who has been an athlete all his days. But nevertheless at that moment he was afraid. Something in the stillness of the ro

sense of positive relief he backed out of the room and hastily descended the stairs. The old lady was still in her

find the rooms of Mademoiselle are open, but a

ook up h

he declared. "It is generally so at th

are all open!

se them," Madame answer

me laid down the paper at once. She looked at

with me at once," Duncombe said. "I should like to m

epted the coin and carefully placed it in a purse drawn

candle," Duncom

mp, talking

y friends. There was one," she continued, "who came here with her this afternoon-but he left almost at once," sh

y had entered it they had a view of the room beyond. Madame cried out, and Dunco

n vase lay upon the floor. A few feet off was an overturned chair. Upon the canopied bed lay a prostrate figure, the head thrown back at an unnatural angle, the eyes o

ed. "It is the litt

rings had been torn from her fingers, her little stock of jewellery ransacked, her purse was empty, everything of value had been taken. There was not a shred of evidence against any one. Madame, who had seen the man upon the stairs, could only say

eed in bribing came back into his mind with sickening insistence. In a measure he was responsible for the girl's death. After all, what chance had he? He was fighting against powers which, moving always in the darkness, seemed able with the most

he hotel as he entered. Duncombe greete

aimed. "Were you w

g dress, and he too had the appearance of a

ose. Let us go down into the smo

hairs, and despatched a waiter for whiskies

he asked, "wit

combe answe

is not good news," he added hastily. "It is more a person

mbe s

n!" h

urnals. I have made many friends, and it has been considered amongst all my fellow journalists that I had the ear

summon up enough int

"that you were contempla

imly. "I am as much surprised my

e was p

nderstand," he said. "You ca

rmation, and my entrée into political and social life. To-day the Minister of Police has declined to receive me, or at any future time-my cards of entry into the chamber and half a dozen places have been

encer? What have you done? How ha

r hesi

you were up against. But the fact remains that my offence is in having sent my friends to the Café Montmartre on your accou

any chance, are you?"

"does not appear to me to lend

head in his hands

ll you how sorry I am, old chap. Can't the thing be exp

have retired in any case in less than a year, and, as it is, I believe my successor is on his way ove

mbe n

Afterwards I've som

lp you. I was interested in your story before. I am ten times more i

e exclaimed. "Want you! Why, there's no one

already," Spencer answered. "I'm with you right along. Now t

s. His new ally listened and afterward

Their spies, of course, are everywhere, and their organization perfect. The first one of their creatures who tries to break away is Mad

mea

, as a matter of fact, her murderer would have been perfectly safe if he had strolled into the nearest p

be shu

ver here, no interests, no ties of any sort. He was abroad for the first time of his life. He regarded foreign countries and people simply with the tolerant curiosity of the untravelled Britisher. He appears in Paris for one night and disappears, and forthw

w that somehow or other you're up against a big thing. In a week-perhaps a day-I may know more. M

together then?"

e content to be the actual looker-on, though you had better not abandon your inquiries altogether. I will put you up at the

ed note into Duncombe's hand

r," he announced. "It was left he

is dressing-room. There

well advised to lea