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〃By whom？ Ah； how your story would excite ridicule。 I seem to
hear the laughter now。 No； my dear Souspennier； you would bargain
for me with Lucille。 Look below。 Are we likely to part with her
just yet？〃
In a corner； behind a gigantic palm； Lucille and Brott were talking
together。 Lady Carey had drawn Opperman a little distance away。
Brott was talking eagerly； his cheeks flushed； his manner earnest。
Mr。 Sabin turned upon his heel and walked away。
CHAPTER XXXII
Mr。 Sabin； although he had registered at the hotel under his
accustomed pseudonym； had taken no pains to conceal his identity；
and was well known to the people in authority about the place。 He
was received with all the respect due to his rank。
〃Your Grace will； I trust； accept my most sincere apologies for
disturbing you；〃 Mr。 Hertz； the manager； said； rising and bowing at
his entrance。 〃We have here； however； an emissary connected with
the police come to inquire into the sad incident of this afternoon。
He expressed a wish to ask your Grace a question or two with a view
to rendering your Grace's attendance at the inquest unnecessary。〃
Mr。 Sabin nodded。
〃I am perfectly willing；〃 he said； 〃to answer any questions you may
choose to put to me。〃
A plain； hard…featured little man； in a long black overcoat； and
holding a howler hat in his hand； bowed respectfully to Mr。 Sabin。
〃I am much obliged to you； sir；〃 he said。 〃My name is John Passmore。
We do not of course appear in this matter unless the post…mortem
should indicate anything unusual in the circumstances of Duson's
death； but it is always well to be prepared； and I ventured to ask
Mr。 Hertz here to procure for me your opinion as regards the death
of your servant。〃
〃You have asked me；〃 Mr。 Sabin said gravely； 〃a very difficult
question。〃
The eyes of the little detective flashed keenly。
〃You do not believe then； sir； that he died a natural death？〃
〃I do not；〃 Mr。 Sabin answered。
Mr。 Hertz was startled。 The detective controlled his features
admirably。
〃May I ask your reasons； sir？〃
Mr。 Sabin lightly shrugged his shoulders。
〃I have never known the man to have a day's illness in his life；〃
he said。 〃Further； since his arrival in England he has been
acting in a strange and furtive manner； and I gathered that he had
some cause for fear which he was indisposed to talk about。〃
〃This；〃 the detective said； 〃is very interesting。〃
〃Doubtless；〃 Mr。 Sabin answered。 〃But before I say anything more
I must clearly understand my position。 I am giving you personally
a few friendly hints； in the interests of justice perhaps； but still
quite informally。 I am not in possession of any definite facts
concerning Duson； and what I say to you here I am not prepared to
say at the inquest； before which I presume I may have to appear as
a witness。 There； I shall do nothing more save identify Duson and
state the circumstances under which I found him。〃
〃I understand that perfectly； sir；〃 the man answered。 〃The less
said at the inquest the better in the interests of justice。〃
Mr。 Sabin nodded。
〃I am glad；〃 he said； 〃that you appreciate that。 I do not mind going
so far then as to tell you that I believe Duson died of poison。〃
〃Can you give me any idea；〃 the detective asked； 〃as to the source？〃
〃None；〃 Mr。 Sabin answered。 〃That you must discover for yourselves。
Duson was a man of silent and secretive habits； and it has occurred
to me more than once that he might possibly be a member of one of
those foreign societies who have their headquarters in Soho； and
concerning which you probably know more than I do。〃
The detective smiled。 It was a very slight flicker of the lips；
but it attracted Mr。 Sabin's keen attention。
〃Your suggestions；〃 the detective said； 〃are making this case a very interesting one。 I have
always understood； however； that reprisals
of this extreme nature are seldom resorted to in this country。
Besides； the man's position seems scarcely to indicate sufficient
importance … perhaps … 〃
〃Well？〃 Mr。 Sabin interjected。
〃I notice that Duson was found in your sitting…room。 It occurs to
me as a possibility that he may have met with a fate intended for
some one else … for yourself； for instance； sir！〃
〃But I；〃 Mr。 Sabin said smoothly； 〃am a member of no secret society；
nor am I conscious of having enemies sufficiently venomous to desire
my life。〃
The detective sat for a moment with immovable face。
〃We； all of us； know our friends； sir；〃 he said。 〃There are few of
us properly acquainted with our enemies。〃
Mr。 Sabin lit a cigarette。 His fingers were quite steady； but this
man was making him think。
〃You do not seriously believe；〃 he asked； 〃that Duson met with a
death which was intended for me？〃
〃I am afraid；〃 the detective said thoughtfully； 〃that I know no
more about it than you do。〃
〃I see；〃 Mr。 Sabin said； 〃that I am no stranger to you。〃
〃You are very far from being that； sir；〃 the man answered。 〃A
few years ago I was working for the Government … and you were not
often out of my sight。〃
Mr。 Sabin smiled。
〃It was perhaps judicious；〃 he remarked； 〃though I am afraid it
proved of very little profit to you。 And what about the present
time？〃
〃I see no harm in telling you； sir； that a general watch is kept
upon your movements。 Duson was useful to us 。。。 but now Duson
is dead。〃
〃It is a fact；〃 Mr。 Sabin said impressively； 〃that Duson was a
genius。 My admiration for him continually increases。〃
〃Duson made harmless reports to us as we desired them；〃 the
detective said。 〃I have an idea； however； that if this course had
at any time been inimical to your interests that Duson would have
deceived us。〃
〃I am convinced of it；〃 Mr。 Sabin declared。
〃And Duson is dead！〃
Mr。 Sabin nodded gravely。
The little hard…visaged man looked steadily for a moment upon the
carpet。
〃Duson died virtually whilst accepting pay from if not actually
in the employ of our Secret Service Department。 You will
understand； therefore； that we； knowing of this complication in
his life； naturally incline towards the theory of murder。 Shall
I be taking a liberty； sir； if I give you an unprofessional word
of warning？〃
Mr。 Sabin raised his eyebrows。
〃By no means；〃 he answered。 〃But surely you cannot … 〃
The man smiled。
〃No； sir；〃 he said drily。 〃I do not for one moment suspect you。
The man was our spy upon your movements； but I am perfectly aware
that there has been nothing worth reporting； and I also know that
you would never run such a risk for the removal of so insignificant
a person。 No； my warning comes to you from a different point of
view。 It is； if you will pardon my saying so； none the less
personal； but wholly friendly。 The case of Duson will be sifted to
the dregs； but unless I am greatly mistaken； and I do not see room
for the possibility of a mistake； I know the truth already。〃
〃You will share your knowledge？〃 Mr。 Sabin asked quietly。
The detective shook his head。
〃You shall know；〃 he said； 〃before the last moment。 But I want to
warn you that when you do now it … it will be a shock to you。〃
Mr。 Sabin stood perfectly sti