the shore and headed back for Istanbul. Mannard sat angrily in a deck-chair, his eyes hard. He nodded to Coghlan.

"I didn't see the point of protecting me," he admitted grimly, "not at the time. But that crazy business you were telling me last night did hint at this." Then he said with explosive irritation. "Dammit, either they meant to kill me without asking for money, or they don't care much whether they kill me or not!"

Coghlan nodded. "They might figure on being reckless with you," he said coldly, "so if you get killed that'll be all the more reason for Laurie to pay up if something happens. Or--they might figure that if they're reckless enough with you, you'll pay up the more quickly if they threaten Laurie."

"What's that?" demanded Mannard sharply.

"I don't know what the scheme is," Coghlan told him. "It looks crazy! But though the threat seems directed against you, the danger may be even greater for Laurie."

Mannard said grimly: "Yes. That's something to watch out for. Thanks."

He ground his teeth audibly.

The yacht ploughed through the water back toward Istanbul. The sun shone brightly on the narrow blue sea. The hills on either side seemed to shimmer in the heat. But the atmosphere on the yacht was far from relaxed. The sailors bore high interest beneath a mask of discretion, most of them managing to occupy themselves near the Turkish guests, who huddled together and talked excitedly.

Laurie put her arm in Coghlan's.

"There's such a thing as courage, Tommy," she said, "and such a thing as recklessness. You took chances, searching on shore. I wouldn't like you to be killed."

"It could be," he said harshly, "that the whole idea is to scare one or the other of you so completely--even if one of you had to be killed--that you'll be ready to pay hugely at the first demand for money."

"But how--"

He said fiercely: "If you were kidnapped, for instance! Be careful--hear me? Don't go anywhere in response to a note of any kind."

He went impatiently away and paced up and down, alone, until the yacht docked once more.

Then there was more confusion. Mannard was intent upon an immediate 

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