ather you may see the locket, but not the memorandum in
the back."

The Duke registered an expression of polite surprise.

"Memorandum?"

"Yes," and the Princess removed a small bit of paper from the ivory
back, swinging it forward to her cousin's hand, on the long silver
chain. The nobleman's dark face assumed a ruddier hue, as he caught the
trinket in fingers which Jarvis noticed were trembling in tell-tale
manner. Jarvis watched the two of them in silence.

"It's a curious old piece of work. And you came all the way to New York
to get it?"

"Yes."

"You were fortunate to find it so soon."

"I knew where to find it, Carlos; yet I was almost too late. Think of
it, after that dear old family heirloom had lain in an antique shop for
nearly ten years--suddenly there came two inquiries for it in a day,
two beside my own. The first was from a distinguished-looking gentleman
who had called early in the morning, describing it roughly to the old
man, urging him to hunt for it. It took an hour to find it--and I
happened to come in at the end of the hour. I doubled the offer of a
museum collector, and trebled that of the distinguished-looking
gentleman. I secured it."

Here, the Princess shot a sharp look into the half-closed eyes of the
Duke.

"Who do you suppose could have wanted that locket but myself, Carlos?"

"I suppose," and it was the assumed indifference of a cornered schemer,
"it has already occurred to you that I am the 'distinguished-looking
gentleman.' Has it, cousin?"

The girl's curiosity piqued her.

"But how did you learn about the memorandum, Carlos?"

"I didn't, cousin. I had not the slightest suspicion that the locket
contained an important secret; I doubt it now. I was merely following
my pet hobby, in addition to a little family sentiment. I wanted to
recover some of those precious heirlooms which had been scattered to
the four winds."

"When did you know that this one had been scattered to New York,--on
your last visit to the boulevards of Paris?" And Jarvis' smile was as
ingenuous as that of a babe of two.

The Duke of Alva scowled. There seemed something uncanny in the
sharpness of this American; but he prided himself upon the power of
diplomacy.

"I have seldom been in Paris: they are not so much interested in
antiques as in very lively moderns, Mr. Ghost Breaker!... But there,
you interrupted my thought! You would be surprised to see the
collection which I have already rescued, a