her face with her hands.

"Exactly!" cried Cane. "I'm glad you have the moral courage to admit it."

"But describe exactly what occurred--as far as you know," Edwards said,
pressing her.

"I know that I was in a frenzy of passion, and hysterical, perhaps," she
said at last. "I recollect Mrs. Petre saying that I looked very unwell,
and fetching me some smelling-salts from the next room. I smelt them, but
the odour was faint and strange, and a few moments later I--well, I knew
no more."

"And then--afterwards?" I asked very gravely.

"When, later on I came to my senses," she said in slow, hard tones, as
though reflecting, "I found the girl whom I believed to be my rival in
your affections lying on the ground. In her breast was the knife. Ah,
shall I ever forget that moment when I realised what I had done! Cane was
bending over me, urging me to remain calm. He told me that my rival was
dead--that I had killed her and that she would not further interfere with
my future. I--I saw him bend over the body, withdraw the knife, and wipe
it upon his handkerchief, while that woman, his accomplice, looked on.
Then he gave me back the knife, which instinctively I concealed, and bade
me go quickly and noiselessly back home, promising secrecy, and declaring
that both he and Mrs. Petre would say nothing--that my terrible secret
was safe in their hands. I believed them, and I crept down the stairs out
into the road, and walked home to Cromwell Road. I replaced the knife in
the drawing-room, and I believed them until--until I knew that you
guessed my secret! Then came that woman's betrayal, and I knew that my
doom was sealed," she added, her chin sinking upon her breast.

"You see," laughed Cane defiantly, "that the girl admits her guilt. She
was jealous of Marie Bracq, and in a frenzy of passion struck her down.
Mrs. Petre was there and witnessed it. She will describe it all to you,
no doubt, when she recovers."

"And what she will say is one big lie," declared Senos, coming forward
again. "We all know Mrs. Petre," he laughed in his high-pitched voice;
"she is your tool--she and Luis. But he become a snake-charmer and give
exhibitions at music-halls. He bit by one snake at Darlington, a month
ago, and die quick. Ah, yes! Senos know! Snake bite him, because he
brought snake and give him to that man to bite my poor master."

"Why will Mrs. Petre tell lies, Senos?" demanded Edwards who, with Fremy,
was listening with the greatest in