I recalled all Antonio's ominous statements; how that he had expressed a doubt whether the professor's assassin would ever be brought to justice, and how he had threatened that, if I betrayed the truth to the police, I should never again meet Mabel alive. Did not those words of his conclusively prove complicity in the affair? Why did he command my silence at peril of my dear wife's life. He had lied when he told me that he was ignorant of her whereabouts; but if he were the actual assassin, or even one of the accomplices, I saw that I could hope for no assistance from him. It was that conclusion which caused me to resolve to invoke the aid of the girl whom I had seen lying upon the floor, cold and lifeless. From Rome to Broadstairs is a far cry, but two days later we alighted at Victoria, and on the morning of the third day I found myself at the door of a pretty newly-built red-roofed house standing in its own ground high upon the cliffs between the Grand Hotel at Broadstairs and Dumpton Gap. A neat maid opened the door, and, on inquiring for Miss Greer, I was shown across a square, ample hall to a small cosy sitting-room overlooking the sea, facing direct upon the treacherous Goodwins. The maid who took my card returned to say that her mistress would be with me in a few moments. And then I stood at the window, gazing along at the quaint old-world harbour of Broadstairs, with "Bleak House" standing high beyond, full of keen anxiety as to the result of the interview. She came at last, a tall, slim figure, in a dark stuff skirt and cream silk blouse, relieved by a touch of colour at the throat, a sweet-faced, fair-haired, delicate girl, whose large blue eyes wore a look of wonder at the visit of a stranger. She whom I had seen a corpse was certainly alive, and living here in the flesh! "I must apologise for this intrusion, Miss Greer," I began, for want of something better to say, "but I may introduce myself as an acquaintance of Mr. Langton--an acquaintance under somewhat romantic and curious circumstances." "Mr. Langton has already told me how he met you--when he believed there were burglars in our house in Sussex Place," she said, with a brightening smile. "Yes," I replied. "I--well, I was put there on guard, but Mr. Langton's suspicions fortunately proved to be unfounded." "Ah!" she said, with just the slightest suspicion of a sigh. "I'm glad of that--very glad!" "The reason of my visit, Miss Greer, is," I explained after a brief pause, "to ask you whether you are aware of the whereabouts of my friend, your father?" And I fixed my eyes straight upon hers. "My father went to Scotland," she replied, without wavering. "At present he's in Germany. The last I heard of him was three days ago, when he was in Strassburg." "He wrote to you?" I gasped, staring at her in amazement that this ready lie should be upon her lips. She noted my surprise, and said: "Yes, why shouldn't he?"