DEAR SIR,

I trust you will recognize the fact that although I am writing to you from London, and from the Milan Hotel, I have not intentionally broken the compact I made with you.  The fact is, a somewhat singular thing has occurred.  My brother—­Mr. Richard Rotherby—­whom you will doubtless remember, and who speaks most gratefully of your hospitality in Brazil, has sent me a cable on behalf of your brother—­Mr. Nicholas Delora.  It seems that you have not kept him acquainted with your doings here, and that you have failed to make use of a certain cipher that was agreed upon.  He is, therefore, exceedingly anxious to know of your doings, and has begged me to see you at once and report.  Will you, for that purpose, be good enough to grant me a five minutes’ interview?

    Sincerely yours,

    AUSTEN ROTHERBY.

I sealed this letter, and addressed it to the very obscure street in Bermondsey which Louis had designated.  Then I procured a messenger boy and sent it off, with instructions that the bearer must wait for an answer.  Afterwards there was little for me to do but wait.  I tried to see Felicia, but I only succeeded in having the door of her rooms practically slammed in my face by Madame Muller.  I was too anxious for a reply to my letter to go round to the club, so I simply hung about the place, smoking and waiting.  When at last the messenger boy came back, however, it was only to report a certain amount of failure.  He had found the right address and delivered the note, but the gentleman was out, and not expected in till the evening.  After this, I went round to my club, leaving an order that any note or message was to be sent after me.  I cut into a rubber of bridge, but I had scarcely finished my second game before a telegram was brought in for me, sent on from the Milan.  I tore it open.  It was from Delora.

    Have received your note.  Will see you at this address ten o’clock
    this evening.

I thrust the telegram into my waistcoat pocket and finished the rubber.  Soon afterwards I cut out and took a hansom round to Claridge’s Hotel.  I found my brother in and expecting to hear from me.

“Ralph,” I said, “I can’t bring you any news just now.  If you must cable Dicky, you had better just cable that we are making inquiries.  I have an appointment to see Delora at ten o’clock to-night.”

“Where is he?” Ralph asked, with interest.

“The address he has sent me is some low street in Bermondsey,” I answered.  “It is absolutely impossible that he should have chosen such a place to stop in except as a hiding-place.  I don’t like the look of it, Ralph.”

“Then don’t go,” Ralph said quickly.  “There is no need for you to run into danger for nothing at all.”

“I am not afraid of that,” I answered.  “What really bothers me is that I am up against a problem which seems insoluble.  Frankly, I don’t believe a snap of the fingers in Delora.  No man, however secret or important his business might be, would descend to such subterfuges.  The only point in his favor is that this dodging about may be all due to political reasons.  I cannot understand his friendship with the Chinese ambassador.”