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His eyes were fixed upon the still expressionless face of the woman whose story was slowly unfolding its tragic course. "A rumour of this," Madame de Melbain continued, "reached us in Mexonia! I telegraphed to Amy! She and Louise were at their wits' ends.
A moment later the Baron de Courcelles issued from the inn and crossed the lawn towards Madame de Melbain. "Madame," he said, "the man who was caught in the park last night is, without doubt, a spy from Mexonia! He can be charged with nothing more serious than trespass, and in a few minutes he will be free. Should he return, this" he glanced towards Duncan "would be the end.
They are far too occupied with their own affairs to watch us. It is the last place, for instance, where our friend from Mexonia would dream of looking for us." The three men were seated at a small round table in the great dining-room of the Hotel Splendide of Dinant-on-Sea. The season was at its height, and the room was full.
You are both aware that for eighteen months the suit for divorce brought by that lady's husband has been before a special court." "One understands," Wrayson remarked, "that the sympathies of all Europe are with the lady." The Baron bowed. "Entirely. Her cause, too, is the popular one in Mexonia. It is the ministry and the aristocracy who are on the other side.
"The fair one was a friend of Barnes'," Wrayson answered. "It was at her flat that he called the night he was murdered." "You are sure," Duncan asked, "that the letters have not been found yet by the other side?" "Quite sure," the Baron answered. "We have agents in Mexonia, even about the King's person, and we should hear in an hour if they had the letters."
Wrayson, who had been prepared for something surprising, was yet startled out of his composure. The affairs of the unhappy Royal House of Mexonia were the property of the world. He half rose to his feet, but Madame de Melbain instantly waved him back again. "My friends," she said, "deem it advisable that my whereabouts should not be known.
"Yes, I believe you! Let me tell you this, then. I count it amongst my misfortunes that my own troubles have become in so large a manner the troubles of my friends. You will appreciate that the more, perhaps, when I tell you that Madame de Melbain is not the name by which I am generally known. I am that unfortunate woman the Queen of Mexonia!"
These are anxious for an alliance which will safeguard Mexonia from certain dangers to which she is at present exposed. Madame de Melbain, as you are both aware, comes from one of the oldest families of Europe, but it is a family without any political significance. The betrothal was completed before Frederick stood so near to the throne.
He declared that I was altogether too young; my mother, on the other hand, was just as anxious to conclude the match. Eventually it was arranged that the betrothal should take place in six months and Frederick went back to Mexonia." Madame de Melbain paused for a moment.
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