"Howell!" gasped Hugh. "Yes, I certainly would. He is a close friend of The Sparrow!"
"That may be. But that does not prove that he is any friend of yours. If you came here at Howell's suggestion--then, Mr. Henfrey, I should advise you to leave Madrid at once. I say this because I have a suspicion that he intends both of us to fall into a trap!"
"But why? I don't understand."
"I can give you no explanation," said the girl. "Now I know that Hamilton Shaw sent you here, I can, I think, discern his motive. I myself will see Mr. Franklyn at once, and shall leave Madrid as soon as possible. And I advise you, Mr. Henfrey, to do the same."
"Surely you don't suspect that it was this Mr. Howell who gave me away to Scotland Yard!" exclaimed Hugh, surprised, but at the same time recollecting that The Sparrow had been alarmed at the detective's visit to Dorise. He knew that Benton and Mrs. Bond had suddenly disappeared from Shapley, but the reason he could only guess. He had, of course, no proof that Benton and Molly were members of the great criminal organization. He only knew that Benton had been his late father's closest friend.
He discussed the situation with the girl jewel-thief as they walked along the busy Carrera de San Jeronimo wherein are the best shops in Madrid, to the great Plaza de Canovas in the leafy Prado.
Again he tried to extract from her what she knew concerning his father's death. But she would tell him nothing.
"I am not permitted to say anything, Mr. Henfrey. I can only regret it," she said quietly. "Mr. Franklyn is at the Ritz opposite. I should like you to meet him."
And she took him across to the elegant hotel opposite the Neptune fountain, where, in a private sitting-room on the second floor, she introduced him to a rather elderly, aristocratic-looking Englishman, whom none would take to be one of the most expert jewel-thieves in Europe.
When the door was closed and they were alone, mademoiselle suddenly revealed to her friend what Hugh had said concerning Howell's suggestion that he should travel to Madrid.
Franklyn's face changed. He was instantly apprehensive.
"Then we certainly are not safe here any longer. Howell probably intends to play us false! We shall know from The Sparrow the reason we are here, and, for aught we know, the police are watching and will arrest us red-handed. No," he added, "we must leave this place--all three of us--as soon as possible. You, Lisette, had better go to Paris and explain matters to The Sparrow, while I shall fade away to Switzerland. And you, Mr. Henfrey? Where will you go?"