Mself, though he was greatly worried. "It does not, Reverend Sir," he
answered, "unless you might possibly be able to introduce me to a grand
duchess _in America_. I am always interested in my countrymen--and
women. If a grand duchess were brought here--that is," he corrected
himself, smiling courteously, "if a grand duchess should call to see me,
I should be glad to place my entire staff at your service to find the
Ruth Atheson you speak of. Perhaps your Reverence understands?"
"Thoroughly," said Father Murray. "I could not fail to understand. But
it would be difficult for me to bring a grand duchess to call on you,
since the only one I have ever known is, unfortunately, dead." At last
the Minister lost his _sang froid_. His face was colorless. "Perhaps you
will tell me the name of this grand duchess whom you knew?" "I think
Your Excellency already knows." "How did she die, and when?" "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 w
