e lock repaired.

Merton determined to call at Dr. Fogarty's asylum at four in the
afternoon. The gang, under Trevor, was to arrive half an hour later, and
to surround and enter the premises if Merton did not emerge within half
an hour.

At four o'clock exactly Trevor's brougham was at the gates of the asylum.
The footman rang the bell, a porter opened a wicket, and admitted a lady
of fashionable aspect, who asked for Dr. Fogarty. She was ushered into
his study, her card ('Louise, 13 --- Street') was taken by the servant,
and Dr. Fogarty appeared. He was a fair, undecided looking man, with
blue wandering eyes, and long untidy, reddish whiskers. He bowed and
looked uncomfortable, as well he might.

'I have called to see the _Ertwa Oknurcha_, Dr. Fogarty,' said Merton.

'Oh Lord,' said Dr. Fogarty, and murmured, 'Another of his lady friends!'
adding, 'I must ask, Miss, have you the _churinga_?'

Merton produced, out of his muff, the Australian specimen which Trevor
had bought.

The doctor inspected it. 'I shall take it to the _Ertwa Oknurcha_,' he
said, and shambled out. Presently he returned. 'He will see you, Miss.'

Merton found the redoubtable Dr. Markham, an elderly man, clean shaven,
prompt-looking, with very keen dark eyes, sitting at a writing table,
with a few instruments of his profession lying about. The table stood on
an oblong space of uncarpeted and polished flooring of some extent. Dr.
Fogarty withdrew, the other doctor motioned Merton to a chair on the
opposite side of the table. This chair was also on the uncarpeted space,
and Merton observed four small brass plates in the parquet. Arranging
his draperies, and laying aside his muff, Merton sat down, slightly
shifting the position of the chair.

'Perhaps, Dr. Melville,' he said, 'it will be more reassuring to you if I
at once hold my hands up,' and he sat there and smiled, holding up his
neatly gloved hands.

The doctor stared, and _his_ hand stole towards an instrument like an
unusually long stethoscope, which lay on his table.

Merton sat there 'hands up,' still smiling. 'Ah, the blow-tube?' he
said. 'Very good and quiet! Do you use _urali_? Infinitely better, at
close quarters, than the noisy old revolver.'

'I see I have to do with a cool hand, sir,' said the doctor.

'Ah,' said Merton. 'Then let us talk as between man and man.' He tilted
his chair backwards, and crossed his legs. 'By the way, as I have no
Aaron and Hur