"Can I see your mother?" I asked. Whereupon I was invited into the small narrow hall of the musty-smelling house, and a thin-faced, angular woman in rusty black came forward. "Pray pardon my troubling you," I said apologetically, "but I have an urgent message to give to Mr. Martin, who, I understand, has been staying with you." It was an advantage that the girl had unwittingly betrayed the name which the false Professor had adopted. "Mr. Martin's gone, sir. He left this evening." "So your daughter tells me. But haven't you any idea where he intended going?" The woman hesitated, and by that slight pause I felt convinced she knew something which she intended keeping to herself. "No, sir, he left quite suddenly," was her hurried reply. "He had been out all day, and, returning about five, packed up his things, paid me what he owed me, together with a week's rent in lieu of notice, and, getting a cab, drove away." "To the station--eh?" "Yes, I heard him tell the man to drive to Princes Street." "He hadn't been very long with you, had he?" "About a week. He came on the Monday, telling me that he had been recommended by a friend of his, an actor. I let rooms to professionals," she added, in explanation. "He is a very reticent man," I remarked. "I suppose he seldom went out?" "No; he used to read all day, and go for just half-an-hour's stroll at night. He struck me as a rather eccentric man." "So he is," I laughed. "I'm an old friend of his, so, of course, I know. I hope he is not in your debt. If so, please tell me and I'll liquidate it." "Oh, not at all, sir. He's paid for everything," declared the woman, upon whom my ready offer to pay her lodger's debts had evidently made an impression. "His sudden departure mystified us." "Did he receive many letters?" "Only two--and a telegram you sent him--which I found dropped by the side of his dressing-table." "From me?" I echoed, yet next instant recollecting that I had given my name as Kirk. "Yes, you telegraphed to him several days ago to meet you at the Caledonian Hotel in Glasgow. You are Mr. Kirk, are you not?" "Ah, of course, I recollect," I laughed. "Do you think he's gone to Glasgow?" I asked, as the sudden thought occurred to me. "Well, sir," replied the woman, "as you are such an intimate friend of Mr. Martin's, I think I ought to tell you that, before leaving to-night, he asked me in confidence to repeat any telegram that might come for him to the Caledonian in Glasgow, but asking me at the same time to give no information to anyone who might call and make inquiries as to his whereabouts." "Then he's gone to Glasgow to-night!" I exclaimed, with sudden enthusiasm. "If I follow at once, I may find him!" "I certainly think so, sir," was the woman's response, whereupon I made a hurried adieu, and, rejoining the German, into whose palm I slipped a sovereign, was quickly back at the hotel.