The lawyer laid down his knife and fork sharply.

“Has anything happened to Miss Tuppence?” His voice was keen-edged.

“She’s disappeared,” said Julius.

“When?”

“A week ago.”

“How?”

Sir James’s questions fairly shot out.  Between them Tommy and Julius gave the history of the last week and their futile search.

Sir James went at once to the root of the matter.

“A wire signed with your name?  They knew enough of you both for that.  They weren’t sure of how much you had learnt in that house.  Their kidnapping of Miss Tuppence is the counter-move to your escape.  If necessary they could seal your lips with a threat of what might happen to her.”

Tommy nodded.

“That’s just what I thought, sir.”

Sir James looked at him keenly.  “You had worked that out, had you?  Not bad—­not at all bad.  The curious thing is that they certainly did not know anything about you when they first held you prisoner.  You are sure that you did not in any way disclose your identity?”

Tommy shook his head.

“That’s so,” said Julius with a nod.  “Therefore I reckon some one put them wise—­and not earlier than Sunday afternoon.”

“Yes, but who?”

“That almighty omniscient Mr. Brown, of course!”

There was a faint note of derision in the American’s voice which made Sir James look up sharply.

“You don’t believe in Mr. Brown, Mr. Hersheimmer?”

“No, sir, I do not,” returned the young American with emphasis.  “Not as such, that is to say.  I reckon it out that he’s a figurehead—­just a bogy name to frighten the children with.  The real head of this business is that Russian chap Kramenin.  I guess he’s quite capable of running revolutions in three countries at once if he chose!  The man Whittington is probably the head of the English branch.”

“I disagree with you,” said Sir James shortly.  “Mr. Brown exists.”  He turned to Tommy.  “Did you happen to notice where that wire was handed in?”

“No, sir, I’m afraid I didn’t.”

“H’m.  Got it with you?”

“It’s upstairs, sir, in my kit.”

“I’d like to have a look at it sometime.  No hurry.  You’ve wasted a week”—­Tommy hung his head—­“a day or so more is immaterial.  We’ll deal with Miss Jane Finn first.  Afterwards, we’ll set to work to rescue Miss Tuppence from bondage.  I don’t think she’s in any immediate danger.  That is, so long as they don’t know that we’ve got Jane Finn, and that her memory has returned.  We must keep that dark at all costs.  You understand?”

The other two assented, and, after making arrangements for meeting on the morrow, the great lawyer took his leave.

At ten o’clock, the two young men were at the appointed spot.  Sir James had joined them on the doorstep.  He alone appeared unexcited.  He introduced them to the doctor.