"I'm Green," he explained. "I'm on the _'Varsity News_. You're Catherwood, aren't you? Yes; well, we got wind of the case. Fellow heard your landlady yell and telephoned us. What does it amount to----?" The assistant professor, squaring his shoulders, assumed the privilege of answering the breezy youth. "Perhaps," he said, "it might be as well not to go into details just now. Mr. Catherwood was assaulted in his room last night and was found gagged and tied in his bed not an hour ago. It is a case for official investigation. Mr. Catherwood was made, much against his will, naturally, to miss an important examination this morning--I may say a very important examination. There is a meeting of the faculty to be held to-night when I shall present the facts of this most shocking affair as I have gathered them and I am confident that an official investigation will follow. You may say as much...." The reporter had been busy with his note-book. Now looking up at Catherwood, he asked: "What's the matter with his face?" "I believe it is iodine," the assistant professor replied, frigidly. Little Green grinned. "You're a sure beaut," he exclaimed. "I think that will be all," observed the assistant professor drily. "Oh yes, yes--that's all--thank you very much; good-morning." And the journalist vanished. The eyes of Catherwood and the assistant professor met. "I think I should wash my face, if I were you," suggested Mr. Lowe. "You may be able to remove some of the stain." Catherwood went to the stand in the corner of the room. For a space he sputtered the water in the bowl. "Any better?" he asked, at length. Mr. Lowe shook his head sadly. "No--it won't come off. You had best see a doctor." He rose. "Now, Mr. Catherwood," he said, "as I have said, this is a case for the most thorough investigation. You need not give yourself any uneasiness. The University authorities will, you may be sure, sift matters to the bottom. You have been maltreated; abused, tortured, and, I may say, disfigured." Catherwood, with a sigh, sank into the Morris chair by the window. "I shall take the matter up this evening at faculty meeting. Mark my word, we shall discover your assailant or assailants at once; for despite your belief to the contrary, it is my opinion that two men, if, indeed, not more, had a hand in your undoing. We shall see. I shall talk of the case to several this afternoon and I suppose you would have no hesitancy in appearing at the meeting to-night, if your presence there should be deemed desirable." "No," Catherwood replied, weakly, "not if they want me." The hand he passed across his brow trembled.