eer of thirty years His
Excellency was nonplussed.

"If she is dead, Wratslav," he said, "what will be said of us, and what
new trouble will arrive? Who is next in line of succession?"

"The Duchy," said Wratslav, "will pass to the Grand Duke's brother."

"Not so bad, not so bad. The King would like that. I think, then,
that the brother is the only one who will benefit by this unfortunate
complication. The Salic law should be enforced throughout the whole
world. When we have to deal with women, only the good God knows what's
going to happen. I am afraid the girl above told the truth."

"But," objected Wratslav, "even if she did, Excellency, you cannot take
the risk of letting her go without orders from His Majesty. The Grand
Duchess was always clever. She knew she was tracked down. It would be
easy for her to pretend that she did not know her native language. You
cannot let her go until you are sure."

The Minister passed his hand wearily across his forehead and sighed.

"At any rate we can verify some of the details. You must go to
Baltimore, Wratslav, and view the bodies. Arrange for the embalming.
Say that the two are ladies of our country. Give any names you wish.
Place both bodies in a vault until this thing is cleared up; and bring
me half a dozen pictures of the young one, taken close to the face on
every side. Note the hair, the clothes, any jewels she may have about
her; but, above all, find out if there are any papers to be found. See
also if there are identifying marks. Return to-night; for by to-morrow
morning I must be ready to decide. I shall send no dispatches until
then."

His Excellency turned to his papers, and Wratslav left the room.

CHAPTER XVII

THE OPEN DOOR

That night, Mark Griffin and Father Murray sat in the priest's room at
the New Willard until very late. Father Murray was by far the more
cheerful of the two, in spite of the strain upon him. Mark looked
broken. He had come into a full knowledge of the fact that Ruth had
not been false to him, and that no barrier existed to their union, but
he could not close his eyes to the danger of the girl's situation.
Father Murray, however, could see no dark clouds.

"My dear Mark," he said, "you don't understand the kind of a country
you are in. Affairs of state here do not justify murder, and an
elected public official cannot, even in the name diplomacy, connive at
it. It is true that a Minister cannot very wel