"Fräulein Steiner!" exclaimed Chalice, in some dismay.
"Lotta told me Herr Bastable was here. I came to see."
"I beg your pardon," she said, nervously stepping back and making as if to close the door again.
"I will come with you," I said, following her out. "Probably you wish to telephone to Fräulein Ziegler that I am here. With your permission I will speak to her myself."
She was trembling a little. "She asked me to let her know," she faltered. "She is holding the ’phone now."
"She will recognize my voice over the wire. I will save you the trouble. A very serious mistake has been made"; and when we reached the hall, I went to the instrument at once. "Are you there?"
"Who is that?" came the reply in Hagar’s voice.
"Mr. Bastable. I am just leaving the house here--Frau Steiner’s. I must see you at once. I have just learnt that you have been deceived in regard to me, and I can tell you the whole truth about your father’s death, and can put the proofs of what I have to say into your hands. I do not blame you for what you have done; but before you do any more, please see me."
"What have you to say? It is too late now."
"It will be too late if you do not see me at once. It is about Herr von Felsen. You will repent it all your life if you do not see me."
"Wait a moment." I heard the faint echo of a conversation; and then she asked: "Will you come here?"
There was another pause. "Herr von Felsen," she replied then to my infinite surprise and relief.
"Wait a minute, he wishes to speak to you himself."
"Of course I will," I replied eagerly. I waited; but no sound came over the wire; and when I spoke there was no reply.
In a flash I saw the plan. I dropped the receiver and hurried out of the house on the instant. The intention was to keep me at the instrument until the police would have time to come and arrest me.
I jumped into the first cab I met and drove by a circuitous route to my own house. As they believed they could put their hand on me at once, I calculated that I should have time to get home, change into some sort of disguise, get the papers from their hiding-place and set out in search of Althea.
Von Felsen’s presence at Hagar’s house had at first baffled me as completely as this last move--the preposterous charge of murder; but I began to see the meaning of all. He had probably found difficulty in dealing with Althea and had also heard that the previous night’s attempt on my life had failed. This had cornered him.