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strength； he perceived subtly that Lady Agatha was of the nature
to appreciate this compliment。 At a moment when her fortunes
were at a low ebb what could more cheer a woman and hearten her
than such a mark of consideration？ Already Cleggett found
himself asking what would please Lady Agatha。
CHAPTER VIII
A FLAME LEAPS OUT OF THE DARK
Kuroki announced dinner； Cleggett entered the captain's mess room
of the cabin； where the cloth was laid； and a moment later lady
Agatha emerged from the stateroom and gave him her hand with a
smile。
If he had thought her beautiful before； when she wore her plain
traveling suit； he thought her radiant now； in the true sense of
that much abused word。 For she flung forth her charm in vital
radiations。 If Cleggett had possessed a common mind he might have
phrased it to himself that she hit a man squarely in the eyes。
Her beauty had that direct and almost aggressive quality that is
like a challenge； and with sophisticated feminine art she had
contrived that the dinner gown she chose for that evening should
sound the keynote of her personality like a leitmotif in an
opera。 The costume was a creation of white satin； the folds
caught here and there with strings of pearls。 There was a single
large rose of pink velvet among the draperies of the skirt； a
looped girdle of blue velvet was the only other splash of color。
But the full…leaved； expanded and matured rose became the vivid
epitome and illustration of the woman herself。 A rope of pearls
that hung down to her waist added the touch of soft luster
essential to preserve the picture from the reproach of being too
obvious an assault upon the senses； Cleggett reflected that
another woman might have gone too far and spoiled it all by
wearing diamonds。 Lady Agatha always knew where to stop。
〃I have not been so hungry since I was in Holloway Jail；〃 said
Lady Agatha。 And she ate with a candid gusto that pleased
Cleggett； who loathed in a woman a finical affectation of
indifference to food。
When Kuroki brought the coffee she took up her own story again。
There was little more to tell。
Dopey Eddie and Izzy the Cat； it appeared； had mistaken their
instructions。 Two nights after they had been engaged they had
appeared at Lady Agatha's apartment with the oblong box。
〃The horrid creatures brought it into my sitting…room and laid it
on the floor before I could prevent them；〃 said Lady Agatha。
〃'What is this？' I asked them； in bewilderment。
〃They replied that they had killed Reginald Maltravers ACCORDING
TO ORDERS； and had brought him to me。
〃'Orders！' I cried。 'You had no such orders。' Elmer； who lived
on the same floor； was absent temporarily； having taken Teddy out
for an airing。 I was distracted。 I did not know what to do。
'Your orders；〃 I said； 'were toto'〃
She broke off。 〃What was it that Elmer told them to do； and what
was it that they did？〃 she mused； perplexed。 She called Elmer
into the cabin。
〃Elmer；〃 she said； 〃exactly what was it that you told your
friends to do to him？ And what was it that they did？ I can
never remember the words。〃
〃Poke him；〃 said Elmer； addressing Cleggett。 〃I tells these
ginks to poke him。 But these ginks tells th' little dame here
they t'inks I has said to croak him。 So they goes an' croaks
him。 D' youse get me？〃
Being assured that they got him； Elmer downheartedly withdrew。
〃At any rate；〃 continued Lady Agatha； 〃there was that terrible
box upon my sitting…room floor； and there were those two degraded
wretches。 The callous beasts stood above the box apparently
quite insensible to the ethical enormity of their crime。 But they
were keen enough to see that it might be used as a lever with
which to force more money from me。 For when I demanded that they
take the box away with them and dispose of it； they only laughed
at me。 They said that they had had enough of that box。 They had
delivered the goodsthat was the phrase they usedand they
wanted more money。 And they said they would not leave until they
got it。 They threatened； unless I gave them the money at once；
to leave the place and get word to the police of the presence of
the box in my apartment。
〃I was in no mental condition to combat and get the better of
them。 I felt myself to be entirely in their power。 I saw only
the weakness of my own position。 I could not； at the moment； see
the weak spots in theirs。 Elmer might have advised mebut he
was not there。 The miserable episode ended with my giving them a
thousand dollars each； and they left。
〃Alone with that box； my panic increased。 When Elmer returned
with Teddy； I told him what had happened。 He wished to open the
box； having a vague idea that perhaps after all it did not really
contain what they had said was in it。 But I could not bear the
thought of its being opened。 I refused to allow Elmer to look
into it。
〃I determined that I would ship the box at once to some
fictitious personage； and then take the next ship back to
England。
〃I hastily wrote a card； which I tacked on the box； consigning it
to Miss Genevieve Pringle； Newark； N。 J。 The name was the first
invention that came into my head。 Newark I had heard of。 I knew
vaguely that it was west of New York； but whether it was twenty
miles west or two thousand miles； I did not stop to think。 I am
ignorant of American geography。
〃But no sooner had the box been taken away than I began to be
uneasy。 I was more frightened with it gone than I had been with
it present。 I imagined it being dropped and broken； and
revealing everything。 And then it occurred to me that even if I
should get out of the country； the secret was bound to be
discovered some time。 I do not know why I had not thought of
that beforebut I was distracted。 Having got rid of the box； I
was already wild to get it into my possession again。
〃I confided my fears to Elmer； and was surprised to learn from
him that Newark is very near New York。 We took a taxicab at
once； and were waiting at the freight depot in Newark when the
thing arrived。 There I claimed it in the name of Miss Genevieve
Pringle。
〃It became apparent to me that I must manage its final
disposition myself。 Elmer hired for me the vehicle in which we
arrived here； and we started back to New York。
〃But the driver； from the first； was suspicious of the box。 His
suspicions were increased when； upon returning to my apartment
hotel； where I now decided to keep the box until I could think
out a coherent plan of action； the manager of the hotel made
inquiries。 The manager had seen the box brought in； and taken
out again； before。 Its return struck him as odd。 He offered to
store it for me in the basement。 I took alarm at once。
Naturally； he questioned me more closely。 I was unready in my
answers。 His inquiries excited and alarmed me。 I felt that any
instant I might do s