Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-08
CHAPTER XXI.

CHAPTER XXI.
Mr.. sabin. although he had registered at
the hotel under his accustomed pseudonym,
had taken no pains to conceal his identity
and was we'll known to the people in author
ity about the place. He was received with
all the respect due to his rank.
your grace will. trust. accept my most
sincere apologies for disturbing you" Mr..
Hertz. the manager. said. rising and bow
ing at his entrance. I'VE have here. how
ever, 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 view to rem
dering your grace's attendance at the In
quest unnecessary.
Mr. Sabn nodded
IT am perfectly willing" he said. ITO an
swer any questions you may choose to put
to me-
long black overcoat, and holding bowler
hat in his hand. bowed respectfully to Mr..
Sabin.
Il 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 I'M
usual in the circumstances of Dusons death.
but 1t is always well to be prepared. and
1 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?"
II do not" Mr.. sabin answered.
Mr.. Hertz was startled. The detective
controlled his features admirably.
May 1 ask your reasons, sirT'
Mr.. Sabin lightly shrugged his shoulders.
Il have never known the man to have a
laws ilr,ac I'M h Hfo he cal 1rrf hpr
since his arrival in England he has been
acting in strange and furtive manner, and
1 gathered that he had some cause for fear
which he was indisposed to talk about
This" the detective said, rs very inter-
esting" -.-.
Doubtless" Mr. Sabn answered. But
before l say anything more 1 must clearly
understand my position. am giving you
personally few friendly hints. in the In
terests of justice perhaps, but still quite in
formally. 1 am not in possession Of any
definite facts concerning Duson and what
say to you here l am not prepared to say
at the inquest, before which 1 presume I
may have to appear as a witness. There. I
shall do nothing more save identity Duson
and state the circumstances under which I
found him.
II understand that perfectly, SIR the
man answered. The less said at the in
quest the better In the interests Of Justice"
Mr.. Sabn nodded
II am glad" he said. that you appreciate
that. I do not mind going far then as to
tell you that l believe Duson died Of pol
son.
Can you give me any idea the detec-
tive asked, las to the source?"
None" Mr.. Sabin answered. THAT you
must discover for yourselves. Duson was
a man of silent and secretive habits, and II
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 do. "
The detective smiled. 1t was a very
slight flicker Of the lips, but 1t attracted
Mr.. Sabin's keen attention.
your suggestions" the, detective said
ARE making this case very interesting
one. I have always understood. however,
that reprisais Of this extreme nature are
seldom resorted to in this country. Be-
sides. the mans position seems scarcely to
indicate sufficient neutrality-suspicious.
'Well?" Mr.. Sabin INTERCEPTED,
II notice that Duson was found In your
sitting room. 1t occurs to me as posi-
bility that he may have met with a fate in
tended for some one else-for yourself, for
instance. sir!'
But t. Mr.. Sabin said smoothly, lam a
member OF no secret society, nor am !
conscious of having enemies sufficiently
venomous to desire my life
The detective sat for a moment with i'm
eve, ali st US, know our friends, SIR" he
said. There are few of us properly &C
quainted with our enemies"
Mr.. Sabin lit a cigarette. His fingers
were quite steady, but this man was max
ing him think.
you do not seriously believe" he asked,
that Duson met with death which was
intended for me?'
II am afraid" the detective said
thoughtfully, that I know no more about
1t than you do
II see," Mr.. Sabin said, that am no
stranger to you
You are very far from being that, sir, -
the man answered.
"a few years ago l was working for the
government-and you were not often out of
my sight"
Mr.. Sabin smiled.
at was perhaps judcious," he remarked,
though / am afraid 1t proved Of very little
profit to you. And what about the present
timer
IT see no harm in telling you. sir. that a
general watch is kept upon your move
ments. Duson was useful to US " .
but now Duson is dead
ut Is a fact" Mr.. Sabin said impress
sively, that Duson was genius. My ad-
miration for him continually increases"
'Duson made harmless reports to us as
we desired them" the detective said. II
had at any time been tnimical to your in
terests that Duson would have deceived
U.S."
II am convinced of IT," Mr.. sabin Do.
land Duson is deadr.
Mr.. Sabin nodded gravely.
The little hard-visaged man looked stead
lily for moment upon the carpet.
'Duson died virtually while accepting
pay from, II not actually in, the employ
of our secret service department You
will understand. therefore. that we, know
ing OF this complication in his life, natur-
ally incline toward the theory of murder.
Shall 1 be taking liberty. sir. IL I give
you an unprofessional word of warninK?''
Mr.. Sabin raised his eyebrows.
by no MEANS" he answered. .sBut
surely you cannot" '->-3
The man smiled
mo. SIR" he said dryly. IT do not for
one moment suspect you. The man was
our spy upon your movements but I am
perfectly aware that there has been moth
Ing worth reporting, and also know that
you would never run such a risk for the re-
my warning comes to you from a different
point of view. It IL, Il you will pardon my
saying 50. none the less personal, but
wholly friendly. The case of Dusoh will
hQ tnd 20 ha but