must try and understand for myself the meaning of
this thing which has happened to Von Behrling."

"Do not forget," Bellamy said, "that if you discover anything, we
are equally interested."...

They heard him go out. Bellamy purposely held the door open until
he saw the lift descend. Then he closed it firmly and came back
into the room. Louise and he looked at each other, their faces full
of anxious questioning.

"What does it mean?" Louise cried. "What can it mean?"

"Heaven alone knows!" Bellamy answered. "There is not a gleam of
daylight. My people are absolutely innocent of any attempt upon Von
Behrling. If Streuss tells the truth, and I believe he does, his
people are in the same position. Who, then, in the name of all that
is miraculous, can have murdered and robbed Von Behrling?"

"In London, too," Louise murmured. "It is not Vienna, this, or
Belgrade."

"You are right," Bellamy agreed. "London is one of the most
law-abiding cities in Europe. Besides, the quarter where the murder
occurred is entirely unfrequented by the criminal classes. It is
simply a region of great banks and the offices of merchant princes.

"Is it possible that there is some one else who knew about that
document?" Louise asked,--"some one else who has been watching Von
Behrling?"

Bellamy shook his head.

"How can that be? Besides, if any one else were really on his track,
they must have believed that he had parted with it to me. I shall
go back now to Downing Street to ask for a letter to the Chief of
Scotland Yard. If anything comes out, I must have plenty of warning."

"And I," she said, with an approving nod, "shall go back to bed
again. These days are too strenuous for me. Won't you stay and take
your coffee with me?"

Bellamy held her hand for a moment in his.

"Dear," he said, "I would stay, but you understand, don't you, what
a maze this is into which we have wandered. Von Behrling has been
murdered by some person who seems to have dropped from the skies.
Whoever they may be, they have in their possession my twenty
thousand pounds and the packet which should have been mine. I must
trace them if I can, Louise. It is a poor chance, but I must do
my best. I myself am of the opinion that Von Behrling was murdered
for the money, and for the money only. If so, that packet may be
in the hands of people who have no idea what use to make of it.
They may even destroy it. If Streuss returns and you are forc