"But why?" she demanded. "What has she done?"

He looked at her in astonishment.

"What do you mean?" he stammered.

"Well"--she shrugged her shoulders slightly and smiled in his face--"it seems to me that it is nothing to do with him. It is the wretched female who should sue for a divorce, not the handsome detective--do you feel faint?"

"No," he said hoarsely.

"Don't you agree with me?"

"I agree with you," said the incoherent Beale. "But suppose her guardian takes the necessary steps?"

She shook her head.

"The guardian can do nothing unless the wretched female instructs him,"

she said. "Does it occur to you that even the best of drugs wear off in time and that there is a possibility that the lady was not as unconscious of the ceremony as she pretends? Of course," she said hurriedly, "she did not realize that it had actually happened, and until she was told by Apollo from the Central Office--that's what you call Scotland Yard in New York, isn't it?--that the ceremony had actually occurred she was under the impression that it was a beautiful dream--when I say beautiful," she amended, in some hurry, "I mean not unpleasant."

"Then what am I to do?" said the helpless Beale.

"Wait till I divorce you," said Oliva, and turned her head hurriedly, so that Beale only kissed the tip of her ear.

THE END

_Novels by_ EDGAR WALLACE

_published by_ WARD, LOCK AND CO., LTD.

_The "Sanders" Stories_

SANDERS OF THE RIVER BOSAMBO OF THE RIVER BONES LIEUTENANT BONES SANDI, THE KING-MAKER THE PEOPLE OF THE RIVER THE KEEPERS OF THE KING'S PEACE

_Mystery Stories_

THE DAFFODIL MYSTERY THE DARK EYES OF LONDON BLUE HAND MR. JUSTICE MAXELL THE JUST MEN OF CORDOVA THE GREEN RUST THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE FROG THE SECRET HOUSE