"This" was a novel of Catulle Mendes, which had a name scribbled in pencil on the outside. The name was "Rudolph Zirknitz."
"R. U. Z.," said the doctor, staring at the pencilled autograph; "so it stands for Rudolph Zirknitz, who evidently takes his name and the totem of the lizard from that Austrian town."
At this moment Mrs. Moxton entered with a disconsolate air. "Have you found the will, doctor?" she inquired; "it is not in the despatch-box."
"No, Mrs. Moxton, I have not found the will, but I have learnt the name of the man who killed your husband."
The widow became as grey as the wall-paper, and leant against the door for support. "What? Who? I--I do not understand," she gasped.
"The murderer is called Rudolph Zirknitz," explained Ellis. "Now, who is Rudolph Zirknitz?"
Mrs. Moxton made no attempt to answer this question. Closing her eyes she slipped quietly on to the floor, and lay at the feet of Ellis, white and insensible.
When Cass returned from his day's work he found Ellis impatiently expecting him. The doctor looked ill and worried. On hearing his friend's footstep he rushed into the passage and half-led, half-dragged him into the room. Harry was much surprised at this unusual excitement on the part of Ellis.
"What the deuce is the matter, Bob? You are as pale as a muffin, and your hair is all over the--"
"Harry! Harry! Never mind my looks. I am nearly worried out of my life by this--this murder."
"Or by Mrs. Moxton--have you made any discoveries?"
"Yes. I have discovered the meaning of the letters R. U. Z., and of the lizard sign."
"By Jove!" Cass in his turn became excited. "Well, well, go on--go on."
"The letters are the initials of a man's name."
"I don't say that, and yet he might be the criminal. I said so to--"
"An Austrian. He takes his name from a town called Zirknitz, in Austria, which has in its environs a peculiar sort of lizard found nowhere else."
"Ho! ho! Now comes in the 'totem' of our assassin. How did you find this out?"
The doctor sat down and rapidly detailed his discoveries, and how they were brought about by the search for the will. "I revived Mrs. Moxton from her faint," he concluded, "but she refused to answer a single question. In the end I was forced to leave her, and for the last few hours I have been in a state of distraction. I am so glad you are back. Put your sharp wits to work, Harry, and tell me what it all means."