Police, New Scotland Yard. As I apprehend that I may be
assassinated at any time, I propose to put upon record all that I have
learned concerning the series of murders which I believe to be
traceable to a certain person. In the event of my death, my French
colleagues will open the sealed packet containing this statement and
the English Assistant Commissioner of the Special Branch responsible
for international affairs will receive instructions to open that which
I shall have lodged at Scotland Yard.

This matter properly commenced, then, with the visit to Paris,
incognito, of the Grand Duke Ivan, that famous soldier of whom so much
was expected, and because I had made myself responsible for his safety
during the time that he remained in the French capital, I (also
incognito be it understood) struck up a friendship with one Casimir,
the Grand Duke's valet. Nothing is sacred to a valet, and from Casimir
I counted upon learning the real reason which had led this nobleman to
visit Paris at so troublous a time. Knowing the Grand Duke to be a man
of gallantry, I anticipated finding a woman in the case--and I was not
wrong.

Yes, there was a woman, and _nom d'nom!_she was beautiful.
Now in Paris we have many beautiful women, and in times of
international strife it is true that we have had to shoot some of
them. For my own part I say with joy that I have never been
instrumental in bringing a woman to such an end. Perhaps I am
sentimental; it is a French weakness; but on those few occasions when
I have found a guilty woman in my power--and she has been pretty--
_morbleu!_--she has escaped! It may be that I have seen to it that she
was kept out of further mischief, but nevertheless she has never met a
firing-party because of me. Very well.

From the good fellow Casimir I learned that a certain dancer appearing
at one of our Montmartre theatres had written to the Grand Duke craving
the honour of his autograph--and enclosing her photograph.

Pf! it was enough. One week later the autograph arrived--attached to an
invitation to dine with the Grand Duke at his hotel in Paris. Yes--he
had come to Paris. I have said that he was susceptible and I have said
that she was beautiful. I address myself to men of the world, and I
shall not be in error if I assume that they will say, "A wealthy fool
and a designing woman. It is an old story." Let us see.

The confidences of Casimir interested me in more ways than one. In the
first place I h