ently he was at a loss as to just what
to say next. The doctor had told him that the money he expected would be
forthcoming--he resigned himself in patience to await the latter's
pleasure. For a moment he glanced at Duvall, however. "You should not
have taken it from me," he said, peevishly.

Duvall looked quickly at Dr. Hartmann. The latter at once spoke up.
"Give the matter no further thought, my man," he said, gravely. "I will
see that you are fairly treated. But before we go ahead, I want you to
tell me more about yourself--your life--your amusements--"

"What the devil have my amusements got to do with the matter?" exclaimed
Seltz, his voice trembling with anger. "I tell you I want my money."

"And I tell you you shall have it. But, now, I insist that you let the
matter drop for the present and answer my questions, otherwise I can do
nothing to help you."

The remark quieted Seltz somewhat. He was, after all, in a peculiar
position. The snuff box was gone. He cursed his stupidity in having let
it pass out of his possession before the price agreed upon for its
delivery had been forthcoming. That Dr. Hartmann did not question the
payment of the money, however, was reassuring. He determined to answer
as well as he could whatever questions the doctor might see fit to ask
him.

The latter continued to examine his supposed patient with a shrewdly
professional air. "How old are you, my man?" he suddenly inquired.

"Thirty-six."

"Do you drink?"

"Yes--I--I drink occasionally."

"Use any drugs?"

"No."

"Appetite good?"

"Yes."

"Sleep well?"

"Yes--pretty well."

"Have you had any shock, recently. Has anything happened to make you
nervous, or excitable?"

Seltz glanced nervously from Duvall to the doctor and back again. What,
he wondered, was the purpose of this examination? Was Dr. Hartmann
trying to lead him into damaging admissions concerning the method he had
employed to secure the snuff box? He scowled, then suddenly spoke. "It's
none of your affair, is it? if I have."

"Oscar!" said Duvall, in a tone of remonstrance. "Don't speak to the
doctor in that way."

"Oscar!" The man turned on the detective angrily. "Look here--you took
that--that--" he hesitated, fearful that some trap had been set for
him--"that article away from me--now see that I get my money."

The doctor glanced at Duvall. "He seems to be possessed with the one
idea," he remarked, _sotto voce_, then turned to Seltz again. "My