On the way they picked up French and a plain-clothes man, and the whole
party arrived at their destination just as the storm broke. The Professor
met them in the hall. He, too, seemed to have lost to some extent his
customary equanimity.

"Come this way, my friends," he invited. "If Craig keeps his word, he will
be here now within a few minutes. This way."

They followed him into the library. Chairs were arranged around the table
in the middle of the room, and they all sat down. The Professor took out
his watch. It was five minutes to ten.

"In a few minutes," he continued solemnly, "this weight is to be lifted
from the minds of all of us. I have come to the conclusion that on this
occasion Craig will keep his word. I am not sure, mind, but I believe that
he is in the house at this present moment. I have heard movements in the
room which belonged to him. I have not interfered. I have been content to
wait."

"At least he has not tried to escape," Quest remarked. "French here
brought news of him. He has been living with his niece very quietly, but
without any particular attempt at concealment or any signs of wishing to
leave the city."

"I had that girl brought to my office," French remarked, "barely an hour
ago, but she slipped away while we were talking. Say, what's that?"

They all rose quickly to their feet. In a momentary lull of the storm,
they could hear distinctly a girl's shrill call from outside, followed by
the clamour of angry voices.

"I bet that's the girl," French exclaimed. "She's been looking up the
Professor's address in a directory."

They all hurried out into the hall. The plain-clothes man whom they had
left on guard was standing there with his hand upon Craig's collar. The
girl, sobbing bitterly, was clinging to his arm. Craig was making
desperate efforts to escape. Directly he saw the little party issue from
the library, however, the strength seemed to pass from his limbs. He
remained in the clutches of his captor, limp and helpless.

"I caught the girl trying to make her way into the house," the latter
explained. "She called out, and this man came running down-stairs, right
into my arms."

"It is quite all right," the Professor said, in a dignified tone. "You may
release them both. Craig was on his way to keep an appointment here at ten
o'clock. Quest, will you and the Inspector bring him in? Let us resume our
places at the table."

The little procession made its way down the hall. Th