"Oh, I beg pardon," hastened Kennedy, "but, by the way, you would
have no objection to making a statement regarding your trip abroad
and your recent return to this country--subsequent to--ah--the
incident which we will not refer to?"

"None whatever. I left New York in 1908, disgusted with everything
in general, and life here in particular--"

"Would you object to jotting it down so that I can get it
straight?" asked Kennedy. "Just a brief resume, you know."

"No. Have you a pen or a pencil?"

"I think you might as well dictate it; it will take only a minute
to run it off on the typewriter."

Masterson rang the bell. A young man appeared noiselessly.

"Wix," he said, "take this: 'I left New York in 1908, travelling
on the Continent, mostly in Paris, Vienna, and Rome. Latterly I
have lived in London, until six weeks ago, when I returned to New
York.' Will that serve?"

"Yes, perfectly," said Kennedy, as he folded up the sheet of paper
which the young secretary handed to him. "Thank you. I trust you
won't consider it an impertinence if I ask you whether you were
aware that Dr. Ross was Mrs. Maitland's physician?"

"Of course I knew it," Masterson replied frankly. "I have given
him up for that reason, although he does not know it yet. I most