me out of prison. I am by way of being a professional
burglar."

"I am not easily shocked," said Beale.

He glanced at the professor.

"I see," said Parson Homo, rising, "that I am _de trop_. Unfortunately I
cannot go into the street without risking arrest. In this country, you
know, there is a law which is called the Prevention of Crimes Act, which
empowers the unemployed members of the constabulary who find time
hanging on their hands to arrest known criminals on suspicion if they
are seen out in questionable circumstances. And as all circumstances are
questionable to the unimaginative 'flattie,' and his no less obtuse
friend the 'split,' I will retire to the bedroom and stuff my ears with
cotton-wool."

"You needn't," smiled Beale, "I guess the professor hasn't many secrets
from you."

"Go on guessing, my ingenious friend," said the parson, smiling with his
eyes, "my own secrets I am willing to reveal but--_adios!_"

He waved his hand and passed behind the cretonne curtain and the old man
looked up from his instrument.

"It is the Donovan Leichmann body that I search for," he said solemnly;
"there was a case of sleeping-sickness at the docks, and the Herr
Professor of the Tropical School so kindly let me have a little blood
for testing."

"Professor," said Beale, sitting down in the place which Parson Homo had
vacated and leaning across the table, "are you still working for van
Heerden?"

The old man rolled his big head from side to side in an agony of
protest.

"Of the learned doctor I do not want to speak," he said, "to me he has
been most kind. Consider, Herr Peale, I was starving in this country
which hates Germans and regard as a mad old fool and an ugly old devil,
and none helped me until the learned doctor discovered me. I am a
German, yes. Yet I have no nationality, being absorbed in the larger
brotherhood of science. As for me I am indifferent whether the Kaiser or
the Socialists live in Potsdam, but I am loyal, Herr Peale, to all who
help me. To you, also," he said hastily, "for you have been most kind,
and once when in foolishness I went into a room where I ought not to
have been you saved me from the police." He shrugged his massive
shoulders again. "I am grateful, but must I not also be grateful to the
learned doctor?"

"Tell me this, professor," said Beale, "where can I find the learned
doctor to-night?"

"At his so-well-known laboratory, where else?" asked the professor.

"Where else