The Crooked House

ail Of

nd him. "What has brought you back

nchman answered, in

big to have tempted you," the insp

onsieur Dup

sly towards the curtains

-in this house?"

Monsieur Du

ow Copplest

r seen him. I came wit

here all t

es

the inspector asked,

r Dupon

ne you will find it an interes

h-from you," the

-it is a case in which you would

n that," insiste

enchman rem

tainment," said the inspector slowly. "Is there any connect

of death," said

ng of awe in his

e track of something, which, in the words of our great

red to a woman," said

sieur Dupont evenly, "i

pector

ently-"in what way are

dead body, torn and mutilated. I follow on and on-from one point to the next point-often with no more than the instinct of the hunter to guide me. And h

previous crimes?" t

wo very beau

y started, s

s a beautiful woma

enormous head no

liberately. "The most b

. Then the inspector laid a ha

any times in the past," he said,

Monsieur Dupont r

compared with our's, I know enough of your p

ervice," said M

mmitted. Who, or what, smashed the body of that u

ge dignity-a solemnity-as though he were in the presence, or s

or compunction-and passes on without pity or remorse. A Destroyer who is

s," the inspector exclaimed

has already passed on twice before me, and left the same death in its wake. I cannot tell you any more. Let us both go our own ways, as we have done so many times befo

appeared som

ramed photograph of Christine Manderson, wh

y," he said softly-and s

o be found?" the

he complained. "If you will finish with Mr. Tranter a

ed to t

aid the i

sto

int smile. "The last time we ran together you were five minutes ahead of m

Dupont, "I will do my bes

inspector followed him to the d