Part 12 (1/2)

”But he knows nothing?”

”That I cannot say. So far he does not, I think, suspect that Seltz was the man he expected from London. If he had, he would never have let me leave his office. Luckily for us, Seltz was a stranger to him, and with the murder of Noel on his conscience, he feared to say anything to the doctor about the snuff box while I was present. I imagine he suspected a trap of some sort. But the doctor will discover, probably before the day is out, how he has been tricked. Then he will begin to investigate, and if he finds out that it was my wife who admitted the man, he may in his rage decide to retaliate upon her. I cannot think of leaving Brussels, without her. She must go with me. Upon that I am determined.”

Dufrenne looked grave, and a glint of anger came into his eyes. ”The service of France, monsieur, is more important than your private affairs. I beg of you that you leave here at once.”

”But why, my friend? We can leave just as well in the morning. The box is safe.” He felt his waistcoat pocket.

”Safe, monsieur! Let me tell you that neither the box nor you yourself are safe for a moment, as long as you remain in Brussels. You would be in no greater danger, if you were carrying about with you a package of dynamite.”

”You are unduly nervous, monsieur,” laughed Duvall, as he observed the Frenchman's look of terror. ”I have every confidence in my ability to take care of myself. I must notify my wife to join me here as soon as possible.”

”How do you propose to do so?” inquired Dufrenne.

For a moment Duvall was puzzled. ”You could not safely call her up by telephone,” the Frenchman continued. ”For her to leave the sanatorium now, in response to such a call, would attract the doctor's suspicion at once. He is probably quite well aware of the fact that she knows no one in Brussels. If he should have her followed here, and see her meet you, he would at once conclude that there was something wrong about the whole affair. He is very well known here in Brussels, and very powerful.

Undoubtedly he would have you both arrested on some pretext. Once you are searched, and the snuff box taken from you, all our work is lost.”

His earnest face, his frightened tones, disturbed the detective greatly.

He saw the force of Dufrenne's arguments, yet the thought of leaving Grace to bear the brunt of Dr. Hartmann's anger was not to be considered for a moment. He looked out of the window in silence for a long time, trying to think out some plan that would insure Grace's safety. A gentle tapping at the door caused him to turn. He nodded to Dufrenne, who at once went to the door and opened it.

The newcomer proved to be Lablanche, of the Prefect's office, whom Dufrenne had met earlier in the day. He bowed to Duvall, who knew him slightly, then glanced at the sleeping figure on the bed. ”You have been successful, monsieur?” he inquired eagerly.

Duvall nodded. ”This fellow”--he indicated Seltz--”must be taken to London as soon as he is in condition to travel. We will leave the matter to you.”

”Excellent, monsieur. He shall be well taken care of. I presume that you and Monsieur Dufrenne will start at once.”

”I desire first, Monsieur Lablanche, to get my wife from the house of Dr. Hartmann.”

Lablanche gave a low whistle. ”I should not advise you to attempt to communicate with her, monsieur.”

”You think her sudden departure would make Hartmann suspicious?”

”Undoubtedly.”

”Then we must arrange for her to come to Brussels this afternoon on some pretext. If she only had some friends in the city--”

”The American Minister, monsieur!” exclaimed Lablanche, suddenly. ”He recommended her to Dr. Hartmann. It appears that he was at one time acquainted with your wife's people. Perhaps he would undertake to telephone to her. That would be entirely safe. But I beg of you, monsieur, do not let the Minister know what your wife's object in going to Dr. Hartmann's was. He knows her only as Miss Ellicott. He vouched for her to Hartmann. If he knew that he had been used, it would make him extremely angry.”

For a few moments Duvall stood in silent thought, then picking up his hat, went toward the door. ”I will see the American Minister at once,”

he said, as he went out. ”Wait for me here, gentlemen. I will be back within an hour.”

Mr. Phelps, the United States Minister, was busy in his cabinet when Duvall was announced. He took the card from his secretary and glanced at it carelessly. The detective's name caused him to start. ”Richard Duvall,” he said aloud, to his secretary. ”Surely it can't be the well-known detective, yet the name--” He regarded the card, his forehead wrinkled with thought. Duvall's distinguished position as the author of several works on the science of criminology was well known to him. ”Show him in,” he said, at length, and began to relight his cigar.

Duvall was ushered in, and in a few moments had explained the object of his visit. ”A young lady--a Miss Ellicott,” he told the Minister, ”had come to Brussels the night before, and had gone to Dr. Hartmann's as a patient.” Mr. Phelps nodded, and added that he had met Miss Ellicott, and had used his influence to enable her to obtain Dr. Hartmann's services. ”The doctor is a great friend of mine,” the Minister remarked.

”I regard him as one of the leading scientists of Europe.”

”Undoubtedly,” the detective a.s.sented gravely. ”I am not acquainted with him, myself. My business is with Miss Ellicott.”

”Then why have you come here?” asked Mr. Phelps, with some asperity.

”The doctor's house is but a few moments' drive.”