CHAPTER 26AT MADAME RECLAIRE’S
Madame Reclaire’s face grew ghastly. Her attempted bravado faded away in an instant. She caught at a chair for support.
“Murder!” she gasped.
“Yes, murder! You must make proper explanation or go to jail.”
“What do you want me to explain?”
“A label from one of your bottles has been found in a case where life was taken unlawfully. It may be you are innocent of wrong in the affair, but your bleaching devices were used in a plot which has, as I said, resulted in murder.”
“As Heaven hears me, I am not a party to the crime.”
“That remains to be seen. It behooves you to speak the truth to us. About two years ago a man with a long, black beard called at this place and purchased some bottles of a wash to bleach his beard and his hair snow-white.”
“I remember h
