cannot disguise from myself that it hastened, if it
did not directly occasion, his breakdown."

"Yes, yes," said Max; "we have been very fortunate however in diverting
the attention of the press from the absence of Mrs. Leroux throughout
this time. Nom d'un nom! Had they got to know about the scrap of
paper found in the dead woman's hand, I fear that this would have been
impossible."

"I do not doubt that it would have been impossible, knowing the London
press," replied Dr. Cumberly, "but I, too, am glad that it has been
achieved; for in the light of your Paris discoveries, I begin at last to
understand."

"You were not Mrs. Leroux's medical adviser?"

"I was not," replied Cumberly, glancing sharply at Max. "Good heavens,
to think that I had never realized the truth!"

"It is not so wonderful at all. Of course, as I have seen from the
evidence which you gave to the police, you knew that Mrs. Vernon was
addicted to the use of opium?"

"It was perfectly evident," replied Cumberly; "painfully evident. I will
not go into particulars, but her entire constitution was undermined by
the habit. I may add, however, that I did not associate the vice with
her violent end, except"...

"Ah!" interrupted Max, shaking his finger at the physician, "you
are coming to the point upon which you disagreed with the divisional
surgeon! Now, it is an important point. You are of opinion that
the injection in Mrs. Vernon's shoulder--which could not have been
self-administered"...

"She was not addicted to the use of the needle," interrupted Cumberly;
"she was an opium SMOKER."

"Quite so, quite so," said Max: "it makes the point all the more clear.
You are of opinion that this injection was made at least eight hours
before the woman's death?"

"At least eight hours--yes."

"Eh bien!" said Max; "and have you had extensive experience of such
injections?"

Dr. Cumberly stared at him in some surprise.

"In a general way," he said, "a fair number of such cases have come
under my notice; but it chances that one of my patients, a regular
patient--is addicted to the vice."

"Injections?"

"Only as a makeshift. He has periodical bouts of opium smoking--what I
may term deliberate debauches."

"Ah!" Max was keenly interested. "This patient is a member of good
society?"

"He's a member of Parliament," replied Cumberly, a faint, humorous glint
creeping into his gray eyes; "but, of course, that is not an answer
to your question! Yes, h