Elcazar. I did not get back to the hotel till past ten o'clock that
night, but I found Duperre anxious and perturbed. Why, I failed to
understand, except that he seemed filled with annoyance that his plans
had somehow gone awry.

Two days later when I called at the Ritz with the intention of
accompanying Mr. Lloyd and his niece over the mountains to Valladolid,
I found them both greatly excited.

"Sylvia had a telegram an hour ago recalling her to London as her
mother is ill, and I am going with her. I cannot allow her to travel
alone. We leave by the express at six o'clock this evening," Mr. Lloyd
said. "I am so very sorry to depart so suddenly, Mr. Hargreave. We
were both enjoying our visit so much," he added apologetically.

This surprised me until I returned to my hotel to luncheon, when
Duperre, meeting me eagerly in the hall, asked:

"Well, is the girl going?"

"Yes," I said. "How do you know?"

He smiled meaningly, and I felt that in all probability the telegram
recalling the girl had been sent at his instigation, as indeed I
afterwards knew it had been. So cleverly had matters been arranged by
the crooks that Mrs. Andrews was actually very unwell.

"Yes, she's off to-night--and the old man also," I said, glad that he
was to get out of the mysterious danger that undoubtedly threatened
him.

"What!" cried my companion, staggered. "Is the old fellow actually
leaving also? At what time?"

"By the six o'clock train--the express to Irun," I replied.

He was thoughtful for a moment. Then he said abruptly in a thick
voice:

"I don't want any lunch. I want to think. Come up to my room when
you've had your meal," and then, turning on his heel, he ascended in
the lift.

On going to his room after luncheon I found him standing by the
window, with his hands in his pockets, looking blankly out upon the
great square below.

Close by, upon the writing-table, was a small medicine phial and a
camel-hair brush, together with several pieces of paper. It struck me
that he had painted one of the pieces with some of the colorless
liquid, for, having dried, it was now crinkled in the center.

"Look here, Hargreave," he said. "I want you to telephone to the girl
Andrews and ask her to meet you this afternoon at four, say in the
ladies' cafe in the Cafe Suzio, so that you can have tea together.
When you've done that come back here."

I obeyed, in wonder at what was intended. Then when I returned, he
said:

"Sit d