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"Yet the deadly thing is fascinating, isn't it? Else why do so ?" With an inward shudder Anstice recalled those months after Hilda Ryder's death--those horrible, chaotic ht, to deaden re had almost precipitated athan the first "For God's sake, Mrs Carstairs, don't beco slavery of mind and body, and only the miserable victims kno delusive are its promises, how unsatisfactory its rewards What can you expect fro, indeed, it has to offer you, is--oblivion?"

Chloe Carstairs did not reply Instead, she turned away and moved across the rooainst the white wall Bending down she opened it, and after pressing a spring, released what appeared to be a secret drawer From this she lifted out a little packet wrapped in white paper and sealed with red wax, and holding it in her hand she cauely uncomfortable by her curious, almost secretive manner

"Dr Anstice"--she held out the packet--"will you take charge of this for me? It is the key--what you called the devil's key just now--to the Paradise I have never had the courage to enter"

Anstice took the little parcel fro of sternness in his face

"Yes, Mrs Carstairs But what, exactly, is this thing?"

"An hypodere and a supply of morphia," she informed him tranquilly Then, as he pursed his lips into an involuntary whistle, she went on, with more than a hint of mockery in her manner: "Oh, I came by it quite honestly, I assure you! I didn't steal it froht it at a chemist's shop in London"

"You did?"

"Yes, and Iman show me how to use it" She snorant in the matter, and I didn't want to make a blunder in its use"

"Really? Well, Mrs Carstairs, this is your property, but I wish Ifor the present"

"You think it would be safer there?" She looked at hi the matter "Well, I wonder?"

"You wonder--what?" He spoke dryly