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CHAPTER V. Once clear of the Albert Gate mansion, the barrister was bound to confess to a sense of indefiniteâ€" ness, a feeling of uncertainty which seldom characterized either his thoughts or his actions. He ad- mitted as much to his companion, for Brett was a man who would not consent to pose under any circum- stances. . “It is quite true,” he explained, “that our first duty must be to find Mr. Talbot, and it is still more certain that we will be able to ac- complish that part of our task; but there are elements in this inquiry which baffle me at present.” "And what are they, sir?” said the detective. “I fail to see why Mr. Talbot was dragged into the matter at all. On the straightforward assumption that Turks were engaged invthe pleasant occupation of taking other Turk’s livesâ€"an assumption to which, by the way, I attach no great amount of credenceâ€"why did they not allow Mr. Talbot to go quietly to his own home? It was not that they feared more speedy discovery of their crime. The hour was then late; it was tolerably cer- ta1n that he would make no move which might prove injurious to them until next morning, and then the whole aaffir was bound to be dis- covered by the police in the ordin- ary course of events.” “I don’t quite follow you, sir.” said Winter, with a puzzled tone in his voice. They had, for the sake of quietude, turned into the Park, and were now walking toward Hyde Park Corner. “What do you mean by saying that Mr. Talbot would make no move in the matter until next morning?” “Oh, I forgot,” said Brett. “Of course, you don’t know why the diamonds were stolen?” “For the same reason that all other diamonds are stolen, I supâ€" pose.” “Oh, dear no,” laughed the bar- rister. “This is a political crime.” “Political 1” said the amazed po- liceman. ' ‘ “Well, we won’t quarrel about word/3, and as there are perhaps no politics in Turkey, we will call it dynastic or any other loud-voiced adjective which serves to take it out of the category of simple felony.” “What beats me, Mr. Brett,” said the detective, viciously prod- ding the gravel path with his stick, “is 'how you ferret out these queer factsâ€"fancies some people would call them, as I used to do until I knew you better.” “In this case it is simple enough. By mere chance I happened to read'this morning that there had been some little domestic squabble in royal circles at Constantinople. I don’t know whether you are ac-v quainted with Turkish history, Mr. Winter, but it is a well-recognized principle that any Sultan is liable to die of diseases which are weird and painfully sudden; for instance, the last one is popularly supposed to have plunged a long sharp scis- sors into his jugular vein; others drank coffee that disagreed with them, or smoked cigarettes too highly perfumed. In any case, the invariable result of these eccentri- cities has been that a fresh Sultan occupied the throne. Now, don’t forget that I am simply theorizing, for I know no more of this business than you do at this moment. but I still think that you will find some connection between my theory and that which has actually occurred. At any rate, I have said sufficient to prove to you the importance of not being too ready to make or rests.” “I quite see that,” was the thoughtful rejoinder. “But you must not forget, sir, that we in Scotland Yard are bound by rules of procedure. Perhaps you will not mind my suggesting that a word from you to the Foreign Office might induce the authorities to com- municate officially with the Home Department, and then instructions could be issued to the poflice which would leave the matter a ittle more open than we are able to regard it under the existing'conditions.” "I will see to that,” said the bar- rister. take place?” “This evening at six.” "It will be adjourned, course i” “0”, yes; givm bey purposes 0 no evidence can be supplied by the police them- did not recognize, CLOSE f0UARlERS; OR. THE HOUSE IN THE RUE BARBETTE l I “When does the inquest Carlton Hotel, and that he found of. 9‘“ end that necessary for own exact address, f identification. and this found by experience manv _nf tho- whilst h1s knox- brr" l I N selves and an official from the Turâ€" kish Embassy.” . “Very well. You will mention to no one the theory I have just explained to you?” “Not if you wish it, sir.” “I do wish it at present. way are you going?” “Straight to the Yard.” “In that case I will accompany you a portion of the distance.” They had now reached Hyde Park Corner, and, hailing Brett told the driver to step out- side the Carlton Hotel. The man whipped up his horse and drove "-n the direction of Constitution Hill, evidently intending to avoid the congested traffic of Picadilly and take the longer, but more pleasant, route through the Green Park and the Mall. - ' “By the way,” said Brett, “did the driver of the hansom_»which conveyed Mr. Talbot and his com- panion from Albert Gate on Mon- day night tell you which read he followed?” “Yes,” said the detective, “he went this way.” Brett rubbed'his hands, with a queer expression of thoughtful pleasure on his keen face. “Ah,” he said, “I like that. It is well to be on the scent.” He did not explain to his pro- fessional confrere that it was a ositive stimulant to his abounding energy and highly strung nerves. to find that he» was actually followmg the path taken by the criminal whom he was pursuing. The mere fact lent reality to the chase. For a mile, at any rate, there could be no mistake, though he might expect Arrived Which a check at the Carlton. there, Brett alighted. . “Are you going to make any in- quiries in the hotel, sir?” said Mr. Winter. . “Why should I?” said Brett. “You have already ascertained from the management that no per- son even remotely resembling any of the parties concerned is staying at the hotel.” “Yes, confound it, I know I dic ,” cried the other, ”but I never told '011 so.” “That is all right,” laughed Brett. “Come and see me at my chambers this evening when the in- quest is finished. Perhaps by that time we may_be able to determine our plan of action.” Once left to himself, Brett (”d not enter the hotel. He made it an invariable rule in conducting in- quiries of this