InaquarterofanhourFordwasagainbackinSowellStreetnowiserthanwhenhehadenteredit。Fromtheoutside，atleast，thethreehousesundersuspiciongavenosign。IntheproblembeforehimtherewasonepointthatFordfounddifficulttoexplain。Itwastheonlyonethatcausedhimtoquestioniftheletterwasgenuine。Whatpuzzledhimwasthis:Why，ifthegirlwerefreetothrowtwonotesfromthewindow，didshenotthrowthemoutbythedozen？Ifshewereabletoreachawindow，openingonthestreet，whydidshenotcallforhelp？Whydidshenot，byhurlingouteverysmallarticletheroomcontained，byscreams，bybreakingthewindow—panes，attractacrowd，and，throughit，thepolice？Thatshehadnotdonesoseemedtoshowthatonlyatrareintervalswasshefreefromrestraint，oratlibertytoenterthefrontroomthatopenedonthestreet。Woulditbeequallydifficult，Fordaskedhimself，foroneinthestreettocommunicatewithher？Whatsignalcouldhegivethatwoulddrawanansweringsignalfromthegirl？
Standingatthecorner，hiddenbythepillarsofaportico，thewaterdrippingfromhisrain—coat，Fordgazedlongandanxiouslyattheblankwindowsofthethreehouses。Likeblindeyesstaringintohis，theytoldnotales，betrayednosecret。Aroundhimthecommonplacelifeoftheneighborhoodproceededundisturbed。
Somewhereconcealedinthesinglerowofhousesagirlwasimprisoned，herlifethreatened;perhapsevenatthatmomentshewasfacingherdeath。While，oneitherside，shutfromherbythethicknessonlyofabrickwall，peopleweretalking，reading，makingtea，preparingtheeveningmeal，or，inthestreetbelow，hurryingby，intentontrivialerrands。Hansomcabs，prowlinginsearchofafare，passedthroughthestreetwhereawomanwasbeingrobbedofafortune，thedriversoccupiedonlywiththoughtsofapossibleshilling;ahousemaidwithajuginherhandandashawloverherbarehead，hastenedtothenear—bypublic—house;thepostmanmadehisrounds，anddeliveredcomicpostal—cards;apoliceman，sheddingwaterfromhisshiningcape，halted，gazedseverelyatthesky，and，unconsciousofthecrimethatwasgoingforwardwithinthesoundofhisownfootsteps，continuedstolidlyintoWimpoleStreet。
AhundredplansracedthroughFord’sbrain;hewouldarousethestreetwithafalsealarmoffireandleadthefiremen，withthetaleofasmokingchimney，tooneofthethreehouses;hewouldfeignillness，and，takingrefugeinoneofthem，atnightwouldexplorethepremises;hewouldimpersonateadetective，andinsistuponhisrighttosearchforstolenproperty。Asherejectedtheseandadozenschemesasfantastic，hisbrainandeyeswerestillalertforanychanceadvantagethatthestreetmightoffer。Buttheminutespassedintoanhour，andnoonehadenteredanyofthethreehouses，noonehadleftthem。Inthelowerstories，frombehindtheedgesoftheblinds，lightsappeared，butofthelifewithintherewasnosign。Untilhehituponaplanofaction，FordfelttherewasnolongeranythingtobegainedbyremaininginSowellStreet。Alreadytheanswertohiscablemighthavearrivedathisrooms;atGerridge’shemightstilllearnsomethingofPearsall。Hedecidedtorevisitboththeseplaces，and，whilesoengaged，tosendfromhisofficeoneofhisassistantstocovertheSowellStreethouses。Hecastalast，reluctantlookattheclosedblinds，andmovedaway。Ashedidso，twoitinerantmusiciansdraggingbehindthemasmallstreetpianoonwheelsturnedthecorner，and，astherainhadnowceased，oneofthempulledtheoil—clothcoveringfromtheinstrumentand，seatinghimselfonacamp—stoolatthecurb，openedthepiano。Afteradiscouragedglanceatthedarkenedwindows，theother，inahoarse，stridenttenor，totheaccompanimentofthepiano，begantosing。Thevoiceofthemanwasraucous，penetrating。Itwouldhavereachedtherecessesofatomb。
\"Shesellssea—shellsonthesea—shore，\"thevocalistwailed。\"Theshellsshesellsaresea—shells，I’msure。\"
