ransacked!” 

 “Chief,” he broke out, “you must explain. I’m all at sea! Why did you send for me? What have you got to do with criminal cases, anyway? Surely, this is a Scotland Yard matter!” 

 The Chief shook his head. 

 “I sent for you in default of your brother, Okewood!” he said. “You once refused an offer of mine to take you into my service, but this time I had to have you, so I got the War Office to wire...” 

 “Then my appointment for ten o’clock to-day was with you?” Desmond exclaimed in astonishment. 

 The Chief nodded. 

 “It was,” he said curtly. 

 “But,” protested Desmond feebly, “did you know about this murder beforehand!” 

 The Chief threw back his head and laughed. 

 “My dear fellow,” he said; “I’m not quite so deep as all that. I haven’t second sight, you know!” 

 “You’ve got something devilish like it, sir!” said Desmond. “How on earth did you know that I was at the Palaceum last night?” 

 The Chief smiled grimly. 

 “Oh, that’s very simple,” he said. “Shall I tell you some more about yourself? You sat...” he glanced down at the desk in front of him,”... in Stall E 52 and, after Nur-el-Din’s turn, Strangwise took you round and introduced you to the lady. In her dressing-room you met Mr. Mackwayte and his daughter. After that...” 

 “But,” Desmond interrupted quickly, “I must have been followed by one of your men. Still, I can’t see why my movements should interest the Secret Service, sir!” 

 The Chief remained silent for a moment. Then he said: 

 “Fate often unexpectedly takes a hand in this game of ours, Okewood. I sent for you to come back from France but old man Destiny wouldn’t leave it at that. Almost as soon as you landed he switched you straight on to a trail that I have been patiently following up for months past. That trail is...” 

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