“Why, look!” gasped Rivero. “Despujol is with your great English financier, Señor De Gex!”
I smiled triumphantly.
“I told you that I had a surprise in store for you,” I exclaimed.
“But if Despujol is with him it must be with some evil intent!”
“That is certain!”
“While Señor De Gex was in Madrid we had orders to afford him police protection,” Rivero said. “Possibly he suspected that some attempt might be made upon him. Certainly he has no idea of that man’s true identity.”
“Yes, he has, for he has come here specially to meet him in secret. But why that Italian should be here I can only surmise. He is a doctor from Florence, named Moroni—a man of very evil repute.”
“But why should Señor De Gex meet such people in secret?” asked Rivero, much astonished.
“I suppose there is some strong motive why they should meet—the more so, now that I have proved to you that the notorious Despujol is a hireling of this wealthy man De Gex.”