Theeffectwasinstantaneous。Awindowwasflungopen，andanindignanthouseholderwithonehandfranticallywavedthemusiciansaway，andwiththeotherthrewthemacoppercoin。
AtthesamemomentFordwalkedquicklytothepianoandlaidahalf—crownontopofit。
\"FollowmetoHarleyStreet，\"hecommanded。\"Don’thurry。Takeyourtime。Iwantyoutohelpmeinasortofpracticaljoke。It’sworthasovereigntoyou。\"
Hepassedonquickly。Whenheglancedbehindhim，hesawthetwomen，fearfullestthepromisedfortunemightescapethem，pursuinghimatatrot。AtHarleyStreettheyhalted，breathless。
\"Howlong，\"Forddemandedoftheonewhoplayedthepiano，\"willittakeyoutolearntheaccompanimenttoanewsong？\"
\"Whileyou’rewhistlingit，\"answeredthemaneagerly。
\"AndI’masquickatatuneashim，\"assuredtheotheranxiously。
\"Icansing\"
\"Youcannot，\"interruptedFord。\"I’mgoingtodothesingingmyself。Whereisthereapublic—housenearherewherewecanhireabackroom，andrehearse？\"
Halfanhourlater，Fordandthepiano—playerenteredSowellStreetdraggingthepianobehindthem。Theamateurdetectivestillworehisrain—coat，buthishathehadexchangedforacap，and，insteadofacollar，hehadknottedaroundhisbareneckadirtykerchief。
Attheendofthestreettheyhalted，andinsomeembarrassmentFordraisedhisvoiceinthechorusofasongwellknowninthemusic—halls。Itwasaverygoodvoice，muchtoogoodfor\"open—airwork，\"ashiscompanionhadalreadyassuredhim，but，whatwasofchiefimportancetoFord，itcarriedasfarashewishedittogo。
AlreadyinWimpoleStreetfourcoinsoftherealm，flungtohimfromthehighestwindows，hadtestifiedtoitspower。FromtheendofSowellStreetFordmovedslowlyfromhousetohouseuntilhewasdirectlyoppositethethreeinoneofwhichhebelievedthegirltobe。\"WewilltrytheNEWsongshere，\"hesaid。
Nighthadfallen，and，exceptforthegas—lamps，thestreetwasempty，andinsuchdarknessthatevenwithouthisdisguiseFordrannoriskofrecognition。Hisplanwasnotnew。ItdatedfromthedaysofRichardtheLion—hearted。Butiftheprisonerwerealertandintelligent，eventhoughshecouldmakenoanswer，Fordbelievedthroughhiseffortshewouldgaincourage，wouldgraspthatfromtheoutsideafriendwasworkingtowardher。AllheknewoftheprisonerwasthatshecamefromKentucky。Fordfixedhiseyesonthehousesopposite，andclearedhisthroat。Themanstrucktheopeningchords，andinahighbarytone，andinacockneyaccentthatmadeeventheaccompanistgrin，Fordliftedhisvoice。
\"ThesunshinesbrightonmyoldKentuckyhome，\"hesang;\"’tissummer，andthedarkiesaregay。\"
Hefinishedthesong，buttherewasnosign。ForalltheimpressionhehadmadeuponSowellStreet，hemighthavebeensinginginhischambers。\"Andnowtheother，\"commandedFord。
Thehouse—frontsechoedbackthecheeringnotesof\"Dixie。\"AgainFordwassilent，andagainThesilenceansweredhim。Theaccompanistglareddisgustedlyatthedarkenedwindows。
\"Theydon’tknowthemsongs，\"heexplainedprofessionally。\"Give’em，’MollieMarriedtheMarquis。’\"
\"I’llsingthefirstoneagain，\"saidFord。Oncemorehebrokeintothepatheticcadencesofthe\"OldKentuckyHome。\"Buttherewasnoresponse。Hewasbeginningtofeelangry，absurd。Hebelievedhebadwastedpreciousmoments，and，evenashesang，hismindwasalreadyworkinguponanewplan。Thesongceased，unfinished。
\"It’snouse！\"heexclaimed。Rememberinghimself，headded:\"We’lltrythenextstreet。\"
Butevenashespokeheleapedforward。Comingapparentlyfromnowhere，somethingwhitesankthroughthesemi—darknessandfellathisfeet。Itstruckthepavementdirectlyinfrontofthemiddleoneofthethreehouses。Fordfelluponitandclutcheditinbothhands。Itwasawoman’sglove。Fordracedbacktothepiano。
\"Oncemore，\"hecried，\"play’Dixie’！\"
Heshoutedoutthechorusexultantly，triumphantly。Hadhespokenitinwords，themessagecouldnothavecarriedmoreclearly。
