voice, "to be honest with you,
I fear I have been leading you astray. During the last few moments it is
my own past life that has been rising before me, not the present of this
poor dead woman. When I am tired--and I am very tired to-night--some
such trick is sometimes played me. I was born at Orange; as a child I
spent many hours in the beautiful garden which just now rose up before
me; I once saw a dead body in that shed--Madame Fortoul, who is devout,
often has masses said for those who meet with sudden deaths and whose
bodies are brought to her husband."

The soothsayer rose from her chair.

"If you will come to me to-morrow," she said, "bringing with you
something which belonged to this lady, I am sure I shall be able to tell
you all you wish to know. For that second seance," she added hurriedly,
"I shall of course ask no further fee."

Vanderlyn, waking as from a dream, heard sounds in the other room, the
coming and going of a man's footsteps. He also got up.

"Madame," he said, quietly, "I thank you from my heart. I recognise the
truth of all you have told me, _with one paramount exception_. It is
true that the woman whom you saw lying dead is now in the house of Dr.
Fortoul at Orange; the fact that you once knew the place is an
accident--and nothing but an accident. You have, however, Madame, made
one strange mistake."

He took out of his pocket and held in his hand the large open envelope
containing, in addition to the remainder of the notes he had brought,
the slip he had cut from the newspaper. "Here is the proof that all you
have seen is true," he repeated, "with one exception--_This lady was
alone in the train_. It is important that this should be thoroughly
understood by you, for to-morrow you will be called upon to testify to
the fact."

Madame d'Elphis stiffened into deep attention.

"To-morrow morning," continued Vanderlyn, very deliberately, "one of
your regular clients is coming to ask you to assist him to solve a
terrible mystery. I will tell you his name--it is Mr. Pargeter, the
well-known sportsman. He is coming to ask you to help him to find
Mrs. Pargeter, who some days ago mysteriously disappeared. This
lady's death, but he does not yet know it, took place while she was
travelling--travelling alone. I repeat, Madame, that she was
_alone--quite alone--on her fatal journey_."

Vanderlyn stopped speaking a moment; then his voice lowered, became
troubled and beseeching.

"Once you have r