Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-12
CHAPTER XXXVI.

ChAE1En AAAV1.
Mr. Sabin received an early visitor while
still lingering over a slight but elegant
breakfast. Passmore seated himself in ar
easy chair and accepted the cigar which his
host himself selected for him.
81 am glad to see you.' Mr.. Sabin said
This affair of Duson's remains a complete
mystery to me. I am looking to you to help
me solve it."
The little man with the inperturbable face
removed his cigar from his mouth and con-
templated it steadfastly.
'It is mysterious" he said. There are
circumstances in connection with it which
even now puzzle me very much. very much
indeed. There circumstances in connec-
ton with it also which 1 fear may be a
shock to you, SIR
my life." Mr.. Sabin said with a faint
smile. has been made up Of shocks. A few
more or less may not hurt me-
"Duson," the detective said, was at heart
a faithful servant!'
Il believe it, Mr.. Sabin said.
''He was much attached to YOU
II believe it,
ut is possible that unwittingly-he died
for you.
Mr. Sabin was silent. 1t was his way OF
avoiding a confession of surprise. And he
was surprised
Y gu DelleVe, then. ne sllu, aIter u mo
ment's pause that the poison was intend
ed for me?'
"Certainly 1 do" the detective answered.
"Duson was. after all, valet a person of
little Importance. There is no one to whom
his removal could have been of sufficient
Importance to justify such extreme meas
ures. With you it is different"
Mr. Sabin knocked the ash from his Gig
arctic.
"Why not be frank with me- Mr.. Pass
more?' he said. There is need to
shelter yourself under professional reticence.
Your connection with Scotland Yard ended.
I believe, some time ago. You are free to
speak or to keep silence Do one or the
other. Tell me what you think. and | will
tell you what I know. That surely will be
fair exchange. You shall have my facts
for your surmises.'
PASSWORDS thin lips curled into smile.
You know that 1 have left Scotland
Yard. then, sir?
quite well! You are employed by them
often. 1 believe, But you are not on the
staff, not since the affair Of Norman and
the code book
If Passmore had been capable of rever-
ence his eyes looked it at that moment.
you knew this last night, sir?'
"Certainly!'
Give years ago. SIR" he said.'"I told my
chief that in you the detective police of the
world had lost one who must have been
their king. More and more you convince
me Of it. I cannot believe that you are ig-
sons DEATH"
Treat me as being so. at any rate" Mr..
Sabin said.
II am pardoned," Passmore said. ''for
speaking plainly of family matters-my con-
Germ in which is of course purely profess
sonal?"
Mr.. Sabin looked up for moment. but
he signified his assent
"You left America Passmore said. Sin
search OF your wife, formerly Countess of
Radantz. who had left you Unexpectedly"
''It is true!' Mr.. Sabin answered.
Madame la Duchesse on reaching Lon
Dorset, where she has been staying since.
While there she has received many visits
from Mr.. Reginald Brott."
Mr.. Sabin's face was as the face of a
sphinx. He made no sign.
you do not waste your time, sir. over
the society papers. Yet you have probably
heard that Madame la Duchesse and Mr..
Reginald Brott have been written about
and spoken about as intimate friends. They
have been seen together everywhere. Cos
sip has been busy with their names. Mr..
Brott has followed the countess into circles
which before her coming he Zealously es-
chewed The countess is everywhere re-
garded a widow, and marriage has
been confidently spoken Of"
Mr.. Sabin bowed his head slightly. But
of expression there was in his face no sign
"These things" Passmore continued, ARE
common knowledge. l have spoken up to
now of nothing which is not known to the
world. I proceed differently
"Good!' Mr.. Sabin said.
There is" PasSmore continued. '1n the
foreign district of London a man named
Emil Sachs, who keeps a curious sort of a
wine-shop, and supplements his earnings by
disposing at high figure Of certain rare
countess visited him and secured a small
packet of the most deadly drug the man
possesses"
Mr. Sabin sat quite still. He was I'M
moved.
1.-The countess" Passmore continued.
Shortly afterward visited these rooms.
An hour after her departure Duson was
dead. He died from drinking out of your
liqueur glass, into which a few specks of
that powder, invisible almost to the naked
eye. had been dropped. At Dorset House
Reginald Brott was waiting for her. He
left shortly afterward in a state of agita-
ton
''And from these things" Mr. Sabin said.
you draw, I presume, the natural Inference
that Madame la Duchesse. desiring to marry
her old admirer. Reginald Brott. first left
me in America, and then. since [ followed
her here. attempted to poison me?'
There is" Passmore said, "a good deal
of evidence to that effect
Here" Mr.. Sabin said handing him Du-
trary."
Passmore read the letter carefully.
You believe this he asked. Ito be gen.
uine?'
II am sure of itr' he answered.
you recognize the handwriting?"
"Certainly.'
"And this came into your possession
how?"
Il found it on the table by Duson's side. -
you intend to produce it at the inquest?
II think not" Mr.. Sabin answered.
There was a short silence. Passmore was
revolving certain matter in his mind
thinking hard. Mr. Sabn was apparently
trying to make rings of the blue smoke
from his cigarette.
Has it occurred to you" Passmore asked,
ito wonder for what reason your wife Wis
tied these rooms on the morning of Duson' S
death?"
Mr.. Sabn shook his head
II cannot say that 1t has
''She knew that you were not here,
Passmore continued. ''She left no message.
She came closely yelled and departed I'M
recognized"
Mr.. Sabin nodded.
There We're reasons" he said. "for that.
But when you say that she left no MESA &c
you are mistaken.
PaSSmore nodded.
go on" he said.
Mr. Sabin nodded toward great vase OF
La France roses upon a side table.
81 found these here on my return" he
said. "and attached to them the card which
l believe Is still there. Go and look at it,
Passmore rose and bent over the fragrant
blossoms. The card still remained, and on