Fordnowbelievedhehadfoundthehouse，foundthewoman，andwaseageronlytogetridofhiscompanionand，inhisownperson，returntoSowellStreet。But，lestthemanmightsuspecttherewasinhisactionssomethingmoreseriousthanapracticaljoke，heforcedhimselftosingthenewsongsinthreedifferentstreets。
Then，pretendingtotireofhisprank，hepaidthemusicianandlefthim。Hewashappy，exultant，tinglingwithexcitement。
Good—luckhadbeenwithhim，and，hopingthatGerridge’smightyetyieldsomeclewtoPearsall，hereturnedthere。CallinguptheLondonofficeoftheREPUBLIC，hedirectedthatoneofhisassistants，anEnglishladnamedCuthbert，shouldatoncejoinhimatthathotel。CuthbertwasbutjustoutofOxford。Hewishedtobecomeawriteroffiction，and，asameansofseeingmanykindsoflifeatfirsthand，wasintrainingasa\"Pressman。\"HisadmirationforFordamountedtoalmosthero—worship;andheregardedan\"assignment\"withhischiefasajoyandanhonor。Fullofenthusiasm，andassoonasataxicabcouldbringhim，hearrivedatGerridge’s，where，inacornerofthedesertedcoffee—room，Fordexplainedthesituation。UntilhecoulddeviseawaytoentertheSowellStreethouse。Cuthbertwastowatchoverit。
\"Thenumberofthehouseisforty，\"Fordtoldhim;\"thenameonthedoor—plate，Dr。Prothero。Findouteverythingyoucanabouthimwithoutlettinganyonecatchyouatit。Betterbeginatthenearestchemist’s。Sayyouareonthevergeofanervousbreakdown，andaskthemantomixyouasedative，andrecommendaphysician。
ShowhimProthero’snameandaddressonapieceofpaper，andsayProtherohasbeenrecommendedtoyouasaspecialistonnervoustroubles。Askwhathethinksofhim。Gethimtotalk。Thenvisitthetrades—peopleandthepublic—housesintheneighborhood，andsayyouarefromsomeWestEndshopwhereProthero，wantstoopenanaccount。Theymaytalk，especiallyifhiscreditisbad。And，ifyoufindoutenoughabouthimtogivemeaworkingbasis，I’lltrytogetintothehouseto—night。Meanwhile，I’mgoingtomakeanotherquicksearchofthishotelforPearsall。I’mnotsatisfiedhehasnotbeenhere。ForwhyshouldMissDale，withallthehotelsinLondontochoosefrom，havenamedthisparticularone，unlessshehadgoodreasonforit？Now，go，andmeetmeinanhourinSowellStreet。\"
CuthbertwasatthedoorwhenherememberedhehadbroughtwithhimfromtheofficeFord’smailandcablegrams。AmongthelatterwastheoneforwhichFordhadasked。
\"Wait，\"hecommanded。\"Thisisaboutthegirl。Youhadbetterknowwhatitsays。\"Thecableread:
\"Girlorphan，Dalesvillenamedafterherfamily，forthreegenerationsmill—owners，fatherdiedfouryearsago，Pearsallbrother—in—lawuntilsheistwenty—one，whichwillbeinthreemonths。Girlwellknown，extremelypopular，livedDalesvilleuntillastyear，whenwentabroadwithuncle，sincethenreportsofmelancholiaandnervousprostration，beforethathealthexcellent——nosignsinsanity——noneinfamily。BecarefulhowhandlePearsall，wasdoctor，gaveuppracticetolookafterestate，isprominentinlocalbusinessandchurchcircles，bestreputation，bewarelibel。\"
ForthebenefitofCuthbert，Fordhadbeenreadingthecablealoud。
Thelastparagraphseemedespeciallytointeresthim，andhereadittwice，thesecondtimeslowly，andemphasizingtheword\"doctor。\"
\"Adoctor！\"herepeated。\"Doyouseewherethatleadsus？Itmayexplainseveralthings。Thegirlwasingoodhealthuntilwentabroadwithheruncle，andheisamedicalman。\"
TheeyesofCuthbertgrewwidewithexcitement。
\"Youmeanpoison！\"hewhispered。\"Slowpoison！\"
\"Bewarelibel，\"laughedFordnervously，hisowneyeslitwithexcitement。\"Suppose，\"heexclaimed，\"hehasbeenusingarsenic？Hewouldhavemanyopportunities，andit’scolorless，tasteless;andarsenicwouldaccountforherdepressionandmelancholia。Thetimewhenhemustturnoverhermoneyisverynear，and，supposehehasspentthemoney，speculatedwithit，andlostit，orthathestillhasitandwantstokeepit？Inthreemonthsshewillbeofage，andhemustmakeanaccounting。Thearsenicdoesnotworkfastenough。Sowhatdoeshedo？Tosavehimselffromexposure，ortokeepthemoney，hethrowsherintothisprivatesanatorium，tomakeawaywithher。\"
