h. He
ate his in the private room he had engaged, and at about three o'clock
the visitor arrived. He inquired of the proprietor and was shown into
the Baron's private room. I judged him to be about forty, of middle
height, well-dressed, and wearing big round tortoiseshell glasses,
like those Americans so often wear. He was red-faced and walked with a
slight limp."

"And what happened while your master was with the stranger?"

"The Baron came out and told me to go to the garage with the car, and
I was telephoned for an hour later. When I met him again he seemed to
be in an ill and petulant mood, for he told me to drive back to
Amsterdam with all speed. He also again made me promise to tell nobody
of the secret meeting."

"And then?" I asked anxiously.

"On arrival home he washed, dressed, and dined alone. Afterwards he
put on his gloves, grey suede ones, ready to go, but exchanged them
for a pair of white ones, as he recollected that he was going to the
opera. Then he walked out to the car, but suddenly cried, 'Oh! My
head! My head!' and fell on to the pavement. I was just behind him
when he did so, and hurried to get him up. But he was already
unconscious, and scarcely before we could get him into the house he
expired."

"And why do you suspect foul play?" I asked.

"I feel certain that my master did not die from natural causes,"
declared the thin-faced man-servant.

"You suspect that the individual in round spectacles had a hand in
it--eh?"

"I do. But how, I have no idea. The police pooh-pooh my suspicions.
But if my suspicions are unfounded, why has not the stranger come
forward? There has been a lot about the affair in the papers."

"Yes," I said. "It certainly appears strange, for there can be no
cause for secrecy now that the Baron is dead, even if some great
financial transaction had been involved."

"My master often received very queer visitors," said Folcker. "Once he
entertained two very strange-looking shabby individuals when he was at
Aix-les-Bains with Mr. De Gex."

"With Mr. De Gex!" I echoed. "Was the Baron a friend of his?"

"Yes, an intimate friend. They often had big deals together in which
Count Chamartin, who lived in Madrid, participated."

"Ah! That is distinctly interesting," I said. "Did the Baron, when in
London, visit Mr. De Gex at Stretton Street?"

"Frequently. They were mutually interested in the great Netherlands
Shipping Combine about a year ago," replied the valet.

"