This unpromising ensemble, however, was not misleading to Raikes, who had looked up quickly at the first appearance of the detective, and had seen the sharp, penetrating glance with which Gratz had for an instant surveyed the apartment. Moreover, the very leanness of the famous official appealed to him. Here, at least, were none of the obnoxious evidences of repletion which he viewed with such disapprobation in his sturdier nephew. The man's attire, too, commended him to the starved graces of his spare host. It was as characterless as it was possible for fabric to be, and considered with his meager physique and vacant physiognomy, was a fitting complement to both; an adjustment of component detail too consistent to have been the needless aspect it was designed to present. With a voice in which the character had been trained away as surely as the charity from the opinions of the social elite, this descendant of Lecocq accosted his patron, and with business-like brevity indicated that he was already familiar with the situation as outlined by Robert, and if Mr. Raikes would consent to reply to a few questions it would facilitate matters. His hearer indicated that he was entirely at the disposal of the detective. With characteristic concentration, therefore, Gratz began: "Do you suspect anybody in particular?" "No." "That is singular," commented Gratz. "May I ask why? Under such circumstances the mind generally proceeds in some unhappy direction." "Not in this instance," returned Raikes. "Before I suspect any one, I must assign to him supernatural powers, almost. I will have to explain how it is possible for any one to enter this room, penetrate that recess, make the substitution, and retire, leaving the door in the same condition, precisely as left by me the night before." "That is the point," replied Gratz. Then, after a moment's reflection, he inquired: "Am I at liberty to nose around this room?" "Help yourself," answered Raikes. With this assent, Gratz hurried to the window, examined the sash, considered the sheer depths immediately below, its lack of vicinity to other windows, and last, the strong fastenings, to disturb which would involve a degree of rasp and wrench sufficient to disturb the slumbers of a Rip Van Winkle. With a countenance as impassive as ever, he returned to Raikes and said: "Now for the hiding place." With a grimace of reluctant acquiescence, Raikes, closely regarded by the detective, proceeded to the button in the concave, which he moved with slow manipulation for the edification of the alert watcher, who witnessed, without comment, the displacement of the register and the subsequent revelation of the inner compartment. "Remove the bags." At the conclusion of this labor, this impenetrable being produced a small rod of steel from one of his pockets, one end of which concluded in a round knob. With this he proceeded to rap the walls of the inner recess, a proceeding of which Raikes inquired the purpose.