It was indeed an alarming, terrifying revelation, as we began to
realize that Miss Lowe had undoubtedly been telling the truth. Not
alone was there this American group, evidently, but all over
Europe the lines of the conspiracy had apparently spread. It was
not a casual gathering of ordinary malcontents. It went deeper
than that. It included many who in their disgust at war secretly
were not unwilling to wink at violence to end the curse. I could
not but reflect on the dangerous ground on which most of them were
treading, shaking the basis of all civilization in order to cut
out one modern excrescence.

The big fact to us, just at present, was that this group had made
America its headquarters, that plans had been studiously matured
and even reduced to writing, if Paula were to be believed.
Everything had been carefully staged for a great simultaneous blow
or series of blows that would rouse the whole world.

As I watched I could not escape observing that Miss Lowe followed
Burke furtively now, as though he had some uncanny power.

Fortescue's laboratory was in an old building on a side street
several blocks from the main thoroughfares of Manhattan. He had
evidently chosen it, partly because of its very inaccessibility in
order to secure the quiet necessary for his work.

"If he had any visitors last night," commented Kennedy when our
cab at last pulled up before the place, "they might have come and
gone unnoticed."

We entered. Nothing had been disturbed in the laboratory by the