ith so many financial irons in the
fire, and with agents in every European capital, is bound to receive
visits from all sorts and conditions of people who bring him
information for profit. When one deals in colossal sums as he does,
one has to cultivate people of all classes," Hambledon said.
"Personally, I don't think the woman's information had anything to do
with your mysterious friend's hurried departure," he added.

"I do. I'm highly suspicious. There was some motive that he did not
attack me, as he could so easily have done, for he's a most desperate
character and has committed several murders when cornered. His
explanation was really wonderful, and I admit that I was so completely
deceived that I actually apologized to him! But," I went on, "we may
perhaps know more when we learn the truth from Professor Vega."

Hence at noon next day I called at the great hospital in the Calle
Alberto Aguilera, and was ushered into the Professor's room.

"Ah, my dear monsieur!" he exclaimed in French, knowing that I spoke
Spanish only with the greatest difficulty. "I am very glad you have
called. Those brass-headed pins which upholsterers often use, and
which you have submitted to me, are most interesting from a
toxicological point of view."

"What?" I gasped. "Were they poisoned?"

"Undoubtedly," replied the grave-faced old expert. "And by somebody
who is _au courant_ with the very latest and undetectable poison. I
searched for alkaloids and glucosids, and used Kippenberger's process,
and then the tests of Marne, Meyer, Scheiblen and Dragendorff. Since
you brought the three pins to me I have been active all the time, for
the problem much interests me. At last--though I did not think that
the substance could possibly contain so subtle, deadly, and as yet
unknown poison--I applied Sonnenschein's reagent--phosphomolybdic
acid--and then I obtained a result--only an hour ago indeed!"

"And what was the result, Professor?"

He looked me straight in the face, and replied: "You have had a very
narrow escape from death, monsieur--a very narrow one. Had you placed
your foot upon one of those upturned points you would have fallen dead
within five seconds!"

"Why?"

"Because each of the points of those three pins, left there as though
by accident by some upholsterer employed by the hotel, was impregnated
by one of the most deadly of all newly-discovered poisons. It is
called by men of my profession orosin, after its discoverer O