"There are many ways," he said. "You do not come down to breakfast. They begin to be alarmed at your absence. Somebody goes to your room and finds there a note addressed to your grandfather. That note is apparently in your handwriting. It contains a few lines to the effect that you have made a great discovery. You have gone at once to follow it up. The family are not to be alarmed if you do not return till very late. When you come back you hope to have a joyful revelation for everybody." Marion smiled in reply. Abell seemed to be so sure of his ground. "What you outline means forgery," she said. "So I presume," Abell replied coolly. "But forgery is so simple nowadays with the aid of the camera. After what I have told you you will be able to see that our scheme has been thoughtfully worked out." "And when I come back do I bring a joyful confession with me?" Abell looked steadily at the speaker. There was something in the expression of his eyes that caused her to drop hers. "That depends entirely upon yourself," he murmured. "One thing you may rely upon--the confession will be made and the clouds rolled away. It is only a matter of hours now. Surely, you do not need to be told why you are detained?" For some reason best known to herself Marion did not need to be told. It was a long time before she spoke again. She ought to have been angry with this man; she ought to have turned from him with indignation; but she did nothing of the kind. And if she had, her indignation would have been wasted. "You are in Dr. Tchigorsky's confidence?" she asked. Abell shook his head with a smile. "I know a great deal about him," he said. "I help him in his experiments. But as to being in his confidence--no. I don't suppose any man in the world enjoys that, unless it is your uncle Ralph." Marion started. In that moment many things became clear to her. Hitherto she had regarded Ralph Ravenspur as anything but a man to be dreaded or feared. Now she knew better. Why had she not thought of this before? "They are great friends?" she said. "Oh, yes. They have been all over the world together. And they have been in places which they do not mention to anybody." CHAPTER LII "AS PROOF OF HOLY WRIT" Tchigorsky hung over the papers before him as if inspired. There was not much, apparently, in the book with the metal clasps, but that little seemed to be fascinating to a degree. The Russian turned it over till he came to the end. "You appear to be satisfied," Geoffrey said. "Satisfied is a poor word to express my feelings," Tchigorsky replied. He stretched himself; he drew a deep breath like one who has been under water.