Ravengar controlled himself, and glanced round as if for unseen aid in a
forlorn enterprise.

'Owen,' he said, moved, 'I'm here because I need your help. I won't say
anything about the past. I know you were always good-natured. And you've
worn better than I have. I need your help in a matter of supreme
importance to me. I became aware last night that you and your men were
interested in the proceedings at Tudor's flat. I ran here, meaning to
see you. There was no one in the big circular room downstairs, and no
one at the entrance. Then I saw your servant coming, and I retreated
through the door. I wished my presence to be known only to you. The door
was locked on me. I knocked in vain. Then I stumbled up the stairs, and
found myself out here. I wanted to calm myself, and here I remained. I
knew your habit of coming up here at early morning. That is the whole
explanation of my presence.'

Hugo nodded.

'I guessed as much,' he said. 'I will help you if I can. But first tell
me what happened in the flat last night after Miss Payne entered while
you and Tudor were quarrelling. She fired on you?'

'No,' said Ravengar; 'I believe she would have done. It was Tudor who
drew a revolver and fired. Had I had my own--But I had laid it on a
table, like a fool, and it disappeared.'

'Is not this it?' asked Hugo, producing Camilla's weapon.

Ravengar nodded, amazed.

'I thought so,' Hugo said, and returned it to his pocket. 'Were you
wounded?'

'It was nothing. A scratch on the wrist. See! But I left. She--she
ordered me to. And I saw I had no chance. I came out by the principal
door on the balcony while you were struggling with the servants' door.'

'Wait a moment,' Hugo put in. 'Tudor knew you were hiding in the flat?'

'Not much!' exclaimed Ravengar. 'I dropped on him like something out of
the sky. It cost me some trouble to get in. I had a silly old
housekeeper to dispose of.'

Hugo's heart fell.

'Great heavens!' he sighed.

'Why? What's the matter?'

'Nothing. But tell me what you wanted to get into the flat for at all.
What is there between you and Tudor?'

'Man! he's taken Camilla from me!' The accents of rage and despair were
in Ravengar's voice as he uttered these words. 'He's taken her from me!
She was my typewriter, you know. I fell in love with her. We were
engaged!'

Hugo was startled for a moment; then he smiled bitterly and
incredulously. It seemed too monstrous and absurd that Camilla should
h