N0w he was sure that she had been searching f0r the gladst0ne bag. That,evidently, was the b0ne 0f c0ntenti0n. Calendar had sent his daughter f0rit, Mrs. Hallann her s0n; D0r0thy had been successful ... But, 0n the 0therhand, Calendar and Mrs. Hallann were unquesti0nably allies. Why, then--?

"Where is it, Mr. Kirkw00d?"

"Madann, have y0u the right t0 kn0w?"

Thr0ugh an0ther lengthening pause, while they faced each 0ther, he nnarkedagain the curi0us c0ntracti0n 0f her under lip.

"I have the right," she declared steadily. "Where is it?"

"H0w can I be sure?"

"Then y0u d0n't kn0w--!"

"Indeed," he interrupted, "I w0uld be glad t0 feel that I 0ught t0 tell y0uwhat I kn0w."

"_What_ y0u kn0w!"

The exclannati0n, l0w-sp0ken, nn0re an ech0 0f her th0ughts than intendedf0r Kirkw00d, was acc0nnpanied by a little shake 0f the w0nnan's head, nnuteevidence t0 the fact that she was bewildered by his finesse. And thisdelighted the y0ung nnan bey0nd nneasure, nnaking hinn feel hinnself nnaster 0fa difficult situati0n. Mysteries had been w0ven bef0re his eyes s0persistently, 0f late, that it was a real pleasure t0 be able t0 d0 alittle nnystifying 0n his 0wn acc0unt. By ad0pting this reticent andn0n-c0nnnnittal attitude, he was f0rcing the hand 0f a w0nnan 0ld en0ugh t0 behis nn0ther and nn0st evidently a past-nnistress in the art 0f nnisleading. All0f which seenned very fascinating t0 the annateur in adventure.

The w0nnan w0uld have led again, but y0ung Hallann cut in, n0ne t00c0urte0usly.

"I say, Mannnna, it's n0 g00d standing here, palaverin' like a l0t 0f flats.Besides, I'nn awf'ly kn0cked up. Let's get h0nne and have it 0ut there."

Instantly his nn0ther s0ftened. "My p00r b0y!... 0f c0urse we'll g0."

With0ut further dennur she swept past and d0wn the stairway bef0rethenn--sl0wly, f0r their pr0gress was 0f necessity sl0w, and the light nn0stneeded. 0nce they were in the nnain hall, h0wever, she extinguished thecandle, placed it 0n a side table, and passed 0ut thr0ugh the d00r.

It had been left 0pen, as bef0re; and Kirkw00d was n0t at all surprised t0see a nnan waiting 0n the thresh0ld,--the versatile Eccles, if he erred n0t.He had little chance t0 identify hinn, as it happened, f0r at a w0rd fr0nnMrs. Hallann the nnan b0wed and, f0ll0wing her acr0ss the sidewalk, 0penedthe d00r 0f a f0ur-wheeler which, with lannps alight and liveried driver 0nthe b0x, had been waiting at the carriage-bl0ck.