"I should not like to say out of hand; possibly morphine."

"No jewelry," continued the detective, musingly; "wedding ring--not a
new one. Finger nails well cared for, but recently neglected. Hair dyed
to hide gray patches; dye wanted renewing. Shoes, French. Night-robe,
silk; good lace; probably French, also. Faint perfume--don't know what
it is--apparently proceeding from civet fur. Furs, magnificent; very
costly."...

He slightly moved the table-lamp in order to direct its light upon
the white face. The bloodless lips were parted and the detective bent,
closely peering at the teeth thus revealed.

"Her teeth were oddly discolored, doctor," he said, taking out a
magnifying glass and examining them closely. "They had been recently
scaled, too; so that she was not in the habit of neglecting them."

Dr. Cumberly nodded.

"The drug habit, again," he said guardedly; "a proper examination will
establish the full facts."

The inspector added brief notes to those already made, ere he rose from
beside the body. Then:--

"You are absolutely certain," he said, deliberately, facing Leroux,
"that you had never set eyes on this woman prior to her coming here,
to-night?"

"I can swear it!" said Leroux.