“You may be sure that I will do that, Carter, to the extent of my ability; and of everything that this office can supply. Where is she now? In America?” “Yes.” “Look here, Carter; before you go more deeply into this affair I should tell you one thing about the woman.” “Well?” “Although she has been the cause of many a crime, and is responsible for the sudden taking off of many men, although she has filled a large place in our records for a long time, there is not, to-day, a thing against her for which she could be arrested, with the least chance of conviction. It has even been said of her that she has lived a spotlessly moral life, and so far as my own knowledge goes, it is the truth. But, she is none the less a dangerous woman.” “I know. I have seen her.” “Ah; then you do know. Why, my friend, she even tried her wiles upon me—and I nearly fell. It was chance that saved me, rather than my own good sense.” “And you are more than half in love with her yet, chief. I could see that when you looked at her picture.” “No; I am not in love with her; not in the least. But I am fascinated by her. And there is a difference, Carter.” CHAPTER XIX. TRAILED BY FATALITIES. Although the detective had been in London before he visited Paris, he had not sought Nan, who was in that city on the quest he had given her; just now, in talking with the chief, he half wished that he had done so. But he was satisfied that he had not made a mistake in his conjectures concerning Juno. She had been a dangerous woman always. According to the conversation the detective had had with Nan—always provided that this woman was the same who had once been Siren—she had begun to scatter danger around her, even when she was still a child. The peril of her propinquity had grown greater with the physical development until now even the chief of the secret police of Paris acknowledged that he had nearly been one of her victims. While the detective was studying the chief, the chief was contemplating him. It was the latter who spoke first. “I wish, Carter, that you would take me more into your confidence,” he said. “If I was made aware of precisely what you want, it might be that I could help you. Or, will you have a look at the _dossier_ first?” “The _dossier_, please; after that I will try to be quite frank. But, first—you assure me that this woman has no criminal record?” “None that could be designated as such. You will discover all that when you read the _dossier_.” “Will you tell me just why she has made herself so prominently a figure for the police to study?” “Ah! That is different. ‘The Leopard’ has been what you might call ‘a near-criminal’ ever since she first came to our notice; but she has never been quite one, that we can ascertain, or prove.” “I see. Will you tell me how she first attracted the attention of the police of Paris? That might be interesting.”