“I’m afraid,” said Gerard, “that some further attempt will be made by Candover and his gang to get rid of us. The more so that I think it very possible Gossett knew that I recognised him. Now if we could once prove that the man who swore I gave him the cheque to cash is the same man that came here last night masquerading as a detective, and pretending to have a warrant for the arrest of my wife, we are in a fair way to lay some of these rascals by the heels. But from what we know of Candover, he won’t allow himself to be unmasked without a struggle. So we can’t be too careful, we can’t have too many to help us, and we can’t have too much pluck.” “Right you are. Tell us what we’re to do,” said Geoffrey. “Well, I want you, Edgar, to take my wife to my solicitor’s, and to wait there till he’s heard everything, and to take his advice as to what we are to do. Perhaps he’ll come here at once and see me. Or perhaps he’ll go to the police, and get Audrey to make a statement about last night’s affair. I don’t think Gossett knew I recognised him, but I can’t be sure. If he did, I’m afraid he may have got out of the way. At any rate, we mustn’t lose any time.” “All right,” said Edgar, as Audrey seized her hat and fur stole and prepared to go with him. “And what am I to do?” asked Geoffrey in a disappointed tone. “I want you to stay with me in case I have to receive any more dubious visitors.” “All right,” said Geoffrey eagerly. “Have you got anything for me to knock ’em on the head with?” A burst of subdued laughter met this speech, in spite of the tension of feeling from which his hearers were suffering. Geoffrey put his hands in his pockets and tilted back his head. “Oh, you may sneer and you may laugh,” said he. “But it’ll be odd if we get off without a bit of a shindy. Disappointing too,” he added reflectively. “I must say I should like to crack a skull or two, if these fellows are really all members of a gang and partners of those rascals Johnson and Diggs!” Gerard took him good-humouredly by the shoulder. “It’s not likely to be a question of blows, Geoff,” said he. “On the contrary, if only I can get hold of Candover, I want to persuade him that I’m deeply indebted to him for his constant kindness to my wife, and to apologise to him for her rudeness to him the other day.” Geoffrey opened wide eyes and whistled softly. “If you were to talk like that to him before me,” said he, “I should give you away. I couldn’t stand still and smile at the man whom I knew to be a scoundrel.” “Then you’ll have to keep away,” said Gerard. “For our only chance of running him to earth is to make him think we have no suspicion of _him_, at any rate.” Geoffrey looked bewildered. “Remember,” said Gerard, “we have no proof against him yet--of actual crime on his part. We only suspect. Now that’s not enough.”