Fordhadbeentalkinginaneagerwhisper。Whilehespokehiscigarhadceasedtoburn，andtolightit，fromavaseonthemantelhetookaspill，oneofthosespiralsofpaperthatinEnglishhotels，wheretheproprietorisofafrugalmind，arestillusedtopreventextravaganceinmatches。Fordlitthespillatthecoalfire，andwithhiscigarpuffedattheflame。Ashedidsothepaperunrolled。TotheastonishmentofCuthbert，Fordclaspeditinbothhands，blottedoutthetinyflame，and，turningquicklytoatable，spreadoutthecharredpaperflat。Afteronequickglance，Fordrantothefireplace，and，seizingahandfullofthespills，beganrapidlytounrollthem。ThenheturnedtoCuthbertand，withoutspeaking，showedhimthecharredspill。Itwasascraptornfromthefrontpageofanewspaper。Thehalf—obliteratedwordsatwhichFordpointedwereDALESVILLECOUR
\"Histornpaper！\"saidFord。\"TheDALESVILLECOURIER。PearsallHAS
beeninthishotel！\"HehandedanotherspilltoCuthbert。
\"Fromthatone，\"saidFord，\"wegetthedate，December3。AllowingthreeweeksforthenewspapertoreachLondon，Pearsallmusthaveseenitjustthreeweeksago，justwhenMissDalesayshewasinthehotel。Thelandlordhasliedtome。\"
Fordrangforawaiter，andtoldhimtoaskMr。Gerridgetocometothesmoking—room。
AsCuthbertwasleavingit，Gerridgewasenteringit，andFordwassaying:
\"Itseemsyou’vebeenlyingtothepoliceandtome。Unlessyoudesiretoheanaccessorytoamurder，Youhadbettertalkquick！\"
AnhourlaterFordpassedslowlythroughSowellStreetinataxicab，and，findingCuthbertonguard，signalledhimtofollow。
inWimpoleStreetthecabdrewuptothecurb，andCuthbertenteredit。
\"IhavefoundPearsall，\"saidFord。\"HeisinNo。40withProthero。\"
HethenrelatedtoCuthbertwhathadhappened。GerridgehadexplainedthatwhenthePolicecalled，hisfirstthoughtwastoprotectthegoodnameofhishotel。HehaddeniedanyknowledgeofPearsallonlybecausehenolongerwasaguest，and，ashesupposedPearsallhadpassedoutofhislife，hesawnoreason，why，throughanarrestandascandal，hishotelshouldbeinvolved。BelievingFordtobeinthesecretserviceofthepolice，hewasnowonlytooanxioustoclearhimselfofsuspicionbytellingallheknew。Itwasbutlittle。Pearsallandhisniecehadbeenatthehotelforthreedays。Duringthattimetheniece，whoappearedtobeaninvalid，remainedinherroom。Ontheeveningofthethirdday，whilePearsallwasabsent，acallfromhimhadcomeforherbytelephone，onreceivingwhichMissDalehadatonceleftthehotel，apparentlyingreatagitation。Thatnightshedidnotreturn，butinthemorningPearsallcametocollecthisandherluggageandtosettlehisaccount。HeexplainedthatawomanrelativelivingattheLanghamHotelhadbeentakensuddenlyill，andhadsentforhimandhisniece。Herconditionhadbeensoseriousthattheyhadremainedwithherallnight，andhisniecestillwasatherbedside。Thedriverofafour—wheeler，whoforyearshadstoodonthecab—rankinfrontofGerridge’s，haddrivenPearsalltotheLangham。Thismanwasatthemomentontherank，andfromhimFordlearnedwhathemostwishedtoknow。
ThecabmanrememberedPearsall，andhavingdrivenhimtotheLangham，forthereasonthatimmediatelyaftersettinghimdownthere，andwhile\"crawling\"forafareinPortlandPlace，awhistlefromtheLanghamhadrecalledhim，andthesameluggagethathadjustbeentakenfromthetopofhiscabwasPutbackonit，andhewasdirectedbytheporterofthehoteltotakeittoahouseinSowellStreet。Thereaman—servanthadhelpedhimunloadthetrunksandhadpaidhimhisfare。Thecabmandidnotrememberthenumberofthehouse，butknewitwasonthewestsideofthestreetandinthemiddleoftheblock。
