inued, "and turned
on the lights, and I shivered when I met his gaze.

"'You are defying me,' he said, very low. 'But I will break you yet,'
and he clapped his hands softly together.

[Illustration: "I knew that I was lost"]

"Mahbub appeared at the inner door, received a sharp order, and
disappeared again. A moment later, there was a little swirl of smoke
from the door of his room, and a sharp, over-powering odour, which
turned me faint.

"And then Senor Silva, who had been pacing, up and down the room,
stopped suddenly and looked at me, his face distorted.

"'Is it that?' he muttered. 'Can it be that?'

"And he strode to the curtain which hung before his secret cupboard
and swept it back.

"I knew that I was lost. I sprang for the outer door, managed to get
it open and set a foot in the hall, before he seized me. I remember
that I screamed, and then his hand was at my throat--and I suppose I
must have fainted," she added, with a little smile, "for the next
thing I remember is looking up and seeing Dr. Hinman."

I sat back in my chair with a long breath of relief. My tension during
the telling of the story had been almost painful; and it was not until
it was ended that I saw two other men had entered while Miss Vaughan
was speaking. I was on my feet as soon as I saw them, for I recognised
Goldberger and Sylvester.

"Simmonds telephoned me this morning that I was needed out here
again," Goldberger explained. "But first I want to shake hands with
Miss Vaughan."

"You have met Mr. Goldberger, Miss Vaughan," I said, as he came
forward, "but Dr. Hinman didn't tell you that he's the cleverest
coroner in greater New York."

"He doesn't really think so, Miss Vaughan," Goldberger laughed. "You
ought to read some of the things he's written about me! But I want to
say that I heard most of your story, and it's a wonder. About that
glove, now, Simmonds," he added, turning to the detective. "I'd like
to see it--and Sylvester here is nearly dying to."

"Here it is," said Simmonds, and took it from his pocket and passed it
over.

Goldberger looked at it, then handed it to Sylvester, who fairly
seized it, carried it to the door, and examined it with gleaming eyes.
Then, without a word, he took an ink-pad from his pocket, slipped the
glove upon his right hand, inked the tips of the fingers and pressed
them carefully upon a sheet of paper. From an inner pocket, he
produced a sheaf of photographs, laid them beside the pr