“Shehasdonenothingsosensible，“theDukeanswereddrily。“ThefactswhichIhavejuststatedareknowntoeveryoneinthisroom。
　　Iperhapsknowlessthananyone。ButIknowenoughforthis。I
　　request，SaxeLeinitzer，thatyouwithdrawthenameofmyselfandmywifefromyourlistofmembers，andthatyouunderstandclearlythatmyhouseistobenomoreusedformeetingsoftheSociety，formalorinformal。And，further，thoughIregrettheapparentinhospitalityofmyaction，myfingerisnow，asyousee，uponthebell，andIventuretowishyouallaverygood-morning。Groves，“
　　headdedtotheservantwhoansweredthedoor，“thePrinceofSaxeLeinitzer’scarriageisurgentlyrequired。“
　　ThePrinceandLadyCareydescendedthebroadstepssidebyside。
　　Shewaslaughingsoftlybutimmoderately。ThePrincewaspalewithfury。
　　“Pompousoldass，“hemutteredsavagely。“Hemayhaveaworsescandalinhishousenowthanhedreamsof。“
　　Shewipedhereyes。
　　“HaveInotalwaystoldyou，“shesaid，“thatintrigueinthiscountrywasasheerimpossibility？Youmaylayyourplanseversocarefully，butyoucannotforeseesuchacontretempsasthis。“
　　“Idiot！“thePrincecried，“Oh，thedolt！Why，evenhiswifewasamazed。“
　　“Hemaybeallthosepleasantthings，“LadyCarey，said，“butheisagentleman。“
　　Hestoppedshort。ThefootmanwasstandingbythesideofLadyCarey’svictoriawitharugonhisarm。
　　“Lucille，“hesaidthoughtfully，“islockedinthemorning-room。
　　Sheisprostratewithfear。IftheDukeseeshereverythingisover。Uponmyword，IhaveagoodmindtothrowthisallupandcrosstoParisto-night。LetEnglandbreedherownrevolutions。
　　Whatdoyousay，Muriel？Willyoucomewithme？“
　　Shelaughedscornfully。
　　“I’dassoongowithmycoachman，“shesaid。
　　Hiseyebrowsnarrowed。Adull，purpleflushcrepttohisforehead。
　　“Yourwit，“hesaid，“isalittlecoarse。Listen！Youwishourfirstplantogothrough？“
　　“Ofcourse！“
　　“ThenyoumustgetLucilleoutofthathouse。Ifsheislefttheresheisabsolutelylosttous。Apartfromthat，sheisherselfnotsafe。Ourplanworkedouttoowell。SheisreallyindangerfromthisDusonaffair。“
　　ThelaughterdiedawayfromLadyCarey’sface。Shehesitatedwithherfootuponthestepofhercarriage。
　　“Youcangobackeasilyenough，“thePrincesaid。“YouaretheDuke’scousin，andyouwerenotincludedinhistirade。Lucilleisinthemorning-room，andhereisthekey。Ibroughtitawaywithme。
　　Youmusttellherthatallourplansarebroken，thatwehavecertainknowledgethatthepoliceareonthetrackofthisDusonaffair。GethertoyourhouseinPontStreet，andIwillberoundthisafternoon。Orbetterstill，takehertomine。“
　　LadyCareysteppedbackontothepavement。Shewasstill，however，hesitating。
　　“LeaveherwiththeDukeandDuchess，“thePrincesaid，“andshewilldinewithherhusbandto-night。“
　　LadyCareytookthekeyfromhishand。
　　“Iwilltry，“shesaid。“HowshallyouknowwhetherIsucceed？“
　　“Iwillwaitinthegardens，“heanswered。“Ishallbeoutofsight，butIshallbeabletoseeyoucomeout。IfyouarealoneIshallcometoyou。IfsheiswithyouIshallbeatyourhouseinanhour，andIpromiseyouthatsheshallleaveEnglandto-nightwithme。“
　　“PoorBrott！“shemurmuredironically。
　　ThePrincesmiled。
　　“Hewillfollowher。EveryonewillbelievethattheyleftLondontogether。Thatisallthatisrequired。“
　　LadyCareyre-enteredthehouse。ThePrincemadehiswayintothegardens。Tenminutespassed-aquarterofanhour。ThenLadyCareywithLucillereappeared，andsteppingquicklyintothevictoriaweredrivenaway。ThePrincedrewalittlesighofrelief。Helookedathiswatch，calledahansom，anddrovetohisclubforlunch。
　　Anotherman，whohadalsobeenwatchingDorsetRousefromthegardensforseveralhours，alsonotedLucille’sadventwithrelief。
　　HefollowedthePrinceoutandenteredanotherhansom。
　　“Followthatvictoriawhichhasjustdrivenoff，“heordered。
