d enough to let
me in. I want to see Brake. I have reason to believe he is in his
office. I must get in."

"It is very important," I added; for the inspector did not answer
immediately, but looked at me searchingly.

"There was certainly some one meddling with this lock," he said, after
a moment's hesitation, looking stealthily up and down and around the
street.

"It was I," I replied, eagerly. "It was only I, Dr. Thorne. Come,
Drayton, you know me. I want to see Brake. I must see Brake. It is a
matter brought up by this panic--you know--the Santa Ma. He sent for
me. I absolutely must see Brake. It is a matter of thousands to me.
Let me in, Mr. Inspector."

"Come," for he still delayed and doubted, "let me in somehow. You
fellows have a way. Communicate with his watchman--do the proper
thing--anyhow--I don't care--only let me in."

"I will see," murmured the inspector, with a perplexed air; he had not
his usual cordial manner with me, though he was still as polished as
possible, and wore the best of kid gloves. I think the inspector
touched one of their electric signals--I am not clear about this--but
at any rate, a sleepy watchman came from within, holding a safety
lantern before him, and gingerly opened the huge door an inch or two.

"Let me come in," said the inspector, decidedly. "It is I--Drayton. I
have a reason. I wish to go to Mr. Brake's rooms, if you please."

The inspector slipped in like a ghost, and I followed him. Neither of
us said anything further to the watchman; we went directly to Brake's
place. He was not there.

"I will wait a few minutes," I said. "I think he will be here. I must
see Brake."

The inspector glanced at me as one does at a fellow who is behaving a
little out of the common course of human conduct; but he did not enter
into conversation with me, seeing me averse to it. I sank down wearily
upon Brake's biggest brown leather office chair, and put my head down
upon his table. I was now thoroughly tired and confused. I wished
with all my heart that I had gone straight home to Helen. The
inspector and the watchman busied themselves in examining the building,
for some purpose to which I paid no attention. They conversed in low
tones, "I heard a noise at the door, sir, myself," the watchman said.

"Why don't you tell him it was I?" I called; but I did not lift my
head. I was too tired to trouble myself. I must have fallen into a
kind of stupor.

I do