Charred Wood Part 25

"I am sorry to say that she was killed in an accident."

"Where?"

"If Your Excellency will pick up this morning's paper--which you possibly have neglected to read--you will see a list of those killed in a railroad wreck which took place the night before last on a Washington-bound train. The list includes 'two women, unknown' and the pictures of both are printed. Their bodies are now in the morgue in Baltimore awaiting identification."

The Minister turned hastily to a table on which a number of newspapers had been carelessly laid. He picked up a Washington publication. On the front page was a picture of two women lying side by side--taken at the morgue in Baltimore. Despite the rigor of death on the features, the Minister could perceive in the face of the younger woman an unmistakable resemblance to the girl upstairs. Greatly agitated, he turned to the priest.

"How do I know," he asked, "that this--" pointing to the picture--"is not Ruth Atheson?"

"I think," said the priest, "that you will have to take my word for it--unless Your Excellency will verify my statement by an actual visit to the morgue. The body is still unburied."

"I shall send to the morgue."

"Then for the present I will bid Your Excellency good morning. Before going, however, I should like to emphasize that the lady now in your custody is my niece. And Baron Griffin, of the Irish peerage, is taking an active personal interest in the matter. Baron Griffin is now in Washington and requests me to state that he will give you until to-morrow morning to restore the lady to her friends. That will afford ample time for a visit to Baltimore. Unless Miss Atheson is with us by ten o'clock to-morrow morning the whole affair will be placed in the hands of the British Amba.s.sador and of our own State Department--with all the details. I might add that I am stopping at the New Willard Hotel."

The priest looked at His Excellency, who again felt the insistent hammering of that "something" he should have remembered. The phrase, "all the details," bore an almost sinister significance.

His Excellency gave a sudden start. "Atheson--Atheson." His voice was tense and he spoke slowly. "What was her father's name?"

It was what the priest had been waiting for, had expected all along.

Forgotten for years--yes. But where was the diplomat who did not have the information somewhere in his files? His face saddened as he answered.

"Edgar Atheson."

"Etkar--"

But the priest raised his hand.

"_Edgar Atheson_--if you _please_."

The Minister bowed. "And you are the brother of--"

"Alice Murray," the priest interrupted quietly, with a touch of dignified hauteur.

His Excellency was silent, and his visitor continued.

"I must also suggest to Your Excellency that the fate of the young Italian officer is known to others beside myself. It would make unfortunate state complications if the occurrence should be made public. I wish Your Excellency good morning."

He turned to go, but the Minister stood between him and the door.

"One moment," he said. "I regret that it is necessary to request your Reverence to remain. You will pardon the necessity, I am sure. I cannot permit His Majesty's secrets to be made known to the public.

State complications often oblige us to take stern measures, and--" he continued coldly--"you are now on the territory of my royal master."

But Father Murray did not seem at all afraid.

"Do not think of detaining me, Your Excellency," he said quietly. "I mentioned Baron Griffin. There is another. Both know where I am. Nor need you worry as to our discretion. We are well enough acquainted with state complications to know when silence is best. We shall not speak unless it becomes necessary; but in that event we shall not hesitate. Don't make matters more difficult for yourself. I shall insist on the release of my niece, and I warn you that neither you nor His Majesty may touch either of us and go unscathed. Kindly stand aside."

But His Excellency still barred the way.

"Your Reverence," he said, after a pause, "I shall stand aside on one condition: that you will again give me your word that you will keep silence. To-morrow morning you shall have your answer; but in the meantime not one syllable about this must pa.s.s your lips, and Baron Griffin must not approach the British Emba.s.sy on this matter. There may be no need of his doing so at all. Please understand my position.

I must guard His Majesty's interests, and do my best under difficult circ.u.mstances. Whether the lady be the d.u.c.h.ess or your niece, no harm shall come to her. Have I your word?"

"You have my word. Unless Your Excellency makes it necessary to act, we shall keep silence."

"Then," said the Minister, stepping aside, "I will bid you good morning."

Father Murray bowed himself out. He met Mark and Saunders at the corner. As they walked away, they saw nothing of the spy upon their footsteps; but they knew that the spy was there, for they had knowledge of the ways of diplomacy. As a matter of fact, inside of twenty minutes the Minister knew what room each man was occupying at the New Willard. An attache did not leave the hotel all night; and the next morning the same man found himself in the unusual surroundings of St.

Patrick's Church where Father Murray said Ma.s.s.

When the Minister returned to the library his face was white. Wratslav was in his confidence, and did not have to wait long for information.

For the first time in his diplomatic career of thirty years His Excellency was nonplussed.

"If she is dead, Wratslav," he said, "what will be said of us, and what new trouble will arrive? Who is next in line of succession?"

"The Duchy," said Wratslav, "will pa.s.s to the Grand Duke's brother."

"Not so bad, not so bad. The King would like that. I think, then, that the brother is the only one who will benefit by this unfortunate complication. The Salic law should be enforced throughout the whole world. When we have to deal with women, only the good G.o.d knows what's going to happen. I am afraid the girl above told the truth."

"But," objected Wratslav, "even if she did, Excellency, you cannot take the risk of letting her go without orders from His Majesty. The Grand d.u.c.h.ess was always clever. She knew she was tracked down. It would be easy for her to pretend that she did not know her native language. You cannot let her go until you are sure."

The Minister pa.s.sed his hand wearily across his forehead and sighed.

"At any rate we can verify some of the details. You must go to Baltimore, Wratslav, and view the bodies. Arrange for the embalming.

Say that the two are ladies of our country. Give any names you wish.

Place both bodies in a vault until this thing is cleared up; and bring me half a dozen pictures of the young one, taken close to the face on every side. Note the hair, the clothes, any jewels she may have about her; but, above all, find out if there are any papers to be found. See also if there are identifying marks. Return to-night; for by to-morrow morning I must be ready to decide. I shall send no dispatches until then."

His Excellency turned to his papers, and Wratslav left the room.

CHAPTER XVII

THE OPEN DOOR

That night, Mark Griffin and Father Murray sat in the priest's room at the New Willard until very late. Father Murray was by far the more cheerful of the two, in spite of the strain upon him. Mark looked broken. He had come into a full knowledge of the fact that Ruth had not been false to him, and that no barrier existed to their union, but he could not close his eyes to the danger of the girl's situation.

Father Murray, however, could see no dark clouds.

"My dear Mark," he said, "you don't understand the kind of a country you are in. Affairs of state here do not justify murder, and an elected public official cannot, even in the name diplomacy, connive at it. It is true that a Minister cannot very well be arrested, but a Minister can be disgraced, which is worse to his mind. You may be sure that our knowledge of the murder of the Italian will be quite sufficient to keep His Excellency in a painful state of suspense, and ultimately force him to yield."

"I could wish him," said Mark, "a _more_ painful state of _suspense_."

Father Murray smiled at the grim jest. "He will never see the rope, Mark, you may be sure of that. But there will be no more murdering.

The situation of the Ministry is bad enough as it is. His Excellency looked very much perturbed--for a diplomat--before I was done with him.

There is nothing more certain than that he has had a messenger in Baltimore to-day, and, unless I mistake very much, he will be able to identify the body. Then they must free Ruth."

"I wish, Father," Mark's voice was very tense, "that I could look at things as you do. But I know how a court works, and how serious are the games of kings. Then I haven't religion to help me, as you have."