Selingman stared at it and stared back at Jean Coulois.
"What the mischief have you got there ?" he demanded.
Coulois touched the parcel with his yellow forefinger.

Selingman saw then that the stains were of blood.
"Give me a towel," his visitor directed.

"I do not want this upon my clothes." Selingman took a towel from the stand and threw it across the room.
"You mean," he asked, dropping his voice a little, "that it is finished ?" "A quarter of an hour ago," Jean Coulois answered triumphantly.

"He had just come in from luncheon and was sitting at his writing-table.

It was cleverly done--wonderfully.