carefully passed the flame across the tip. "Now, sirs, I'm at your
service. To what, or to whom, do I owe the honour of this visit?"

"We have ventured to intrude on you, Mr. Harleston," said Marston, "in
regard to a little matter that happened on Eighteenth Street near
Massachusetts Avenue shortly before one o'clock this morning."

Harleston looked his surprise.

"Yes!" he inflected. "How very interesting."

"I'm delighted that you find it so," was the answer. "It encourages me
to go deeper into that matter."

"By all means!" said Harleston, pushing the pillow aside and sitting up.
"Pray, proceed. I'm all attention."

"Then we'll go straight to the point. You found certain articles in the
cab, Mr. Harleston--we have come for those articles."

"I am quite at a loss to understand," Harleston replied. "Cab--articles!
Have they to do with your little matter of Eighteenth and Massachusetts
Avenue several hours ago?"

"They are the crux of the matter," Marston said shortly. "And you will
confer a great favour upon persons high in authority of a friendly power
if you will return the articles in question."

"My dear sir," Harleston exclaimed, "I haven't the articles, whatever
they may be; and pardon me, even if I had, I should not deliver them to