he replied. "The raid was made last night
after Charles Rabel had left. I received a telegram from the
Commissary of Police only an hour ago to the effect that six heavy
cases of 'travellers' samples' had been opened, and in them was found
a great quantity of stolen jewellery, negotiable securities, and other
objects of value, including two valuable paintings which were missing
from the Prado Museum three years ago."

"Then my information has been of some little use to you--eh?"

"Of enormous use, Senor Garfield! You will no doubt receive an
official letter of thanks from the Ministry of the Interior," he
replied. "But we must act very warily. Despujol will not risk
remaining here for long. Besides, some friend may telegraph to him
that the police have been to the Rue de Lalande!"

Once more it was upon the tip of my tongue to explain the manner in
which I had become implicated in the evil deeds of Oswald De Gex and
his sycophants, when of a sudden he added:

"You must really forgive me, Senor Garfield, but you are an entire
mystery to me. You have never been frank with me--never once!"

"I have been as frank as I dared," I replied. "I tell you that I am
here to watch and to strive to elucidate a great plot--one which
concerns myself and the woman I love. We have both been victims of a
vile and desperate conspiracy."

"And whom do you suspect?"

"Oswald De Gex."

"With what motive?" he asked, for he held the enormously wealthy
financial friend of Spain in awe and admiration.

"That, alas! is an enigma to me. I only know that he has made an
attempt upon my life, and that at least one woman has been sent to the
grave by foul means."

"Do you really infer that Senor De Gex is an assassin?" he asked
incredulously.

"I only tell you what I know, Senor Rivero," I replied quietly. "I
said that I would lead you to the secret abode of Despujol, and I
think I have now fulfilled my promise, and shown you that he is on
friendly terms with the great financier whom you in Spain all hold in
such high esteem."

"There is certainly no man more welcome in Madrid than Senor De Gex,"
replied the police official. "At the Ritz, whether in his own name or
incognito, he constantly receives our greatest politicians and most
prominent personages. Even the King has more than once commanded him
to the palace, in order to confer with him upon acute financial
problems in the interests of our country. And yet you infer that Senor
De