understand that you wish to deny it?"

"No; I want to get confirmation of it. Thanks--good-bye."

Then he asked the post-office for a trunk call to Paris, and after an
hour's wait he was put in touch with the headquarters of the _Europe
Chronicle_. The second 'phone conversation proved as unsatisfactory as
the first. A financial editor of a responsible journal does not talk
freely with any unknown man who rings him up on a hasty trunk call. The
reply came that the information in question reached the paper from a
perfectly reliable source. If Mr Riviere cared to call at the office,
they would give him proof of the accuracy of their statement. They could
not discuss such a matter over the 'phone.

Riviere urged that he was speaking from Wiesbaden.

They were sorry, but they did not care to discuss the matter over the
'phone. He must either take their word for it that the information was
correct, or else call in person at the Paris office.

It was clear to Riviere that he must make the journey to Paris if he
were to unravel the mystery of that astounding statement. The dead
Clifford Matheson mentioned authoritatively as Chairman of the new
company! Why should such an impossible story be set afloat, and what was
the "reliable source" spoken of? He knew that the _Europe Chronicle_
though a sensational paper, would not print self-invented fiction on its
financial page.

"I have an urgent call to Paris," he told Elaine. "I hope you will
excuse my running away so brusquely? I'll be back before the day of your
operation."

"Of course, I excuse you," she replied readily. "I know that something
very important is calling you. And in any case, what right would I have
to say yes or no to a private decision of your own?"

There leapt in her a sudden hope that he would answer from the heart.
But his reply held nothing beyond a bare statement. "This matter is
extremely urgent. I propose to catch a night train to Paris and be back
by to-morrow evening. Is there anything I can do for you before I go?"

"I have everything ... but my sight."

"And that, Dr Hegelmann will give you within the month!" he affirmed.

In Paris early the next morning, Riviere sought out the financial editor
of the _Europe Chronicle_. At a face-to-face interview, Riviere's
personality impressed, and the newspaper man showed himself quite
willing to prove the _bona fides_ of his journal.

"If you will step into the adjoining room," he said, "I'll send