"I do--one that I intend to expose when I obtain sufficient corroborative evidence," I answered with determination. "But is not the fact of the three men meeting here in secret under assumed names sufficient proof to you that some fresh plot is afoot?" "Certainly it is," Rivero agreed. "But I wish you would reveal to me the whole facts." "It is unnecessary," was my reply. "You are here only to deal with Despujol. I promised I would bring you to him--and I have done so. Instead of living in obscurity in a high-up frontier village in the Pyrenees, as you in Madrid believed, I have shown you that he lives in Montauban, where he passes as an industrious commercial traveller. If you search that house in the Rue de Lalande you might find a quantity of stolen property." "As a matter of fact, it has already been searched by the police of Montauban at my request," he replied. "The raid was made last night after Charles Rabel had left. I received a telegram from the Commissary of Police only an hour ago to the effect that six heavy cases of 'travellers' samples' had been opened, and in them was found a great quantity of stolen jewellery, negotiable securities, and other objects of value, including two valuable paintings which were missing from the Prado Museum three years ago." "Then my information has been of some little use to you--eh?" "Of enormous use, Señor Garfield! You will no doubt receive an official letter of thanks from the Ministry of the Interior," he replied. "But we must act very warily. Despujol will not risk remaining here for long. Besides, some friend may telegraph to him that the police have been to the Rue de Lalande!" Once more it was upon the tip of my tongue to explain the manner in which I had become implicated in the evil deeds of Oswald De Gex and his sycophants, when of a sudden he added: "You must really forgive me, Señor Garfield, but you are an entire mystery to me. You have never been frank with me--never once!" "I have been as frank as I dared," I replied. "I tell you that I am here to watch and to strive to elucidate a great plot--one which concerns myself and the woman I love. We have both been victims of a vile and desperate conspiracy." "And whom do you suspect?" "Oswald De Gex." "With what motive?" he asked, for he held the enormously wealthy financial friend of Spain in awe and admiration. "That, alas! is an enigma to me. I only know that he has made an attempt upon my life, and that at least one woman has been sent to the grave by foul means." "Do you really infer that Señor De Gex is an assassin?" he asked incredulously. "I only tell you what I know, Señor Rivero," I replied quietly. "I said that I would lead you to the secret abode of Despujol, and I think I have now fulfilled my promise, and shown you that he is on friendly terms with the great financier whom you in Spain all hold in such high esteem."