rope."

"She has traveled much, then?"

"She has spent most of her time in America since I came here; but she
has many friends both in England and on the Continent, and visits them
quite frequently. She has very special friends in San Sebastian."

"Ah!"

"Perhaps Your Excellency knows something about it now?"

"Nothing, I assure you. But I find your story very interesting, and
regret that I can see no way of assisting you."

Father Murray perfectly understood the kind of man he was dealing with.
He must speak more plainly, suggesting in some degree the extent of his
knowledge.

"I see, Your Excellency, that it will be necessary for me to mention
another name, or rather to mention a title. There are, in your Great
Kingdom, dependent duchies, and therefore people called grand dukes,
and others called grand duchesses. Does that help Your Excellency to
understand?"

The Minister still had control of himself, though he was greatly
worried.

"It does not, Reverend Sir," he answered, "unless you might possibly be
able to introduce me to a grand duchess _in America_. I am always
interested in my countrymen--and women. If a grand duchess were
brought here--that is," he corrected himself, smiling courteously, "if
a grand duchess should call to see me, I should be glad to place my
entire staff at your service to find the Ruth Atheson you speak of.
Perhaps your Reverence understands?"

"Thoroughly," said Father Murray. "I could not fail to understand.
But it would be difficult for me to bring a grand duchess to call on
you, since the only one I have ever known is, unfortunately, dead."

At last the Minister lost his _sang froid_. His face was colorless.

"Perhaps you will tell me the name of this grand duchess whom you knew?"

"I think Your Excellency already knows."

"How did she die, and when?"

"I am sorry to say that she was killed in an accident."

"Where?"

"If Your Excellency will pick up this morning's paper--which you
possibly have neglected to read--you will see a list of those killed in
a railroad wreck which took place the night before last on a
Washington-bound train. The list includes 'two women, unknown' and the
pictures of both are printed. Their bodies are now in the morgue in
Baltimore awaiting identification."

The Minister turned hastily to a table on which a number of newspapers
had been carelessly laid. He picked up a Washington publication. On
the front page was a picture o