nature to adopt the French method of “reconstituting” the incidents of a crime, so far as such a course was possible in the absence of the persons concerned. He reasoned that a very plausible explanation of the unexpected apâ€" pearance of the three strangers in the Albert Gate mansion on Mon- day night had been given to Jack Talbot. This young gentleman, it might be taken for granted, had not been selected by the Foreign Office to carry to a successful issue such an important and delicate matâ€" ter as that entrusted to him, with- out some good grounds for the faith in his qualities exhibited by his suâ€" periors. Brett thought he could understand the brother’s charac- ter and attributes from his favor- able analysis of the sister, and :t was quite reasonable, therefore, to believe that Talbot was a man not likely to be easily duped. The principals in this crime were evr- dently well aware of the trust re- posed in the Assistant Under-Sec- retary, and they, again, would not underrate his intelligence. Hence there was a good cause for Talbot to accept the explanations, whatev- er they were, given him during the conclave in the dining-room; the effect of which, in Inspector Sharpe’s words, had been to “puz- zle” the young Englishman. Furâ€" ther, there must have been a verv potent inducement held out before Talbot would consent to drive off with a stranger at such a late hour. and when the cab was dismissed at the Carlton, the excuse given would certainly be quite feasible. “Ih must surely be this, com~ muncd Brett. “The man explained that he was a stranger in London that he lived quite close to thr H it convenient not only for the pur- pose of giving directions that would bennders’good, but also for pavmr‘ .‘L which he hnr' a hansom, ' fee. to direct the drivers of hire-“l will be vehicles to go there and not to h:- ledge of the language was not amâ€" ple enough to enable ,him to de- scribe the locality more precisely. It follows, then, in unerring seâ€" quence, that Talbot was conveyed to some place within a very short distance of the spot where I now stand.” He looked along Pall Mall, up the Haymarket, and through Cockâ€" spur street, and he noted with some degree of curiosity that there were very few residential buildings in the neighborhood. Clubs, theatres, big commercial establishments and insurance offices occupied the bulk of the available space. It was a part of his theory that none of the other great hotels in this district could harbor the criminals, otherâ€" w1se there would have been no ex- cuse to stop the hansom outside the Carlton. Brett did not take long to make up his mind once he had decided upon a definite course. A call at the Foreign Office procured him an ofiicml, authorization from the Unit- ed-Secretary to inquire into the cir- cumstances of Talbot’s disappear- ance and a promise that the Home Office should be communicated with. He desired to review the whole of the circumstances attending this strange mystery of modern life, and the result of his reflections quickly . became apparent when he reached his residence, for in the first inâ€" stance he dispatched a telegram. and'then made several notes in his private diary. , The telegram, in due course, pro- duced an elderly pensioned police inspector, a quiet, reserved man, whom the barrister had often em- ployed. He explained briefly the circumstances attending Mr. Tal- bot’s disappearance, and addedâ€" “I want you to find out the names, and if possible the business â€"â€"together with any other informaâ€" tion you may happen to come across â€"-â€"of every person who lives within a distance, roughly speaking, of two hundred yards from the Carl- ton Hotel. The Post Office Direc- tory and your own observation will narrow down the inquiry consider- ably. It is the unrecorded balance of inhabitants with whom I am par~ ticularly anxious to become defi- nitely acquainted.” The man sa- luted and withdrew. Brett imagined that he would now be left in undisputed enjoyment for a few hours’ rest before the Earl of Fairholme kept the appointment fixed for seven o’clock. But in this he was mistaken. Smith brought in some tea, which was refreshing after his walk, for the engrossing nature of the morn- ing’s occupation caused him to for- get lunch. A cigar and evening paper next claimed his attention, but he had barely settled down to the perusal of a garbled account of events at Albert Gate when his man again entered, announcing in mysterious tones the presence of Mr. Winter. Smith’s attitude to- wards the myrmidons of Scotland Yard who occassionally visited the barrister on business, was peculi- ar. He regarded them with suspic- ion, tempered by wholesome awe, and he now made known the arrival of the detective in such a manner as caused his master to laugh at him. .. “Show him in, Smith,” he said cheerily: “he has not come to ar- rest me this time.” Winter entered, and a glance at his face brought Brett quickly to his feet. “What is the matter?” he cried when the door had closed behind the servant. “You have received important news?” “I should think I have,” replied the detective, dropping into a seat. “I was just writing a report in the Yard when I was sent for by the Chief, and you could have knocked me down with a feather when I heard the reason. I suppose I am acting rightly in coming at once to tell you, although in my flurry at the time I quite forgot to ask the Chief’s permission, but as you are mixed up in the case at the request of the Foreign Office, I thought you ought to learn what had happen- ec1.}, “Well, what is it?” cried Brett, impatient at the other‘s careful provisos. “Simply this,” said the detective. “Mr. Jack Talbot bolted from Lon- don on Tuesday in company with a lady. They crossed over from Dover to Calais by the midday boat, and went direct to Paris. Mr. Tal- bot calmly booked rooms for himâ€" self and the girl in the Grand Hotel, had the nerve to write 'Mr. and Mrs. Talbot, 118 Ulster Gar- dens, London, W.,’ in the register, ind both of them disappeared forth- with. But we will soon lay hands in the gentleman, no fear. I have ‘omehow suspected. Mr. Brett, that w... notion Of a political crime was an “mew-Mk. 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