"You mean von Schaumberg?"
"Yes."
"I believe the Princess does think he stole them, and the reason the Princess protects him is to prevent you from challenging him, for she fears that he, being a military man, will kill you, although I fancy she would be well rid of you."
"But he stole the diamonds--there was n.o.body else."
"He did nothing of the kind. Read that!"
The Prince, bewildered, took the sheet that she handed to him and read it, a wrinkle of bewilderment corrugating his brow.
"I don"t understand what this has to do with the case," he said at last.
"It seems to be an order on the bank at Vienna for the diamonds, written by the Princess herself."
"Of course it is. Well, if the diamonds had been delivered, that paper would now be in the possession of the bank instead of in your hands."
"Perhaps she mislaid this order and wrote another."
"Perhaps. Still it might be worth while finding out."
"Take this, then, to the Princess and ask her."
"It is not likely she would remember. The better plan is to telegraph at once to the Vienna bank, asking them to send the diamonds to Meran by special messenger. No one there knows that the diamonds are missing."
"I will do so at once," cried the Prince, with more animation in his voice than Miss Baxter had previously noticed. His Highness was becoming interested in the game.
After luncheon the Princess came to Miss Baxter, who was seated at her desk, and handed her a letter.
"There is an invitation from the d.u.c.h.ess of Chiselhurst for a grand ball she is shortly to give in her London house. It is to be a very swell affair, but I don"t care enough for such things to go all the way to England to enjoy them. Would you therefore send her Grace my regrets?"
"I will do so at once."
At that moment there came a messenger from the Prince asking Miss Baxter to meet him in the library. The girl glanced up at the Princess.
"Have I your permission to go?" she said.
The Princess looked at her steadily for a moment, just the faintest suspicion of a frown on her fair brow.
"I do not suppose you need my permission." Her Highness spoke with slow deliberation. "My husband condescends to take considerable interest in you. Pa.s.sing along the corridor this morning, I heard your voices in most animated conversation."
"Had you sufficient interest in our discussion to stop and listen to what we said, Princess von Steinheimer?"
"Ah, now you are becoming insolent, and I must ask you to consider your engagement with me at an end."
"Surely you will not dismiss me in this heartless way, Princess. I think I am ent.i.tled to a month"s notice, or is it only a week"s?"
"I will pay you a year"s salary, or two years" if that will content you.
I have no wish to deal harshly with you, but I desire you to leave at once," said the Princess, who had little sense of humour, and thus thought the girl was in earnest when she asked for notice.
Miss Baxter laughed merrily, and replied when she was able to control her mirth, "I do hate to leave the castle just when things are becoming interesting. Still, I don"t suppose I shall really need to go away in spite of your dismissal, for the Prince this morning offered me ten times the amount of money you are paying."
"Did he?"
"Be a.s.sured he did; if you don"t believe me, ask him. I told him he was a fool, but, alas, we live in a cynical age, and few men believe all they hear, so I fear my expression of opinion made little impression on him."
"I shall not keep you longer from his Highness," said the Princess with freezing dignity.
"Thank you so much. I am just dying to meet him, for I know he has something most interesting to tell me. Don"t you think yourself, Princess, that a man acts rather like a fool when he is deeply in love?"
To this there was no reply, and the Princess left the room.
Miss Jennie jumped to her feet and almost ran to the library. She found the Prince walking up and down the long room with a telegraph message in his hand. "You are a most wonderful young woman," he said; "read that."
"I have been told so by more observing men than you, Prince von Steinheimer," said the girl, taking the telegram. It was from the manager of the bank in Vienna, and it ran: "Special messenger leaves with package by the Meran express to-night."
"Just as I thought," said Miss Jennie; "the diamonds never left the bank. I suppose those idiots of servants which the Princess has round her didn"t know what they took away from Vienna and what they left.
Then, when the diamonds were missing, they completely lost their heads--not that anyone in the castle has much wit to spare. I never saw such an incompetent lot."
The Prince laughed.
"You think, perhaps, I have not wit enough to see that my wife cares for me, is that it? Is that why you gave me my own letters?"
"Oh, you are well mated! The Princess now does me the honour of being jealous. Think of that! As if it were possible that I should take any interest in you, for I have seen real men in my time."
The Prince regarded her with his most severe expression.
"Are you not flattering yourself somewhat, young lady?"
"Oh, dear no! I take it as the reverse of flattering to be supposed that I have any liking for such a ninny as you are. Flattering, indeed! And she has haughtily dismissed me, if you please."
"The Princess has? What have you been saying to her?"
"Oh, I made the most innocent remark, and it was the truth too, which shows that honesty is not always the best policy. I merely told her that you had offered me ten times the amount of money she is paying me. You needn"t jump as if somebody had shot off a gun at your ear. You know you did make such an offer."
"You confounded little mischief-maker," cried the Prince in anger. "Did you tell her what it was for?"
"No. She did not ask."
"I will thank you to apply the cleverness you seem to possess to the undoing of the harm you have so light-heartedly caused."
"How can I? I am ordered to leave to-night, when I did _so_ wish to stay and see the diamond _denouement_."
"You are not going to-night. I shall speak to the Princess about it if that should be necessary. Your mention of the diamonds reminds me that my respected father-in-law, Mr. Briggs, informs me that a celebrated detective, whom it seems he has engaged--Taylor, I think the name is--will be here to-morrow to explain the diamond mystery, so you see you have a compet.i.tor."
"Oh, is Cadbury coming? That is too jolly for anything. I simply _must_ stay and hear his explanation, for he is a very famous detective, and the conclusions he has arrived at must be most interesting."
"I think some explanations are due to me as well. My worthy father-in-law seems to have commissioned this person without thinking it necessary to consult me in the least; in fact, Mr. Briggs goes about the castle looking so dark and lowering when he meets me, that I sometimes doubt whether this is my own house or not."
"And is it?"