He swung round a little in his chair while speaking, and he then proceeded to tell his visitor of the disappearance of Waldmere, and of the circumstances and apprehensions concerning him. The Englishman listened, with occasional interruptions and questions, and with almost constant wringing of his hands. “Well, well, this is terrible, terrible,” he declared, after Nick had concluded. “This news will kill his father, if not already dead. You say you are at work on the case, Mr. Carter. Have you no clew, no encouragement to give me?” Nick already had decided that he would not disclose any of his suspicions. He shook his head and replied gravely: “I can say nothing favorable at present. I don’t know what my further investigations may bring to light.” “But will you confer with me?” Sir Edward questioned. “Will you let me aid you? Will you keep me informed----” “Yes, certainly,” Nick interposed. “I will inform you promptly when I have discovered anything definite. I will at once telephone to you, Mr. Chadwick, if you intend remaining at the Oriental.” “That is my intention, of course, now that I have learned so much from you, and depend upon you so completely.” “You shall hear from me, then, sooner or later,” Nick earnestly assured him. “Frankly, I am all at sea at present.” “Well, well, I am sorry, sorry enough to hear that,” declared Sir Edward, unconscious of the sharper gleam in his narrow eyes, but which was instantly noticed by the detective. “If you would like to meet Mrs. Waldmere, however,” said Nick, “I will call on her with you and----” “No, no, I do not wish to meet her, Mr. Carter, at present,” protested the Englishman, with a half-subdued growl. “She was the apple of discord. I suppose we will have to put up with her. I will meet her after Lord Waldmere has been found and--but that is enough for the present, enough for the present,” he abruptly broke off, rising to go. “Let me hear from you, Mr. Carter. Telephone to me, or call to see me. I shall be on nettles until you find Lord Waldmere safe and sound.” “Unless I am much mistaken and less discerning than you think me, you soon will be on nettles for an entirely different reason,” Nick said to himself, while he arose and accompanied Sir Edward Chadwick to the door. CHAPTER VI. PLAYING THE SPY. It was six o’clock when Sir Edward Chadwick left Nick Carter’s residence and departed in the waiting taxicab. Half an hour later Chick Carter came in and entered the library. He found Nick seated at his desk. Lying on it were several articles that figured as evidence in the case, also a pad of cable blanks and a thick blue book as large as an unabridged dictionary. On a chair near by was the gashed and bloody cape worn by Waldmere the previous night, the gory aspect and circumstances in connection with which seemed to tell beyond reasonable doubt his tragic fate. “Ah, it’s you, Chick,” Nick remarked, looking up when his assistant entered. “Anything new?”