and on the
round table in the centre of the sitting-room was a copy of the most
modern edition of Quain's 'Dictionary of Medicine,' edited by Murray,
Harold, and Bosanquet, bound in half-morocco; the volume was open at the
article 'Anaesthetics,' and Hugo will always remember that the page was
sixty-two. No sooner were the rooms found to be empty than Hugo rushed
back to the landing, followed by Simon. The landing, however, even with
the sitting-room door thrown wide and the light streaming across the
landing and down the stairs, showed no sign of life.

Then Albert, who had remained within the suite, called out:

'There must be a dressing-room off this bedroom, and it's locked.'

'Simon,' said Hugo, 'go to the front window and keep watch.'

And Hugo ran into the bedroom to Albert.

Decidedly there was a door in the bedroom which had the appearance of
leading into a further room, but the door would not budge. The pair
glanced about. No evidence of recent human habitation was visible either
in the sitting-room or in the bedroom, save only the dictionary, and
Albert commented on this.

'We must force that door,' Hugo decided, 'and be ready to look after
yourself when it gives way.'

As he spoke he could see, in the tail of his eye, Simon opening the
front window and then looking out into the street.

'One--two--charge!' cried Hugo; and he and Albert flung themselves
valiantly against the door.

They made no impression upon it at all.

Breathless and shaken, they looked at each other.

'Suppose I fire into the lock?' said Hugo.

'We might try a key first,' Albert answered.

He took the key from the door between the bedroom and the sitting-room,
and applied it to the lock of the obstinate portal. The obstinate portal
opened at once.

'Empty!' ejaculated Albert, putting his nose into a small dressing-room.

With a gesture of disgust Hugo turned away. In the same instant Simon
withdrew his head into the sitting-room.

'I've seen him,' Simon whispered in hoarse excitement. 'He just popped
out of the kitchen and came half-way up the area steps. Then he ran
back. He saw me looking at him.'

'Ravengar?'

Simon nodded. This was the hour of Simon's triumph, the proof that he
had not been mistaken in the theory which he had raised on the
foundation of the photograph.

'Come along,' said Hugo grimly, preparing to rush downstairs.

But a singular thing had occurred. While Simon had been staring out of
the fr