“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. King went... in...  Mahara... was watching... gave signal... whistle... of someone’s approach.  It was thought...  Mr. King... had secured all the message...  Mrs. Vernon... was... writing....  Mr. King opened the door of ... the lift-shaft... lift not working... climbed down that way... and out by door on... ground floor... when Mr.... the Member of Parliament... went upstairs."...

“Ah! pardieu! one last word!  Who is Mr. King?”

Gianapolis lurched forward, his eyes glazing, half raised his arm—­pointing back into the cave of the dragon—­and dropped, face downward, on the floor, with a crimson pool forming slowly about his head.

An unfamiliar sound had begun to disturb the silence of the catacombs.  Max glanced at the white face of Helen Cumberly, then directed the ray of the little lamp toward the further end of the apartment.  A steady stream of dirty water was pouring into the cave of the dragon through the open door ahead of him.

Into the disc of light, leaped, fantastic, the witch figure of the Eurasian.  She turned and faced him, threw up both her arms, and laughed shrilly, insanely.  Then she turned and ran like a hare, her yellow silk dress gleaming in the moving ray.  Inhaling sibilantly, Max leaped after her.  In three strides he found his foot splashing in water.  An instant he hesitated.  Through the corridor ahead of him sped the yellow figure, and right to the end.  The seemingly solid wall opened before her; it was another masked door.

Max crossed the threshold hard upon her heels.  Three descending steps were ahead of him, and then a long brick tunnel in which swirled fully three feet of water, which, slowly rising, was gradually flooding the cave of the dragon.