　　“Don’tlosesightofit。Doublefare。“
　　Thetrap-doorfell，andthemanwhippeduphishorse。
　　Mr。Sabinreceivedanearlyvisitorwhilststilllingeringoveraslightbutelegantbreakfast。Passmoreseatedhimselfinaneasy-chairandacceptedthecigarwhichhishosthimselfselectedforhim。
　　“Iamgladtoseeyou，“Mr。Sabinsaid。“ThisaffairofDuson’sremainsacompletemysterytome。Iamlookingtoyoutohelpmesolveit。“
　　Thelittlemanwiththeimperturbablefaceremovedhiscigarfromhismouthandcontemplateditsteadfastly。
　　“Itismysterious，“hesaid。“Therearecircumstancesinconnectionwithitwhichevennowpuzzlemeverymuch，verymuchindeed。TherearecircumstancesinconnectionwithitalsowhichIfearmaybeashocktoyou，sir。“
　　“Mylife，“Mr。Sabinsaid，withafaintsmile，“hasbeenmadeupofshocks。Afewmoreorlessmaynothurtme。“
　　“Duson，“thedetectivesaid，“wasatheartafaithfulservant！“
　　“Ibelieveit，“Mr。Sabinsaid。
　　“Hewasmuchattachedtoyou！“
　　“Ibelieveit。“
　　“Itispossiblethatunwittinglyhediedforyou。“
　　Mr。Sabinwassilent。Itwashiswayofavoidingaconfessionofsurprise。Andhewassurprised。“Youbelievethen，“hesaid，“afteramoment’spause，“thatthepoisonwasintendedforme？“
　　“CertainlyIdo，“thedetectiveanswered。“Dusonwas，afterall，avalet，apersonoflittleimportance。Thereisnoonetowhomhisremovalcouldhavebeenofsufficientimportancetojustifysuchextrememeasures。Withyouitisdifferent。“
　　Mr。Sabinknockedtheashfromhiscigarette。
　　“Whynotbefrankwithme，Mr。Passmore？“hesaid。“Thereisnoneedtoshelteryourselfunderprofessionalreticence。YourconnectionwithScotlandYardended，Ibelieve，sometimeago。Youarefreetospeakortokeepsilence。Dooneortheother。Tellmewhatyouthink，andIwilltellyouwhatIknow。Thatsurelywillbeafairexchange。Youshallhavemyfactsforyoursurmises。“
　　Passmore’sthinlipscurledintoasmile。“YouknowthatIhaveleftScotlandYardthen，sir？“
　　“Quitewell！Youareemployedbythemoften，Ibelieve，butyouarenotonthestaff，notsincetheaffairofNermanandthecodebook。“
　　IfPassmorehadbeencapableofreverence，hiseyeslookeditatthatmoment。
　　“Youknewthislastnight，sir？“
　　“Certainly！“
　　“Fiveyearsago，sir，“hesaid，“Itoldmychiefthatinyouthedetectivepoliceoftheworldhadlostonewhomusthavebeentheirking。Moreandmoreyouconvincemeofit。IcannotbelievethatyouareignorantofthesalientpointsconcerningDuson’sdeath。“
　　“Treatmeasbeingso，atanyrate，“Mr。Sabinsaid。
　　“Iampardoned，“Passmoresaid，“forspeakingplainlyoffamilymatters-myconcerninwhichisofcoursepurelyprofessional？“
　　Mr。Sabinlookedupforamoment，buthesignifiedhisassent。
　　“YouleftAmerica，“Passmoresaid，“insearchofyourwife，formerlyCountessofRadantz，whohadleftyouunexpectedly。“
　　“Itistrue！“Mr。Sabinanswered。
　　“MadamelaDuchesseonreachingLondonbecametheguestoftheDuchessofDorset，whereshehasbeenstayingsince。WhilstthereshehasreceivedmanyvisitsfromMr。ReginaldBrott。“
　　Mr。Sabin’sfacewasasthefaceofasphinx。Hemadenosign。
　　“Youdonotwasteyourtime，sir，overtheSocietypapers。YetyouhaveprobablyheardthatMadamelaDuchesseandMr。ReginaldBrotthavebeenwrittenaboutandspokenaboutasintimatefriends。Theyhavebeenseentogethereverywhere。Gossiphasbeenbusywiththeirnames。Mr。BrotthasfollowedtheCountessintocircleswhichbeforehercominghezealouslyeschewed。TheCountessiseverywhereregardedasawidow，andamarriagehasbeenconfidentlyspokenof。“
　　Mr。Sabinbowedhisheadslightly。Butofexpressiontherewasinhisfacenosign。
　　“Thesethings，“Passmorecontinued，“arecommonknowledge。Ihavespokenuptonowofnothingwhichisnotknowntotheworld。I
　　proceeddifferently。“
　　“Good！“Mr。Sabinsaid。
