y."

I realized that there was much truth in his argument. It remained with
us to pretend ignorance. Therefore we resolved to still watch and
wait.

A few hours later I told Senor Andrade, the Chief of Police, of the
professor's discovery that the points of the pins had been infected
with orosin, the newly discovered drug which in small doses produced
loss of memory and insanity, and in larger doses sudden death.

In reply, he informed me that though every effort had been made to
trace the elusive fugitive, all had been in vain, and that he was
still at large.

"But if he has this terrible drug in his possession he is more than
ever a danger to society," the Spanish official went on, speaking in
French. "I thank you, m'sieur, for all the information you have given
me, and you may rely upon me to take every possible step towards
securing his arrest. I was in telegraphic communication with the Paris
Surete only this morning concerning him. I will wire them again. They
have been stirred into activity by the message I sent them after your
call to see me."

I longed again to be frank with the affable Senor Andrade, yet I saw
that if I were I might negative all chance of solving the problem
which concerned the health and life of the girl whom I had grown to
love so fervently.

Upon a sudden impulse I remarked with affected carelessness:

"I hear that our English financier, Mr. De Gex, is at the Ritz."

"Yes," he replied. "He is here under an assumed name in connexion with
some big railway scheme in Estremadura--a line between Toledo and
Merida. It is badly wanted, and has been talked of for years. There is
a huge stretch of country south of the Tagus as far as Villa Nueva
without any railway communication. The King himself has been agitating
for the development of that rich agricultural region for the last ten
years. And now it seems as though your great financier, Monsieur De
Gex, is here to consult with the Ministry of Communications."

"Yes," I said, realizing in what high esteem that mystery-man of
millions was held.

"I do not think I would care to have such colossal wealth as his,"
remarked the Chief of Police. "As soon as he arrived from Paris I had
orders from the Ministry to place him under surveillance, because, it
seems, he goes in fear of some personal attack upon him."

"By whom?" I asked, instantly interested.

"The information is vague," was his reply. Then, taking up a large
yellow paper from h