“You are very kind, Professor,” Quest observed, flicking the ash from his cigar.

“Not at all,” the other insisted.  “Not at all.  I have the greatest admiration for your methods.”

“I am sorry,” Quest remarked, “that our first meeting here should be under such distressing circumstances.”

The Professor nodded gravely.  He glanced towards his brother, who was talking to an acquaintance a few feet away.

“It has been a most melancholy occasion,” he admitted, his voice shaking with emotion.  “Still, I felt it my duty to support my brother through the trial.  Apart from that, you know, Mr. Quest, a scene such as we have just witnessed has a peculiar—­I might almost say fascination for me,” the Professor continued, with a little glint in his eyes.  “You, as a man of science, can realise, I am sure, that the criminal side of human nature is always of interest to an anthropologist.”

“That must be so, of course,” Quest agreed, glancing towards the automobile in which Lenora was seated.  “If you’ll excuse me, Professor, I think I must be getting along.  We shall meet again, I trust.”

“One moment,” the Professor begged eagerly.  “Tell me, Mr. Quest—­I want your honest opinion.  What do you think of my ape?”

“Of your what?” Quest enquired dubiously.

“Of my anthropoid ape which I have just sent to the museum.  You know my claim?  But perhaps you would prefer to postpone your final decision until after you have examined the skeleton itself.”

A light broke in upon the criminologist.

“Of course!” he exclaimed.  “For the moment, Professor, I couldn’t follow you.  You are talking about the skeleton of the ape which you brought home from South America, and which you have presented to the museum here?”

“Naturally,” the Professor assented, with mild surprise.  “To what else?  I am stating my case, Mr. Quest, in the North American Review next month.  I may tell you, however, as a fellow scientist, the great and absolute truth.  My claim is incontestable.  My skeleton will prove to the world, without a doubt, the absolute truth of Darwin’s great theory.”

“That so?”

“You must go and see it,” the Professor insisted, keeping by Quest’s side as the latter moved towards the automobile.  “You must go and see it, Mr. Quest.  It will be on view to the public next week, but in the meantime I will telephone to the curator.  You must mention my name.  You shall be permitted a special examination.”

“Very kind of you,” Quest murmured.

“We shall meet again soon, I hope,” the Professor concluded cordially.  “Good morning, Mr. Quest!”

The two men shook hands, and Quest took his seat by Lenora’s side in the automobile.  The Professor rejoined his brother.

“George,” he exclaimed, as they walked off together, “I am disappointed in Mr. Quest!  I am very disappointed indeed.  You will not believe what I am going to tell you, but it is the truth.  He could not conceal it from me.  He takes no interest whatever in my anthropoid ape.”