l
or a great scoundrel. I would never dream of marrying you under any
circumstances. And now I think you had better go."

This time he did not stop her as she walked to the door and flung it
open. She started back with an exclamation of fear, for there were two
men in the hall.

"What do you----"

So far she got when the doctor's arm was round her and his hand was
pressed against her mouth. One of the men was carrying what looked like
a rubber bottle with a conical-shaped mouthpiece. She struggled, but the
doctor held her in a grip of steel. She was thrown to the ground, the
rubber cap of the bottle was pressed over her face, there came a rush of
cold air heavily charged with a sickly scent, and she felt life slipping
away....

"I think she's off now," said the doctor, lifting up her eyelid, "see if
the coast is clear, Gregory, and open the door of my flat."

The man departed. The doctor lifted the unconscious girl in his arms. He
was in the hall when he felt her move. Half-conscious as she was, she
was struggling to prevent the abduction.

"Quick, the door!" he gasped.

He carried her across the landing into his room, and the door closed
quietly behind him.

CHAPTER XI

THE HOUSE NEAR STAINES

Oliva Cresswell remembered nothing. She did not remember being thrust
limply into a long narrow box, nor hearing Beale's voice, nor the click
of the door that fastened him in Dr. van Heerden's bedroom. If she cried
out, as she did, she had no recollection of the fact.

"Carry her, box and all, to her flat. The door is open," whispered van
Heerden to the two men who had made their lightning disappearance into
the anatomical cases at the sound of Beale's knock.

"What shall we do?"

"Wait till I come to you. Hurry!"

They crossed the landing and passed through the open door of Oliva's
flat and the doctor closed the door behind them and returned in time to
release the savage Beale.

He watched him racing down the stairs, darted to the door of Oliva's
rooms, opened it and went in. In ten seconds she had been lifted from
her narrow prison and laid on her bed, the box had been returned to the
place where it had stood in the doctor's study and the men had returned
to join van Heerden in Oliva's darkened sitting-room.

Van Heerden had switched on the light in the girl's room and then
noticed for the first time that one of her shoes was missing. Quickly he
slipped off the remaining shoe.

"You wait here," h