He had just entered the darkened hallway when, much to his surprise, he saw the figure of a man, leaning heavily on the arm of a woman, descending the stairs.
He stepped behind some portières and waited until they reached the foot of the stairway. Then he stepped out and confronted them.
Zita gave a startled cry, and would have fled had not Locke caught and held her. As for poor Brent, he simply stood there, swaying from side to side and smiling foolishly.
Eva heard the commotion and came running down the stairs. She was amazed until Locke explained the situation to her. Then her indignation knew no bounds. Putting her arms around her father, she turned to Zita.
"How dare you?" she demanded, scathingly. "For doing this you will leave this house immediately and--never return."
Zita, for a moment, was on the verge of breaking down, but recovered herself and, with an angry retort on her lips, went out, slamming the door behind her.
Zita slipped around the house and to the hedge designated by Balcom as their meeting-place.
She was surprised but relieved when she did not find him there, and glanced at her wrist watch, which stood at a few minutes past eight. She was about to turn around when she caught sight of a bit of paper. Taking it, she read:
That was all, and the message was unsigned.
Zita greatly feared Balcom's wrath at her failure, but, nevertheless, she started for his apartment.
At that moment Balcom and the mysterious Doctor Q were talking in the latter's dingy laboratory. Doctor Q's mind, for the time being, at least, seemed perfectly clear, and he had formulated a daring plan.
"Send Locke word that you will give yourself up," he was saying, "but tell him that he must come to your apartment to get you. I will do the rest."
Balcom left hurriedly and was driven directly home, where he got Locke on the telephone and repeated the instructions that Doctor Q had suggested.
"Am I to understand that you intend to turn state's evidence?" questioned Locke, doubtfully.
As Balcom hung up the receiver he chuckled sardonically. He was just turning to an antique brazier to arrange for Locke's reception when Zita was announced and at once admitted.
"I've failed, Mr. Balcom," she apologized, "failed miserably. Locke took Mr. Brent away from me--and they ordered me never to return to the house."