r front of the Abbey Inn had presented
itself to me in the light of a feasible experiment.

Unaware that Inspector Gatton was watching me--unaware that in my
absence he had actually detected the presence of the gun upon the
tower--I played my last card ... and lost.

Cassim it was who detected the fact that police were watching the Bell
House! Cassim had failed me once. I instructed him a second time.

I near the end of my statement. Destruction of all my effects, of all
evidence of my work, and, crowning tragedy, of every trace of a life's
research, was unavoidable. Knowing that every railway station and port
would be watched and that my marked personality could not hope to
escape the vigilance of the authorities, I determined to make a bid
for freedom by seeking the shelter of my villa in London.

Cassim systematically fired the Bell House ... and perished in the
flames! Under cover of the confusion which the conflagration
occasioned, Nahemah and I succeeded in making our retirement by the
gate opening on the Hainingham road.

But, in my attempts upon the life of Mr. Addison, I had not counted
with Nahemah. I had raised up a monster ... that monster ... has
destroyed me....

CHAPTER XXVIII

THE CLAWS OF THE CAT

The hoarse voice ceased. Neither Gatton nor I moved or spoke. Then:

"I have three minutes--or less," whispered Damar Greefe. "Question me.
I am at your service."

"Where is your villa?" asked Gatton suddenly.

"It is called The Laurels--"

"The Laurels!" I cried incredulously.

"It is called so," whispered the Eurasian. "It is the last house but
one in College Road! From there I conducted my last experiment with
L.K. Vapor, which resulted not in the death of Mr. Addison, but in
that of Eric Coverly--"

Gatton sprang to his feet.

"Come along, Mr. Addison!" he cried. But:

"The Laurels is empty," came, ever more faintly. "In her Sothic fury,
Nahemah fled. The bloodlust is upon her. I warn you. She is more
dangerous ... than ... any rabid dog.... Tuberculosis will end her
life ... before the snows ... come. But there is time for her to ...
Ah, God's mercy!"

He writhed. He was contorted. Foam appeared Upon his lips.

"_Hlangkuna!"_ he moaned, "_hlangkuna! She_ ... touched me with a
poisoned needle ... _two hours_--ago...."

He rose to his full height, uttered a stifled scream, and crashed down
upon the floor--dead!

In a species of consternation, Gatton and I stood looking at