ell aware of the fact."

"You were in Holland with a lady," accused Mr. Mann slowly. "Is Miss
Nuttall well aware of this fact, too?"

Jasper slipped from the table and stood upright. Through his narrow lids
he looked down upon his accuser.

"Is that all you know?" he asked softly.

"Not all, but one of the things I know," retorted the other. "You were
seen in her company. She was staying in the same hotel with you as 'Mrs.
Cole.'"

Jasper nodded.

"You will excuse me if I decline to discuss the matter," he said.

"Suppose I ask Miss Nuttall to discuss it?" challenged the little man.

"You are the master of your own actions," said Jasper Cole quickly, "and
I dare say, if you regard it as expedient, you will tell her, but I can
promise you that whether you tell her or not I shall marry Miss
Nuttall."

With this he ushered his visitor to the door, and hardly waited for the
car to drive off before he had shut that door behind him.

Late that night the two friends forgathered and exchanged their
experiences.

"I am sure there is something very wrong indeed," said Frank
emphatically. "She was not herself. She spoke mechanically, almost as
though she were reciting a lesson. You had the feeling that she was
connected by wires with somebody who was dictating her every word and
action. It is damnable, Mann. What can we do?"

"We must prevent the marriage," said the little man quietly, "and employ
every means that opportunity suggests to that purpose. Make no mistake,"
he said emphatically; "Cole will stop at nothing. His attitude was one
big bluff. He knows that I have beaten him. It was only by luck that I
found out about the woman in Holland. I got my agent to examine the
hotel register, and there it was, without any attempt at disguise: 'Mr.
and Mrs. Cole, of London.'"

"The thing to do is to see May at once," said Frank, "and put all the
facts before her, though I hate the idea; it seems like sneaking."

"Sneaking!" exploded Saul Arthur Mann. "What nonsense you talk! You are
too full of scruples, my friend, for this work. I will see her
to-morrow."

"I will go with you," said Frank, after a moment's thought. "I have no
wish to escape my responsibility in the matter. She will probably hate
me for my interference, but I have reached beyond the point where I
care--so long as she can be saved."

It was agreed that they should meet one another at the office in the
morning and make their way together.

"Remem