n his knees. He clutched at the edge of his
coat and raised it to his lips, wherefrom blood was gushing forth. Max
stooped eagerly, for as the Greek had collapsed upon the floor, he had
heard the rattle of keys.

"She had... the keys," whispered Gianapolis. "They have... tabs... upon
them... Mrs. Leroux... number 3 B. The door to the stair"--very, very
slowly, he inclined his head toward the ebony door near which Max was
standing--"is marked X. The door... at the top--into garage... B."

"Tell me," said Max, his arm about the dying man's shoulders--"try to
tell me: who killed Mrs. Vernon and why?"

"MR. KING!" came in a rattling voice. "Because of the... carelessness
of someone... Mrs. Vernon wandered into the room ... of Mrs. Leroux. She
seems to have had a fit of remorse... or something like it. She begged
Mrs. Leroux to pull up... before... too late. Ho-Pin arrived just as she
was crying to ... Mrs. Leroux... and asking if she could ever forgive
her ... for bringing her here.... It was Mrs. Vernon who... introduced
Mrs.... Leroux. Ho-Pin heard her... say that she ... would tell...
Leroux the truth... as the only means"...

"Yes, yes, morbleu! I understand! And then?"

"Ho-Pin knows... women... like a book. He thought Mrs. Vernon would...
shirk the scandal. We used to send our women ... to Nurse Proctor's,
then... to steady up a bit... We let Mrs. Vernon go... as usual. The
scene with... Mrs. Leroux had shaken... her and she fainted... in the
car... Victoria Street.... I was with her. Nurse Proctor had... God!
I am dying!... a time with her;... she got so hysterical that they had
to... detain her... and three days later... her husband died; Proctor,
the... fool... somehow left a paper containing the news in Mrs. Vernon's
room.... They had had to administer an injection that afternoon... and
they thought she was... sleeping."...

"Morbleu! Yes, yes!--a supreme effort, my friend!"

"Directly Ho-Pin heard of Vernon's death, he knew that his hold ... on
Mrs. Vernon... was lost.... He... and Mahara... and... MR. KING... drove
straight to... Gillingham... Street... to... arrange.... Ah!... she
rushed like a mad woman into the street, a moment before... they
arrived. A cab was passing, and"...

"I know this! I know this! What happened at Palace Mansions?"

The Greek's voice grew fainter.

"Mr. King followed... her... upstairs. Too late;... but whilst Leroux
was in... Cumberly's flat... leaving door open ... Mr. Ki