220

XXV TRUER COLORS 233

XXVI PROVIDING FOR THE WORST 241

XXVII THE DISAPPEARANCE OF TRANTER 250

XXVIII IN PURSUIT 259

XXIX ETHICS OF KILLING 262

XXX MONSIEUR DUPONT'S TASK 273

XXXI WHAT THEY HEARD 279

XXXII THE BEAUTY-KILLER 288

XXXIII LAST TRUTHS 291

XXXIV CONCLUSION 312

THE CROOKED HOUSE

CHAPTER I

A STRANGE RIDDLE

"Monsieur Tranter! A moment!"

The Right-Honorable John Tranter swung round, latch-key in hand. Behind
him, an enormous figure emerged, with surprisingly agile and noiseless
steps, from the shadow of the adjoining house--a figure almost grotesque
and monstrous in the dim light of the street lamp. The very hugeness of
the apparition was so disconcerting that John Tranter drew back with a
startled exclamation.

"Good Lord! Monsieur Dupont? You in London?"

Monsieur Dupont described circles with his country's largest silk hat.

"I in London! An event, my friend, in the history of your city!"

He laughed softly, and replaced the hat on his head. They shook hands
warmly.

"This is a delightful surprise," Tranter said, turning back to the door.
"Come in."

"It is late," Monsieur Dupont apologized--"but I entreat a moment. It is
three hours only since I arrived, and I have passed one of them on your
doorstep."

"An hour?" Tranter exclaimed. "But surely----"

Monsieur Dupont squeezed himself into the narrow hall with difficulty.

"I possess the gift of patience," he claimed modestly. "In London it is
of great value."

In the small library he looked about him with surprise. The plain,
almost scanty furniture of Tranter's house evidently did not accord with
his expectations of the residence of an English Privy Councillor.
Monsieur Dupont sat down on a well-worn leather couch, and stared,
somewhat blankly, at the rows of dull, monotonous bindings in the simple
mahogany bookcases.

He placed the drink Tranter mixed for him on a small table by his side,
accepted a cigar, and puffed at it serenely. And in that position,
Monsieur Victorien Dupont presented a pleasing picture of elephantine
geniality. He was so large that his presence seemed to fill half the
room. His great face was one tremendous smile. His eyes, though capable
of a disconcerting