The stranger started and looked at Paula more closely.
"The niece of Mr. James Marsh?" he cried, in surprise.
Tod nodded.
"Yes."
"How strange!" muttered the stranger. Drawing a card from his pocket, he said: "I am Dr. Zacharie!"
Now Tod remembered where he had seen this man. It was through the keyhole of the library the night of that secret midnight meeting.
Paula opened her eyes. At first she saw only Tod. Then her gaze, wandering round the room suddenly rested on Dr. Zacharie, who stood staring with his black, piercing eyes and sardonic smile, silently studying her. For a moment she stared back at him, without making a movement or a sound. A look of repulsion and fright came into her face. Suddenly she uttered a shriek:
"The man of my dreams!" she cried.
Then she fainted again.
Dr. Zacharie put his finger on her pulse and turned to Tod. It seemed to the latter that a smile of satisfaction hovered about his mouth.