is desk, he said: "It seems that he has applied to
the Ministry for personal protection, and for a daily report of anyone
who may be keeping observation upon him. There is a young Englishman
living at the Palace Hotel who seems unduly interested in the
gentleman's movements. We are watching him."

I held my breath. This was an unexpected revelation. De Gex was in
fear of us, and had resorted to that ruse in order to keep himself
posted upon Hambledon's movements! Truly the situation was daily
growing more complicated!

"Surely such a well-known man as Mr. De Gex--a man who is noted not
only for his immense wealth, but for his generous contributions to
charity--could not have enemies?" I remarked.

"Everyone has enemies, my dear m'sieur," was the police official's
suave reply. "Senor De Gex was here in Madrid a year ago when he made
a similar application to the Ministry for personal surveillance. He
was here in connexion with the foundation of the new Madrid and
Southern Spain Banking Corporation, which is guaranteed by a group of
French and Dutch financiers of whom Senor De Gex is the head."

He paused, and then continued:

"He seems highly strung and nervous. All men who are in the public eye
seem to be the same. Well-known foreigners visiting Madrid often apply
for surveillance, yet there is certainly no need of it. And I confess
to you that my staff is, after all, unduly worked."

"I can quite imagine that," I said. "But is a strict watch kept upon
Mr. De Gex?"

"Yes, and upon his agent, Monsieur Suzor, also."

"Has Monsieur Suzor been in Madrid before?"

"He was here two years ago when Senor De Gex had some big financial
deal with the Count Chamartin, who was head of the Miramar Shipping
Company of Barcelona. They say he bought the whole fleet of steamers
from Count Chamartin."

"Was Count Chamartin wealthy?"

"Yes. A millionaire, without a doubt. But it is said that shortly
before his death he quarrelled with his wife. Why, nobody knows. She
lives at Segovia, and their house here in the capital has just been
sold."

"Was any attempt made upon Mr. De Gex?" I asked.

"Well, a mysterious young Frenchman called one night at the Ritz and
demanded to see him. He was very excited, and when he was refused
admission upstairs, he flourished a revolver. My agent on duty
arrested the stranger, who was, after examination, deported. For that
Senor De Gex sent me a letter of thanks, and the scarf-pin which you
s