Leon said, his voice trembling with
excitement. "I'll schwear it!" Curtis answered, "but you look crossh. Whatsh the
matter, Leon? _God! What's the matter!_"

An hour later, as Kelson was rising from his chair in front of the
fire to gaze, for the hundredth time that evening, into the eyes of
Lilian Rosenberg's portrait on the mantelshelf, the door of his room
flew open and in staggered Curtis--white, wet and bloated. "Great heavens!" Kelson cried. "What the deuce have you been doing to
yourself? You look a perfect devil!" "I am one!" Curtis groaned. "I am one, Matt! I've given your show
away." "My show away! Why, what the deuce do you mean?" In a string of broken sentences Curtis explained what had happened. "I'm damned sorry, Matt, old man," he pleaded. "It was the drink that
did it--I didn't know what I was saying till it was too late--till I
saw Leon's face--and that cleared my brain--brought me to myself. It
was hellish. I remember the moment I mentioned the word marriage--he
sprang up from his chair, and as he hurried out, I heard him mutter,
'I'll go to her straight--I'll--' Matt, old man, he meant mischief. I'm certain of it. Come with me to her flat--for God's sake--COME." And catching hold of Kelson, who leaned against the mantelshelf, dazed
and stupefied, he dragged him into the street. To revert to Hamar. Curtis's information had transformed him. He was,
now, another creature. Prior to his conversation with Curtis, he had
suspected, at the most, that Kelson might be contemplating a secret
engagement to Lilian Rosenberg--but a hasty marriage--a marriage in a
few days' time--he had never dreamt that Kelson could be as mad as
that. It was outrageous! It was abominable! It was sheer wholesale
homicide! At all costs the marriage must be stopped. And mad with
rage, Hamar dashed out of the hotel, and calling a taxi, drove direct
to Lilian Rosenberg's flat. He found her alone--alone--and with a strange expression in her
eyes--an expression he had never noticed in them before. She was in
the act of examining a magnificent diamond ring. "You're quite out of breath," she said coolly, "didn't you come up by
the lift?" "I've come to talk business," Hamar panted. "It's no use looking like
that. I know your secret." "My secret!" Lilian Rosenberg replied, opening her eyes and simulating
the greatest unconcern, "what secret? I don't understand." "Oh, yes, you do!" Hamar said, "you understand only too well--you
deceitful minx. Had I only been smart--I should have given you the
sack months ago. This marriage of yours with Kelson shall not come
off." "My marriage with Mr. Kelson!" Lilian Rosenberg said, turning a trifle
pale. "I really don't know what you are talking about." "You do!" Hamar shouted, his fury rising. "You do! You know all about
it. You were seen sitting on his knee this morning, and all your
conversation was overheard. I have found out everything. And I tell
you, you shan't marry him." "I shan't marry him!" Lilian Rosenberg said with provoking coolness. "Whoever thinks I want to marry him?" "He does--I do!" Hamar shouted--his voice rising to a scream. "You've
hoodwinked me long enough--you hoodwink me no longer. You've
encouraged him from the first--made eyes at him every time you've seen
him--taken advantage of my absence to prowl about the passages to
waylay him--had him round to your rooms and visited him in his. You've
no sense of shame or honour--you've broken your promises to me--you're
a liar!" "Anything else Mr. Hamar!" Lilian Rosenberg said, her eyes glittering. "When you've quite finished, perhaps--you'll kindly go and leave me in
peace." "Go! Leave you in peace!" Hamar shouted. "Damn you, curse your
impertinence! Go! I'll not budge an inch till I wring from you an
oath--a solemn binding oath, that you'll break off your engagement
with Kelson at once." "Really, Mr. Hamar!" Lilian Rosenberg said, "I cannot put up with
quite so much noise. Will you go, or shall I ring for the porter to
turn you out?" She moved in the direction of the bell as she spoke, but before she
could touch it Hamar had intercepted her. "Stop this foolery!" he said catching hold of her wrist, "I'm in grim
earnest--the lives of all three of us are at stake--jeopardized
through you--through your infernal greed and selfishness. Do you
hear!" "Please let go my wrist," she said quietly. "I won't!" he shouted. "I'll squeeze, crush it, break it! Break you,
too, unless you swear to break off your marriage!" "I'll swear nothing," Lilian Rosenberg said faintly. "You're a brute. Let me go or I'll cry for help." She screamed, but before she could repeat the scream, Hamar had her by
the throat--and then blind with passion and before he fully realized
what he was about, he had shaken her to and fro--like a terrier shakes
a rat--and had dashed her on the floor. For some minutes he stood rocking with passion, and then, his eyes
falling on the inanimate form at his feet, he gave a great gasping cry
and bent over it. "God in Heaven!" he ejaculated, "she's dead! I've killed her!" He was still bending over her--still feeling her lifeless pulse, still
trying to resuscitate her--feebly wondering how he had killed her,
feverishly debating the best course to pursue--when Curtis and Kelson
burst in on him. At the sight of Lilian Rosenberg's lifeless body both men started
back. "Great God! Hamar!" Curtis gasped. "What have you done to her?" "Nothing!" Hamar said, turning a ghastly face to them. "I--I found her
like this!" "Liar!" Kelson shouted beside himself with fury. "Liar! We heard her
scream. Look at your hands--there's blood on them! You've killed her!" Before Curtis could stop him he sprang at Hamar, and the next moment
both men were rolling on the floor. "Call for the police, Ed!" Kelson gasped, "the police--or--" But
before he could utter another syllable, walls, floor and ceiling shook
with loud, devilish laughter. There was then silence--enthralling,
impressive, omnipotent silence--the electric light went out--and the
room filled with luminous, striped figures.