treuss," he remarked, with a smile.
"No, you need not fear, Lassen! I am not going to read it. There
is plenty of proof of your treachery without this."

Lassen's face was livid and his eyes seemed like beads. Bellamy
handed back the coat.

"That's all right," he said. "Nothing there, I am glad to see--or
in the waistcoat," he added, passing his hands over it. "I'll
trouble you to stand up for a moment, Mr. Lassen."

The man did as he was bid and Bellamy felt him all over. When he
had finished, he held in his hand a key.

"The key of Mademoiselle's chamber, I have no doubt," he announced,
"I will leave you, then, while I see what deviltry you have been
up to."

He walked calmly to the table which stood by the window and
deliberately cut the telephone wire. With the instrument under his
arm, he left the room. Lassen blundered to his feet as though to
intercept him, but Bellamy's eyes suddenly flashed red fury, and
the life-preserver of which he had spoken glittered above his head.
Lassen staggered away.

"I'm a long-suffering man," Bellamy said, "and if you don't remember
now that you're the beaten dog, I may lose my temper."

He locked them in, walked down the passage and opened the door of
Louise's bedchamber with fingers that trembled a little. With a
smothered oath he cut the cord from the arms of the maid and the
gag from her mouth. Louise, clad in a loose afternoon gown, was
lying upon the bed, as though asleep. Bellamy saw with an impulse
of relief that she was breathing regularly.

"This is Lassen's work, of course!" he exclaimed. "What have they
done to her?"

The maid spoke thickly. She was very pale, and unsteady upon her
feet.

"It was something they put in her wine," she faltered. "I heard Mr.
Lassen say that it would keep her quiet for three or four hours. I
think--I think that she is waking now."

Louise opened her eyes and looked at them with amazement. Bellamy
sat by the side of the bed and supported her with his arm.

"It is only a skirmish, dear," he whispered, "and it is a drawn
battle, although you got the worst of it."

She put her hand to her head, struggling to remember.

"Mr. Laverick has been here?" she asked.

"He has. Your friend Lassen has been taking a hand in the game. I
came here to find you like this and Annette tied up. Henri is in
with him. What has become of your other servants I don't know."

"Henri asked for a holiday for them," she said, the