"
His lips were pressed together, and I noticed how he started when I
uttered the name of that woman whom I had found dead in Rannoch Wood,
and whose body had so mysteriously disappeared.
"And what on earth can the woman concern me?" he asked, with a brave
attempt to remain cool, still speaking in French.
"Only that you knew her," was my brief reply. Then, with my eyes still
fixed upon his, I asked: "Will you not now request this gentleman to
retire?"
He hesitated a moment, and then with a wave of his hand dismissed the
man he had summoned to his aid. A moment later the "Strangler's"
personal protector had disappeared through that secret door in the
paneling by which he had entered.
"Well?" asked the Baron, turning quickly to me again, his dark, evil
eyes trying to fathom my intentions.
"Well?" I asked. "And what, pray, can you profit by denouncing me as an
assassin? Remember, Baron, that your secret is mine," I said in a clear
voice full of meaning.
"And your intention is blackmail--eh?" he snapped, walking to the window
and back again.
Pages:
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332