utterly mistaken. Wait one moment, and I will prove it."

She rose, and before I could make move to detain her, quitted the
room; but the door scarcely had closed ere I was afoot. The
corridor beyond was empty. I ran on. The lift had just descended.
A dark man whom I recognized stood near the closed gate.

"Quick!" I said, "I am Cavanagh of the Report! Did you see a lady
enter the lift?"

"I did, Mr. Cavanagh," answered the hotel detective; for this was he.

In such a giant inn as this I knew full well that one could come and
go almost with impunity, though one had no right to the hospitality
of the establishment; and it was with a premonition respecting what
his answer would be, that I asked the man--

"Is she staying here?"

"She is not. I have never seen her before!"

The girl with the violet eyes had escaped, taking all her secrets
with her!




CHAPTER IX

SECOND ATTEMPT ON THE SAFE