“Oh, is it?” cried Peace. “Well, look here, I can’t tell you anything about them, and if I could——”

“You wouldn’t, is that what you mean?” said his visitor, sharply.

“Don’t be quite so fast. I know nothing about you, and don’t even know your name.”

Mr. Wrench drew a case from his pocket, and gave our hero his card. On it was—

Mr. Detective Wrench,

Scotland-yard.

“Ah!” ejaculated our hero. “That’s it—​eh?”

“What?”

“A criminal affair. Some poor crow is wanted.”

“Nothing of the sort. I pledge my word as a gentleman, and——”