cret proved too
great for her? Or had she merely fallen under the influence of the
woman who was guilty? Supposing she was insane, what should we do with
her when we found her? How could we control her? And, supposing she
were not insane, what legal right had we to interfere with her? These
and a hundred other questions crowded upon me, till thought failed,
and I lay back confused, indifferent----

"Here we are, sir," said the driver, jumping down from his seat and
jerking open the door.

I paid him, and went stumblingly up the steps. I have no doubt he was
grinning behind me. As I fumbled with my key, someone opened the door
from the inside.

"Why, Mistair Lester!" exclaimed Martigny's voice. "What is it? You
have no illness, I hope!"

"No," I murmured, "I'm just dead tired," and I started blindly for the
stair.

"Let me assist you," and he took my arm and helped me up; then went on
ahead, opened my door, and lighted the gas.

"Thanks," I said, as I dropped into a chair.

He sat quietly down opposite me, and, weary as I was, I was conscious
of his keen eyes upon me.

"We heard from Miss Holladay this morning," I remarked, unconsciously
answering their question.

He did not reply for a moment, but I had closed my eyes again, and I
was too tired to open them and look at him.

"Ah," he said, in a voice a little hoarse; "and she is well?"

"No; she's disappeared."

"You mean----"

"I mean she's run away," I said, waking up a little.

"And she has informed you----"

"Oh, no; we've just found it out. She's been gone ten days."

"And you are going to search for her?" he questioned carelessly, after
another pause.

"Yes--I'll begin in the morning."

Again there was a moment's silence.

"Ah!" he said, with a curious intensity. "Ah."

Then he arose and left me to tumble incontinently into bed.

CHAPTER XI

I Unmask My Enemy

Tired Nature asserted herself and took the full twelve hours. But I
felt like another man when I left the house next morning, and I was
eager to grapple anew with the mystery. I found two reports awaiting
me at the office: Mr. Royce had passed a good night and was better;
the clerks who had spent the afternoon before in visiting the stables
had as yet discovered nothing, and were continuing their search.

I looked up a time-card of the Long Island Railroad, and found that
Miss Holladay's coachman could not reach the city until 9.30. So I put
on my hat again, sought a