"She has a fortune of over three hundred thousand guldens, and
considerable land."

"Has she any relatives?"

"No," replied Fellner harshly. But a thought must have flashed
through his brain for he started suddenly and murmured, "Yes, she
has one relative, a step-brother."

The detective gave an exclamation of surprise.

"Why are you astonished at this?" asked Fellner.

"According to her notebook, the young lady does not seem to know of
this step-brother."

"She does not know, sir. There was an ugly scandal in her family
before her birth. Her father turned his first wife and their son
out of his house on one and the same day. He had discovered that
she was deceiving him, and also that her son, who was studying
medicine at the time, had stolen money from his safe. What he had
discovered about his wife made Langen doubt whether the boy was his
son at all. There was a terrible scene, and the two disappeared
from their home forever. The woman died soon after. The young man
went to Australia. He has never been heard of since and has probably
come to no good."

"Might he not possibly be here in Europe again, watching for an
opportunity to make a fortune?"