ers was a sleep walker. She tried to give her eyes a vacant,
unseeing expression, and fearlessly approached the door.

It stood slightly ajar, and through the glass panels she saw at once
that the room was Dr. Hartmann's laboratory. She arrived at this
conclusion from the various medical appliances which stood about the
room, the uses of which she did not know. Her inspection of the room,
however, was but momentary, for two figures, brightly illuminated by an
overhanging cluster of electric lights, at once attracted her attention.
One of these was Dr. Hartmann. He sat at a large, flat-topped desk, his
profile toward the door, examining with great care a mass of papers
which lay on the desk before him. His forehead was wrinkled with
thought, and an expression of anger dominated his face.

At the other side of the desk sat a tall spare man, with a
military-looking carriage, and a fierce blond mustache, which he was
gnawing uneasily. The two figures sat silent for several moments, no
word passing between them, while Grace watched intently. Presently she
heard the doctor speak. "It took you two years, it seems, to find out
that Monsieur de Grissac uses snuff."

The other nodded. "One year and ten months, to be exact."

"And now," the doctor went on, angrily, "you trust everything to a
stranger."

"It is better so, is it not? The affair is dangerous. Neither you, nor
I, can afford to be mixed up in it."

Doctor Hartmann brought his fist down upon the desk with a bang. "_Gott
in Himmel!_" he roared. "We must take some risks, my friend. I tell you
I must have De Grissac's snuff box without further delay. If that does
not solve the problem, we are at the end of our rope."

"It will solve it," the other man replied imperturbably. "I have
positive assurances to that effect. Furthermore, I have every reason to
believe that we shall hear from London before the end of the week."

"Have you received any word?" the doctor inquired eagerly.

"Yes. The attempt was to be made either to-day or to-morrow. Our man
will report to you at once. He knows nothing of the matter, of course.
He will deliver the box to you, and receive the money."

"Who is the fellow?"

"I do not know his name. I have not seen him, myself. Gratz arranged
everything in London. I considered it very important that nothing should
occur which would connect us with the matter in any way. Monsieur de
Grissac will discover his loss very quickly and will use ever