He was certainly playing his part splendidly. It had, of course, all been rehearsed. The man on whom Moreno had sprung had fallen down of his own accord. The men who had been dispatched to pursue him had lost him on purpose. Farquhar met him at the door of the shabby house and piloted him to the cab in which Guy Rossett and Isobel were seated. "Here is the third passenger," he said. Moreno got in and looked triumphantly at the two. "Well, what do you think of the English Secret Service?" he cried in exultant tones. "Mr Rossett is saved, I have escaped without suspicion, and my good friend the Chief of Police will make a splendid haul upstairs. He played up splendidly. Well, I think, after to-night the anarchist movement will have a big set-back in Spain." The cab drove along. Isobel was deposited at the Godwins'. Rossett was put down at his own flat. Moreno was conveyed to the residence of the Chief of Police, where he was to pass the night. A telegram was awaiting Guy. It was from his sister Mary. "I was summoned to Aunt Henrietta this morning. She had passed away before I arrived." CHAPTER TWENTY THREE. The next morning Guy Rossett and Farquhar were admitted to a private audience of the King. A gracious message had been transmitted to Moreno through the agency of the Chief of Police. It would not have been very politic on the part of that enterprising young man to show himself at the Palace. His Majesty thanked them both warmly for their services, and was very interested in the details which they gave him of that eventful evening. "I know England well, and love it," he said. "As long as she breeds such sons as you, she will always remain the first of great nations. Last night's work was good. My poor country will have a more peaceful time now that we have laid these bloodthirsty scoundrels by the heels." Moreno's overpowering impulse was to get back to England as quickly as possible. But there was a certain duty to perform first. He must pay his promised visit to Violet Hargrave. He called about eleven o'clock. He found her looking pale and languid from the effects of the powerful mixture he had given her. "Pulling round?" he inquired as they shook hands. "I can see you are, but you won't be quite yourself for a few hours. Well, tell me what happened. I arrived late at the meeting, and simply heard from Contraras that Alvedero had reported you were indisposed. But I learned no details, and, of course, did not press for any. Did they fetch a doctor to you? If so, what is his verdict?" A faint smile spread over her pale face. "He has only left a few minutes ago. He came to the conclusion that I dosed myself with drugs. I allowed him to believe that I did. Of course, I have never drugged in my life."