“Who is this Floria?” Lieutenant Norton was demanding.
De Medici turned to him.
“Ah, my dear lieutenant,” he answered, his voice strangely light, “a marvelous person. A suave Messalina.... You will find her some day. With our assistance.”
He bowed and his hand gracefully indicated the doctor.
“I’ve found just who I want,” Norton grunted. His keen eyes gleamed with irritation. “Miss Ballau has been booked for the murder of her stepfather.”
De Medici’s eyes showed no emotion.
“Good night,” he answered.
Dr. Lytton followed him out of the building. The pathologist’s face wore an air of violently suppressed excitement.
CHAPTER X
THE DAGGER OF MIST
In which a pathologist reasons himself into a railroad trip—Francesca of the spiral eyes—The ancient science of demonology—The visiting shadow—The dagger that glistened against the moon.