, Madam. He's president of the C.
and R."

Mrs. Hawley-Crowles nodded and looked wise. "Possibly we can arrange
it," she said. "But now about our other investments. What is Joplin
Zinc doing?"

"Progressing splendidly, Madam. We shall declare a dividend this
month."

The lady wondered, for Joplin Zinc was not yet in operation, according
to the latest report.

* * * * *

Meantime, while Mrs. Hawley-Crowles was still laying her plans to herd
the young girl into the mortgaged dukedom of Altern, Father Waite kept
his appointment, and called at the Beaubien mansion on the afternoon
Carmen had set. He was warmly received by the girl herself, who had
been watching for his coming.

"Now," she began like a bubbling fountain, when they were seated in
the music room, "where's Jude? I want to find her."

"Jude? Why, I haven't the slightest idea to whom you refer," returned
the puzzled man.

"The woman who took me to the Sister Superior," explained Carmen.

"Ah! We never saw her again."

"Well," said the girl confidently, "I saw her, but she got away from
me. But I shall find her--it is right that I should. Now tell me, what
are you going to do?"

"I have no idea. Earn my living some way," he replied meditatively.

"You have lots of friends who will help you?"

"None," he said sadly. "I am an apostate, you know."

"Well, that means that you're free. The chains have dropped, haven't
they?"

"But left me dazed and confused."

"You are not dazed, nor confused! Why, you're like a prisoner coming
out of his dungeon into the bright sunlight. You're only blinking,
that's all. And, as for confusion--well, if I would admit it to be
true I could point to a terrible state of it! Just think, a duke wants
to marry me; Mrs. Hawley-Crowles is determined that he shall; I am an
Inca princess, and yet I don't know who I am; my own people apparently
are swallowed up by the war in Colombia; and I am in an environment
here in New York in which I have to fight every moment to keep myself
from flying all to pieces! But I guess God intends to keep me here for
the present. Oh, yes, and Monsignor Lafelle insists that I am a
Catholic and that I must join his Church."

"Monsignor Lafelle! You--you know him?"

"Oh, yes, very well. And you?"

He evaded reply by another query. "Is Monsignor Lafelle working with
Madam Beaubien, your friend?"

"I think not," laughed Carmen. "But Mrs. Hawley-Crowl