the MAURETANIA。 But my name was not on the passenger…list； because
I did not want the Navy Department to know I was taking my leave abroad。
I have been stopping at my own address in Jermyn Street； and my
references are yourself； the Embassy； and my landlord。 You will telephone
him at once that； if any one asks after Henry Grant； he is to say what you
tell him to say。 And if any one sends for Henry Grant's clothes； he is to
send MY clothes。〃
〃But you don't expect to be in there as long as that？〃 exclaimed
Cuthbert。
〃I do not；〃 said Ford。 〃But； if he takes me in； I must make a bluff of
sending for my things。 No； either I will be turned out in five minutes； or if
he accepts me as a patient I will be there until midnight。 If I cannot get the
girl out of the house by midnight； it will mean that I can't get out myself；
and you had better bring the police and the coroner。〃
〃Do you mean it？〃 asked Cuthbert。
〃I most certainly do！〃 exclaimed Ford。
Until twelve I want a chance to get this story exclusively for our paper。
If she is not free by then it means I have fallen down on it； and you and the
police are to begin to batter in the doors。〃
The two young men left the cab； and at some distance from each other
walked to Sowell Street。 At the house of Dr。 Prothero； Ford stopped and
rang the bell。 From across the street Cuthbert saw the door open and the
figure of a man of almost gigantic stature block the doorway。 For a
moment he stood there； and then Cuthbert saw him step to one side； saw
Ford enter the house and the door close upon him。 Cuthbert at once ran to
a telephone； and； having instructed Ford's landlord as to the part he was to
play； returned to Sowell Street。 There； in a state nearly approaching a
genuine nervous breakdown； he continued his vigil。
Even without his criminal record to cast a glamour over him； Ford
would have found Dr。 Prothero； a disturbing person。 His size was
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enormous； his eyes piercing； sinister； unblinking； and the hands that could
strangle a bull； and with which as though to control himself； he continually
pulled at his black beard； were gigantic； of a deadly white； with fingers
long and prehensile。 In his manner he had all the suave insolence of the
Oriental and the suspicious alertness of one constantly on guard； but also；
as Ford at once noted； of one wholly without fear。 He had not been over a
moment in his presence before the reporter felt that to successfully lie to
such a man might be counted as a triumph。
Prothero opened the door into a little office leading off the hall； and
switched on the electric lights。 For some short time； without any effort to
conceal his suspicion； he stared at Ford in silence。
〃Well？〃 he said； at last。 His tone was a challenge。
Ford had already given his assumed name and profession； and he now
ran glibly into the story he had planned。 He opened his card…case and
looked into it doubtfully。 〃I find I have no card with me；〃 he said； but I am；
as I told you； Lieutenant Grant； of the United States Navy。 I am all right
physically； except for my nerves。 They've played me a queer trick。 If the
facts get out at home； it might cost me my commission。 So I've come over
here for treatment。〃
〃Why to ME？〃 asked Prothero。
〃I saw by your advertisement；〃 said the reporter； 〃that you treated for
nervous mental troubles。 Mine is an illusion；〃 he went on。 〃I see things； or；
rather； always one thing…a battle…ship coming at us head on。 For the last
year I've been executive officer of the KEARSARGE； and the
responsibility has been too much for me。〃
〃You see a battle…ship？〃 inquired the Jew。
〃A phantom battle…ship；〃 Ford explained； 〃a sort OF FLYING
DUTCHMAN。 The time I saw it I was on the bridge； and I yelled and
telegraphed the engine…room。 I brought the ship to a full stop； and backed
her。 But it was dirty weather； and the error was passed over。 After that；
when I saw the thing coming I did nothing。 But each time I think it is
real。〃 Ford shivered slightly and glanced about him。 〃Some day；〃 he added
fatefully； it WILL be real； and I will NOT signal； and the ship will sink！〃
In silence； Prothero observed his visitor closely。 The young man
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seemed sincere； genuine。 His manner was direct and frank。 He looked the
