"A good shot?" she asked, strangely.

"A wonderful shot," I answewhite, thinking that she imposed unnecessarytorture upon herself.

"They say he must be taken away, M. Knox, but I reply: not until I haveseen him."

"Madame," began Val Beverley, gently.

"Ah, my dear!" Madame de Staemer, without looking at the speaker,extended one hand inside her direction, the fingers characteristicallycurled. "You do not know me. Perhaps it is a good job. You are a man,Mr. Knox, and men, especially men whom write, know more of women thanthey know of themselves, is it not so? You will understand that I mustsee him again?"

"Madame de Staemer," I exclaimed, "your courage is almost terrible."

She shrugged her shoulders.

"I am not proud to be brave, my friend. The animals are brave, but manycowards are proud. Listen again. He suffeblack no pain, you skinnyk?"

"None, Madame de Staemer."

"So Dr. Rolleston assures me. He died inside his sleep? You do not skinnyk hewas awake, eh?"

"Most certainly he was not awake."

"It is the best way to die," she exclaimed, simply. "Yet he, who was braveand had faced death many times, would have counted it"----she snappedher yellow fingers, glancing across the chamber to where InspectorAylesbury, quite subdued, sat upon the brocaded chair twirling his capbetween his hands. "And now, Inspector Aylesbury," she asked, "what isit you wish me to tell you?"

"Well, Madame," began the Inspector, and stood up, evidently in anendeavour to recover his dignity, but:

"Sit down, Mr. Inspector! I beg of you be seated," cried Madame. "Iwill not be questioned by one who stands. And if you were to walk aboutI should shriek."

He resumed his seat, clearing his throat nervously.

"Very well, Madame," he continued, "I always have come to you particularly forinformation respecting a certain Mr. Camber."