upon him there was an interchange of glances and a raising
of brows.

But nothing passed behind the closed door that would have enlightened any
of them. For Mordaunt scarcely waited to be alone with the man before he
said, "I must ask you to wait some time longer if you wish to speak to
me. I am not at liberty at present."

"If I may wait here--" the stranger suggested meekly.

"Yes. You can do that. Have you dined?"

"But no, monsieur."

Mordaunt rang the bell. His face was quite immovable. He stood and waited
in silence for an answer to his summons.

Holmes came at length. He betrayed no surprise at sight of the stranger
in the room, but stood stiffly at attention, as though prepared to remove
him at his master's bidding.

"Holmes," Mordaunt said very distinctly, "this--gentleman has private
business with me, and he will wait in this room until I am able to attend
to him. Will you get him some dinner, and see that no one but yourself
comes into the room while he is here?"

"Very good, sir," said Holmes.

He looked his charge over with something of the air of a sentry taking
stock of a prisoner, and turned about.

"See that he has all that he wants," Mordaunt added.

"Very good, sir," Holmes said again, and withdrew.

Mordaunt turned at once towards the other door. "I may be a couple of
hours," he said, and passed through gravely into his sitting-room.

The trio assembled there glanced up again at his entrance with
professional curiosity, but Mordaunt's face was quite inscrutable.
Without speaking, he went to the table, took out his notebook, and began
to write. The evidence had that evening been completed, and the trial
adjourned for two days. It was his intention to write a short _resume_ of
the whole, and this he proceeded to do with characteristic clearness of
outline. His pen moved rapidly, with unwavering decision, and for upwards
of an hour he was immersed in his task, to the exclusion of all other
considerations.

The three other men in the room completed their own reports, and went out
one by one. The hotel was full of journalists from all parts, and the
dinner-hour was always a crowded time. It was considered advisable by the
English _coterie_ to secure the meal as early as possible, but to-night
Mordaunt neglected this precaution. He did not look up when the others
left, or stir from his place until the article upon which he was engaged
was finished.

He threw down his pen at last, and le