night, and whether he did this with purpose or not, was
evidently so alarmed at the catastrophe which followed that he took the
first outgoing steamer to Europe. So far, all is clear, but there are
mysteries yet to be solved, which will require my utmost tact. What if I
should seek out the gentleman with whose name that of Mrs. Zabriskie has
been linked, and see if I can in any way connect him with Mr. Stanton or
the events of that night.

Eureka! I have discovered that Mr. Stanton cherished a mortal hatred
for the gentleman above mentioned. It was a covert feeling, but no
less deadly on that account; and while it never led him into any
extravagances, it was of force sufficient to account for many a secret
misfortune occurring to that gentleman. Now if I can prove that he is
the Mephistopheles who whispered insinuations into the ear of our blind
Faust, I may strike a fact that will lead me out of this maze.

But how can I approach secrets so delicate without compromising the
woman I feel bound to respect if only for the devoted love she manifests
for her unhappy husband!

I shall have to appeal to Joe Smithers. This is something which I always
hate to do, but as long as he will take money, and as long as he is
fertile in resources for obtaining the truth from people I am myself
unable to reach, I must make use of his cupidity and his genius. He is
an honourable fellow in one way, and never retails as gossip what he
acquires for our use. How will he proceed in this case, and by what
tactics will he gain the very delicate information which we need? I own
that I am curious to see.

I shall really have to put down at length the incidents of this night.
I always knew that Joe Smithers was invaluable not only to myself but to
the police, but I really did not know he possessed talents of so high
an order. He wrote me this morning that he had succeeded in getting Mr.
T--'s promise to spend the evening with him, and advised me that if I
desired to be present as well, his own servant would not be at home, and
that an opener of bottles would be required.

As I was very anxious to see Mr. T---- with my own eyes, I accepted
this invitation to play the spy, and went at the proper hour to Mr.
Smithers's rooms. I found them picturesque in the extreme. Piles of
books stacked here and there to the ceiling made nooks and corners which
could be quite shut off by a couple of old pictures set into movable
frames capable of swinging out