"You must be intoxicated. Take your foot out of the door and go away, or I'll call a man and have you given in charge."
The voice, rising in shrill, tremulous excitement, would have added something more, but was silenced by a fit of coughing. I left my walnut-tree, pushed open the gate, and arrived at the bungalow door as the coughing ceased and a handkerchief dabbed furtively at a fleck of bright red froth.
"We met at Miss Davenant's house in Chester Square. Don't apologize for not remembering me, we were never introduced. I just caught your name. We have called...."
"Is this person a friend of yours?" she asked, pointing a contemptuous finger at the Seraph.
"One minute gone," said the Seraph, watch in hand.
Miss Draper turned her head and called to some one inside the house. I think the name was "John."
"One minute and a half," said the Seraph.
I put my hand out to cover the watch, and addressed Miss Draper.
"I don't think you appreciate the strength of our position," I began. "You are no doubt aware that the office of the _New Militant_ has been raided; your friend Mrs. Millington has been arrested, and there is a warrant out against your other friend, Miss Davenant."
"They haven't caught her," said Miss Draper, defiantly.
I could almost forgive her when I saw the look of doglike fidelity that the mention of Joyce's name brought into her eyes.
"Do you know where she is?" asked the Seraph.
"I think it probable that you do _not_ know," I answered. "Miss Davenant is critically ill, and is lying at the present time in my friend's flat."
"It doesn't matter whether you believe it or not. The flat is already suspected and watched."
"Because England is a corrupt country," I said, boldly inventing. "I have what is called a friend at Court. Miss Davenant's sister--Mrs. Wylton--is an old friend of mine, and I wish to spare her the pain of seeing Miss Davenant arrested--in a critical condition--if it can be avoided. My friend at Court has been persuaded to suspend the issue of a search-warrant, if Miss Roden and the others are restored to their families before midnight to-night. I may say in passing that if Miss Davenant were arrested, tried and imprisoned, it would be no more than she richly deserved. However, I do not expect you to agree with me. Out of regard to Mrs. Wylton we have come down here. I need not say how we found Miss Roden was being kept here----"