“Somehow these clothes don’t seem right in my state of mind. I know you’ll think I’m crazy, but clothes mean an awful lot, even to a woman like me, and these are kind of too gay for a broken-hearted girl. If you’ve got sump’n quiet and sorrowful----” Diana smiled. How well she understood! “I know just how you’re feeling. Come to my room, Heloise. You need have no fear. I will send Superbus to look after this--this man.” Gordon thrust out a warning finger. “Diana, I beg of you not to help this wretched female. And for heaven’s sake don’t give her any of your new clothes--if you do, she’ll impersonate you----” Diana’s glance would have withered a waterlily. “You despicable brute! Go to your bed and sleep--if you can!” CHAPTER XXIV It was Monday morning. A church clock striking one reminded Gordon of this interesting fact. An hour had passed since Bobbie’s “good-night” had come to him through the closed door of his room. “Good-night,” said Gordon. “I wasn’t speaking to you,” snapped Bobbie. He had been out all the evening interviewing Inspector Carslake, and the excursion had not been altogether profitable. Bobbie’s door closed. He heard the click of Diana’s lock being fastened. Dempsi passed, after rhapsodizing at the closed portals of Diana’s bower. From somewhere below came the snores of Julius Superbus. Every exit from the house was closed, save one. The little casement in the big windows of The Study. Gordon had made a careful examination, for there was a possibility that Diana had taken the precaution of screwing it tight. But this she had neglected, satisfied probably with the presence in The Study of Mr. Superbus. Twice Gordon had tiptoed to the door of his room and turned the handle. It was unlocked to-night. With Bobbie in the house Diana had relaxed her vigilance. Half-past-one chimed. Gordon got off the bed, put on his soiled collar and his coat and gathered up his shoes. He was penniless, but the servants at the hotel knew him, and he would be able to write a cheque on the hotel note-paper and get all the cash he wanted. And then he would return and deal with Mr. Dempsi. He had not yet decided as to the method of Dempsi’s death, but it would be painful. As for Heloise ... he hoped that she would be gone.