He raised his eyes and stared at me strangely.
"She played with her victim as with a mouse," he murmured, "before finishing him off with a blow—"
CHAPTER VIII
MY VISITOR
For long enough after Gatton's departure I sat thinking over our conversation. Despite the lateness of the hour at which he had departed, he had had no thought of rest and was setting out in quest of further evidence to point to the author of Sir Marcus's death. The room was laden with tobacco smoke, for our conference had lasted more than two hours, but dusk was very fully established and when presently as I sat there in the dark contemplating the horrible labyrinth into which my steps had drifted, Coates entered.
"Ah, Coates," I said, "light up."
He switched on the electric light and I saw layers of smoke—clouds drifting from the open window towards the newly opened door.
"Shall you be going out again to-night, sir?" asked Coates, standing rigidly to attention as was his custom when addressing me.
"I think not, Coates," I replied. "I have done enough for one day, but I should be glad if you would ring up the New Avenue Theater and inquire if Miss Merlin will speak to me. It will be about time now for the performance to have finished."