"A very great risk, as I have pointed out to Mr. Hornblower. I have reason to believe that two men met death while trying to open that secret drawer."
"I believe Mr. Hornblower did tell me something of the sort," she murmured; "but of course that is all a mistake."
"Then the drawer is not guarded by poison?" I questioned.
"By poison?" she repeated blankly, and carried her handkerchief to her lips. "I do not understand."
I knew that my theory was collapsing, utterly, hopelessly. I dared not look at Godfrey.
"Is there not, connected with the drawer," I asked, "a mechanism which, as the drawer is opened, plunges two poisoned fangs into the hand which opens it?"
"No, Mr. Lester," she answered, astonishment in her voice, "I assure you there is no such mechanism."
I clutched at a last straw, and a sorry one it was!
"The mechanism may have been placed there since the cabinet passed from your possession," I suggested.
"That is, perhaps, possible," she agreed, though I saw that she was unconvinced.