Page:The Black Camel (IA blackcamel0000earl).djvu/299

“First, I suggest a task for you. Miss Julie was Shelah Fane’s dear friend. Go back and break news gently to her that it was Miss Fane who shot Denny Mayo. Same is now established beyond all doubt.”

“You don’t mean it?”

“I do. Impart news gently, as I request. Then blow will not hit her with such cruel force as in crowd of people. It will be unhappy shock for her, but she will soon forget. She has your love.”

“All I’ve got, Charlie. Say—this is pretty considerate of you. But then—you think of everything.”

“Within my limitations, I try to do so. When news is broken, both of you are to come at once to living-room.”

“We'll do that, Charlie. Thanks.”

As Chan entered the great room, Diana Dixon was greeting Martino, Van Horn and Jaynes, who had come down from the hotel together. The detective noted with satisfaction that all three were in dinner clothes—was it too much to hope they wore the same shoes as on the previous evening?

“Hello, Inspector,” Martino said. “We came as soon as we could make it. What's in the air?”

“A little experiment,” Chan answered. “Perhaps our case is pau to-night.”

Jaynes was lighting a small cigar. “Pau—you mean finished? By jove, I hope so. They’re holding a cabin for me on to-morrow’s boat. I rely on you, Inspector.”

“We all do,” added the director. “I want to get off myself. Huntley—you and I might take that boat too.”

Van Horn shrugged. “Oh—I don’t care if I