HavingfinishedwithGerridgeandthecab—man，FordhadatoncegonetotheLanghamHotel，where，asheanticipated，nothingwasknownofPearsallorhisniece，orofanyinvalidlady。Butthehall—porterrememberedtheAmericangentlemanwhohaddrivenupwithmanypiecesofluggage，andwho，althoughitwasoutofseason，andmanysuitesinthehotelwerevacant，hadfoundnonetosuithim。Hehadthensetforthonfoot，havingleftwordthathistrunksbesentafterhim。TheaddresshegavewasahouseinSowellStreet。
Theporterrecalledtheincidentbecauseheandthecabmanhadgrumbledoverthefactthatinfiveminutestheyhadtwicetohandlethesameboxes。
\"Itisprettyevident，\"saidFord，whatPearsallhadinmind，butchancewasagainsthim。HethoughtwhenhehadunloadedhistrunksattheLanghamanddismissedthecabmanhehaddestroyedthelinkconnectinghimwithGerridge’s。Hecouldnotforeseethatthesamecabmanwouldbeloiteringintheneighborhood。Heshouldhaveknownthatfour—wheelersarenotasplentifulastheyoncewere;andheshouldhavegiventhatparticularonemoretimetogetaway。HisideainwalkingtotheSowellStreethousewasobviouslytopreventthenewcabmanfromseeinghimenterit。But，justwherehethoughthewasclever，wasjustwherehetripped。IfhehadremainedwithhistrunkshewouldhaveseenthatthecabmanwasthesameonewhohadbroughtthemandhimfromCravenStreet，andhewouldhavegivenanyotheraddressinLondonthantheonehedid。
\"Andnow，\"saidFord，\"thatwehavePearsallwherewewanthim，tellmewhatyouhavelearnedaboutProthero？\"
Cuthbertsmiledimportantly，andproducedapieceofpaperscribbledoverwithnotes。
\"Prothero，\"hesaid，\"seemstobeTHISsortofman。Ifhemadeyourcoffeeforyou，beforeyoutastedit，you’dlikehimtodrinkacupofitfirst。\"
II
\"Prothero，\"saidCuthbert，\"isamanofmystery。AssoonasI
beganaskinghisneighborsquestions，IsawhewasofinterestandthatIwasofinterest。IsawtheydidnotbelieveIwasanagentofaWestEndshop，butadetective。Sotheywouldn’ttalkatall，orelsetheytalkedfreely。Andfromoneofthem，achemistnamedNeedham，IgotallIwanted。He’shadalawsuitagainstProthero，andhateshim。Protherogothimtoinvestinamedicinetocurethecocainehabit。Needhamfoundthecurewasnocure，butcocainedisguised。Hesuedforhismoney，andduringthetrialthepolicebroughtinProthero’srecord。Needhamletmecopyit，anditseemstoembraceeverycrimeexcepttreason。ThemanisaRussianJew。HewasarrestedandprosecutedinWarsaw，Vienna，Berlin，Belgrade;
alloverEurope，untilfinallythepolicedrovehimtoAmerica。
Therehewasaneditorofananarchistpaper，ablackmailer，a’doctor’ofhypnotism，aclairvoyant，andaprofessionalbigamist。
Hisgamewastoopenroomsasaclairvoyant，andadvisesillywomenhowtoinvesttheirmoney。Whenhefoundoutwhichofthemhadthemostmoney，hewouldmarryher，takeoverherfortune，andskip。InChicago，hewastriedforpoisoningonewife，andthetrialbroughtoutthefactthattwoothershaddiedundersuspiciouscircumstances，andthattherewerethreemoreunpoisonedbutanxioustogetbacktheirmoney。Hewassentencedtotenyearsforbigamy，butpardonedbecausehewassupposedtobeinsane，anddying。Insteadofdying，heopenedasanatoriuminNewYorktocurevictimsofthedrughabit。Inreality，itwasasortofhigh—pricedopium—den。Theplacewasraided，andhejumpedhisbailandcametothiscountry。NowheisrunningthisprivatehospitalinSowellStreet。Needhamsaysit’sasecretrendezvousfordopefiends。Buttheyareveryhigh—classdopefiends，whoarewillingtopayforseclusion，andthepolicecan’tgetathim。Imayaddthathe’stallandmuscular，withabigblackbeard，andhandsthatcouldstrangleabull。InChicago，duringthepoisontrial，thenewspaperscalledhim’theModernBluebeard。\"’
ForashorttimeFordwassilent。But，inthedarkcornerofthecab，Cuthbertcouldseethathiscigarwasburningbriskly。