"There is someone in my rooms," Anna said.

"Is it your maid?" he asked.

"I have given her two days' holiday," Anna answered. "She has gone

down into the country."

"And no one else--has a key?"

"I believe," she said, "that that man must have one. I am safe while I

am there, for I have had bolts fitted everywhere, and a pane of glass

in the front door. But I am always afraid that he may get in while I

am away. Look! Is that some one coming out?"

The front door of the flats stood open, and through it a woman, slim

and veiled, passed on to the pavement and turned with swift footsteps

in the opposite direction. Anna watched her with curious eyes.

"Is it any one you know?" Brendon asked.

"I am not sure," Anna answered. "But, of course, she may have come

from one of the other flats."

"Perhaps," he said, "you had better let me have your key, and I will

go up and explore."

"We will go together," she answered.

They crossed the street, and entering the front door passed up the

outside stone steps of the flat. Anna herself opened the hall door.

They stood for a moment in the passage and listened. Silence! Then

Anna clutched her companion's arm.

"What was that?" she asked sharply.

He had heard nothing. They both listened intently. Again silence.

"I thought that I heard a groan," Anna whispered.

He laughed reassuringly.

"I heard nothing," he declared, "and my ears are good. Come."

He threw open the door of the sitting-room and switched on the

electric light.

"There is no--Good God!" he exclaimed.

He turned round to keep Anna out by force if possible, but he was too

late. She was by his side. She too had seen. The thin stream of blood

on which her eyes were fastened with a nameless horror reached almost

to her feet.




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