"She declared it was painless, and now--and now----" he broke off, to wipe the perspiration from his face. Dan half rose. "Let me call assistance. It may not be too late----" Curberry pointed his revolver at him as he moved. "It is too late," he said, setting his teeth, "if I do not die, I must face the worst. You--you have brought me to this."
"I!" echoed Halliday, sitting down again, "in what way?"
"You meddled and meddled, and--and you sent that telegram."
"I did not."
"Then your meddling has brought the police into the matter. That telegram may have been sent by a friend or an enemy; in either case it is true, for all is discovered. I was----" Curberry gasped with pain again, and moistened his dry lips. "I was sitting with it, wondering if it was best to end things or to wait and see if the warning was a true one. Then she came in through yonder door," he nodded towards the entrance from the terrace into the library. "She told me that you--that you--oh--oh!" he groaned, and rocked himself from side to side, yet kept a grip on the revolver, lest Dan should call or ring for assistance, or endeavor to secure the weapon. "So you took the poison?" said Halliday, wondering how he could manage to evade being shot and summon a doctor. "When she said that all was known, I did. Then she--she----" "Queen Beelzebub you mean?"
"Curse her, yes. Like Eve, she tempted me, and, like Adam, I fell."
"Where is she?"
"Up in Penn's old rooms, searching for any further confession he may have left. Oh," Curberry rocked and moaned, "I thought when I snatched it from you, and burnt it, that all evidence was destroyed."
"I saved a few sheets."
"Do they contain mention of my name?"