my dungeon where he had since been
kept in solitary confinement. Opinion at Hesse-Weimar was divided
between the theory that the thief had succeeded in hiding the famous
diamond before he was caught, and the theory that when he discovered its
hiding place, he had found an empty jewel case. Naturally, the identity
of the Grand Duchess with the famous Lady Beltham,[3] established by
Juve, was unknown in Hesse-Weimar, nor did anyone suspect that her
sudden departure was in any way connected with the arrest of the pseudo
Fantomas.

[Footnote 3: See "Fantomas," Vols. I, II, III.]

The Queen was at first unwilling to believe in the retreat of her enemy,
but she was at length obliged to accept the fact when Alexandra made her
formal adieux.

"There was a rumor that you were going to leave us," she replied, "but I
scarcely credited it, Madame."

The adventuress, who by a series of extraordinary circumstances had been
enabled to pass herself as a cousin of the reigning family, looked at
the Queen sadly:

"Your Majesty is not very kind to me," she exclaimed with tears in her
voice, "and I hoped for a more friendly farewell at the moment when I am
taking my departure for the new world."

The Queen was touched by these words; with an impulsive movement she
opened her arms to the false Grand Duchess, who flung herself into them
in a long embrace.

The two women now had a heart to heart talk in which the Queen confessed
her fears and distrust. She even went to the length of admitting her
belief that Alexandra had had designs upon the throne of Hesse-Weimar.

The adventuress looked with pitying contempt upon the little Queen
Hedwige:

"Your Majesty has been outrageously deceived," she replied, "I belong to
a race which is incapable of such treachery."

Completely reassured, the Queen became very tender and ended
affectionately by wishing the pseudo Duchess a good journey. The two
women parted friends.

* * * * *

On a siding in the Glotzbourg station stood a private car, which had
been placed at the service of the Grand Duchess, waiting to be connected
with the Paris express from Berlin.

Inside, the Duchess, dressed in a quiet traveling costume, sat talking
to Prince Gudulfin. The young man was pale and anxious:

"Your orders have been carried out, Madame, are you satisfied?"

The pseudo Grand Duchess thanked the Prince with a softened look, and
the latter continued in a low voice: