?" repeated Beale.

The old man was silent.

"It is forbidden that I should speak," he said; "the Herr Doctor is
engaged in a great experiment which will bring him fortune. If I betray
his secrets he may be ruined. Such ingratitude, Herr Peale!"

There was a silence, the old professor, obviously distressed and ill at
ease, looking anxiously at the younger man.

"Suppose I tell you that the Herr Doctor is engaged in a dangerous
conspiracy," said Beale, "and that you yourself are running a
considerable risk by assisting him?"

The big hands were outspread in despair.

"The Herr Doctor has many enemies," mumbled Heyler. "I can tell you
nothing, Herr Peale."

"Tell me this," said Beale: "is there any place you know of where the
doctor may have taken a lady--the young lady into whose room you went
the night I found you?"

"A young lady?" The old man was obviously surprised. "No, no, Herr
Peale, there is no place where a young lady could go. Ach! No!"

"Well," said Beale, after a pause, "I guess I can do no more with you,
professor." He glanced round at the cretonne recess: "I won't
inconvenience you any longer, Mr. Homo."

The curtains were pushed aside and the aesthetic-looking man stepped
out, the half-smile on his thin lips.

"I fear you have had a disappointing visit," he said pleasantly, "and it
is on the tip of your tongue to ask me if I can help you. I will save
you the trouble of asking--I can't."

Beale laughed.

"You are a bad thought-reader," he said. "I had no intention of asking
you."

He nodded to the old man, and with another nod to his companion was
turning when a rap came at the door. He saw the two men exchange glances
and noted in the face of the professor a look of blank dismay. The knock
was repeated impatiently.

"Permit me," said Beale, and stepped to the door.

"Wait, wait," stammered the professor, "if Mr. Peale will permit----"

He shuffled forward, but Beale had turned the latch and opened the door
wide. Standing in the entrance was a girl whom he had no difficulty in
recognizing as Hilda Glaum, sometime desk companion of Oliva Cresswell.
His back was to the light and she did not recognize him.

"Why did you not open more quickly?" she asked in German, and swung the
heavy bag she carried into the room, "every moment I thought I should be
intercepted. Here is the bag. It will be called for to-morrow----"

It was then that she saw Beale for the first time and her face went
wh