I overslept, next morning, so outrageously that it was not until I had got a seat in a subway express that I had time to open my paper.  My first glance was for the big head that would tell of the diamond robbery; and then I realised that no morning paper would have a word of it.  For the robbery was only a few hours old—­and yet, it seemed to me an age had passed since that moment when Godfrey had rushed in upon Grady and me.  So the city moved on, as yet blissfully unconscious of the sensation which would be sprung with the first afternoon editions, and over which reporters and artists and photographers were even now, no doubt, labouring.  I promised myself a happy half hour in reading Godfrey’s story!

It was then that I remembered the appointment for twelve o’clock.  The last act of the drama was yet to be staged, Godfrey had said, and he had also spoken of a bomb—­a big one!  I wondered what it could be, One thing was certain:  if Godfrey had prepared it, its explosion would be startling enough!

There were a number of things at the office demanding my attention, and I was so late in getting there and the morning passed so rapidly that when the office-boy came in and announced that Mr. Grady and Mr. Simmonds were outside and wished to see me, I did not, for a moment, connect their visit with Godfrey.  Then I looked at my watch, saw that it was five minutes to twelve, and realised that the actors were assembling.

“Show them in,” I said, and they entered together a minute later.

Grady was evidently much perturbed.  His usually florid face was drawn and haggard, his cheeks hung in ugly lines, there were dark pouches under his eyes, and the eyes themselves were blood-shot.  I guessed that he had not been to bed; that he had spent the night searching for Crochard—­and it was easy enough to see that the search had been unsuccessful.  Simmonds, too, was looking rather shaky, and no doubt still felt the after-effects of that whiff of poison.

“I’m glad to see you are better, Simmonds,” I said, shaking hands with him.  “That was a close call.”

“It certainly was,” Simmonds agreed, sinking into a chair.  “If I had got a little more of it, I’d never have waked up.”

“Do you remember anything about it?”

“Not a thing.  One minute we were sitting there talking together as nice as you please—­and the next thing I knew was when I woke up in the bank.”

“Where’s that man Godfrey?” broke in Grady.

“He said he’d be here at noon,” I said, and glanced at my watch.  “It’s noon now.  Were you to meet him here?”

Grady glanced at me suspiciously.

“Don’t you know nothing about it?” he asked.

“I only know that Godfrey asked me to be here at noon to-day.  What’s up?”

“Blamed if I know,” said Grady sulkily.  “I got word from him that I’d better be here, and I thought maybe he might know something.  I’m so dizzy over last night’s business that I’m running around in circles this morning.  But I won’t wait for him.  He can’t make me do that!  Come along, Simmonds.”