"Good heavens!" cries Walter Parks. "Franz Krutzer! why, Stanhope--why, Ainsworth, it was that man's wife who had the care of your little girl!" "Precisely," confirms Stanhope. John Ainsworth leans forward and extends two trembling hands. "You know," he whispers, "what do you know of my child?" And then as Stanhope hesitates, he cries piteously: "Oh, tell me, is she alive?" "I have not a doubt of it," says Stanhope, smiling. "She was alive half an hour ago." "And safe and well?" "And safe and well." "Thank God! Oh, thank God!" A moment he bows his head upon his hands, then lifts it and exclaims eagerly: "Half an hour, you said; then--she must be near?" "Yes; she is very near." "Take me to her--tell me where to find her--at once." "Mr. Ainsworth--" Stanhope drops from the desk and extends his hand to the anxious father--"your daughter is near and safe, but she has lately passed through a terrible ordeal. She is exhausted in body and mind. More excitement just now might do her serious harm. I beg you to be patient. When you have heard what I am about to tell these gentlemen and yourself, you will feel assured that you have a daughter to be proud of." With a sign of assent, the Australian sinks back upon his chair, making a visible effort to control his impatience. And Stanhope resumes his perch upon the desk. "I must begin," he said, "with Mr. Follingsbee; and I must recall some things that may seem out of place or unnecessary. It was nearly six weeks ago," addressing himself to his Chief, "that you gave me a commission from Mr. Follingsbee." The Chief nodded; and the lawyer stared as if wondering why that business need be recalled. "I was to attend a masquerade," resumes Stanhope, "and to meet there the lady who desired my services. I was to be escorted by Mr. Follingsbee, and I decided to wear, for the sake of convenience, a dress I bought in Europe, and which I had there worn at a masquerade that I attended in company with Van Vernet. After accepting this commission, and receiving my instructions, I put on a rough disguise, and went to a certain locality which we had selected as the place for a Raid that would move the following night. I was to leave the ball at a very early hour, in order to conduct this Raid. And to make sure that none of my birds should slip through my fingers, I went, as I have said, on the night before, to reconnoitre the grounds. In a sort of Thieves' Tavern, where the worst of criminals assembled, I found a young fellow, evidently an escaped convict, in a hot fight with some of the roughs. I brought him out of the place, and as he seemed dying, I took him to a hospital, and left him in the care of the Sisters. The next day I prepared for the Raid, and the Masquerade."