d telling
the cabman to wait, mounted the steps and rang the bell.

A diminutive maid opened the door.

"Is Miss Glaum in?" he demanded.

"Yes, sir. Will you step into the drawing-room. All the other boarders
are out. What name shall I say?"

"Tell her a gentleman from Krooman Mansions," he answered
diplomatically.

He walked into the tawdry parlour and put down his hat and stick, and
waited. Presently the door opened and the girl came in. She stopped
open-mouthed with surprise at the sight of him, and her surprise
deepened to suspicion.

"I thought----" she began, and checked herself.

"You thought I was Doctor van Heerden? Well, I am not."

"You're the man I saw at Heyler's," she said, glowering at him.

"Yes, my name is Beale."

"Oh, I've heard about you. You'll get nothing by prying here," she
cried.

"I shall get a great deal by prying here, I think," he said calmly. "Sit
down, Miss Hilda Glaum, and let us understand one another. You are a
friend of Doctor van Heerden's?"

"I shall answer no questions," she snapped.

"Perhaps you will answer this question," he said, "why did Doctor van
Heerden secure an appointment for you at Punsonby's, and why, when you
were there, did you steal three registered envelopes which you conveyed
to the doctor?"

Her face went red and white.

"That's a lie!" she gasped.

"You might tell a judge and jury that and then they wouldn't believe
you," he smiled. "Come, Miss Glaum, let us be absolutely frank with one
another. I am telling you that I don't intend bringing your action to
the notice of the police, and you can give me a little information which
will be very useful to me."

"It's a lie," she repeated, visibly agitated, "I did not steal anything.
If Miss Cresswell says so----"

"Miss Cresswell is quite ignorant of your treachery," said the other
quietly; "but as you are determined to deny that much, perhaps you will
tell me this, what business brings you to Doctor van Heerden's flat in
the small hours of the morning?"

"Do you insinuate----?"

"I insinuate nothing. And least of all do I insinuate that you have any
love affair with the doctor, who does not strike me as that kind of
person."

Her eyes narrowed and for a moment it seemed that her natural vanity
would overcome her discretion.

"Who says I go to Doctor van Heerden's?"

"I say so, because I have seen you. Surely you don't forget that I live
opposite the amiable doctor?"

"I am not going