"But surely he won't dare to reveal anything for his own sake. That is why I made the bribe a substantial one." "If he established that one fact to which I have referred, then it would be quite within the bounds of possibility that he might face the music, and lay bare the whole facts of the mystery of Stretton Street," Moroni remarked in a rather lower tone. "At present I think he will keep a still tongue." "Then one thing is quite plain," said the millionaire. "He must not be allowed to prosecute his inquiries any further. And it is for you, Moroni, to rid us of this ever-growing menace. If he is allowed to go on, then we shall one day awake to find our secret revealed." "I quite agree. But how shall we act?" "Ah! I leave that to you," replied De Gex. "You have many ways and means within your power. He is a patient of yours," he added grimly. "Yes. But I happen to know that he is sufficiently wide awake not to take any of my mixtures." "Ah! Then he suspects you! You must act with greatest caution, Moroni. Act as you will, but we must, at all costs, get rid of this fellow." "I suggested that after the affair at Stretton Street. It would then have been so very easy." "I know! I was a fool! I did not foresee the consequences if he met and recognized the girl. Even now we do not know where and how he met her. But the menace to us is the same. We must get rid of him--and quickly, too! The trap must be baited--and what better bait than the girl herself?" CHAPTER THE EIGHTH LITTLE MRS. CULLERTON For nearly half an hour Oswald De Gex and the Italian doctor, Moroni, sat chatting in the darkness. De Gex apologized to his visitor for not offering him a cigarette, remarking that the striking of a match might reveal their presence to anyone strolling in the grounds, for guests at dances frequently have that habit. "Indeed, after you have gone, Moroni, I am meeting the lady whom I mentioned, and shall walk with her outside here. I want to speak with her in private." "But surely that is dangerous!" exclaimed the doctor instantly. "Why?" "If you intend to act as you say you should not hold any clandestine meeting with her," Moroni suggested. "I shall take your advice and preserve this little tube intact," and he paused, "intact at least for the present," he added. "Hence there can be no harm in leaving the ballroom and coming out into the fresh air--eh?" "In that case I see no risk." "The only risk we run is in allowing young Garfield to make inquiries here, in Florence. When he saw me, I, of course, denied everything. But I know that he must have noticed how upset I was at his reappearance." "Well, we have decided to suppress him, have we not?" said Moroni briefly. "And now it is getting late and my taxi is awaiting me down in Fiesole. So I had better be going."