Grady screwed the cap on the flask with great deliberation, and returned it to his pocket.  And all the time Rogers was watching him furtively, wiping his mouth mechanically with a trembling hand.

“Now, Rogers,” Grady began, “I want you to take your time and tell us in detail everything that happened here to-night.  You say a woman did it.  Well, we want to hear all about that woman.  Now go ahead; and remember there’s no hurry.”

“Well, sir,” began Rogers slowly, as though carefully considering his words, “Mr. Vantine came out from dinner about half-past seven—­maybe a little later than that—­and told me to light all the lights in here and in the next room.  You see there are gas and electrics both, sir, and I lighted them all.  He had gone into the music-room on the other side of the hall, so I went over there and told him the lights were all lit.  He was looking at a new picture he’d bought, but he left it right away and come out into the hall.

“‘I don’t want to be disturbed, Rogers,’ he said, and come in here and shut the door after him.

“It was maybe twenty minutes after that that the door-bell rung, and when I opened the door, there was a woman standing on the steps.”

He stopped and swallowed once or twice, as though his throat was dry, and I saw that his fingers were twitching nervously.

“Did you know her?” questioned Grady.

Rogers loosened his collar with a convulsive movement.

“No, sir, I’d never seen her before,” he answered hoarsely.

“Describe her.”

Rogers closed his eyes, as though in an effort of recollection.

“She wore a heavy veil, sir, so that I couldn’t see her very well; but the first thing I noticed was her eyes—­they were so bright, they seemed to burn right through me.  Her face looked white behind her veil, and I could see how red her lips were—­I didn’t like her looks, sir, from the first.”

“How was she dressed?”

“In a dark gown, sir, cut so skimpy that I knowed she was French before she spoke.”

“Ah!” said Grady.  “She was French, was she?”

“Yes, sir; though she could speak some English.  She asked for Mr. Vantine.  I told her Mr. Vantine was busy.  And then she said something very fast about how she must see him, and all the time she kept edging in and in, till the first thing I knowed she was inside the door, and then she just pulled the door out of my hand and shut it.  I ask you, sir, is that the way a lady would behave?”

“No,” said Grady, “I dare say not.  But go ahead,—­and take your time.”

Rogers had regained his self-confidence, and he went ahead almost glibly.

“‘See here, madam,’ says I, ’we’ve had enough trouble here to-day with Frenchies, and if you don’t get out quietly, why, I’ll have to put you out.’

“‘I must see Mistaire Vangtine,’ she says, very fast.  ’I must see Mistaire Vangtine.  It is most necessaire that I see Mistaire Vangtine.’