"It's far more serious than the papers suspect. He has had another attack of his old trouble. The doctors say he has a fighting chance—that's all. You'll come?"
"Yes, early to-morrow morning. I've an important engagement to-night that will keep me until twelve o'clock. I'm sailing for Europe day after to-morrow."
A sudden click at the other end and he was cut off. His experienced ear told him it was not an accident. The sound could only have been made by the person to whom he was talking quickly hanging up the receiver. He waited a moment and called Nan back to the telephone.
"You understand, Nan?"
"Yes, we were cut off."
"Tell him I'll be up early in the morning, by ten o'clock, surely. Good night."
The answer was the merest whisper:
"Good night."
It was just dawn when Stuart's telephone rang and he leaped from bed startled at the unusual call.
He seized the receiver and could hear no voice. Apparently some one was fumbling at the other end and he felt the impression of a woman's sleeve or dress brushing the instrument.