“Come this way, my friends,” he invited.  “If Craig keeps his word, he will be here now within a few minutes.  This way.”

They followed him into the library.  Chairs were arranged around the table in the middle of the room, and they all sat down.  The Professor took out his watch.  It was five minutes to ten.

“In a few minutes,” he continued solemnly, “this weight is to be lifted from the minds of all of us.  I have come to the conclusion that on this occasion Craig will keep his word.  I am not sure, mind, but I believe that he is in the house at this present moment.  I have heard movements in the room which belonged to him.  I have not interfered.  I have been content to wait.”

“At least he has not tried to escape,” Quest remarked.  “French here brought news of him.  He has been living with his niece very quietly, but without any particular attempt at concealment or any signs of wishing to leave the city.”

“I had that girl brought to my office,” French remarked, “barely an hour ago, but she slipped away while we were talking.  Say, what’s that?”

They all rose quickly to their feet.  In a momentary lull of the storm, they could hear distinctly a girl’s shrill call from outside, followed by the clamour of angry voices.

“I bet that’s the girl,” French exclaimed.  “She’s been looking up the Professor’s address in a directory.”

They all hurried out into the hall.  The plain-clothes man whom they had left on guard was standing there with his hand upon Craig’s collar.  The girl, sobbing bitterly, was clinging to his arm.  Craig was making desperate efforts to escape.  Directly he saw the little party issue from the library, however, the strength seemed to pass from his limbs.  He remained in the clutches of his captor, limp and helpless.

“I caught the girl trying to make her way into the house,” the latter explained.  “She called out, and this man came running down-stairs, right into my arms.”

“It is quite all right,” the Professor said, in a dignified tone.  “You may release them both.  Craig was on his way to keep an appointment here at ten o’clock.  Quest, will you and the Inspector bring him in?  Let us resume our places at the table.”

The little procession made its way down the hall.  The girl was still clinging to her uncle.

“What are they going to do to you, these people?” she sobbed.  “They shan’t hurt you!  They shan’t!”

Lenora passed her arm around the girl.

“Of course not, dear,” she said soothingly.  “Your uncle has come of his own free will to answer a few questions, only I think it would be better if you would let me—­”