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"Mr Henfrey is waiting," he heard the servant say

"Right! I hope you told him I was out," The Sparrow replied

Then there was silence

Hugh stood there very much puzzled The rooht was somewhat dim, while the atmosphere was decidedly murky, as it is in any house in Mayfair One cannot obtain brightness and light in a West End house, where one's vista is bounded by bricks and reat town ht and air than the hard-working and worthy wage-earners of Walworth, Deptford, or Peckha-class districts of London is not one orse than it is in Mayfair or in Belgravia

Hugh stood before an old coloured print representing the hobby-horse school--the days of the "bone-shakers"--and studied it He awaited Il Passero and the advice which he had proive

His ears were strained That house was curiously quiet and forbidding The White Cavalier, whom he had believed to be the notorious Sparrow, had been proved to be one of his assistants He had now met the real, elusive adventurer, who controlled half the crienial friend He was there to seek his advice and to act upon it

As he reflected, he realized that without the aid of The Sparroould have long ago been in the hands of the police So widespread was the organization which The Sparrow controlled that it ht be, the paternal hand of protection was placed upon him--in Genoa, in Brussels, in London--anywhere

It seeitive was safe He had been sent to Mrs Mason in Kensington, and he had left her rooainst The Sparroill

Hence his peril of arrest It was that point which he wished to discuss with the great arch-criminal of Europe

That house was one of mystery The servant had told him that he was expected Why? What did The Sparrow suspect?

The whole atmosphere of that old-fashioned place was mysterious and apprehensive And yet its owner had succeeded in extricating him from that very perilous position at Monte Carlo!

Suddenly, as he stood there, he heard voices again They were raised in discussion

One voice he recognized as that of The Sparrow

"Well, I tell you my view is still the same," he exclaimed "What you have told me does not alter it, however much you may ridicule me!"

"Then you know the truth--eh?"

"I really didn't say so,suspicions"