Derek　came　slowly　back　into　the　room。

〃What　do　you　mean？〃

The　te's　agreeable　smile　flashed　forth　once　more。

〃Surely　it　is　not　necessary　to　go　into　details；〃　he　purred。　〃Seek　whom　the　crime　benefits；　they　say；　don't　they？　As　I　said　just　now；　you　have　e　into　a　lot　of　money　lately。〃

Derek　laughed。

〃If　that　is　all　…〃　he　said　contemptuously。

But　the　te　was　shaking　his　head。　〃But　it　is　not　all；　my　dear　sir。　I　should　not　e　to　you　unless　I　had　much　more　precise　and　detailed　information　than　that。　It　is　not　agreeable；　Monsieur；　to　be　arrested　and　tried　for　murder。〃

Derek　came　close　up　to　him。　His　face　expressed　such　furious　anger　that　involuntarily　the　te　drew　back　a　pace　or　two。

〃Are　you　threatening　me？〃　the　young　man　demanded　angrily。

〃You　shall　hear　nothing　more　of　the　matter；〃　the　te　assured　him。

〃Of　all　the　colossal　bluffs　that　I　have　ever　struck　…〃

The　te　raised　a　white　hand。

〃You　are　wrong。　It　is　not　a　bluff。　To　convince　you　I　will　tell　you　this。　My　information　was　obtained　from　a　certain　lady。　It　is　she　who　holds　the　irrefutable　proof　that　you　mitted　the　murder。〃

〃She？　Who？〃

〃Mademoiselle　Mirelle。〃

Derek　drew　back　as　though　struck。

〃Mirelle；〃　he　muttered。

The　te　was　quick　to　press　what　he　took　to　be　his　advantage。

〃A　bagatelle　of　one　hundred　thousand　francs；〃　he　said。　〃I　ask　no　more。〃

〃Eh？〃　said　Derek　absently。

〃I　was　saying；　Monsieur；　that　a　bagatelle　of　one　hundred　thousand　francs　would　satisfy　my　…　conscience。〃

Derek　seemed　to　recollect　himself。　He　looked　earnestly　at　the　te。

〃You　would　like　my　answer　now？〃

〃If　you　please；　Monsieur。〃

〃Then　here　it　is。　You　can　go　to　the　devil。　See？〃

Leaving　the　t