Edyth Vale arrives to show her here at once."

"Oh, you have been expecting her then?"

"No: I have not. But I am now."

After Fuller left the room, the investigator turned eagerly to the
_Star's_ leaded narrative. This laid great stress upon the evident
wealth and dazzling beauty of the mysterious midnight visitor in
Christie Place; and second only to her did they feature the
well-dressed stranger whom Berg had seen enter at Hume's door before
he had closed his own place for the night. The revolver shot that had
followed the woman's entrance and the parrot-like scream which had, in
turn, followed that, lost nothing in the telling.

"Who was the woman? That is the mystery," the newspaper said in
conclusion. "The hack driver caught but a glimpse of her, and in the
excitement of the moment failed to take the number of the car. But
that the latter was a Maillard he is positive. There are several
headquarter's men following up the clew as this goes to press; and
startling developments are expected at any moment.

"As to the second man whom the fancy grocer, Berg, saw go into Hume's,
there is a well-founded belief that he is very well known in select
circles and had called at Hume's frequently upon a matter concerning
which both he and Hume were always very secretive. The _Star_ called
up both his apartments and his office, but he had not been seen at
either place on the day after the murder. The clubs of which he is a
member were resorted to, but with no more success. As this gentleman
is known to be engaged to the beautiful heiress of a huge fortune, the
_Star's_ well-known special writer, Nancy Prindeville, was detailed to
get her statement. But a man servant stated that his mistress had
given positive orders that she could not be seen."

The investigator threw down the paper.

"Well," said he to himself with a shrug, "that makes it a little
annoying for the young lady. The fact that they refer to Morris when
they speak of a young man 'well known in select circles' will be plain
to everyone, for the facts of Morris' visits have been rather well
exploited in all the other papers. And as newspaper men are not
without daring in their conjectures, I wonder how long it will be
before one of them openly associates the 'beautiful unknown' with
Allan Morris' betrothed. I would, I think, offer even money that the
thing is hinted at before night."

He sat for some time in the midst of the scattered sheets thinking
deeply;