"Good-bye," he said. "Perhaps I am wrong and you are right. Time will reveal that. If you ever wish to see me, you know where I may be found. Good-bye!"
He turned abruptly and ascended the stairs. He had but just disappeared when Inspector Sheffield entered!
Zoe felt that her face turned pale; but she bravely smiled as the Scotland Yard man approached her.
"You see, I am back again, Miss Oppner! Do you know if Mr. Oppner has gone out?"
"I am not sure. But I think he went out with Mr. Alden."
Sheffield's face clouded. This employment of a private detective was a sore point with the Inspector. It seemed strangely like a slight upon the official service. Not that Sheffield was on bad terms with Alden. He was too keen a diplomat for that. But he went in hourly dread that the Pinkerton man would forestall Scotland Yard.
To Sheffield it appeared impossible that Séverac Bablon could much longer evade arrest. In fact, it was incomprehensible to him how this elusive character had thus far remained at large. Slowly, and by painful degrees, Sheffield was learning that Séverac Bablon's organisation was more elaborate and far-reaching, and embraced more highly placed persons, than at one time he could have credited.
It would appear that there were Government officials in the group which surrounded this man, pointing to ramifications which sometimes the detective despaired of following. News from Paris, received only that morning, would seem to indicate that a similar state of affairs prevailed in the French capital. With whom, Sheffield asked himself, had he to deal? Who was Séverac Bablon? That he was in some way associated with Jewish people and Jewish interests the Yard man was convinced. But he could not determine, to his own satisfaction, if Séverac Bablon's activities were inimical to Juda or otherwise. It was a bewildering case.
"I hope Mr. Oppner hasn't gone out," he said, after a pause. "I particularly wanted to see him again."
"Is there some new clue?" asked Zoe eagerly.