Doctor Crang was gritting his teeth together. A slight unnatural color was tinging his cheeks. He moved a little closer to the girl. “I'm glad to hear you never saw Mr. Bruce before,” he said cunningly. “You must have traveled _fast_ then--metaphorically speaking. Love at first sight, eh? A cooing exchange of confidences--or was it all on one side? You told him who you were, and where you lived, and----” “I did nothing of the kind!” Claire Veniza interrupted angrily. “I did not tell him anything!” “Just strictly business then, of course!” Doctor Crang moved a step still nearer to the girl. “In that case he must have pawned something, and as Lavergne sends nothing but high-priced articles to your father, we shall probably find quite a sum of money in Mr. Bruce's pockets. Eh--Claire?” She bit her lips. She still did not quite understand--only that she bitterly regretted now, somehow, that she had removed the money from John Bruce's person; only that the drug-crazed brain of the man in front of her was digging, had dug, a trap into which she was falling. What answer was she to make? What was she to---- With a sudden cry she shrank back--but too late to save herself. A face alight with passion was close to hers now; hands that clamped like a steel vise, and that hurt, were upon her shoulder and throat. “You lie!” Doctor Crang shouted hoarsely. “You've lied from the minute I came into this room. John Bruce--hell! I know now why you have always refused to have anything to do with me. That's why!” He loosened one hand and pointed to the figure on the floor. “How long has this been going on? How long have you been meeting him? To-night is nothing, though you worked it well. Hawkins to take you for a little joy ride with your lover while father's away. Damned clever! You left him on that corner--and he's here wounded! How did he get wounded? You never saw him before! You never heard of him! You told him nothing about yourself! He didn't know where you lived--he could only find the private entrance! Just knows enough about you to climb in through your back window like a skewered dog! But, of course, your story is true, because in his pockets will be the money you gave him for what he pawned! Shall we look and see how much it was?” She tore herself free and caught at her throat, gasping for breath. “You--you beast!” she choked. “No; you needn't look! I took it from him, and put it in the safe over there before _you_ came--to keep it away from you.” Doctor Crang swept a hand across his eyes and through his hair with a savage, jerky movement, and then he laughed immoderately.