II

Going to bed uncommonly soon I woke correspondingly early in the

morning; but I was no earlier than Hewitt, who was at my door, in fact,

ere my breakfast was well begun.

"Well," I asked eagerly, almost before my friend had entered, "have you

got him at last?"

"Not yet," Hewitt answered. "But he did exactly as I had expected.

Plummer and I knocked up the bank manager, who lives over the premises

at the Upper Holloway branch. He was a very decent fellow--rather young

for the post--but he was naturally a bit surprised, possibly irritated,

at being bothered by one and another after office hours. I showed him

the cheque-book, and asked him if it belonged to any customer of his.

"'Why, yes,' he said, examining the numbers, 'I remember this because it

is the first of a new series, and we issued it the day before yesterday

to a new customer. Where did you get it?'

"'We are very anxious to see that customer,' I said. 'Has he been here

this evening?'

"The manager seemed a trifle surprised, but answered readily enough.

'Yes,' he said, 'he was here not an hour ago.'

"'Wanting to draw money?' I asked. But that the manager wouldn't tell

me, of course. So that it was necessary for Plummer to step in and

reveal the facts that this was a police matter, and that he was a

detective-inspector. That made some difference. The manager told us that

our man had opened an account at the bank only two days before; and I'd

like you to guess what name he had opened it under."

"Not Myatt?" I said. "After the chase----"

"No, not Myatt."

"Catherton Hunt?"

"No, nor Catherton Hunt. He had opened it in the name of Mayes!"

"What! his actual name?"

"His actual original name, according to Peytral. The account was

transferred, it would seem, from another bank; and I have an idea we may

find that he has been shifting his money about from one bank to another

as safety suggested, using his real name with it. You remember we could

find no trace of a banking account when the police raided and ransacked

Calton Lodge after Mason was killed? Quite probably he has had small

current accounts in other names at various times to aid in his schemes,

but his main account has always stood in his real name; and by that, you

see, we get some confirmation of Peytral's story. Well, as I say, the

account was opened in the name of Mayes, and the cheque-book was issued

which we discovered last night. The Upper Holloway branch saw no more of

its customer till yesterday evening, long after hours, when he drove up

in a hansom."

"Oh," I said, "in a hansom, was it? The men left behind could get no

news of him."

"Yes, we ascertained that last night; we called back, of course, the

last thing. I expect he got the first cab visible and drove off to a

hatter's a fair distance away, and then on to the bank. At any rate, he

knocked up the manager and told him that he had a sudden need for money

that very night; could he have some?

"The manager told him it would be impossible. Even if he had been

willing to do it, against all regulations, it would still be impossible.

For the strong-room and every cash receptacle in it was locked with two

separate locks with different keys, and though he had one of these keys

himself, it was useless without the other, which was in the possession

of his second in command, who lived some distance out of London. This

course is the usual precaution adopted in branch banks of this sort;

opening and closing, morning and evening, have to be done by chief and

assistant together. And I tell you, Brett, I believe that it was only

the being informed of this fact that prevented Mayes from trying some of

his hypnotic tricks on the bank manager; in which case there would have

been a big bank robbery--perhaps something worse in addition."

"Murder?"

"Murder with a tourniquet, perhaps--perhaps with some other weapon; but,

at any rate, probably with the Red Triangle. You know, of course--indeed

I told you, I think--that in most cases--not all--it is necessary to get

the subject's consent to the _first_ exercise of hypnotism on him. I

told you also it is possible for the practised hypnotist, while the

subject is under the influence of the _first_ experiment, to suggest to

him a certain word or formula, or even a silent sign, which shall bring

him under the influence at any other time, whenever the hypnotist

chooses to repeat it--just as must have been done with Mr. Telfer, in

the case of the Admiralty code. The first suggestion would not be the

difficult thing it might seem--it would only require a little time and

persuasion. Nothing would be said about hypnotism, of course; perhaps

something about a little physical experiment, or the like, and then in

a moment or two the subject would be in this creature's power for ever.

Remember the little 'ceremony of initiation' that the scoundrel

attempted to persuade you to submit to! That meant hypnotism--perhaps

death.

"But this is mere speculation. Mayes found that the keys on the premises

were not enough to release his money, even if the strict rules of the

bank had permitted the cashing of a cheque out of hours. But the manager

suggested that perhaps some neighbouring tradesman would exchange cash

for a cheque, and, with the view of obliging the new customer, went with

him as far as the shop of Mr. Isaac Trenaman, a grocer and cheesemonger

with a rather large shop at the corner of the road. Mr. Trenaman,

introduced and assured by the manager, was willing to give as much cash

as he could find in the till against Mr. Mayes's cheque, and did so to

the extent of twenty-seven pounds, a cheque for which sum was duly drawn

on one of the tradesman's own cheque forms, and left with him. This

done, the bank's new customer took himself off, with thanks and

apologies; carrying with him, however, two blank cheque forms from Mr.

Trenaman's book, the pennies for which he punctiliously paid over the

counter. Having no cheque forms with him, he explained, he might find

them useful if he could come across some friend who could provide the

cash he wished to use that night. And having completed this business so

far, this charming new customer of the bank made off into the night."

"And is that all you know of his movements?"

"Yes, as yet. He seems to have made no very definite excuse to the

manager for wanting the money in such a hurry--just said something had

occurred which made cash necessary, and was very polite and apologetic,

generally. The manager formed a notion that it must be for some gambling

purpose--he fancied that Mayes said something distantly alluding to

that, but wasn't sure."

"Did you ask about the address given to the bank?"

"Of course; but there we gained nothing. The manager couldn't remember

it exactly, and the books, of course, were locked up. But we know it

already--for what the manager _could_ remember was that it was an office

address, and somewhere near Barbican! So that we are back at the

Barbican den again, where I am going now, with Plummer, to give a day to

a minute investigation of the whole place. Meanwhile a watch is being

set at the bank in Holloway."

"Do you expect him back there, then?"

"Hardly. You see he knows that by this time we must have found his

cheque-book, and will be on the watch. But there is just a chance--a

very remote one--that he may send a message; perhaps send somebody to

cash a cheque. Though I don't expect it, for he is no fool--he is,

indeed, a sort of genius--and that would be a mistake, I think. Still,

he is bold, and that is where his money is, and he may make a dash at

it. So a couple of Plummer's men are to be waiting there, this morning,

in the manager's office, and if anybody comes from Mayes he will be

detained. Perhaps you would like to be with them? You can't be of much

use with me, and the job will be dull. But there you _may_ have a chance

of excitement, and you will be useful to come and report if anything

does happen. Why, you may even bag Mayes himself!"

"Of course--I'll go anywhere you please. They told you last night, I

suppose, that Peytral had business, and had gone off?"

"Yes, and I'm not sorry. He is too dangerous a man to have about us,

with his hot blood and the terrible injuries he keeps in memory. As

likely as not, if we get Mayes, we should next have to collar Peytral

for shooting him, or something. So I'm not sorry he is out of it for a

bit. But can you start now? Plummer is in my office and the two men are

in a cab outside. The bank opens at nine, and that is in Upper

Holloway."