unusual in the circumstances of Duson's death, but it
is always well to be prepared, and I ventured to ask Mr. Hertz here to
procure for me your opinion as regards the death of your servant."

"You have asked me," Mr. Sabin said gravely, "a very difficult
question."

The eyes of the little detective flashed keenly.

"You do not believe then, sir, that he died a natural death?"

"I do not," Mr. Sabin answered.

Mr. Hertz was startled. The detective controlled his features admirably.

"May I ask your reasons, sir?"

Mr. Sabin lightly shrugged his shoulders.

"I have never known the man to have a day's illness in his life," he
said. "Further, since his arrival in England he has been acting in a
strange and furtive manner, and I gathered that he had some cause for
fear which he was indisposed to talk about."

"This," the detective said, "is very interesting."

"Doubtless," Mr. Sabin answered. "But before I say anything more I
must clearly understand my position. I am giving you personally a few
friendly hints, in the interests of justice perhaps, but still quite
informally. I am not in possession of any definite facts concerning
Duson, and what I say to you here I am not prepared to say at the
inquest, before which I presume I may have to appear as a witness.
There, I shall do nothing more save identify Duson and state the
circumstances under which I found him."

"I understand that perfectly, sir," the man answered. "The less said at
the inquest the better in the interests of justice."

Mr. Sabin nodded.

"I am glad," he said, "that you appreciate that. I do not mind going so
far then as to tell you that I believe Duson died of poison."

"Can you give me any idea," the detective asked, "as to the source?"

"None," Mr. Sabin answered. "That you must discover for yourselves.
Duson was a man of silent and secretive habits, and it has occurred to
me more than once that he might possibly be a member of one of those
foreign societies who have their headquarters in Soho, and concerning
which you probably know more than I do."

The detective smiled. It was a very slight flicker of the lips, but it
attracted Mr. Sabin's keen attention.

"Your suggestions," the detective said, "are making this case a very
interesting one. I have always understood, however, that reprisals of
this extreme nature are seldom resorted to in this country. Besides,
the man's position seems scarcely to indicate sufficient
importance--per