Page:Yellow Claw 1920.djvu/49

 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.”