out, waving his hand
cheerily to the quartette above, and went in at the doorway. Seton
walked through the flat and admitted him.

"Sorry I'm late!" cried Gray, impetuous and boyish as ever, although he
looked older and had grown very bronzed. "The chief detained me."

"Go through to them," said Seton informally. "I'm getting my notes;
we're going to read the thrilling story of the Kazmah mystery before
dinner."

"Good enough!" cried Gray. "I'm in the dark on many points."

He had outlived his youthful infatuation, although it was probable
enough that had Rita been free he would have presented himself as a
suitor without delay. But the old relationship he had no desire to
renew. A generous self-effacing regard had supplanted the madness of his
earlier passion. Rita had changed too; she had learned to know herself
and to know her husband.

So that when Seton Pasha presently rejoined his guests, he found
the most complete harmony to prevail among them. He carried a bulky
notebook, and, tapping his teeth with his monocle:

"Ladies and gentlemen," he began whimsically, "I will bore you with a
brief account of the extraordinary facts concerning the Kazmah case."

Margaret was seated in the rest-chair which her husband had vacated, and
Seton took up a position upon the ledge formed by one of the wide arms.
Everyone prepared to listen, with interest undisguised.

"There were three outstanding personalities dominating what we may term
the Kazmah group," continued Seton. "In order of importance they were:
Sin Sin Wa, Sir Lucien Pyne and Mrs. Sin."

Rita Irvin inhaled deeply, but did not interrupt the speaker.

"I shall begin with Sir Lucien," Seton went on. "For some years before
his father's death he seems to have lived a very shady life in many
parts of the world. He was a confirmed gambler, and was also somewhat
unduly fond of the ladies' society. In Buenos Ayres--the exact date does
not matter--he made the acquaintance of a variety artiste known as La
Belle Lola, a Cuban-Jewess, good-looking and unscrupulous. I cannot say
if Sir Lucien was aware from the outset of his affair with La Belle that
she was a married woman. But it is certain that her husband, Sin Sin Wa,
very early learned of the intrigue, and condoned it.

"How Sir Lucien came to get into the clutches of the pair I do not
know. But that he did so we have ascertained beyond doubt. I think,
personally, that his third vice--opium--was probably responsib