I
observed, however, that the furniture, carpet, and a few other
appointments were of a character much more elegant than those of
the public room below. A window which overlooked the street was
open, so that the plush curtains which had been drawn aside moved
slightly to and fro in the draught.
"The window of the tragedy, Knox," explained Harley.
He crossed the room.
"If you will stand here beside me you will see the gap in the
railing caused by the breaking away of the fragment which now
lies on Mr. Meyer's desk. Some few yards to the left in the
street below is where the assault took place, of which we have
heard, and the unfortunate Mr. De Lana, who was dining here
alone--an eccentric custom of his--naturally ran to the window
upon hearing the disturbance and leaned out, supporting his
weight upon the railing. The rail collapsed, and--we know the
rest."
"It will ruin me," groaned Meyer; "it will give bad repute to my
establishment."
"I fear it will," agreed Harley sympathetically, "unless we can
manage to clear up one or two little difficulties which I have
observed. For instance"--he tapped the proprietor on the
shoulder confidentially --"have you any idea, any hazy idea, of
the identity of the woman who was dining here with Mr.
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