hands of the detectives.  There have been cases where a gentleman has had six months or a year of perfect comfort, by the detectives being thrown off by a letter like this.  That is only one of the ways in which we help and protect persons in difficulties who, if it wasn’t for us, would be dragged off, hand-cuffed, from the bosom of their families; and who, even if they never got convicted, would have to pay a lot of money to get out of the scrape.  Now, I have put myself a good deal out of the way, sir, to come to you, and offer you our assistance.”

“Me!” exclaimed Croft.  “What are you talking about?”

The man smiled.  “Of course, it’s all right to know nothing about it, and it’s just what we would advise; but I assure you we are thoroughly posted in your affair, and to let you know that we are, I’ll just mention that the case is that of Croft after Keswick, through Candy.”

“Stuff and nonsense!” exclaimed Lawrence, getting red in the face.  “There is no such case!”

He was about to say more, when a few words from the anti-detective stopped him suddenly.

“Look here, Mr Keswick,” said the man, leveling a long fore-finger at him, and speaking very earnestly, “don’t you go and flatter yourself that this thing has been dropped, because you haven’t heard of it for a month or two; and if you’ll take my advice, you’ll make up your mind on the spot, either to let things go on and be nabbed, or to put yourself under our protection, and live in entire safety until this thing has blown over, without any trouble, except a little travelling.”  At the mention of Keswick’s name, Lawrence had seen through the whole affair at a single mental glance.  The man was after Junius Keswick, and his business was to Lawrence more startling and repugnant than it could possibly be to any one else.  It was necessary to be very careful.  If he immediately avowed who he was, the man might yet find Keswick, before warning and explanation could be got to him, and not only put that gentleman in a very unpleasant state of mind, but do a lot of mischief besides.  He did not believe that Mr Candy had recommenced his investigations without consultation with him, but this person evidently knew that such an investigation had been set on foot, and that would be sufficient for his purposes.  Lawrence decided to be very wary, and he said to the man, “Did you ask for me here by name?”

“No, sir,” said the other, “I had information that you were here, and that you were the only gentleman who lived here and although you are in your own home, I did not know but this was one of those cases in which names were dropped and servants changed, to suit an emergency.  I asked the little darkey I saw at the front of the house if she lived here, and she told me she had only just come.  That put me on my guard, and so I merely asked if the gentleman was in, and she went and got you.  We’re very careful about calling names, and you needn’t be afraid that any of our people will ever give you away on that line.”