As she said this, Eva looked roguishly at him.  Locke’s face clouded a little, although he knew it was only in a joke.

“But, Miss Brent,” he continued to protest, “I had hoped—­”

“Not another word, Mr. Locke,” interrupted Eva, as she edged very close to him and gazed into his eyes.  “Please leave this house at once—­I hate you!” And, not suiting the action to the word, she reached out and gave his hand a squeeze that told more than words what her true thoughts in the matter were.

Locke leaned over and was on the point of kissing her when she held up her hand and pointed to the receiver above in the chandelier as if it really had eyes as well as ears.  He looked up and was forced to check a laugh lest it be heard by the listeners above.

In the laboratory, Balcom had heard enough.  He turned to Zita, and with a hurried command told her to go down-stairs.

“Keep an eye on him and tell me where he goes,” was the parting instruction of Balcom as the two separated on the stairs at the very time that Paul blustered in the front door.

“Morning, Governor,” nodded Paul, as he gave his hat to the butler.

“A very good morning, Paul,” emphasized Balcom, quite unctuously, as he went on to tell his son of the supposed quarrel between Eva and Locke which he had overheard.

A light of triumph came into Paul’s eyes.  Eva’s happiness, even her life, meant nothing to him.  She was merely a means to his own evil ends and he now felt sure that he held her in his grasp.  Besides, in so far as such a selfish nature can care for another human being, Paul cared for De Luxe Dora.  There was a fascination for him in her tigerish, unscrupulous nature that a good woman could never inspire.

And now, as he eagerly listened to his father, he visualized new motor-cars, a yacht, rivers of champagne, a life of mad gaiety with his favorite pals, men and women.

Locke, in the library, was laughing quietly with Eva over the success of the ruse.  But there was, notwithstanding, an undercurrent of seriousness running through their thoughts.  For, although they had scored against their adversaries in misleading them as to their intentions, both realized that Balcom was a tremendously clever man, astute and wise beyond the average in the ways of the world, and that the slightest lack of caution, the smallest flaw in the acting of the parts they had elected to play, would inevitably lose for them the advantage they had gained.

They went into the most minute details of the plans they had formulated, and they realized that in order to keep the wool pulled over Balcom’s and Paul’s eyes it was necessary that they separate, at least apparently, for a few days.  Locke gave out that he was to seek evidence in the lower quarters of the city, while Eva was to play the game at home.  It was to Eva that the more difficult role fell.

Locke bade her an affectionate farewell and left by a door opposite to the one leading to the main hallway, where the voices of Paul and his father were now audible.