an hour later a taxicab deposited him at the entrance to the Professor's
house. He walked swiftly up the drive and turned towards the garage,
hoping every moment to see something of Lenora. The door of the place
stood open. He entered and walked around. It was empty. There was no sign
of either Craig or Lenora!...

* * * * *

Quest, recovered from his first disappointment, stole carefully out and
made a minute examination of the place. Close to the corner from which
Lenora had sent her wireless message to him, he stooped and picked up a
handkerchief, which from the marking he recognised at once. A few feet
away, the gravel was disturbed as though by the trampling of several feet.
He set his teeth. For a single moment his own danger was forgotten. A
feeling which he utterly failed to recognise robbed him of his indomitable
nerve. He realised with vivid but scarcely displeasing potency a weakness
in the armour of his complete self-control.

"I've got to find that girl," he muttered. "Craig can go to hell!"

He turned away and approached the house. The front door stood open and he
made his way at once to the library. The Professor, who was sitting at his
desk surrounded by a pile of books and papers, addressed him, as he
entered, without looking up.

"Where on earth have you been, Craig?" he enquired petulantly. "I have
rung for you six times. Have I not told you never to leave the place
without orders?"

"It is not Craig," Quest replied quietly. "It is I, Professor--Sanford
Quest."

The Professor swung round in his chair and eyed his visitor in blank
astonishment.

"Quest?" he exclaimed. "God bless my soul! Have they let you out already,
then?"

"I came out," Quest replied grimly. "Sit down and listen to me for a
moment, will you?"

"You came out?" the Professor repeated, looking a little dazed. "You mean
that you escaped?"

Quest nodded.

"Perhaps I made a mistake," he admitted, "but here I am. Now listen,
Professor. I know this will be painful to you, but give me your best
attention for a few minutes. These young women assistants of mine have
formed a theory of their own about the murder in my flat and the robbery
of the jewels. Hold on to your chair, Professor. They believe that the
guilty person was Craig."

The Professor's face was almost pitiful in its blank amazement. His mouth
was wide open like a child's, words seemed absolutely denied to him.

"That's their theor