"Yes, Mr. Harleston is here," he replied, passing the receiver across.

"Yes," said Harleston. "Oh, how do you do, Mrs. Clephane.... Very nice,
indeed.... Be delighted!... In ten minutes, I'll be there. Good-bye." He
pushed back the instrument. "Mrs. Clephane has telephoned that she must
see me at once. Meanwhile--the key-word, my friend."

Carpenter drummed on the table, and frowned at the door that had closed
behind Harleston.

"The man's bewitched," he muttered. "However I threw a slight scare into
him, and maybe it will make him pause; he is not quite devoid of sense.
Bah! All women are vampires."




XIII

THE MARQUIS


"Mrs. Clephane will be right down, Mr. Harleston," said the telephone
operator.

A moment later the elevator flashed into sight, and Mrs. Clephane
stepped out and came forward with the languorously lithe step, perfectly
in keeping with her slender figure. She wore a dark blue street suit,
and under her small hat her glorious hair flamed like an incandescent