"Because the cards were laid out, and the death-card was in the lap of the corpse. Now I believe that this man---- By the way," said Gebb, breaking away from his original speech, "did Miss Ligram smoke?" "Not to my knowledge," rejoined Mrs. Presk, promptly. "She was a lady in her habits. Some of 'em was queer, but they were all genteel; indeed they were." "It's not out of keeping with well-bred habits for a lady to smoke," corrected the detective, mildly. "Many ladies do nowadays. But as--according to you--Miss Ligram did not smoke herself, it is probable that her visitor was a man. I found the stump of a cigarette near the chair. When he got behind it to strangle her----" "To strangle her!" repeated Mrs. Presk, horrified "Do you think this fortune-teller killed her?" "Yes, I do. I believe firmly that, attracted by her diamonds, he verified his own prediction, and murdered her in the most cold-blooded fashion." "Impossible, Mr. Gebb. He was a friend of hers!" "Ah! you know the man!" cried Gebb, pouncing down on this admission. "No, I don't!" cried the landlady, in rather a nervous manner for one of her iron composure, "but I know she had a visitor on that night. She told me she had a friend coming, but she didn't say if it was a lady or a gentleman. It was because Miss Ligram expected this person that she sent 'Tilda and me to the lecture." "Sent you to the lecture!" said Gebb, emphasizing the first word. "Well, she didn't exactly send us," explained Mrs. Presk, reluctantly, "but she gave me two tickets and suggested that we should go. Knowing her habits, and always willing to oblige, I went, and took 'Tilda." "What do you mean?" asked Gebb, staring at the landlady. Mrs. Presk explained herself more clearly. "On occasions Miss Ligram was ashamed of her superstitions, I think, sir, for three or four times she got me and 'Tilda out of the house while she consulted her swindlers. Once," said Mrs. Presk, consulting her book, "it was the Crystal Palace; again, two seats at the Adelphi; Earl's Court Exhibition three weeks ago, and the local lecture last night. But we came back always to find her in bed, until this last time," concluded Mr. Presk, with a shudder. "A strange woman," commented Gebb, thoughtfully. "So you never found out where she came from?" "No, sir, she was as close as wax. I called her the Lady from Nowhere." "You know nothing of her past?" "Nothing! She might have come from the moon for all I know of her." "You saw no letters, photographs----" "Nothing!" interrupted the landlady, emphatically. "I saw nothing." "Then," said Gebb, rising briskly, "I must stick to the clue of the Yellow Room." CHAPTER IV THE FIVE LANDLADIES