CHAPTER III

_SCARABÆMUS SACER_ (_Friday, July 13; noon_) Vance frowned slightly and studied the small black figure for a moment. “It may mean nothing—surely nothing supernatural—but the fact that this particular statue was chosen for the murder makes me wonder if there may be something diabolical and sinister and superstitious in this affair.” “Come, come, Vance!” Markham spoke with forced matter-of-factness. “This is modern New York, not legendary Egypt.” “Yes . . . oh, yes. But superstition is still a …