　　“Thereis，“Passmorecontinued，“intheforeigndistrictofLondonamannamedEmilSachs，whokeepsacurioussortofawine-shop，andsupplementshisearningsbydisposingatahighfigureofcertainrareanddeadlypoisons。AfewdaysagotheCountessvisitedhimandsecuredasmallpacketofthemostdeadlydrugthemanpossesses。“
　　Mr。Sabinsatquitestill。Hewasunmoved。
　　“TheCountess，“Passmorecontinued，“shortlyafterwardsvisitedtheserooms。AnhourafterherdepartureDusonwasdead。Hediedfromdrinkingoutofyourliqueurglass，intowhichafewspecksofthatpowder，invisiblealmosttothenakedeye，hadbeendropped。
　　AtDorsetHouseReginaldBrottwaswaitingforher。Heleftshortlyafterwardsinastateofagitation。“
　　“Andfromthesethings，“Mr。Sabinsaid，“youdraw，Ipresume，thenaturalinferencethatMadamelaDuchesse，desiringtomarryheroldadmirer，ReginaldBrott，firstleftmeinAmerica，andthen，sinceIfollowedherhere，attemptedtopoisonme“Thereis，“Passmoresaid，“agooddealofevidencetothateffect。“
　　“Here，“Mr。Sabinsaid，handinghimDuson’sletter，“issomeevidencetothecontrary。“
　　Passmorereadthelettercarefully。
　　“Youbelievethis，“heasked，“tobegenuine？“
　　Mr。Sabinsmiled。
　　“Iamsureofit！“heanswered。
　　“Yourecognisethehandwriting？“
　　“Certainly！“
　　“Andthiscameintoyourpossession-how？“
　　“IfounditonthetablebyDuson’sside。“
　　“Youintendtoproduceitattheinquest？“
　　“Ithinknot，“Mr。Sabinanswered。
　　Therewasashortsilence。Passmorewasrevolvingacertainmatterinhismind-thinkinghard。Mr。Sabinwasapparentlytryingtomakeringsofthebluesmokefromhiscigarette。
　　“Hasitoccurredtoyou，“Passmoreasked，“towonderforwhatreasonyourwifevisitedtheseroomsonthemorningofDuson’sdeath？“
　　Mr。Sabinshookhishead。
　　“Icannotsaythatithas。“
　　“Sheknewthatyouwerenothere，“Passmorecontinued。“Sheleftnomessage。Shecamecloselyveiledanddepartedunrecognised。“
　　Mr。Sabinnodded。
　　“Therewerereasons，“hesaid，“forthat。Butwhenyousaythatsheleftnomessageyouaremistaken。“
　　Passmorenodded。
　　“Goon，“hesaid。
　　Mr。SabinnoddedtowardsagreatvaseofLaFrancerosesuponasidetable。
　　“Ifoundthesehereonmyreturn，“hesaid，“andattachedtothemthecardwhichIbelieveisstillthere。Goandlookatit。“
　　Passmoreroseandbentoverthefragrantblossoms。Thecardstillremained，andonthebackofit，inadelicatefemininehandwriting:
　　“Formyhusband，“withlovefrom“Lucille。“
　　Mr。Passmoreshruggedhisshoulders。Hehadnottheviceofobstinacy，andheknewwhentoabandonatheory。
　　“Iamcorrected，“hesaid。“Inanycase，amysteryremainsaswellworthsolving。WhoarethesepeopleatwhoseinstigationDusonwastohavemurderedyou-thesepeoplewhomDusonfearedsomuchthatsuicidewashisonlyalternativetoobeyingtheirbehests？“
　　Mr。Sabinsmiledfaintly。
　　“Ah，mydearPassmore，“hesaid，“youmustnotaskmethatquestion。
　　Icanonlyansweryouinthisway。Ifyouwishtomakethebiggestsensationwhichhaseverbeencreatedinthecriminalworld，torenderyourselfimmortal，andyourfameimperishable-findout！I
　　maynothelpyou，Idoubtwhetheryouwillfindanytohelpyou。Butifyouwantexcitement，theexcitementofadangerouschaseafteratremendousquarry，takeyourlifeinyourhands，goinandwin。
　　Passmore’switheredlittlefacelitupwithagleamofrareexcitement。
　　“Theseareyourenemies，sir，“hesaid。“Theyhaveattemptedyourlifeonce，theymaydoitagain。Assumetheoffensiveyourself。
　　Givemeahint。“
　　Mr。Sabinshookhishead。
　　“ThatIcannotdo，“hesaid。“Ihavesavedyoufromwastingyourtimeonafalsescent。Ihavegivenyousomethingdefinitetoworkupon。FurtherthanthatIcandonothing。“
　　Passmorelookedhisdisappointment，butheknewMr。Sabinbetterthantoarguethematter。
　　“Youwillnotevenproducethatletterattheinquest？“heasked。
　　“Noteventhat，“Mr。Sabinanswered。
　　Passmorerosetohisfeet。