“All went well.  The concern had ample capital, and was organized by clever people.  Sin Sin Wa took up new quarters in Limehouse; they had actually bought half the houses in one entire street as well as a wharf!  And Sin Sin Wa brought with him the good-will of an illicit drug business which already had almost assumed the dimensions of a control.

“Sir Lucien’s household was a mere bluff.  He rarely entertained at home, and lived himself entirely at restaurants and clubs.  The private entrance to the Kazmah house of business was the back window of the Cubanis Cigarette Company’s office.  From thence down the back stair to Kazmah’s door it was a simple matter for Mareno to pass unobserved.  Sir Lucien resumed his role of private inquiry agent, and Mareno recited the ‘revelations’ from notes supplied to him.

“But the ‘dream reading’ part of the business was merely carried on to mask the really profitable side of the concern.  We have recently learned that drugs were distributed from that one office alone to the amount of thirty thousand pounds’ worth annually!  This is excluding the profits of the House of a Hundred Raptures and of the private chandu orgies organized by Mrs. Sin.

“The Kazmah group gradually acquired control of the entire market, and we know for a fact that at one period during the war they were actually supplying smuggled cocaine, indirectly, to no fewer than twelve R.A.M.C. hospitals!  The complete ramifications of the system we shall never know.

“I come, now, to the tragedy, or series of tragedies, which brought about the collapse of the most ingenious criminal organization which has ever flourished, probably, in any community.  I will dare to be frank.  Sir Lucien was the victim of a woman’s jealousy.  Am I to proceed?”

Seton paused, glancing at his audience; and: 

“If you please,” whispered Rita.  “Monte knows and I know—­why—­she killed him.  But we don’t know—­”

“The nasty details,” said Quentin Gray.  “Carry on, Seton.  Are you agreeable, Irvin?”

“I am anxious to know,” replied Irvin, “for I believe Sir Lucien deserved well of me, bad as he was.”

Seton clapped his hands, and an Egyptian servant appeared, silently and mysteriously as is the way of his class.

“Cocktails, Mahmoud!”

The Egyptian disappeared.

“There’s just time,” declared Margaret, gazing out across the prospect, “before sunset.”

CHAPTER XLIII

THE STORY OF THE CRIME

“You are all aware,” Seton continued, “that Sir Lucien Pyne was an admirer of Mrs. Irvin.  God knows, I hold no brief for the man, but this love of his was the one redeeming feature of a bad life.  How and when it began I don’t profess to know, but it became the only pure thing which he possessed.  That he was instrumental in introducing you, Mrs. Irvin, to the unfortunately