the body of the murdered
woman. Partially raising the fur cloak, he suppressed a gasp of
astonishment.

"Why! she only wears a silk night-dress, and a pair of suede slippers!"

He glanced back over his shoulder.

"I had noted that," said Cumberly. "The whole business is utterly
extraordinary."

"Extraordinary is no word for it!" growled the inspector, pursuing his
examination.... "Marks of pressure at the throat--yes; and generally
unhealthy appearance."

"Due to the drug habit," interjected Dr. Cumberly.

"What drug?"

"I should not like to say out of hand; possibly morphine."

"No jewelry," continued the detective, musingly; "wedding ring--not a
new one. Finger nails well cared for, but recently neglected. Hair dyed
to hide gray patches; dye wanted renewing. Shoes, French. Night-robe,
silk; good lace; probably French, also. Faint perfume--don't know what
it is--apparently proceeding from civet fur. Furs, magnificent; very
costly."...

He slightly moved the table-lamp in order to direct its light upon
the white face. The bloodless lips were parted and the detective bent,
closely peering at the teeth thus revealed.

"Her teeth were oddly discolored, doctor," he said, taking out a
magnifying glass and examining them closely. "They had been recently
scaled, too; so that she was not in the habit of neglecting them."

Dr. Cumberly nodded.

"The drug habit, again," he said guardedly; "a proper examination will
establish the full facts."

The inspector added brief notes to those already made, ere he rose from
beside the body. Then:--

"You are absolutely certain," he said, deliberately, facing Leroux,
"that you had never set eyes on this woman prior to her coming here,
to-night?"

"I can swear it!" said Leroux.

"Good!" replied the detective, and closed his notebook with a snap.
"Usual formalities will have to be gone through, but I don't think I
need trouble you, gentlemen, any further, to-night."

V

DOCTORS DIFFER

Dr. Cumberly walked slowly upstairs to his own flat, a picture etched
indelibly upon his mind, of Henry Leroux, with a face of despair,
sitting below in his dining-room and listening to the ominous sounds
proceeding from the study, where the police were now busily engaged. In
the lobby he met his daughter Helen, who was waiting for him in a state
of nervous suspense.

"Father!" she began, whilst rebuke died upon the doctor's lips--"tell me
quickly what has happened."

Perc