door and saw a cab approaching the
house, in which sat Seltz. He turned to Grace, and spoke in a voice so
low as to be scarcely audible.

"Open the door at once--before the man can ring. Pretend to be a maid.
Show him in here immediately. Quick." He withdrew into the waiting-room,
leaving Grace staring at him in amazement. For a moment she hesitated.
It seemed so cruel, to be this near to him, and yet to not even be able
to touch his hand! Then she went quickly to the front door and threw it
open as Seltz came up the steps.

CHAPTER XI

Richard Duvall, alone in Dr. Hartmann's outer office, had not long to
wait. He had hardly succeeded in throwing off the agitation which the
unexpected sight of Grace had caused him, when the door from the hall
was opened, and Grace admitted Seltz to the room.

The latter glanced at Duvall with a curious look, but said nothing.
Grace withdrew, closing the door quietly after her. The detective went
up to the newcomer and addressed him in a low tone.

"You are Oscar Seltz, from London?" he asked, bluntly.

The man appeared greatly taken back. "Yes," he said, haltingly. "I wish
to see Dr. Hartmann."

"About the snuff box, of course?"

Again the man started. "Who are you?" he asked, suddenly suspicious.

"I am Dr. Hartmann's assistant. He has been waiting for you. You have
the box with you, of course?"

The man felt carefully in his pocket, and presently drew out a small
object done up in paper. "Yes, I have it. The price was to be
twenty-five hundred francs."

"That is correct," remarked the detective. "Give it to me."

Seltz drew back his hand. "I want the money first, and I cannot deliver
it to any one but Dr. Hartmann."

"Dr. Hartmann is in the next room," said Duvall, with a pleasant smile.
"He has the money all ready for you. I will call him. But first, let me
see if you have really secured what we want." He held out his hand.
"Don't be afraid," he said. "I shall not leave the room. The box will
not be out of your sight."

Seltz appeared to consider the matter for a brief moment, but the
detective's manner reassured him. He extended the package toward Duvall.
"It is there, all right," he laughed, softly. "And a hard time I had
getting it."

Without making any comment, Duvall took the package, quickly tore off
the coarse paper wrappings, and saw inside a small round ivory box, its
top ornamented with a number of small pearls, arranged in a circular
design abo