vague idea, a shadowy theory, that I am on the right track at last, but I
may be wrong, especially as I am dealing with so unscrupulous an opponent
as Fenwick. All the same, I think I'll step round to that agent's office
this afternoon and get the key. Sooner or later, I shall want a town
house, and I don't see why that Portsmouth Square place shouldn't suit me
very well."

Venner was true to his intention, and later in the afternoon was once
more closeted with the house-agent.

"Do you really want to let the place?" he asked.

"Well, upon my word, sir, I'm not quite sure," the agent replied. "As
I said before, it is such a difficult matter to get in contact with
the owner."

"But unless he wanted to let it, why did he put it in your hands?" Venner
asked. "Still, you can try to communicate with him, and it will save time
if you let me have the keys to take measurements and get estimates for
the decorating, and so on. I will give you any references you require."

"Oh, there can be no objection to that," the agent replied. "Yes, you can
have the keys now, if you like. You are not in the least likely to run
away with the place."

Venner departed with the keys in his possession, and made his way back to
the hotel. He had hardly reached his own room before a waiter came in
with a note for him. It was from Vera, with an urgent request that Venner
would see her at once, and the intimation that there would be no danger
in his going up to the suite of rooms occupied by Mark Fenwick. Venner