"By Jove! She's fainted!" Unloosing the strap which held him to his seat, he sprang down and entered the vehicle. The young girl was lying back in the corner inert and helpless, her hat awry, her pointed chin upon her chest. He pressed his hand to her breast, but there was no movement of the heart. He touched her ungloved hand. It was chilly, and the fingers were already stiffening. Her large black eyes were still open, glaring wildly into space, but her face was blanched to the lips. "Good heavens!" the cabman cried, stupefied, as in turning he saw a policeman standing on the kerb. "Quick, constable!" he shouted, beckoning the officer. "Quick! Look here!" "Well, what's the matter now?" the other inquired, approaching leisurely, his thumbs hitched in his belt. "The matter!" cried the cabman. "Why, this lady I drove from Charin' Cross is dead?" CHAPTER THREE. ONE OF A CROWD. Within half a minute a crowd had gathered around the cab. The instant the cabman raised the alarm the constable was joined by the burly door-opener of the Criterion in gaoler-like uniform and the round-faced fireman, who, lounging together outside, were ever on the look-out for some diversion. But when the constable agreed with the cab-driver that the lady was dead, their ready chaff died from their lips. "What do you know of her?" asked the officer of the cab-driver. "Nothing, beyond the fact that I drove 'er from Charin' Cross with a gentleman. She's a foreigner, but he was English." "Where is he?" demanded the constable anxiously, at that moment being joined by two colleagues, to whom the fireman in a few breathless words explained the affair. "He went into the bar there 'arf an hour ago, but he ain't come out." "Quick. Come with me, and let's find him," the officer said. Leaving the other policemen in charge of the cab, they entered, and walked down, the long, garish bar, scrutinising each of the hundred or so men lounging there. The cabman, however, saw nothing of his fare. "He must have escaped by the back way," observed the officer disappointedly. "It's a strange business, this." "Extremely," said the cab-driver. "The fellow must have murdered her, and then entered the place in order to get away. He's a pretty cute 'un." "It seems a clear case of murder," exclaimed the other in a sharp, precise, business-like tone. "We'll take her to the hospital first; then you must come with me to Vine Street at once."