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I can't tell you the name of the Grand Duchy, but I'll say this: it isn't very far from a certain Big Kingdom we hear a great deal about now in fact the Duchy is a dependency of the Big Kingdom more than that, the so-called Ruth Atheson is heiress presumptive to the throne. She'll some day be the Grand Duchess." Mark sat stunned. It was with difficulty that he could speak.
You yourself figured out, correctly, as it proves, a connection between his activities and the well-dressed men in the labor camp. You yourself saw the diplomat who was here. I now know why they are watching Miss Atheson. They take her for a runaway grand duchess. They are confident she is the one they have been instructed to watch. Several things have happened within the last forty-eight hours.
He had said positively that the girl was Ruth Atheson, his own niece; and Mark remembered well the sweet face of the child in the big London church fifteen years before. He knew that he had begun to love Ruth then, and that he could never love anyone else. Now came the crowning cause of worry.
But he had resolved to go through with the adventure, and he would not change his mind. He argued, too, that it was not entirely the beauty of Ruth Atheson that interested him. There was an indefinable "something else." Anyhow, innocent or guilty, he made up his mind to stand by her. At lunch he met Saunders again and found him overly friendly, even anxious to talk.
I am convinced Miss Atheson is in danger; and I don't understand some things I have myself seen, if she is really your niece." "Will you just continue to trust me, my dear Mark?" asked Father Murray anxiously. "Certainly, Father." "Then do not question me on this point. Only wait." The men walked on in silence, both thoughtful, for five minutes.
In exactly one minute the Minister himself was bowing to Father Murray. "I beg your pardon for detaining you, Reverend Sir, but, as my secretary explained, I am extremely busy. You mentioned Miss Atheson and, at least so I understand from my secretary, seemed to think I would know of her.
"A warship has been sent to take the Grand Duchess home. I cannot convince them that I am only Ruth Atheson. I am sure they are going to send me away. You must get me out of this house quickly, or it will be too late. "Give me this special signal and I will be ready: At ten-thirty any morning flash the light and keep it still on the top of the gate pillar.
As he paused to rest his eyes, his idle glance was suddenly arrested by the flaring headlines of a paper across the aisle. Quickly he opened his grip and brought forth his own papers. Ah, here it was on the first page. MISS RUTH ATHESON TO WED BARON GRIFFIN Former Vicar-General Announces the Engagement of His Niece.
Again Mark hesitated. "It's to ask about Miss Atheson." Father Murray's eyes smiled. "I thought so," he said. "What do you want to know?" Mark hesitated. "I know that the lady is very charitable and kind, but especially so to anyone whom you suggest. You must, therefore, be interested in anything that concerns her." "I am," said Father Murray. "Very much interested."
"As to that," said Mark, "of course I cannot say. I merely wanted you to know, Father Murray, just what was going on; to tell you that while you don't know me, nevertheless I hope you will permit me to be of assistance if these people are annoying Miss Atheson. If you wish to know more about me, I shall be glad to bring you the papers I left in the vault this morning."
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