, staggering rather than
walking up the stairs. "But I have performed one of the hardest tasks
of my life to-night and have only succeeded by a few seconds!"

We were now at the door of my room, but:

"Don't go in!" said Gatton shortly. "Let me think what we must do."

"But I don't understand at all!"

"You will understand in a moment!" was the grim reply. "You would have
understood already if you had lighted your candle."

Words failed me altogether. At that we stood in the passage for some
moments in silence; then:

"We have got to risk it," said Gatton, "if my theory is to be put to
the test"

"Risk it?"

"Oh! I can assure you of the risk," he declared. "It will be
touch-and-go. Are you game?"

"Well," I said, laughing in a very forced fashion, "this has been a
night of such intense surprises that I think I can survive one more."

"Very well," replied the Inspector; and there was something strange in
hearing the familiar voice and dimly discerning in the reflected
moonlight, which shone in at a window further along the passage, the
unfamiliar figure before me.

"What have we to do?"

"We have to take a chance of sudden death!" he answered, "but we will
minimize it as much as possible."

Seeing me about to give voice to one of the many questions which
literally burned upon my tongue:

"Explanations can come later," said he. "Where can I find a candle?"

"There is one on the dressing-table just to the left of the window. I
will get it--"

But he grasped my arm roughly, and:

"This is _my_ business! Wait here for me," he rapped tersely.

He heard the rasp of the match upon the box, as I struck a light to
guide him in his search. Whereupon:

"I thought I warned you!" he cried, and struck the match from my hand.
"_No light_!"

With that he pushed open the door, and I saw his square figure
outlined against the moon-bright open window as he crossed the room.
Since he had referred to the peril which hung over us, it was with
bated breath that I awaited his return, not in the least knowing what
to expect. A few moments later he returned with the candlestick.

"Now," said he, carefully reclosing the door, "light the candle."

Awed by something in his voice and manner, I did as he directed
without demur, noting with amazement, in the light thus created, how
simple yet how effective was the disguise which my friend had adopted.

He gave me no time for comment, however, but:

"Listen," said he. "I'