ld be coming to London again very soon, and that he would call. He
urged me at the same time to tell nobody that he had seen me, or that
he had warned me against you--not even my mother."

"All that is in no way surprising," I remarked, "for I happen to know
that Monsieur Suzor and the doctor are on terms of closest
friendship--a partnership for evil."

"How?"

"As I have already explained, Miss Tennison, I have not yet fully
solved the enigma, though I have learned a number of facts which,
though they increase the mystery, yet they give some clue to the
solution of the enigma."

"But their evil design?" asked her mother.

"Their evil design is against us both, hence your daughter's interests
have become my own," I replied. "My sole object is to bring to justice
those who have, for their own ends--no doubt for financial gain--been
guilty of the astounding plot against your daughter. You may believe
Doctor Moroni and his friend Suzor as you will, Mrs. Tennison, but I
shall not withdraw from my present attitude. That they fear me is
conclusively proved."

"I quite see your point," said the quiet-voiced, refined lady.

"Then I do urge you to have a care of Miss Gabrielle," I exclaimed.
"If it is known, as it may be, that I have been here, an effort will
surely be made to close the mouth of one or other of us. These men are
desperate. I have already proved them so. Therefore we must take
every precaution against surprise."

"Why not go to the police?" suggested Mrs. Tennison.

"Because the whole circumstances are so strange that, if I related
them at Scotland Yard, I should not be believed," was my reply. "No.
I, with my friend Mr. Hambledon, must carry on our inquiries alone. If
we are sufficiently wary and active we may, I hope, gather sufficient
evidence to elucidate the mystery of your daughter's present mental
condition, and also the reason why a similar attempt was made upon
myself."

"Well, Mr. Garfield," exclaimed the charming, elderly lady with a
sigh, "I only hope you will be successful in your quest after the
truth. This blow upon me is, I confess, a most terrible one. It is so
distressing to see my poor child in such an uncertain state of
mentality. Sometimes, as I have told you, she is quite normal, though
she has no knowledge of what occurred to her. And at other times she
is painfully vague and often erratic in her actions."

"She must consult Professor Gourbeil, the great alienist, at Lyons. He