"He requested me very polite to lave him alone wid it," answered the policeman, with so conscious an air of virtue that Clancy could almost see the denomination of the large bill which he felt sure was in Sullivan's pocket. "It was nothin' agin my duty to lave him," Sullivan explained, elaborately, "since I know Mr. Morris be sight, him not knowin' me and offerin' his card, which I had no need of at all, me havin' been usher at the Opera, before I got too big for them little uniforms they do be havin', and knowin' the Morris box like it was me own ward. And I had to see the Captain when he come, didn't I, and give him a hint of it before he wint upstairs?" "Sure. You're all right, Sullivan," said Clancy, slapping the broad blue shoulder. "Be a good scout, and give me a hint before I go up. But be quick about it, will you? I don't want to keep Mr. Morris waiting. Where did he find you?" "Just down the block a piece. I was goin' on me way, when I heard someone runnin' like hell behind me. 'Officer,' says he, 'come wid me, quick!' and he grabs me by the arm and no more he says, wid me racin' beside him puffin' to kape up, till we come to this door. Open it was, and up the stairs we go together like the divil was chasin' us. When we got to the top, 'Look,' says he, pointin' down, and no more words at all, at all, which might have been he was lackin' his breath, same as me. And I looked, and I couldn't see nothin' but somethin' white and thin, like smoke, a'most, that was stickin' out from under the door. You've heard about that?" Clancy assented with a quick nod. "Yes. He told me. So that's how he got you? That's what I wanted to know. Find out the rest upstairs. Thanks. See you later," and Clancy went up the stairs, two steps at a time. Though his ascent was rapid, his foot fell quietly on the thick carpet. Quiet, too, was his hand on the knob of the door. He had often found that a sudden, unexpected entrance was effective in more ways than one. This time, however, the effect failed utterly, for the door was locked. Clancy, frowning slightly, raised and let fall the small brass knocker. He heard someone moving inside the apartment, and almost immediately a voice near the door asked: "Who's there?" At Clancy's reply, the door opened wide. "Mr. Clancy!" ejaculated Donald Morris, accepting Peter's card with a glance of verification. "I didn't think you could possibly get here so soon. It was good of you----" He did not finish the sentence, but quickly motioned the detective inside and closed the door. The narrow hall into which Clancy stepped was rather dark, the only light coming in from an open door at his right. Through this door Morris immediately led the way, into a large living room, Clancy following close at his heels.