"Quite so," said Derrick. "Where are you going to take me?"

"To the lock-up at Fleckfield," replied the Inspector, much relieved in

his mind now that he saw his prisoner was not going to offer any

resistance, give any trouble. "You're quite right to take it quietly. As

I said, we're surrounded by my men. What's this?"

"This" was Celia, coming through the wood and hastening her steps at the

sound of Derrick's voice. She stopped dead short, at sight of the two

men, looking from one to the other in surprise, but no alarm; then she

advanced to Derrick with, "Sydney!" on her lips.

"Why, it's you, Miss Grant!" said the Inspector. "I'm glad you've come

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up--though this is no place for you." He paused and looked at her in a

puzzled way. "But you know this man, you called him 'Sydney'?"

"What does he mean?" asked Celia, in a bewildered fashion, of Derrick.

"Why does he speak like that?--Oh, what does it mean!"

"It means that the Inspector here is making a mistake, Celia," said

Derrick gravely, but without any resentment. "It appears that there has

been a robbery at the Hall----"

"You've heard nothing about it!" exclaimed Celia.

"No," said Derrick, quietly. "I left for London yesterday morning early;

I returned this morning, saw no one, heard nothing of it."

"Oh, come now, you'd better keep silent," interrupted the Inspector.

"Miss Grant, I met this gentleman"--he hesitated on the word--"with

this"--he tapped the box--"in his possession. I know, from the

description, that it is the missing jewel-case, and I have arrested him

on the charge of robbery and attempted murder. How you seem to know

him--I don't understand----"

Celia stood as if turned to stone for a moment or two; her eyes

wandering from the faces of the two men to the jewel-case; then she

broke out, "Sydney, why don't you explain?--It's a mistake, Inspector, a terrible

mistake! I know this gentleman; I--I am engaged to him, I am going to be

his wife. It's--absurd to suspect him!--Sydney, where did you find the

thing?"

"Now, Miss Grant," said the Inspector soothingly, before Derrick could

reply. "Let me advise you, as I have already advised the prisoner, not

to say another word. I am sorry, truly sorry that a young lady of

your--position should be so intimately acquainted, should be----Dear,

dear, this is very sad, Miss Grant! I think you'd better go back to the

Hall. But please don't say anything to Mr. Jacobs; I will come back to

him directly I have seen the prisoner locked up."




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