ities. But it is only
signed by an initial."

"How did you obtain knowledge of it?"

"Again I have no intention of disclosing the source of my information,
Senor Andrade," I replied as politely as I could, "I am, as a matter
of fact, here in Madrid attempting to solve a very remarkable mystery
which occurred in London a few months ago."

"This is most interesting! You never told me that before!" he
exclaimed. "I confess I wondered with what motive you and your friend
Senor Hambledon, living at separate hotels, had in remaining here. It
was regarded as suspicious by the detective force that being such
intimate friends you lived at separate hotels, and met only in secret.
Reports have reached me of your movements, and of your meetings," he
laughed. "More than once you have been regarded as suspected persons,"
he added.

"Well, I hope you do not regard me as a suspected person any longer,
Senor Andrade!" I exclaimed with a smile.

"No, no," he laughed. "But I confess you are something of a mystery.
Why should the notorious Despujol dare to put his foot into Madrid and
lay that deadly plot to kill you? You know the motive, and yet you
will not disclose it to me."

"Not at present," I said. "If it is found that Charles Rabel is really
Despujol, then I will come forward and state all that I know."

"You promise that?"

"I do."

"Very well--then I will give orders to have your suspicions
investigated," replied the patient, urbane official. "A detective
shall leave by the next train for Montauban with a request to the
Prefect of Police of the Department of Tarn-et-Garonne for the arrest
of the individual in question, if he should be identified."

"Then I will accompany him," I said.

"Excellent," he exclaimed. "It would be well if Senor Rivero, the head
of the Detective Department, whom you have met, went in person to
France. I will ring him up at his house."

He took up the telephone and a few minutes later spoke rapidly in
Spanish to the chief detective of Spain.

Presently after a rapid conversation he put down the receiver, and
said:

"Senor Rivero will meet you at the Delicias Station at two o'clock
to-morrow morning. The express for Barcelona leaves at two-fifteen.
From Barcelona you can get direct to Nimes, and on to Montauban. And,"
he added, "I only hope you will be successful in arresting the
notorious Despujol."

I thanked him, and suggested that if we should be fortunate enough to
identify him,