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wreck a mission hall and do some hundreds of pounds worth of damage. He stole the knife belonging to a man named Craik and killed a third party with the said Craik’s knife.’”
    The atmosphere had grown noticeably more tense, while a movement from the drawing room made him glance at the man with the cultured voice, who was pushing past Jolly. He held a gun.
    But no one spoke.
    â€œShall I go on?” Rollison asked. ‘”Having committed murder,’ I would add, ‘Keller worried because a man named Whiting knew about the stolen knife, so he visited Whiting and uttered threats and menaced the lives of Whiting’s children. After that, he heard from Spike Adams or Tom Harris that I was a friend of Kemp, so he came here, burglariously entered my flat, threatened my valet with a gun, and uttered more menaces.’ Then,” continued Rollison, smiling faintly, “I would ask him how many years in gaol you’d be likely to get.”
    Keller spoke in a thin voice. “You don’t know what you’ve done, Rollison.”
    â€œOh, but I do,” said Rollison. “I’ve frightened you and your friend. Queer thing, fear. I’ve made a study of it.”
    â€œOnce and for all, Rollison, I’m telling you to stick to your own back yard!”
    â€œBut Whitechapel is mine,” protested the Toff. “I was a frequenter of Jupe Street before you knew the difference between Whitechapel and Bethnal Green. What time did Grice say he’d be here, Jolly?”
    Jolly answered with hardly a pause, as if he had been expecting the question, and Keller stiffened.
    â€œAt four o’clock, sir. I think he’s a little late.”
    â€œGrice is on holiday!” Keller growled.
    â€œHe was – but he would make any sacrifice in a good cause,” said Rollison, as if gratified. “When I asked him to come back, he promised to start right away. Of course, he’ll be alone, so you might prefer to stay. One Superintendent of Scotland Yard won’t make much difference to you. Besides, you are above the police.”
    â€œI know what I’m about,” rasped Keller.
    â€œThat’s splendid,” declared Rollison.
    â€œIf you don’t—”
    â€œOh, go away!” snapped Rollison, losing patience. “You and your empty threats – what do you expect to gain? You’ve already lined up half of Whitechapel behind Kemp. Before tonight they hadn’t much time for him, now they’re on his side. Go away, and assimilate a little common sense!” He sounded almost pettish as he turned away, passing Jolly and the second man and pushing the latter roughly to one side he strode into the drawing room, and picked up the telephone.
    The success of the trick he had planned depended upon Jolly – who dodged back into the drawing room and slammed the door. Rollison dropped the telephone and jumped to the door, putting his full weight against it as Jolly turned the key. Three heavy thuds shook it; then the men outside ceased trying to break it down.
    Rollison and Jolly stood either side of the door, so that if Keller or his man fired into it, they would be out of harm’s way.
    Rollison spoke in a loud voice.
    â€œNicely done. Jolly!”
    â€œThank you, sir,” said Jolly, soberly.
    â€œI hope Grice doesn’t run into them,” Rollison went on, sounding anxious. “He’s an impetuous beggar, and might start a riot. I’d better ring for someone else from the Yard,” he added. He walked heavily round the room, then lifted the telephone and banged the receiver up and down several times.
    The hall door slammed.
    Rollison grinned. “That might be a pretty trick to make us show ourselves again, we’ll stay where we are . . . Hallo, is that Scotland Yard? . . . Rollison speaking, give me Inspector Mason, please.” After a pause, he went on: “Yes, Sergeant Hamilton will do . . . hallo,