette with Mrs. Patsy Devlin in it. The acting sergeant and the constable who had arrived on bicycles stood beside their machines immediately behind the waggonette. They formed a kind of rear-guard, and could be counted on to frustrate any attempt which Mr. Red might make to attack the party from behind. An eager crowd thronged the footpaths and broke into a cheer when the ladies appeared. “Miss Blow, Miss Farquharson and ladies----” said Mr. Goddard, when the noise of the cheering had subsided. “We thought you were murdered too,” said Mrs. Dick. “Kindly do not interrupt me,” said Mr. Goddard. He felt that he was at last in a position to assert himself even in the face of Miss Blow. A man acquires self-confidence when he is in command of an armed force. “We start,” he said, “for Rosivera, to discover whether Mr. Red, the man Red, as he has been well described, the tenant of that house, has anything to do with the extraordinary series of disappearances which have disturbed the peace of this neighbourhood.” Lord Manton said, “Hear, hear!” from his seat in the dogcart, and the crowd cheered again. “We invite your presence, ladies, and place the waggonette which you see at your disposal. When you are seated in it we start at once. God save the King!” “Hear, hear!” said Lord Manton again. The four ladies, a little bewildered by this oration, took their seats in the waggonette. Mr. Goddard got up on his car and gave the order to march. The expedition started. An hour’s steady driving brought the party to the top of the hill from which the gate of Rosivera is visible. Mr. Goddard gave the order to halt. It was passed forward to the leading car, and the expedition came to a standstill on the summit of the hill. Mr. Goddard got down from his car and walked up to Lord Manton. “It’s a damned awkward thing,” he said, “to march up to a man’s house at the head of a body of men like this.” “Don’t say you’re thinking of going back,” said Lord Manton. “It would be a shame to disappoint Miss Blow.” “I’m not going back; but all the same it’s awkward. What excuse shall I make?” “If he’s been kidnapping people,” said Lord Manton, “he won’t expect you to make any excuse.” “Oh, of course, if he really has. But has he?”