d; certainly he
could not detain the two unless he had a warrant for their arrest. Yet
he experienced a feeling of chagrin at being so easily outwitted. The
doctor's room, seen in disorder through the open door when they
descended the stairs, told a story of a hasty departure.

"She was probably hiding in his room all the time," Roger remarked
grimly as he eyed the untidy bed. "They've gone off somewhere
together, though I'm astonished that they'd be so stupid. It's a
damaging admission, or might be regarded in that light."

"For the life of me, I can't think how she got out of her room without
my seeing her, sir," the old man commented with a rueful shake of the
head.

"Well, there it is, and I believe this woman's been fooling us all
along."

"Do you think their idea is to try to escape, sir?"

"Oh, I hardly think so! It is far more likely they are on their way to
the police with some concocted story against Miss Rowe and against me.
They will arrange it together, thinking to have the advantage of
denouncing me before I can denounce them."

He became, aware that the sharp, black eyes of Aline were fixed on his
face curiously. He wondered how much English she understood.

"It would have been difficult to prevent their leaving the house in any
case," he added slowly. "But I believe I can circumvent them in
another way. I have a plan of action, Chalmers. I am going first to a
chemist Miss Rowe has told me about, and after that I intend to make a
statement at police headquarters. You might get me the telephone book
and a cup of coffee while I change my clothes."

As he spoke a subdued but pathetic whine reached their ears. It came
from Therese's little Aberdeen terrier, who stood in the boudoir door,
looking up with eyes of patient inquiry and uttering continuous plaints.

"_Il pleurs tout le temps,_" murmured Aline. "_Ah, Tony, Tony,
qu'est-ce que tu as? Ah, le pauvre!_"

"Come, Tony, old boy," called Roger, stooping to stroke the dog for a
moment. "What's the matter? Put him outdoors, Chalmers; perhaps he
only wants to go out."

The butler obeyed, and Roger entered his room to change his attire.
His mind was heavily oppressed with the ordeal that lay before him, yet
he was keyed up with a strange excitement. He felt there must now be
no delay in the matter of laying a formal charge against the woman who
for six years had been his father's wife and also against a highly
respected member of t