ance, has complete confidence in my
ability. I will make it a point to explain matters to him at once. Just
a trifling ailment, a disordered condition of the brain cells. A week
should set you right again. If there is anything you wish, the
attendants will get it for you. Your clothes will be sent up from the
hotel in the morning. Make yourself quite at home, I beg of you."

He turned away, with a sardonic smile, and Duvall heard the key turn in
the door as it closed. He glanced at the barred windows, the door,
half-open, leading to the bathroom, and realized that there was not the
slightest hope of escape. Dr. Hartmann evidently intended to keep him a
prisoner until he disclosed the whereabouts of the snuff box. He smiled
grimly as he threw himself upon the bed. It seemed likely that his stay
would be a long one.

After a time he began to think of Grace. How cleverly she had carried
out her part! It was clear that the doctor did not suspect her, or, if
he did, was unable to see where his suspicions led. How strange it
seemed to realize that she, his wife, lay somewhere under the same roof
with him--possibly even in the very next room! But thirty-six hours had
passed since their wedding and their sudden and unexpected parting.
During that time, he had seen Grace but twice, once, at Hartmann's
office, in the morning; the second time, at the Minister's that night.
How he had longed to touch her hand, to put his arms about her, to feel
his lips on hers. Yet as matters stood, the chances of their seeing each
other in the near future seemed particularly remote. He wondered if
Hartmann would keep him a prisoner in his room. The morning, of course,
would tell. He switched off the lights, got into bed, and after a long
time fell into a broken sleep.

CHAPTER XV

It was late in the afternoon, when Dr. Hartmann, through his man Mayer,
discovered that Seltz had left London, and should have appeared at his
office with the snuff box during the forenoon. A description of Seltz,
together with a curious feeling of uneasiness which he felt after the
departure of the man who had introduced himself as Mr. Brooks, caused
him to conclude that he had been made the victim of a clever trick, and
one which only his professional enthusiasm had made possible.

He at once set to work, through Mayer and his men, to locate Brooks.
This was done, without difficulty, at the Hotel Metropole. While the
doctor followed the latter to the Mini