h those within, for several minutes.
Presently the door clicked and a woman stepped out, followed by a man.
The woman disappeared into the house. The two men drew in so close to
the cab that they were hidden from me; when they reappeared, they were
carrying a woman--or her body--between them. They hurriedly crossed the
sidewalk mounted the steps, and the house-door closed behind them
instantly. The noise of the door seemed to arouse the horse, doubtless
he took it for the door of the cab, and he started slowly up the street
toward Massachusetts Avenue. After walking a short distance, and in
front of a vacant lot near the corner, he halted--obviously he realized
that no one was holding the lines, and he was waiting for his driver to
return. Just then one of the men put his head out of the doorway, saw
that the horse was no longer before the house, and dodged quickly back.
I waited for further developments from the house. None came, except that
in one of the rooms a light was made, but it was behind closed shades.
Pretty soon the horse calmly lay down in the shafts, stretched out, and
apparently went to sleep. Disturbed by the occurrence, and debating what
I ought to do, I sat a while longer; and I must have dozed again, for
when I awoke the house was dark, and a man, a strange man, I think, was
standing beside the cab, and the horse was up. The man was gathering the
reins; he fastened them to the driver's seat, spoke to the horse, and
the horse moved off and into Massachusetts Avenue toward Dupont Circle.
The man watched him for a moment; then turned and went down
Massachusetts Avenue. After waiting a short while, I went to bed. This
morning, I decided it was well for you to know of the episode."

"And you have told it wonderfully well, Mrs. Winton," said the
Superintendent, "wonderfully well, indeed."

"You don't know how often I rehearsed," she laughed, "nor how much of
the essentials I may have omitted!"

"Not much, I fancy. However, you'll not object, I suppose, to answering
a few questions as to details."

"I wish you to ask anything that suggests itself," she replied. "I've an
appointment at the Chateau at five; just give me time to keep it."

"We'll get through long before five!" the Superintendent smiled, though
his shrewd grey eyes were coldly critical. It was most unlikely that she
was the Lady of Peacock Alley; yet all things are possible where a woman
is concerned, as he knew from experience. "About what