ions to other areas. No, there is only one safe plan, and
even that wants thinking out. There must be no trace left."

"God!" exploded Holliday weakly, yet with a kind of loathing. "Why
don't I go straight to the police and give the whole show away? I've
half a mind to."

"Oh, no, I think you won't do that. There is too good a reason for not
giving the show away, as you call it."

"What reason do you mean?"

"If you did go to the police you would deprive yourself of a large
fortune. By sitting tight and saying nothing you will quite soon be
able to marry Lady Clifford. In the circumstances, you will hardly
persist in attaching a purely fictitious value to two insignificant
lives."

"Two!" gasped the younger man in a whisper. "Then you really mean to
go on with Clifford?"

"I have no choice in the matter; it has become imperative to remove
him. Since his father appointed him trustee of the estate, Lady
Clifford is powerless to draw any large sums of money without his
knowledge and consent. Consequently she would not be able to
remunerate me for my services to her with regard to her husband."

"You mean it would rouse his suspicions if she kept paying out money to
you?"

"Exactly. Of course to take on another case was more than I bargained
for, but the thing was practically forced on me. It was Lady Clifford
herself who began it without consulting me. She had kept back some of
the typhoid culture, having sworn to me that she had thrown it all
away. She started putting it into his bottled mineral water--she would
keep the water a day or two in her own dressing-room, then carry it
into his room and exchange it for the bottle that was there already. A
fool's game--at any moment she might have been caught at it. However,
there you are, she took the risk, then came to me and told me what she
had done and why."

"I see. Then you only have to leave Clifford alone and let the disease
take its course, I suppose?"

"Not at all. Typhoid artificially given seldom is severe enough to
kill, particularly in the case of a young and vigorous subject. No, we
should have to find some excuse for administering the pure toxin. It
would do the trick at once, and without the least fear of detection.
However, that is my difficulty; the man refuses utterly to submit to
any sort of injection. Idiotic prejudices!"

Esther's heart gave a leap. Roger was still safe; he had not given in.
She was so relieved that for