rable. Besides this, we have the seals, and we know several other
things. I believe that we can save this lady, of if it be too late, we
can avenge her at least."

The commissioner looked at Muller in surprise. "We are in a city of more
than a million inhabitants," he said, almost timidly.

"I have hunted criminals in two hemispheres, and I have found them,"
said Muller simply. The young commissioner smiled and held out his hand.
"Ah, yes, Muller--I keep forgetting the great things you have done. You
are so quiet about it."

"What I have done is only what any one could do who has that particular
faculty. I do only what is in human power to do, and the cleverest
criminal can do no more. Besides which, we all know that every criminal
commits some stupidity, and leaves some trace behind him. If it is
really a crime which we have found the trace of here, we will soon
discover it." Muller's editorial "we" was a matter of formality. He
might with more truth have used the singular pronoun.

"Very well, then, do what you can," said the commissioner with a
friendly smile.

The older man nodded, took the book and its wrappings from the desk, and
went into a small adjoining room.

The commissioner sent for an attendant and gave him the order to fetch a
pot of tea from a neighbouring saloon. When the tray arrived, he placed
several good cigars upon it, and sent it in to Muller. Taking a cigar
himself, the commissioner leaned back in his sofa corner to think over
this first interesting case of his short professional experience. That
it concerned a lady in distress made it all the more romantic.

In his little room the detective, put in good humour by the thoughtful
attention of his chief, sat down to read the book carefully. While he
studied its contents his mind went back over his search in the silent
street outside.

He and Amster had hurried out into the raw chill of the night, reaching
the spot of the first discovery in about ten or fifteen minutes. Muller
found nothing new there. But he was able to discover in which direction
the carriage had been going. The hoof marks of the single horse which
had drawn it were still plainly to be seen in the snow.

"Will you follow these tracks in the direction from which they have
come?" he asked of Amster. "Then meet me at the station and report what
you have seen."

"Very well, sir," answered the workman. The two men parted with a hand
shake.

Before Muller started on to foll