hile.
Over the unprepossessing features of Bindle there came a vacant look,
and over those of the Professor one of triumph. After a lengthy pause
the Professor spoke.

"You are a burglar. Repeat it."

"I am a burglar," echoed Bindle in a toneless voice.

The Professor continued: "You tried to rob me, Professor Sylvanus
Conti, of 13 Audrey Mansions, Queen's Club, West Kensington, by
breaking into my flat at night."

In the same expressionless voice Bindle repeated the Professor's words.

"Good," murmured Conti. "Good! Now sit down." Bindle complied, a
ghost of a grin flitting momentarily across his face, as the Professor
turned to reach a chair which he placed immediately opposite to the one
on which Bindle sat, and about two yards distant. With his eyes fixed,
he commenced in a droning tone:

"You have entered my flat with the deliberate and cold-blooded
intention of robbing, perhaps of murdering me. It is my intention to
write a note to the police, which you will yourself deliver, and wait
until you are arrested. Now repeat what I have said."

In a dull, mechanical voice Bindle did as he was told. For a full
minute the Professor gazed steadily into his victim's eyes, made a few
more passes with his hands, and then, rising, went to a small table and
wrote:

DEAR SIR,

The bearer of this letter is a burglar who has just broken into my flat
to rob me. I have placed him under hypnotic control, and he will give
himself up. You will please arrest him. I will 'phone in the morning.

Yours faithfully,
SYLVANUS CONTI.

Sealing and addressing the letter, the Professor then removed the
handcuffs from Bindle's wrists, bade him rise, and gave him the
envelope.

"You will now go and deliver this note," he said, explaining with great
distinctness the whereabouts of the police-station. Bindle was
proceeding slowly towards the door, when the Professor called upon him
to stop. He halted abruptly. "Show me what you have in your pockets."

Bindle complied, producing the presentation watch and chain, a gold
scarf-pin, a pair of gold sleeve-links, one diamond and three gold
studs, and a diamond ring. He omitted to include the Professor's loose
change, which he had picked up from the small table by the bedside.

For a moment the Professor pondered; then, as if coming to a sudden
determination, he told Bindle to replace the articles in his pocket,
and dismissed him.

Having bolted the door, Professor