“When I come back,” I began, but was forced to pause, the elder Schoenmaker having by this time reached the open doorway where he stood frowning in upon us in a way that made my heart stand still for her.

“What are you two talking about?” said he; “and what have you got in your basket there?” he continued with a stride forward that shook the floor.

“Only some little toys that he has been making, and is now going out to sell,” was her low answer given with a quick deprecatory gesture such as I doubt if she ever used for herself.

“Nothing more?” asked he in German with a red glare in the eye he turned towards her.

“Nothing more,” replied she in the same tongue.  “You may believe me.”

He gave a deep growl and turned away.  “If there was,” said he, “you know what would happen.”  And unheeding the wild keen shudder that seized her at the word, making her insensible for the moment to all and everything about her, he laid one heavy hand upon her slight shoulder and led her from the room.

I waited no longer than was necessary to carry my feeble and faltering steps appropriately down the stairs, to reach the floor below and gain the landlady’s presence.

“Do you go up,” said I, “and sit on those stairs till I come back.  If you hear the least cry of pain or sound of struggle from that young girl’s room, do you call at once for help.  I will have a policeman standing on the corner below.”

The good woman nodded and proceeded at once to take up her work-basket.  “Lucky there’s a window up there, so I can see,” I heard her mutter.  “I’ve no time to throw away even on deeds of charity.”

Notwithstanding which precaution, I was in constant anxiety during my absence; an absence necessarily prolonged as I had to stop and explain matters to the Superintendent, as well as hunt up Mr. Gryce and get his consent to assist me in the matter of the impending arrest.

I found the latter in his own home and more than enthusiastic upon the subject.

“Well,” said he after I had informed him of the discoveries I had made, “the fates seem to prosper you in this.  I have not received an inkling of light upon the matter since I parted from you at Mr. Blake’s house.  By the way I saw that gentleman this morning and I tell you we will find him a grateful man if this affair can be resolved satisfactorily,”

’That is good,” said I,” gratitude is what we want.”  Then shortly, “Perhaps it is no more than our duty to let him know that his wife is safe and under my eye; though I would by no means advocate his knowing just how near him she is, till the moment comes when he is wanted, or we shall have a lover’s impetuosity to deal with as well as all the rest.”  Then with a hurried rememberance of a possible contingency, went on to say, “But, by the way, in case we should need the cooperation of Mrs. Blake in what we have before us, you had better get a line written in French from Mrs. Daniels, expressive of her belief in Mr. Blake’s present affection for his wife.  The latter will not otherwise trust us, or understand that we are to be obeyed in whatever we may demand.  Let it be unsigned and without names in case of accident; and if the housekeeper don’t understand French, tell her to get some one to help her that does, only be sure that the handwriting employed is her own.”