United States or Luxembourg ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
"He was here two years ago when Señor 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.
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.
Indeed, what I had just been told was all amazing, and showed De Gex to be a man of outstanding genius. The mystery-man of Europe took good care to inform himself of any person who watched his movements, or sought to inquire into his business. It certainly was a master-stroke to pretend fear of assassination, and compel the police to act as his personal guard.
"I have not been told. But I know it, Mrs. Cullerton," was my reply. "I know that, though De Gex is assisting your husband out of a financial difficulty and pretends to be your good friend, he views you as his bitter enemy as a person whose lips must, at all hazards, be closed." "Really, Mr. Garfield, what you say is too extraordinary too amazing! I don't understand you!"
De Gex was living at Stretton Street, very occupied, I ascertained, in arranging a great development scheme for Liberia, that independent State in West Africa.
Apparently he made a will leaving the whole of his fortune to his daughter by his first wife save for a small annuity to his second wife and according to the will, on the death of his daughter the fortune was to go to his trusted partner, your English financier, Mr. Oswald De Gex." I sat staring at the stranger, but uttered no word, for I was reflecting deeply.
To me the motive of poor Gabrielle Engledue's death was now quite apparent, and, moreover, it seemed that the reason De Gex required a forged death certificate was because he was not exactly certain whether by a post-mortem examination any trace of the drug could be found. He was not quite sure that one or other of the great London pathologists might not identify orosin.
I was to go too, but I had influenza and had to remain here." "And where was Mrs. De Gex?" I inquired. "She was already at Stretton Street. She and the little boy went to London early in October, but came back at the end of the month." Then I questioned the estimable Robertson concerning the domestic happiness of his master. I said I had heard rumours in London of matrimonial differences.
He waved an airy hand. "I don't know what that is," said Lola. "There are conditions I must fix, and I thought the advice of my friend, Monsieur de Gex " "Precisely, my dear Lola," he interrupted. "The principle is affirmed. We are reconciled. I proceed logically.
"In my official career as head of the police department of Madrid, I have watched recent events, and I have seen how men who were little removed from the category of the worst criminals, have suddenly jumped into wealth, with its consequent notoriety, and the power which is inseparable from the possessor of money." "The international financier Oswald De Gex is one of those," I said.
Word Of The Day