Messengers of Evil

uty and dazzling array, leaning on the arm of her host and fiancé, who bore his honours proudly. Dancers paused to admire this handsome coup

Danidoff, Thomery, and Jér?me Fandor. Music was their theme, some admired Wagner and the class

" declared Thomery, laughing,

tell me that such hackneyed things as The Smile of

oachful, but her

who was fluttering about the Pri

you would not put yo

had just joined t

hly agree with you, my

off looked

ed, with a to

e myself-the Tonkinoise

s operatic big gun

rincess who still wor

le: it comes from absolute ignorance. I do not understand

?" ... queri

tty," answered Fandor with a sm

tic discussion. She was about to speak when a coupl

wall of the ball-room, scraps of conversation, mingled with the strains of the Hungarian band, fell on his retentive ears. He took refuge at last in the embrasure of a w

what has been happening to y

late; I go out a good deal, as you see; sometimes I dance, but very rarely; I often play bridge ... and that is ab

had the good luck to be introduced to Thomery, and it so happened he was

San Domingo, am

a few miles apart! But, on the other hand, I am interested

ntroduce me

to talk big business with Thomery. I am only here for a fortnigh

is eyeglass and lo

ra-not bad looking in spite of her mahogany-coloured hair, granddaughter of a famous French peer, Flavogny de Saint-Ange.... Ah, I breathe again!... It's a detail, but I am quite delighted! General de Rini's daughters have at last found partners: they are ugly, poor things, and they've dressed themselves in rose-pink as tho

! Tho

ty, but a noble creature-it's Princess Sonia Danidoff, related to the Tzar in some distant way and with an immense fortune. Just look, dear boy, at those splendid jewels on that beautiful neck of hers! They say she's got on seven

m!

hat, I fancy Thomery won't be best pleased. Oh, I say, there he is, coming our way! There's no denying it, he is a fine figure of

a little out of breath. A quick glance in a mirror showe

uch of feminine exaggeration characterist

tom of her skirt, and at the same time a black coat w

ble for his movements in such a crush!... I am very much afraid that I have

ed her annoyance: how could she lead the cotillion with this tear in her dress, slight though it might be-and the cotillion would begin in less than half an hour! Then she remembere

prepared this boudoir

r services. The Princess refused them. If she could not have Nadine, she preferred to manage for herself, besides, she saw that two pins, con

entive lover, had placed there in her honour: the little boudoir had been transformed into a comfortable ladies' dre

ion for perfumes, she took up a scent sprayer and lavishly sprinkled her throa

e felt slightly faint, a little sick-almost a desire to sleep.... She slipped down on to a low divan, which occupied

she thought. "If only I

d round for the eau-de-Cologne she wanted: Thomery's arsenal did not conta

vive her; but, on the contrary, her fatigue increased: her eyes close

eyes bright lights seemed to float, succeeded by thick darkness. Her head turned round and round ... she strove to cry out, but he

o!... Sleep!...

istance, then she succumbed and lost a

t. He knocked discreetly. There was no reply. Repeated knocking evoked no audible answer. Thomery opened the door. The room was in total darkness. He switched on the electri

arse and laboured breath came from her heaving bosom at irregular intervals

omery rushed away

ted the attention of Charley, whose friend, the young engineer Andral, was

clenched, shaken by nervous tremors, hastened, with unsteady

o half-fainting women had collapsed on chairs, and the famous surgeon, Dr. Marvier, was doing his utmost to prevent the crowd from entering the room. The word went round that a tragedy had ta

dful rumours were true. Sonia Danidoff, they declared, was stretched out on the fl

g tragedy.... Several women were still in a fainting condition; pallid men were opening windows that fresh

emained i

et. The old soldier marched off with them in the direction of the grand staircase and towards the cloak-room on the landin

his?... Not to leave the house!... But, am I under suspicion

e irate General and sa

had the house surrounded by the detectives who were downstairs on duty. The sergeant is there to see this order carried out: you cannot leave the premises!... It is not that you are under suspi

ssued the order. He retired to a corner of the gallery with hi

o the verandah and into the smoking-room. There was a buzz

, accompanied by a gentleman, whose simple black coat was in strikin

e whis

eur Ha

, Thomery had rushed to the telephone and had called up Police Headquarters. It was a piece of unexpected good

ption rooms Thomery talk

rom the premises watched. Unfortunately I was obliged to leave my reception rooms for quite a quarter of an hour, so that I cannot tell you what happened there. If only I had been abl

ard interrup

nd has in some way betrayed himself, I shall hear of it. There are, at least

" replied Thomery-"I know my guest

There is scarcely a ball, a reception, however select it ma

nsieur Havard. He announced that the Princess had been almost literally felled to the ground by a most powerful soporific and was in no real dange

ndows: these could not be very easily opened: in any case, it was impossible to close them again from the outside. The thief must have been in the house, probably in the ball-room, and had followed the Princess into this little retiring-room.... But what had been the Princess's motive for coming here alone? Monsieur Havard had learned that the room had not been thrown open to the other guests. Then he perceived that the lace at the b

ective force turned

ince no one has gone away.... I must hold an investigation at once. I am going to cross-examine your guests-probe them thoroughly-and I wish to put them through their paces in your of

lengthy and trying and l

hich he had taken some part-far too slight to please

nisable voice-had

andor!... It

the mysterious unknown was-the unknown, who wished to influence by word writ

mous

led ad

l costs, clear

ound Fandor, insisting on bein

ced the jou

terested in what

me of them by name, some he knew by sight. He searched their faces with penetrating e

rumbled. He went of