place before he had my wrists and ankles strapped, tightly, but not painfully, and had placed a gag in my mouth.  ‘Now, you keep quiet,’ he said, and showed me a horrible-looking knife, which he put on the seat between us.  ’If you move at all when we pass through towns,’ he went on, ’I stick this into you very deep.’  Somehow, I knew that he meant to carry out his threats to the letter.  At first I was more angry than hurt or even alarmed.  Then I began to believe that I had fallen into the clutches of a lunatic, and grew horribly afraid.  I saw that we were following the London road, and it oppressed me like a dreadful sort of nightmare to be speeding through a familiar district, a countryside dotted with the houses and estates of personal friends, and be unable to stir or utter a sound.  It seemed to be almost stupid to see policemen in the streets of Tunbridge Wells, one of whom gazed into our car sharply, because, I suppose, we were traveling rather fast, and feel that no one could begin to guess at my predicament.  You all appreciate the fact, of course, that I knew nothing whatever of any quarrel between my husband and a faction in China?”

“Your husband adopted the policy of the ostrich, Helena,” said Forbes, grimly.  “It may or may not be a fable as regards ostriches—­ I don’t know enough about them to feel certain, but it is unquestionably too often true of mankind.  I believed my head was hidden and imagined the remainder of my body was safe in consequence.  Now I learn that my opponents have been tracking me steadily for half a year.  The one fact which stands out clearly above all others during the past forty-eight hours is the phenomenal range and completeness of Wong Li Fu’s plans.”

“I didn’t mean my comment as a reproach, dear,” and Mrs. Forbes gave him a look which told plainly that these two were lovers after many years of wedded happiness.  “Thank God, we have all escaped—­ thus far!”

“Oh, mother,” laughed Evelyn nervously, “you are not anticipating more horrors, are you?”

“A few hours ago I would have scoffed at any one who said that a handful of Chinese could tear aside our cloak of civilized security as though it were a spider’s web,” was the serious reply.  “But I have interrupted my own story.  I began to think that I would be taken to some awful den in the East End, and held there till some huge sum of money was paid by way of ransom, when the car suddenly quitted the main road and bumped over a rough surface.  I knew I was near Croydon—­ the last place I would have suspected as a brigands’ stronghold.  Then we halted, and that wretched man lifted me out, carried me into a back room of an old-fashioned house, put me in a fairly comfortable chair, tied me in with ropes, and left me.  I couldn’t speak.  I was looking at a blank wall and smoke-stained ceiling.  I was sure then that he was after money, and began to calculate the time which must elapse before my husband would hear from him and arrange for my release.  I wondered how much he would ask—­ ten, twenty, fifty thousand pounds.  How much would you have paid, Jim?”