ad spoken of Miss
Markham's father as a 'landlouping' Australian doctor. The footmarks of
the feathered shoes in the snow at Kirkburn proved that an article which
only an Australian (or an anthropologist) was likely to know of had been
used by the body-snatchers.

Merton reflected. Should he ask the girl whether she had told her father
what, on the night of the marquis's appearance at the office, Logan had
told her? He decided that this was superfluous; of course she had told
her father, and the doctor had taken his measures (and the body of the
marquis) accordingly. To ask a question would only be to enlighten the
girl.

'That is very interesting,' said Merton. 'Now, I won't pretend that I
disguised myself in this way merely to ask you about Australian
curiosities. The truth is that, in your father's interests, I must have
an interview with him.'

'You don't mean to do him any harm?' asked the girl anxiously.

'I have given you my word of honour. As things stand, I do not conceal
from you that I am the only person who can save him from a situation
which might be disagreeable, and that is what I want to do.'

'He will be quite safe if he sees you?' asked the girl, wringing her
hands.

'That is the only way in which he can be safe, I am afraid.'

'You would not use a girl against her own father?'

'I would sooner die where I sit,' said Merton earnestly. 'Surely you can
trust a friend of Mr. Logan's--who, by the bye, is very well.'

'Oh, oh,' cried the girl, 'I read that story of the stolen corpse in the
papers. I understand!'

'It was almost inevitable that you should understand,' said Merton.

'But then,' said the girl, 'what did you mean by saying that my father
has done you a great service. You are deceiving me. I have said too
much. This is base!' Miss Markham rose, her eyes and cheeks burning.

'What I told you is the absolute and entire truth,' said Merton, nearly
as red as she was.

'Then,' exclaimed Miss Markham, 'this is baser yet! You must mean that
by doing what you think he has done my father has somehow enabled
Robert--Mr. Logan--to come into the marquis's property. Perhaps the
marquis left no will, or the will--is gone! And do you believe that Mr.
Logan will thank you for acting in this way?' She stood erect, her hand
resting on the back of a chair, indignant and defiant.

'In the first place, I have a written power from Mr. Logan to act as I
think best. Next, I have not ev