estion?"

"I will answer a hundred if they will help you," the other replied.
"But what is this particular one?"

"I want to know why you did not tell us all this, when we were
discussing the matter at the house just now."

"Because in these matters the safest course is to speak into one ear
only. If you will be guided by me you will follow my example. When no
one knows what you are going to do, save yourself, it is impossible for
any one to forestall or betray you."

By this time they had reached the corner of the Rue Auber. Here the
old gentleman stopped and held out his hand.

"At this point our paths separate, I think," he said, "and I have the
honour to wish you good-night."

"But what about that address in Hong-kong?" Browne inquired. "As I
leave for England to-morrow, it is just possible that I may not see you
before I go."

"I will send it to your hotel," Herr Sauber replied. "I know where you
are staying. Good-night, my friend, and may you be as successful in
the work you are undertaking as you deserve to be."

Browne thanked him for his good wishes, and bade him good-night.
Having done so, he resumed his walk alone, with plenty to think about.
Why it should have been so he could not tell, but it seemed to him
that, since his interview with the old man, from whom he had just
parted, the whole aspect of the affair to which he had pledged himself
had changed. It is true that he had had his own suspicions of Madame
Bernstein from the beginning, but they had been only the vaguest
surmises and nothing more. Now they seemed to have increased, not only
in number, but in weight; yet, when he came to analyse it all, the
whole fabric tumbled to pieces like a house of cards. No charge had
been definitely brought against her, and all that was insinuated was
that she might possibly be somewhat indiscreet. That she was as
anxious as they were to arrange the escape of Katherine's father from
the island, upon which he was imprisoned, was a point which admitted of
no doubt. Seeing that Katherine was her best friend in the world, it
could scarcely have been otherwise. And yet there was a nameless
something behind it all that made Browne uneasy and continually
distrustful. Try how he would, he could not drive it from his mind;
and when he retired to rest, two hours later, it was only to carry it
to bed with him, and to lie awake hour after hour endeavouring to fit
the pieces of the puzzle together.

Immed