"And, tell me, what connection had Doctor Flynn with the affair?" I demanded, utterly astounded at the very remarkable story unfolded. "Listen--and I'll tell you the whole truth," Kirk said; and, pausing, he looked at both father and daughter, as though to obtain their consent to make further revelations, and thereby elucidate what was certainly the most extraordinary mystery of modern times. What I had heard was startling enough, in all conscience, but what I was yet to learn was still more astounding, as you will see. CHAPTER THIRTY ONE. I AM AGAIN PERPLEXED. As we spoke, Antonio entered, and handed his master a note, which, on reading, he handed in turn to Kirk. "You'll go, I suppose?" he asked the Professor. "I think so," was Greer's reply. "I'll cross to-night. But if I go, I must first run into the City to see Meyrick," and he glanced at his watch, exclaiming, "By Jove! I must be off!" Then, turning to Antonio, he ordered a taxi. "I hope, Mr. Holford," he said, turning to me, "I hope that I've now convinced you that I'm no impostor, and that I am actually Professor Ernest Greer in the flesh." "You have," I admitted; "there are, however, several points which are not yet clear to me." "My good friend Kirk, here, will make them clear, I'm sure," he said. "The only service I beg of you is that of complete and absolute silence. It was the German's life or mine. He attacked me murderously with a knife, and what I did was--God knows!--only in self-defence. Yet--yet the public must know nothing. It is for fear of you, that you might learn the truth and expose the affair to the Press, that I have lived in perpetual anxiety, travelling constantly from place to place, in the hope that you would still regard me as the impostor. While you believed that, I had nothing to fear. My daughter has, indeed, threatened to commit suicide if the public are told that I killed the man who tried to steal my secret. To her, your silence means love and life!" "Yes, Mr. Holford," declared the girl anxiously; "Leonard does not know the truth. If he did, he would surely discard me as the daughter of a murderer. Indeed, I could never again hold up my head. I believe implicitly in my dear father's version of the affair--yet his enemies surely would not! Will you, at least, give me your promise?" she implored. I hesitated. I was not altogether clear upon many points. "When I have seen my wife and consulted with her I will give you an answer, Miss Greer," I said. "I admit that what I have learnt to-day has held me in surprise and removed many doubts from my mind."