t, just in time, for some woman entered the room."

"I am afraid, Mr. Saunders," said Father Murray, "that you are
dangerous, being a very clever man."

"But how, in Heaven's name," asked Mark, "did you get into that house?
It is the home of--"

"Sure it is," answered Saunders. "Sure it is. But the family is away,
and they left only the chauffeur at the residence. Chauffeurs are fine
fellows--under certain circumstances. They have acquired the habit."

"The conditions," laughed Mark, "will, I suppose, appear in your
accounts?"

"In my accounts? Yes . . . . Now to the rest of the discussion. I do
not believe this affair can be arranged as easily as you think. It
looks to me as if they really believe they have the Grand Duchess, and
that we are trying to help her get away. They think she has planned
the whole thing and that we are part of the plan. Miss Ruth was with
Madam Neuville when they caught her. That's one point in their favor.
Then the Duchess had things belonging to Miss Ruth, and had them when
killed. That's point two for them. The face of Miss Ruth is the face
on the portraits of the Grand Duchess. There's point three for them;
and it is a fact that the face of the dead girl was slightly
disfigured, as you know. The Minister dare not make a slip. He is not
going to make one if he can help it. He will do something without
delay to avoid all danger of your interference. If you go to court,
you'll have publicity. If you go to the Department of State, their
delays would make interference too late. If you don't act quick you'll
have no chance to act at all. My advice is, to get into better
communication with the young lady and then--to do a bit of quiet
abduction ourselves."

"That's easy to say, Saunders," said Mark. "But how carry it out?"

"I'll have to think on that. But I'm sure it can be done." Saunders
spoke convincingly. "Let me work this thing out as best I can."

"We are in your hands, Mr. Saunders," said Father Murray, "and we trust
you."

"Thanks, Father, I'll do my best. Now let us go on--"

But at this moment the telephone bell rang. Father Murray answered the
call.

"It's for you, Mark."

Mark took the receiver, and listened for a moment.

"All right; send him up."

He turned to his companions. "A colored man who insists on seeing me
personally."

They had but a few minutes to wait. He came up with a bellboy and
stood before them, bowing low--a typical