Val Beverley.

"Go and fetch Mrs. Fisher, Nita, at once--and try to behave yourself. I
have trouble enough."

I entered the corridor and pulled up short. Val Beverley, fully
dressed, was kneeling beside Madame de Staemer, who wore a kimono over
her night-robe, and who lay huddled on the floor immediately outside
the door of her room!

"Oh, Mr. Knox!" cried the girl, pitifully, and raised frightened eyes
to me. "For God's sake, what has happened?"

Nita, the Spanish girl, who was sobbing hysterically, ran along to join
Mrs. Fisher.

"I will tell you in a moment," I said, quietly, rendered cool, as one
always is, by the need of others. "But first tell me--how did Madame de
Staemer get here?"

"I don't know, I don't know! I was startled by the shot. It has
awakened everybody. And just as I opened my door to listen, I heard
Madame cry out in the hall below. I ran down, turned on the light, and
found her lying here. She, too, had been awakened, I suppose, and was
endeavouring to drag herself from her room when her strength failed her
and she swooned. She is too heavy for me to lift," added the girl,
pathetically, "and Pedro is out of his senses, and Nita, who was the
first of the servants to come, is simply hysterical, as you can see."

I nodded reassuringly, and stooping, lifted the swooning woman. She was