"I was with the chief when Lieutenant Pierce came in to report the matter," was the brief response, "and I came here to see your man. He is reluctant to tell what he knows without your consent. Could you have him leave the horses with your orderly below and come up here a moment?" "Why, certainly, if you wish; but I can't see why," said Cram, surprised. "You will see, sir, in a moment." And then Jeffers, with white, troubled face, appeared, and twisted his wet hat-brim in nervous worriment. "Now what do you want of him?" asked Cram. "Ask him, sir, who was the man who slipped a greenback into his hand at the ladies' entrance last evening. What did he want of him?" Jeffers turned a greenish yellow. His every impulse was to lie, and the detective saw it. "You need not lie, Jeffers," he said, very quietly. "It will do no good. I saw the men. I can tell your master who one of them was, and possibly lay my hands on the second when he is wanted; but I want you to tell and to explain what that greenback meant." Then Jeffers broke down and merely blubbered. "Hi meant no 'arm, sir. Hi never dreamed there was hanythink wrong. 'Twas Mr. Lascelles, sir. 'E said 'e came to thank me for 'elping 'is lady, sir. Then 'e wanted to see Mr. Warink, sir." "Why didn't you tell me of this before?" demanded the captain, sternly. "You know what happened this morning." "Hi didn't want to 'ave Mr. Warink suspected, sir," was poor Jeffers's half-tearful explanation, as Mr. Allerton suddenly entered the little hall-way room. The grave, troubled faces caught his eye at once. "Is anything wrong?" he inquired, anxiously. "I hope Waring is all right. I tried to induce him not to start, but he said he had promised and must go." "What time did he leave you, Mr. Allerton?" asked Cram, controlling as much as possible the tremor of his voice. "Soon after the storm broke,--about nine-thirty, I should say. He tried to get a cab earlier, but the drivers wouldn't agree to go down for anything less than a small fortune. Luckily, his Creole friends had a carriage." "His what?" "His friends from near the barracks. They were here when we came down into the rotunda to smoke after dinner." Cram felt his legs and feet grow cold and a chill run up his spine. "Who were they? Did you catch their names?" "Only one. I was introduced only as they were about to drive away. A little old fellow with elaborate manners,--a Monsieur Lascelles." "And Waring drove away with him?" "Yes, with him and one other. Seemed to be a friend of Lascelles. Drove off in a closed carriage with a driver all done up in rubber and oil-skin who said he perfectly knew the road. Why, what's gone amiss?" CHAPTER VI.