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frowned. ‘I don’t see
how
they did it,’ he said, ignoring Campion’s last remark. ‘The George in your fairy story: how did he set about it?’
    Campion shrugged his shoulders. ‘That was easy enough,’ he said. ‘It was so simple. That’s where the original gentleman’s gentleman was so clever. That’s what’s made the business what it is today. He simply set himself up as a “fence”, and let it be known in the right quarter he would pay a fabulous sum for the article indicated. I dare say it sounds rather like a “Pre-Raffleite” Brotherhood to you,’ he added cheerfully. ‘But you must take Uncle Albert’s word for it. They pay their money and they take their choice.’
    Gyrth sighed. ‘It’s extraordinary,’ he said. ‘But where do I come in? I’m not a famous crook,’ he added, laughing. ‘I’m afraid I couldn’t pinch anything for you.’
    Mr Campion shook his head. ‘You’ve got me all wrong,’ he said. ‘I do
not
belong to the firm. Don’t you see why I’ve got you here?’
    Val looked at him blankly for a moment, and then a wave of understanding passed over his face and he looked at Campion with eyes that were frankly horrified.
    â€˜Good heavens!’ he said, ‘the chalice!’
    Mr Campion slipped off the table. ‘Yes,’ he said gravely, ‘it’s the chalice.’
    â€˜But that’s impossible!’ A moment’s reflection had convinced Val of the absurdity of any such suggestion.
    â€˜I won’t discuss it,’ he went on. ‘Hang it all! You’re a stranger. You don’t know – you can’t know the absurdity of a story like this.’
    â€˜My dear chump,’ said Campion patiently, ‘you can’t protect anything unless you accept the reality of its danger. I’ve spent the last two weeks trying to find you because I happen to know for a fact that unless you do something the Gyrth Chalice will be in the private collection of a particularly illustrious Mohammedan within six months from today.’
    For a moment the boy was speechless. Then he laughed. ‘My dear sir,’ he said, ‘you’re mad.’
    Mr Campion was hurt. ‘Have it your own way,’ he said. ‘But who do you suppose went to the length of trying to kidnap you in a taxi? Why do you imagine there are at least four gentlemen at present watching my front door? You’ll probably see them if you care to look.’
    The young man was still incredulous, but considerably startled. All the vagueness had for a moment vanished from his host’s manner. Mr Campion was alert, eager, almost intelligent.
    Val shook his head.
    â€˜You’re not serious,’ he said.
    Campion took off his spectacles and looked his visitor straight in the eyes.
    â€˜Now, listen, Val Gyrth,’ he said. ‘You’ve got to believe me. I’m not nearly so ignorant of the position that the Gyrth Chalice holds in your family,
and in the country
, as you imagine. By warning you I am placing myself at direct variance with one of the most powerful organizations in the world. By offering you my assistance I am endangering my life.’ He paused, but went on again immediately after.
    â€˜Would you like me to tell you of the ceremony connected with the Chalice? Of the visits of the King’s Chamberlain every ten years which have taken place regularly ever since the Restoration? Or of the deed by which your entire family possessions are forfeit to the Crown should the Chalice be lost? There’s a great deal more I could tell you. According to your family custom you come of age on your twenty-fifth birthday, when there is a ceremony in the East Wing of the Tower. You’ll have to go to Sanctuary for that.’
    Val took a deep breath. The last barriers of his prejudice were down. There was something in his host’s