"I shall instruct the waiter to bring him to the box when he returns here. Come, doctor," added Zirknitz, in a whisper, "I wish to speak with you--about the murder." A thrill ran though Ellis as he followed the Austrian up the stairs. Was the man about to confess to his crime? That was hardly probable. Perhaps he intended to explain the cypher. Yet that, also, was doubtful. By this time Ellis had seated himself in a shady corner of the box. He was thoroughly puzzled, and could conceive of no reason why Zirknitz should seek this interview. The young man closed the door, removed his coat and hat, and offered Ellis a cigarette. The doctor refused on the plea that he had smoked enough, for he could not bring himself to accept anything from the hands of M. Zirknitz. They were those of a card-sharper, a swindler--a murderer! In this belief Ellis decided to let the Austrian do most of the talking, hoping to trap him--if not into confession at least into damaging admissions. His own _rôle_ was to say nothing--to know nothing and to give M. Zirknitz a sufficiency of rope to weave a halter. The situation was uncomfortable, and Ellis felt as though he were dealing with a graceful but dangerous tiger which required dexterous and diplomatic handling. "I am glad to meet you, doctor," said Zirknitz, in his quiet voice. "Indeed, had I not done so here by chance I should have called on you." "With reference to the murder?" "Say with reference to Mrs. Moxton and her husband's will. Also, monsieur, with reference to her husband's cousin. Ah, _scélérat!_" "Busham?" "Ah, yes, that is the name. Mr. Richard Busham, the advocate." "Do you know him?" "_Moi, monsieur? Non!_ but I hope to know him if he does not behave well to my sister." Dr. Ellis leant back in his chair with a gasp of astonishment. "Your sister!" "Mrs. Moxton, or, rather, I should say, my half sister. Did you not know? _Quel dommage!_" "How should I know?" muttered Ellis, not yet recovered from his amazement. "Because my sister, Mrs. Moxton, told me that you were her best friend." "I hope I am her friend. But I confess that I am astonished to hear that you are her brother. Are you not a foreigner?" "Yes, to speak truly there is no blood relationship. Mrs. Gordon, the mother of my sister, married my father, Adolph Zirknitz, who was a widower. The marriage of our parents is the bond between us." "I see. And you have two sisters?" "_Oui!_ Mrs. Moxton, who is Laura, and Miss Janet Gordon. Who told you?" "Polly--Miss Horley." "Ah," muttered Zirknitz, with a look of displeasure, "she talks so much, oh, so very much."