Now, this remark, coming at such a time and in these circumstances, struck me as so ludicrous that at first I was tempted to laugh; but the man's earnest sincerity, as evidenced by his exhausted condition and the urgency of his manner, did not fail to impress me, and: "Why not?" I asked, still leaning out of the window and filled with a great wonderment. "Never mind," he panted. "Don't! Can I come up?" Something now in the breathless speech of the man below struck me as oddly familiar. But yet so dense was I that I failed to recognize the truth of the matter, and: "Certainly," I said. "I will bring a light down to show you the way, if you have business with me." "No light!" he cried hoarsely. "If you value your life, don't strike a match!" By this time so bewildered had I become that I scarce knew whether to descend to meet this apparent madman or to remain where I was. "Don't hesitate, Mr. Addison!" he cried, now beginning to recover his breath. "Do exactly as I tell you!" "Good God!" I exclaimed. I turned and ran to the door and on downstairs. For at last I had recognized the voice of this midnight runner. Throwing open the door, I held out my hand and the shabby-looking man extended his in return. "_Gatton!"_ I cried excitedly. "Gatton! What on earth does this mean? Why have you been masquerading in this fashion? I saw you here this morning and you never gave me the slightest sign of acknowledgment!" "I never intended to!" panted the Inspector, staggering rather than walking up the stairs. "But I have performed one of the hardest tasks of my life to-night and have only succeeded by a few seconds!" We were now at the door of my room, but: "Don't go in!" said Gatton shortly. "Let me think what we must do." "But I don't understand at all!" "You will understand in a moment!" was the grim reply. "You would have understood already if you had lighted your candle." Words failed me altogether. At that we stood in the passage for some moments in silence; then: "We have got to risk it," said Gatton, "if my theory is to be put to the test" "Risk it?" "Oh! I can assure you of the risk," he declared. "It will be touch-and-go. Are you game?" "Well," I said, laughing in a very forced fashion, "this has been a night of such intense surprises that I think I can survive one more." "Very well," replied the Inspector; and there was something strange in hearing the familiar voice and dimly discerning in the reflected moonlight, which shone in at a window further along the passage, the unfamiliar figure before me. "What have we to do?" "We have to take a chance of sudden death!" he answered, "but we will minimize it as much as possible." Seeing me about to give voice to one of the many questions which literally burned upon my tongue: "Explanations can come later," said he. "Where can I find a candle?" "There is one on the dressing-table just to the left of the window. I will get it--" But he grasped my arm roughly, and: