And so even the stolid Japanese Ito, shivered, and his yellow teeth chattered as he knocked at Mrs. Peyton’s door in the early dawn of Monday morning. “What is it?” she cried, springing from her bed to unbolt her door. “Grave news, madam,” and the Oriental bowed before her. “What has happened? Tell me, Ito.” “I am not sure, madam—but, the master—” “Yes, what about Doctor Waring?” “He is—he is asleep in his study.” “Asleep in his study! Ito, what do you mean?” “That, madam. His bed is unslept in. His room door ajar. I looked in the study—through from the dining-room—he is there by his desk—” “Asleep, Ito—you said asleep!” “Yes—madam—but—I do not know. And Nogi—he is gone.” “Gone! Where to?” “That also, I do not know. Will madam come and look?” “No; I will not! I know something has happened! I knew something would happen! Ito, he is not asleep—he is—” “Don’t say it, madam. We do not know.” “Find out! Go in and speak to him.” “But the door is locked. I tried it.” “Locked! The study door locked, and Doctor Waring still in there? How do you know?” “I peeped from the dining-room window—and I could see him, leaning down on his desk.” “From the dining-room window! What do you mean?” “The small little inside windows. Madam knows?” The study had been added to the Waring house after the house had been built for some years. Wherefore, the dining-room, previously with a lake view from its windows, was cut off from that view. But, the windows, three small, square ones, remained, and so, looked into the new study. However, the study, a higher ceiling being desired, had its floor sunken six feet or more, which brought the windows far too high to see through from the study side, but one could look through them from the dining-room. The original sashes had been replaced by beautiful stained glass, opaque save for a few tiny transparent bits through which a persistent and curious-minded person might discern some parts of the study. The stained glass sashes were immovable, and were there more as a decoration than for utility’s sake. And it was through these peepholes that Ito had discovered the presence of Doctor Waring in his study at the unusual hour of seven o’clock in the morning. The Japanese, true to his tribal instinct, showed no agitation, and his calm demeanor helped to soothe Mrs. Peyton. But as she hastily dressed herself, she decided upon her course of action. Her first impulse was to call her daughter, but she concluded not to disturb the girl. Instead, she telephoned to Gordon Lockwood, and asked him to come over as soon as he possibly could. Old Salt took the message, and transmitted it to the secretary. “What’s the matter over there?” asked Lockwood. “Don’t know. Mrs. Peyton seemed all on edge, ’s far’s I could judge from her voice—but she only said for you to come over.” “All right, I’ll go as soon as I can get dressed.”