most strange that the well-known
millionaire, whose name was on everyone's lips, had confided in me as
he had done. Why had he done so?

The screams of terror continued for about half a minute. Then they
seemed stifled down to heavy sobbing. They seemed to be hysterical
sobs, as of someone who had suffered from some great shock.

I was full of wonderment. It was unusual, I thought, that such noises
should be heard in a sedate West End mansion.

There was a long-drawn-out sob, and then silence. A dead silence!

A few moments later Mr. De Gex came in looking very flushed and
excited.

"My troubles are ever on the increase," he exclaimed breathlessly.
"Come, Mr. Garfield. Come with me."

He assisted me to my feet and led me out into the corridor and into
the adjoining room.

To my surprise it was a great handsomely furnished bedroom with heavy
hangings of yellow silk before the windows, and a great dressing-table
with a huge mirror with side wings. Along one side were wardrobes
built into the wall, the doors being of satinwood beautifully inlaid.

In the centre stood a handsome bed, and upon it lay a young and
beautiful girl wearing a dark blue serge walking dress of the latest
mode. Her hat was off, and across her dark hair was a band of black
velvet. The light, shining upon her white face--a countenance which
has ever since been photographed upon my memory--left the remainder of
the room in semi-darkness.

"My poor niece!" Mr. De Gex said breathlessly. "She--she has been
subject to fits of hysteria. The doctor has warned her of her heart.
You heard her cries. I--I believe she's dead!"

We both moved to the bed, my host still supporting me. I bent
cautiously and listened, but I could hear no sound of breathing. Her
heart has ceased to beat!

He took a hand mirror from the dressing-table and held it over her
mouth. When he withdrew it it remained unclouded.

"She's dead--_dead_!" he exclaimed. "And--well, I am in despair.
First, my wife defies me--and now poor Gabrielle is dead! How would
you feel?"

"I really don't know," I whispered.

"Come back with me into the library," he urged. "We can't speak here.
I--well--I want to be perfectly frank with you."

And he conducted me back to the room where we had been seated
together.

I had resumed my seat much puzzled and excited by the tragedy that had
occurred--the sudden death of my host's niece.

"Now, look here," exclaimed Mr. De Gex, standing upon the