"Very sorry, miss," said the constable, not answering directly, "but my orders are to admit no one." Audrey's eyes began to glitter with ill-concealed anger, and Ralph hastily intervened. "Who is in charge of this case, officer?" "Inspector Lanton, sir." "Then pass my card into him, and--" "Are you a relative of the deceased, sir?" "No. But I am engaged to Miss Branwin here, and she--" "I'll send in the card," interrupted the policeman, quickly; then raised his voice to rebuke the crowd. "Keep back there; keep back!" Audrey remained silent, holding her feelings well under, while Ralph rapidly scribbled her name on his card. The constable knocked at the door and gave the message to the policeman who opened it. Then the door was closed again, and the lovers remained on the step anxiously waiting to see what would come of their application. The mob of people whispered and pointed, and looked askance at the young couple, evidently wondering why they were there. The position was highly unpleasant, and Audrey felt a great sense of relief when she was permitted to enter with her lover. In a moment they passed through the jealously-guarded door, and it was closed again the minute they were inside. "Wait here, please," said the constable who received them. "Inspector Lanton is upstairs with Madame Coralie, and will be down shortly." Audrey laid a detaining hand on his sleeve as he moved away. "Can you tell me if Lady Branwin--" "I am not allowed to answer any questions, miss," he replied, and went away in a stolid manner, as though the business in hand were an everyday occurrence. "Won't you sit down, darling?" whispered Ralph, tenderly. "You must keep up your strength, as there is much to be done." "My poor mother!" Audrey sank down on to a stool with a gasp. "Who could have killed her? How was she killed? When did the murder take place? Oh, it's too awful! Perhaps"--she looked pleadingly up into her lover's face--"perhaps it is not true." "It _is_ true, Miss Branwin," said a soft voice before Ralph could reply; and out of a near alcove came a pretty girl with red eyes and a tear-stained face. "It's quite true and very terrible." "Who are you?" asked Audrey, lifting her white face. "How do you come to know my name?" "I am Badoura, the forewoman of Madame Coralie," was the reply, "and I saw you yesterday when you came here with your mother. Poor Lady Branwin! It is awful to think that she should have been strangled in--" "Strangled!" interrupted Audrey, with another gasp. "Who strangled her?"