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Passmore seated himself in an easy-chair and accepted the cigar which his host himself selected for him. "I am glad to see you," Mr. Sabin said. "This affair of Duson's remains a complete mystery to me. I am looking to you to help me solve it." The little man with the imperturbable face removed his cigar from his mouth and contemplated it steadfastly. "It is mysterious," he said.
"If I refuse?" she asked. "I send for the chief of the police." She looked him up and down, a measured, merciless survey. He was a tall, big man, but he seemed to shrink into insignificance. "You are a coward and a bully," she said slowly. "You know quite well that I am innocent of any knowledge even concerning Duson's death.
Passmore was revolving a certain matter in his mind thinking hard. Mr. Sabin was apparently trying to make rings of the blue smoke from his cigarette. "Has it occurred to you," Passmore asked, "to wonder for what reason your wife visited these rooms on the morning of Duson's death?" Mr. Sabin shook his head. "I cannot say that it has." "She knew that you were not here," Passmore continued.
Sabin said, "you draw, I presume, the natural inference that Madame la Duchesse, desiring to marry her old admirer, Reginald Brott, first left me in America, and then, since I followed her here, attempted to poison me." "There is," Passmore said, "a good deal of evidence to that effect." "Here," Mr. Sabin said, handing him Duson's letter, "is some evidence to the contrary."
He found it almost at once a large envelope in Duson's handwriting. Mr. Sabin hastily broke the seal and read: "Monsieur, I kill myself because it is easiest and best. The poison was given me for you, but I have not the courage to become a murderer, or afterwards to conceal my guilt. Monsieur has been a good master to me, and also Madame la Comtesse was always indulgent and kind.
Passmore read the letter carefully. "You believe this," he asked, "to be genuine?" Mr. Sabin smiled. "I am sure of it!" he answered. "You recognise the handwriting?" "Certainly!" "And this came into your possession how?" "I found it on the table by Duson's side." "You intend to produce it at the inquest?" "I think not," Mr. Sabin answered. There was a short silence.
We do not of course appear in this matter unless the post-mortem should indicate anything 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."
More and more you convince me of it. I cannot believe that you are ignorant of the salient points concerning Duson's death." "Treat me as being so, at any rate," Mr. Sabin said. "I am pardoned," Passmore said, "for speaking plainly of family matters my concern in which is of course purely professional?" Mr. Sabin looked up for a moment, but he signified his assent.
We should have preferred that the matter had been otherwise arranged. But as it is we are safe, absolutely safe." "Duson's letter!" Mr. Sabin remarked. "You will not show it," the Prince answered. "You cannot. You have kept it too long. And, after all, you cannot escape from the main fact. Duson committed suicide." "He was incited to murder. His letter proves it."
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