better. He was bent now on taking advantage
of it.

It was nearly three o'clock when he left his room, walked along the
heavily carpeted hall, and descended the stairs in the front of the
house to the second floor. The dim light was flowing from the hall
below but no lamps were lighted above. He turned, crouching, and made
his way along toward Koltsoff's rooms. Footsteps sounded on the stairs
and as he flattened himself against the wall the skirts of a woman
fluttered past him. A second later the door of Miss Wellington's rooms
opened and in the light rushing forth, he saw Anne enter. She was
weeping. He heard the exclamation of the maid and Anne saying
something in reply. Then the door closed.

For five minutes Armitage remained immovable. Then taking from his
pocket a skeleton key and a long thin roll of wire he crept to
Koltsoff's door, which he had marked in the afternoon. As he placed
his hand on the knob it turned in his grasp and opened. There was a
single electric bulb, burning in a crimson globe, and although Armitage
had time to jump back, the light flowing from the open door fell full
upon him. He stood breathing quickly, watching the newcomer, his
forearm poised along his waist, the fist doubled. Without a word, the
man slowly closed the door. As Armitage waited an electric dark-light
flashed in his face with blinding suddenness. Then it went out.

"Not now," came a whispered voice, "Prince Koltsoff has returned. He
has but gone into his room."

Jack did not reply. His hand shot into his pocket and came out with a
dark-light similar to that which had been used against him. As he
aimed the instrument and pressed the spring a brown seamed face with a
head of heavy dark hair appeared in the centre of the illumination.

"Let us have done with lights; they are not necessary," said the man.
The voice was cultivated, the manner gentle. "And besides, they are
not safe."

"What do you want?" Armitage's voice rose with an impatient inflection.

"I might ask that of you," was the soft reply. "But come, a fair
exchange, you know, since our quarry seems to be the same. Although
passing as Prince Koltsoff's secretary, in reality I am Turnecki, of
the Austrian State Department. You are of the secret service of this
country."

Jack was cautious.

"I am a burglar, if you must know," he said. "And if you make any
outcry, I 'll kill you."

"Oh, no you are not," smiled the man, shaking his