"It's so hard to remember exactly now. I opened a letter of Gerry's by mistake. It was written on cheap sort of paper, I remember, and very illiterate handwriting. It had some address in Seven Dials at the head of it. I realized it wasn't for me, so I put it back in the envelope without reading it." "Sure?" asked Jimmy very gently. Loraine laughed for the first time. "I know what you think, and I admit that women are curious. But, you see, this didn't even look interesting. It was a kind of list of names and dates." "Names and dates," said Jimmy thoughtfully. "Gerry didn't seem to mind much," continued Loraine. "He laughed. He asked me if I had ever heard of the Mafia, and then said it would be queer if a society like the Mafia started in England--but that that kind of secret society didn't take on much with English people. 'Our criminals,' he said, 'haven't got a picturesque imagination.'" Jimmy pursed up his lips into a whistle. "I'm beginning to see," he said. "Seven Dials must be the headquarters of some secret society. As he says in his letter to you, he thought it rather a joke to start with. But evidently it wasn't a joke--he says as much. And there's something else: his anxiety that you should forget what he'd told you. There can be only one reason for that--if that society suspected that you had any knowledge of its activity, you too would be in danger. Gerald realized the peril, and he was terribly anxious--for you." He stopped, then he went on quietly: "I rather fancy that we're all going to be in danger--if we go on with this." "If--?" cried Bundle indignantly. "I'm talking to you two. It's different for me. I was poor old Ronny's pal." He looked at Bundle. "You've done your bit. You've delivered the message he sent me. No; for God's sake keep out of it, you and Loraine." Bundle looked questioningly at the other girl. Her own mind was definitely made up, but she gave no indication of it just then. She had no wish to push Loraine Wade into a dangerous undertaking. But Loraine's small face was alight at once with indignation. "You say that! Do you think for one minute I'd be contented to keep out of it--when they killed Gerry--my own dear Gerry, the best and dearest and kindest brother any girl ever had. The only person belonging to me I had in the whole world!" Jimmy cleared his throat uncomfortably. Loraine, he thought, was wonderful; simply wonderful. "Look here," he said awkwardly, "you mustn't say that. About being alone in the world--all that rot. You've got lots of friends--only too glad to do what they can. See what I mean?" It is possible that Loraine did, for she suddenly blushed, and to cover her confusion began to talk nervously. "That's settled," she said. "I'm going to help. Nobody's going to stop me." "And so am I, of course," said Bundle. They both looked at Jimmy. "Yes," he said slowly. "Yes, quite so." They looked at him inquiringly.