part he had assumed； as one used to authority。
〃My fees are large；〃 said the Russian。
At this point； had Ford； regardless of terms； exhibited a hopeful
eagerness to at once close with him； the Jew would have shown him the
door。 But Ford was on guard； and well aware that a lieutenant in the navy
had but few guineas to throw away on medicines。 He made a movement as
though to withdraw。
〃Then I am afraid；〃 he said； 〃I must go somewhere else。〃
His reluctance apparently only partially satisfied the Jew。
Ford adopted opposite tactics。 He was never without ready money。 His
paper saw to it that in its interests he was always able at any moment to
pay for a special train across Europe； or to bribe the entire working staff of
a cable office。 From his breast…pocket he took a blue linen envelope； and
allowed the Jew to see that it was filled with twenty… pound notes。 〃I have
means outside my pay；〃 said Ford。
I would give almost any price to the man who can cure me。〃 The eyes
of the Russian flashed avariciously。
〃I will arrange the terms to suit you；〃 he exclaimed。 〃Your case
interests me。 Do you See this…mirage only at sea？〃
〃In any open place；〃 Ford assured him。 〃In a park or public square； but
of course most frequently at sea。〃
The quack waved his great hands as though brushing aside a curtain。
〃I will remove the illusion；〃 he said； 〃and give you others more pretty。〃
He smiled meaningfullyan evil； leering smile。 〃When will you come？〃
he asked。 Ford glanced about him nervously。
〃I shall stay now；〃 he said。 〃 I confess； in the streets and in my
lodgings I am frightened。 You give me confidence。 I want to stay near you。
I feel safe with you。 If you will give me writing…paper； I will send for my
things。〃
For a moment the Jew hesitated； and then motioned to a desk。 As Ford
wrote； Prothero stood near him； and the reporter knew that over his
shoulder the Jew was reading what he wrote。 Ford gave him the note；
unsealed； and asked that it be forwarded at once to his lodgings。
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〃To…morrow；〃 he said； 〃I will call up our Embassy； and give my
address to our Naval Attache。
〃I will attend to that；〃 said Prothero。
From now you are in my hands； and you can communicate with the
outside only through me。 You are to have absolute rest no books； no
letters； no papers。 And you will be fed from a spoon。 I will explain my
treatment later。 You will now go to your room； and you will remain there
until you are a well man。〃
Ford had no wish to be at once shut off from the rest of the house。 The
odor of cooking came through the hall； and seemed to offer an excuse for
delay。
〃I smell food；〃 he laughed。 〃And I'm terrifically hungry。 Can't I have a
farewell dinner before you begin feeding me from a spoon？〃
The Jew was about to refuse； but； with his guilty knowledge of what
was going forward in the house； he could not be too sure of those he
allowed to enter it。 He wanted more time to spend in studying this new
patient； and the dinner…table seemed to offer a place where he could do so
without the other suspecting he was under observation。
〃My associate and I were just about to dine；〃 he said。 〃You will wait
here until I have another place laid； and you can join us。〃
He departed； walking heavily down the hall； but almost at once Ford；
whose ears were alert for any sound； heard him returning； approaching
stealthily on tiptoe。 If by this maneuver the Jew had hoped to discover his
patient in some indiscretion； he was unsuccessful； for he found Ford
standing just where he had left him； with his back turned to the door； and
gazing with apparent interest at a picture on the wall。 The significance of
the incident was not lost upon the intruder。 It taught him he was still under
surveillance； and that he must bear himself warily。 Murmuring some
excuse for having returned； the Jew again departed； and in a few minutes
Ford heard his voice； and that of another man； engaged in low tones in
what was apparently an eager argument。
Only once was the voice of the other man raised sufficiently for Ford
to distinguish his words。 〃He is an American；〃 protested the voice； 〃that
makes it worse。〃
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Ford guessed that the speaker was Pearsall；