NINE-THIRTY Chance is often a skilled stage manager, and chance had arranged a really effective scene in the hall of the Central Hotel.

The Earl of Valletort seemed to be somewhat unwilling to take up any of the gauntlets so readily thrown down by Devar and the Curtis family, and, for a few seconds, the ring of reporters was held spellbound by a situation which promised most excellently with regard to the all-important question of "copy." Then the police captain, after waiting for Steingall to take the lead, nudged his silent colleague, and said gruffly: "This thing cannot be gone into here.

Those who can bring forward testimony of any value ought to come with Mr.Steingall and myself to the precinct station-house." "Why lose time which cannot be overtaken later ?" urged the Earl, appealing to Steingall, since it was the detective who had spoken to him in the first instance.
"We appear to be at cross purposes," said Steingall.

"How did you two gentlemen get to know that a murder had been committed ?" "Murder!" gasped Count Vassilan.
"We are not talking of a murder, but of a most scandalous abduction, which will provide only one of a number of most serious charges against this person, Curtis," cried the Earl.
Vassilan seized him by the arm excitedly.
"Don't you understand, dear friend," he muttered in French.

"The rascal must have killed de Courtois in order to gain possession of the marriage certificate." "It will save trouble, sir, if you speak English here," said Steingall.
Then he turned to the hotel clerk.
"Place a room at our disposal at once.