Page:Yellow Claw 1920.djvu/53

 “Glad to meet you, Miss Cumberly,” came the inevitable formula. “Entirely at your service.”

“I had an idea, Inspector,” said the girl, laying her hand confidentially upon Dunbar’s arm, “that I recognized, when I entered Mr. Leroux’s study, tonight”—Dunbar nodded—“that I recognized—the—the victim!”

“Good!” said the inspector, rubbing his palms briskly together. His tawny eyes sparkled. “And you would wish to see her again before we take her away. Very plucky of you, Miss Cumberly! But then, you are a doctor’s daughter.”

They entered, and the inspector closed the door behind them.

“Don’t arouse poor Leroux,” whispered Cumberly to the detective. “I left him on a couch in the dining-room.”…

“He is still there,” replied Dunbar; “poor chap! It is”…

He met Helen’s glance, and broke off shortly.

In the study two uniformed constables, and an officer in plain clothes, were apparently engaged in making an inventory—or such was the impression conveyed. The clock ticked merrily on; its ticking a desecration, where all else was hushed in deference to the grim visitor. The body of the murdered woman had been laid upon the chesterfield, and a little, dark, bearded man was conducting an elaborate examination; when, seeing the trio enter, he