king some of
the quieter ones with me down into the village and letting the people
become acquainted with them. It is good for both parties. It gives
the patients some little diversion, and it takes away the worst of
the senseless fear these peasants had at first of the asylum and its
inmates. Cardillac in particular is always welcome when he comes, for he
brings the children all sorts of toys that he makes in his cell."

The detective had listened attentively and once his eyes flashed and his
lips shut tight as if to keep in the betraying whistle. Then he asked
calmly: "But the patients are only allowed to go out when you accompany
them, I suppose?"

"Oh, no; the attendants take them out sometimes. I prefer, however, to
let them go only with Gyuri, for I can depend upon him more than upon
any of the others."

"Then he and Cardillac have been out together occasionally?"

"Oh, yes, quite frequently. But--pardon me--this is almost like a
cross-examination."

"I beg your pardon, doctor, it's a bad habit of mine. One gets so
accustomed to it in my profession."

"What is it you want?" asked Doctor Orszay, turning to a fine-looking
young man of superb build, who entered just then and stood by the door.

"I just wanted to announce, sir, that No. 302 is quiet again!

"302 is Cardillac himself, Mr. Muller, or to give him his right name,
Lajos Varna," explained the doctor turning to his guest. "He is the
302nd patient who has been received here in these twenty years. Then
Cardillac is quiet again?" he asked, looking up at the young giant. "I
am glad of that. You can announce our visit to him. This gentleman wants
to inspect the asylum."

Muller realised that this was the attendant Gyuri, and he looked at
him attentively. He was soon clear in his own mind that this remarkably
handsome man did not please him, in fact awoke in him a feeling of
repulsion. The attendant's quiet, almost cat-like movements were in
strange contrast to the massivity of his superb frame, and his large
round eyes, shaped for open, honest glances, were shifty and cunning.
They seemed to be asking "Are you trying to discover anything about me?"
coupled with a threat. "For your own sake you had better not do it."

When the young man had left the room Muller rose hastily and walked up
and down several times. His face was flushed and his lips tight set.
Suddenly he exclaimed: "I do not like this Gyuri."

Dr. Orszay looked up astonished. "There are m