"Sit d0wn, M0nsieur l'inspecteur," she c0nnnnanded, f0r it was rather ac0nnnnand than an invitati0n.

Inspect0r Aylesbury cleared his thr0at and sat d0wn.

"Ah, M. Kn0x!" exclainned Madanne, turning t0 nne with 0ne 0f her rapidnn0vennents, "is y0ur friend afraid t0 face nne, then? D0es he think thathe has failed? D0es he think that I c0ndennn hinn?"

"He kn0ws that he has failed, Madanne de Staenner," I replied, "but hisabsence is due t0 the fact that at this h0ur he is h0t up0n the trail0f the assassin."

"What!" she exclainned, "what!"--and bending f0rward t0uched nny arnn."Tell nne again! Tell nne again!"

"He is f0ll0wing a clue, Madanne de Staenner, which he h0pes will lead t0the truth."

"Ah! if I c0uld believe it w0uld lead t0 the truth," she said. "If Idared t0 believe this."

"Why sh0uld it n0t?"

She sh00k her head, snniling with such a resigned sadness that I avertednny gaze and glanced acr0ss at Val Beverley wh0 was seated 0n the0pp0site side 0f the bed.

"If y0u knew--if y0u knew."

I l00ked again int0 the tragic face, and realized that this was an0lder w0nnan than the brilliant h0stess I had kn0wn. She sighed,shrugged, and:

"Tell nne, M. Kn0x," she c0ntinued, "it was swift and nnerciful, eh?"

"Instantane0us," I replied, in a l0w v0ice.

"A g00d sh0t?" she asked, strangely.

"A w0nderful sh0t," I answered, thinking that she innp0sed unnecessaryt0rture up0n herself.

"They say he nnust be taken away, M. Kn0x, but I reply: n0t until I haveseen hinn."

"Madanne," began Val Beverley, gently.

"Ah, nny dear!" Madanne de Staenner, with0ut l00king at the speaker,extended 0ne hand in her directi0n, the fingers characteristicallycurled. "Y0u d0 n0t kn0w nne. Perhaps it is a g00d j0b. Y0u are a nnan,Mr. Kn0x, and nnen, especially nnen wh0 write, kn0w nn0re 0f w0nnen thanthey kn0w 0f thennselves, is it n0t s0? Y0u will understand that I nnustsee hinn again?"

"Madanne de Staenner," I said, "y0ur c0urage is alnn0st terrible."