ve glared at the nobleman, with fingers obviously itching
for action. He sucked his teeth contemptuously, and then turned his
back squarely upon the noble countenance. Over his face spread the
beatific smile which strong, rough men deem overpowering with a member
of the weaker sex.

"As you was saying, lady, before we was so impolitely interrupted, you
was in the hotel when this gunplay went on. Did you hear it?"

"Yes, sir, I heard two shots."

"Did you hear anything else?"

"Yes, indeed. I heard a great many people running up and down the
corridor, outside my door."

The detective scribbled away in his notebook. Jarvis winked again at
the Princess, over the doughty shoulders which were backed toward him.
The Duke caught the wink, and pondered over it.

"Did anyone come in your room, miss?"

"Yes. My maid was frightened, poor child. She came in, and begged me to
protect her."

"Ah-ha! A-hum! And how did your lock get broken?"

"It was broken when we came to the room. I was foolish not to complain
to the management at once, for I might have been robbed by some
sneak-thief. I explained all that at the hotel."

"Um ... All right. What about the colored man who came to your room
afterwards and carried away a large bundle?"

The Duke's eyes were sparkling now. He was biding his chance to
intervene. Jarvis watched him without the flicker of an eyelash.

"That was my servant," explained the Princess, easily. "I sent for him,
because I had made a number of purchases too late to get them into my
trunk. They are here unopened; you may examine them if you wish."

The detective waved aside the offer: he was nothing if not gallant--if
the questioned one were fair enough!

"Oh, that's all right. But what do you know about this, miss?"

He produced a pocket-knife, and walked toward her slowly, examining it
with care. The Duke of Alva leaned over his shoulder with absorbed
interest.

"This knife has the initial '_W_.' How about it?"

The girl reached forward, with a graceful hand.

"Oh, I'm so glad you found it! Thank you for bringing it to me."

"Then it's yours? Who is this party '_W_'? Your name is Aragon, I
believe."

The Princess laughed.

"I am Maria Theresa of Aragon, you see."

"I don't see. Where does the '_W_' come in? I know how to spell, you
know, even if I'm only a bull." And he glared pugnaciously at the duke.

"Why ... it isn't '_W_'--can't you understand? You're holding it upside
down. It