If I read the incident aright, she bought her coffee, ordered it ground, slipped out at the rear door and into the adjoining building, where, unnoticed and unheard, she called up the Universal and got into communication with Madame Duclos.

When she returned it was by the same route.

She did not forget her coffee nor give way under the great strain to which she had subjected herself till she reached her own apartment." "Clever." "And true, gentlemen; I will stake my reputation on it, unable as I am to explain every circumstance, and close up every gap.

Have you any further questions to ask or shall I leave you to your deliberations ?" XXIX A STRONG MAN An hour later when the Chief Inspector rose to depart, it was with the understanding that until their way cleared and their duty in this matter had become inevitable, no word of this business should reach the press, or even pass beyond the three officials interested.
Strange to say, they were able to keep this compact, and days elapsed without any public recognition of the new factor which had entered into the consideration of this complicated crime.
Then a hint of what was seething in the official mind was allowed to carry its own shock to the person most interested.

Mr.Roberts was summoned to an interview with Coroner Price.