From the telephone call-box inside Hammersmith Broadway station I rang up Teddy at Hendon, and asked him to meet me there after lunch.
This he did, and as together we walked away from the hangars, so as not to be overheard, I related to him the strange story, as told by old Theed.
He stood astounded.
'Somebody knows, my dear Claude! Who can it be?'
'Who knows? Only ourselves, Roseye and the Theeds. Nobody else,' was my quick reply.
Then, suddenly, he said: 'I suppose Roseye couldn't have dropped any hint to her father? If so, the latter might have spoken to Eastwell—or somebody else!'
'Roseye made to me a solemn promise of secrecy, and I trust her, Teddy,' I said very quietly.
'So do I, my dear fellow. So do I,' he assured me. 'Well—I can't fathom the mystery at all. Evidently they were on some desperate errand—or they wouldn't have knocked poor old Theed senseless—eh? And the woman! Who could she have been?"
'Who knows?' I asked. 'Nevertheless, we must make it our business to find out, my dear chap,' I added in earnestness. 'We've got secret enemies somewhere—probably around us here. Indeed, that has been my firm conviction for some time.'
'And mine also. So let us keep open eyes everywhere. Where's Roseye? Is she coming over this afternoon?'
'I expect her every minute. She'll be astounded and excited.'
'You won't tell her—shall you? It will only
