sunny South, of touring to all the [Pg 18]gayest places on the Continent, and seeing all that was to be seen, had been shattered at a single blow. And what a blow! [Pg 18] I had awakened to find myself under arrest as the accomplice of one of the most expert jewel-thieves in Europe! My companions were not communicative. Why should they have been? Suddenly I became aware of the fact that we had driven a considerable distance. In my agitated state of mind I had taken no notice of our route, and my captors had, it seemed, endeavoured to take my attention off the direction we had taken. Collecting my scattered senses, however, I recollected that we had crossed one of the bridges over the Thames, and looking out of the window, I found that we were in a long, open road of private houses, each with a short strip of railed-off garden in front—a South London thoroughfare evidently. “This isn’t the way to Bow Street!” I exclaimed in wonder. “Well, not exactly the straight way,” grinned the inspector. “A roundabout route, let’s call it.” I was puzzled. The more so when I recognised a few minutes later that we had come down the Camberwell New Road, and were passing Camberwell Green. We continued up Denmark Hill until, at the corner where Champion Hill branches off, the inspector called to the cabman to stop, and we all descended, the detective-sergeant paying the fare. [Pg 19] [Pg 19] Where were they taking me? I wondered. I asked, but they only laughed, and would vouchsafe no reply. Together we walked up the quiet, semi-rural Champion Hill, until we reached Green Lane, when at the sharp right angle of the road, as we turned, I saw before me an object which caused me to hold my breath in utter amazement. The car was standing there, right before me in the lonely suburban road, and in it, seated at the wheel, a man whom I next second recognised as the Count himself! He was evidently awaiting me. He was wearing a different motor-coat, the car bore a different number, and as I approached I noticed that the coronet and cipher had been obliterated by a dab of paint!
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