. You saw her
lift that trap; and--what then?"

"Then there came up out of it--oh, the most loathsome-looking creature I
ever saw; a huge, crawling, red shape that was like a blood-red spider,
with the eyes, the hooked beak, and the writhing tentacles of an
octopus. It made no sound, but it seemed to know her, to understand her,
for when she waved her hand toward the open door of her own room it
crawled away and, obeying that gesture, dragged its huge bulk over the
threshold, and passed from sight. Then the man she called her brother
kissed her again, and as he descended into the darkness below the trap I
heard her say quite distinctly: 'Tell Marise that I will come as soon as
I can; but not to delay the revel. If I am compelled to forego it
to-night, there shall be a wilder one to-morrow, when Clodoche
arrives.'"

"Clodoche! By Jupiter!" Cleek almost jumped as he spoke. "Now I know the
'lay'! No; don't ask me anything yet. Go on with the story, please.
What then, Miss Lorne, what then?"

"Then the man below said something which I could not hear--something to
which she answered in these words: 'No, no; there is no danger. I will
guard it safely, and it shall go into no hands but Clodoche's. He and
Count von Hetzler will be there about midnight to-morrow to complete the
deal and pay over the money. Clodoche will want the fragment, of course,
to show to the count as a proof that it is the right one, as "an
earnest" of what the remainder is worth. And you must bring me that
"remainder" without fail, Gaston--you hear me?--without fail! I shall be
there, at the rendezvous, awaiting you, and the thing must be in our
hands when von Hetzler comes. The thing must be finished to-morrow
night, even if you and Serpice have to throw all caution to the winds
and throttle the old fool.' Then, as if answering a further question,
she laughingly added: 'Oh, get that fear out of your head. I'm not a
bat, to be caught napping. I'll give it to no one but Clodoche--and not
even to him until he gives the secret sign.' And then, Mr. Cleek, as she
closed the trap I heard the man call back to her 'Good night' and give
her a name I had not heard before. We had always supposed that she had
been christened 'Suzanne,' but as that man left he called her--"

"I know before you tell me--'Margot'!" interjected Cleek. "I guessed the
identity of this 'Countess de la Tour' from the moment you spoke of
Clodoche and that secret trap. Her knowledge of tho