The Illustrious Prince

dy solved the problem of creating the sensational without the aid of facts. This sudden deluge, therefore, of undoubtedly tragical happenings became almost an embarra

axicab, which had stopped on the way to pick up no other passenger. He had left the Savoy alone, and he was discovered in Melbourne Square alone. Yet, somewhere between these two points, notwithstanding the fact that the aggressor must have entered the cab either with or without his consent, Mr. Richard Vanderpole, without a struggle, without any cry sufficiently loud to reach the driver or attract the attention of any passer-by, had been strangled to death by a person who had disappeared as though from the face of the earth. The facts seemed almost unbelievable, and yet they were facts. The driver of the taxi knew only that three times during the course of his drive he had been caught in a block and had had to wait for a few seconds-once at the entrance to Trafalgar Square, again at the junction of Haymarket and Pall Mall, and, for a third time, opposite the Hyde Park Hotel. At neither of these halting places had he heard any one enter or leave the taxi. He had heard no summons from his fare, even though a tube, which was in perfect working order, was fixed close to the back of his head. He had known nothing, in fa

ng a flower in his buttonhole, patent boots, and a silk hat which he had carefully deposited upon the floor, was sitting closeted with Miss Penelope Mor

ble, as an ordinary visitor, and no one connected with your household can have any idea as to my identity or the nature of my bu

hould bother me about your duty. When I saw you at the Carlton

one of the most extraordinary problems which have ever been put before us. We have had two murders occurring in two days, which have this much, at least, in common-that they h

d of you," Penelope rem

these two crimes had one thing in common, and that was the fact that they had both been perpet

hat?" Pene

ases was an American,

teely eyes of the man who had chosen hi

the two affairs in

her. We find that you, for instance, Miss Penelope Morse, a young American lady, celebrated for her wit and accomplishments, and well known in London society, were to have lunched with Mr. Hamilton Fynes on the da

red, and half

coincidence, as you call it, has been quite suffici

sity. I have come here in the cause of justice. You should find me a welcome

tly than I do that the perpetrator of these deeds will be found and punished. But what I cannot understand is yo

ns which you can answer me,-answer them, I mean, not grudgingly and as though in duty bou

ing that lies behin

fortunately, we have not passed the stage of theories. My theory, at the

she said, suddenly surprised to find

e must build them brick by brick. Then if, after all, as we reach the end, t

to ask me. My aunt, as you may have heard, is an invalid, and although she seldom leaves her room, this is o

reat rug. The walls were of light blue, soft, yet full of color, and the carpet, of some plain material, was of the same shade. The perfume of flowers-the faint sweetness of mimosa and the sicklier fragrance of hyacinths-seemed almost overwhe

ase answer them if you can. Mr. Hamilton Fynes, for instance,-wa

one another," Penelope answered.

the two men may have shared?" the Inspector asked. "A hobby, for instan

ook he

an Mr. Vanderpole-had none at all except an ent

ated. "Mr. Vanderpole was attached t

so," Penelo

ntinued, "might almost have been said

. Fynes was employed in a Government office at Washington,-so

nodded tho

e nature of Mr. Fynes' occupation. I only knew th

about it," she a

nquiries that are possible on the spot, and incidentally, to go through the effects of the decea

her lips, but cl

, there could have been nothing of the sort. He was too young, altogether too much of a boy, to have had enemies so

asked Penelope, "that robb

capable of easier and greater things. I mean," he explained, "that he could have attempt

to ask me? Notwithstanding the excellence of your disguise," she remarked with a faint curl of the lips

t yourself in my place. I was going to ask you to look at these two tragedies from my point of view and from your own at the same time, and I was going

th those who are attempting to bring to justice the perpetrator of such unmentionable crimes. What I object to is the unpleasantness of being associated

ance?" the In

Mr. Richard Vanderpole is also murdered, after a call upon Mr. James B. Coulson, the only acquaintance whom Mr. Fynes is known to have possessed in this country. Did Mr. Fynes share secr

s moved his he

ut," he assented,

nect Mr. Fynes with the American Government, you arrive at the possibility of these mur

hat and bowed, while Penelope, with a

erson is to a man who is struggling to build up a theory. Whether you have helped me as much as you cou

ed as she had been standing, the hand which had touched the bell fallen to h

ks," she added, as the door closed, "what do you mean?

and very silent. His face, too, was quite expressionless. Yet his ton

y enough. What you have told me, however, you have told me against your will and not in actual words. You have told me in such a way, too," he added, "that it is impo

ned motionless for several moments, l