A dreadful gloom had settled down upon the old house.  Poor Miss Oman crept silently but restlessly up and down the ancient stairs with dim eyes and a tremulous chin, or moped in her room with a parliamentary petition (demanding, if I remember rightly, the appointment of a female judge to deal with divorce and matrimonial causes) which lay on her table languidly awaiting signatures that never came.  Mr. Bellingham, whose mental condition at first alternated between furious anger and absolute panic, was fast sinking into a state of nervous prostration that I viewed with no little alarm.  In fact, the only really self-possessed person in the entire household was Ruth herself, and even she could not conceal the ravages of sorrow and suspense and overshadowing peril.  Her manner was almost unchanged; or rather, I should say, she had gone back to that which I had first known—­quiet, reserved, taciturn, with a certain bitter humour showing through her unvarying amiability.  When she and I were alone, indeed, her reserve melted away and she was all sweetness and gentleness.  But it wrung my heart to look at her, to see how, day by day, she grew ever more thin and haggard; to watch the growing pallor of her cheek; to look into her solemn grey eyes, so sad and tragic and yet so brave and defiant of fate.

It was a terrible time; and through it all the dreadful questions haunted me continually:  When will the blow fall?  What is it that the police are waiting for?  And when they do strike, what will Thorndyke have to say?

So things went on for four dreadful days.  But on the fourth day, just as the evening consultations were beginning and the surgery was filled with waiting patients, Polton appeared with a note, which he insisted, to the indignation of Adolphus, on delivering into my own hands.  It was from Thorndyke, and was to the following effect:——­

“I learn from Dr. Norbury that he has recently heard from Herr Lederbogen, of Berlin—­a learned authority on Oriental antiquities—­who makes some reference to an English Egyptologist whom he met in Vienna about a year ago.  He cannot recall the Englishman’s name, but there are certain expressions in the letter which make Dr. Norbury suspect that he is referring to John Bellingham.

“I want you to bring Mr. and Miss Bellingham to my chambers this evening at 8.30, to meet Dr. Norbury and talk over this letter; and in view of the importance of the matter, I look to you not to fail me.”

A wave of hope and relief swept over me.  It was still possible that this Gordian knot might be cut; that the deliverance might come before it was too late.  I wrote a hasty note in reply to Thorndyke and another to Ruth, making the appointment; and having given them both to the trusty Polton, returned somewhat feverishly to my professional duties.  To my profound relief, the influx of patients ceased, and the practice sank into its accustomed torpor; whereby I was able, without base and mendacious subterfuge, to escape in good time to my tryst.