The Port of Missing Men

his back Wherein he puts alms fo

e gives me no pleasure," growle

amiability; but for a renowned diplomat, you are remarkably frank. When I called on you i

the table between them stood an open despatch box, and about it lay a number of packets of papers which the old gentleman, with characteristic caution, had remo

f peculiar delicacy. The agents had failed in their mission, and Von Stroebel was not tolerant of failure. Perhaps if he had known that within a week the tapers would burn about his bier in Saint Stephen's Cat

return to Vienna on the following day. The young man whom he now entertained in his apartments received his whole attent

an's carte de visite,

ita

ame alias you were using

et it?" demande

" replied the young man. "Besides, it's English, and I pa

ly creditable; but it's

ess of his thought. The hands he clasped on the table were those of age, an

quite well," sai

ll. I am an old man, and I have

of government. I have read-only to-day, in the Contemporary Review-an admirable tribute to your sagacity in

for his thoughts were far away, as the vag

-one comes to Geneva at th

th sudden energy. "If the papers you gave me

at, what should I

ents-for events! If you ex

an's earnest manner, asked if he mi

at. I was not born for the waiting list. You see, I h

s own hands together mo

e searc

lanced about-"is it positively tru

ly no doubt of it," said Armitage,

ersistent. We hear it frequently in Vienna; I have heard it since y

e truth. He died in a Canadian lumber camp. We were in the nort

was nothing else he di

oeb

packet I

d man

e. It is of great importance, indeed, to Francis, his worthless son, or

te dead, never quite alive-and his son Frederick Augustus lur

n earth in a position t

Arm

uld give me t

death of the Archduke Karl, and of his son Frederick Augustus. Those pap

I must have them!"

g with that document I gave you in Paris. It is safer in America t

e to control his agitation; but fear had never been reckoned

olen from under my very nose only a month ago! That's what I'm here for-my agents are after the thief, and I came to Geneva to

this case he watched Armitage warily. He clearly expected some outburst of indignation from the young man, and he was unfeignedly reli

" he observed calmly; "whom

aned upon the

miable

ing. Francis would not know a

e is the devil!" b

the very reason that it contains that awful indictment of her. I have been uncomfortable ever since I gave it to you; and I cam

it, and Rambaud and Franci

ambaud. The nam

who aims high-a broker in secrets, a scandal-peddler. He's a bad lot, I tell you. I've had my best men after

d Armitage. "If your agents have failed at th

of the situation ir

cis and his friends, Winkelried and Rambaud, are not chasers of fireflies, I would have you know.

von Stroebel stared at

nd he rested one of his hands upon the despatch box

he young ma

. Karl was a genius, therefore he could not be king. He threw away about five hundred years of work that had been done for hi

ed with his rough burr; an

ienna and set yourself up like a

ld die in Vienna in a week. Moreover, I am dead, and it is wel

eace; but he is forever turning up in some mischief. And what can you do about it? Can we kick him out of the army without a scandal? Don't you

nodded an

he old statesman glared at him he said in Ge

or action, and not for discussion. That packet was s

nd the old prime minister slipped from German to F

d his chief, Winkelried, could make a king of Francis, the brokerage-the commi

al press has given much space to him

He is the most daring

glass of brandy from a silve

he threw open a leather portfolio and drew from it a small photograph which he

!" he ex

he is something else. I will furnis

you care to give me; but it may amuse you to

he old man, who never evinced

e him here with

died it attentively, while he waited for Armitage

eached here yesterday; and Rambaud, alias Chauven

rrect name. I must inform

h to arr

advertise my business by having him arrested here. If I could catch him once in Vienna I should know what to do with him! He and Winkelried got hold of our plans in that Bu

ing young American gi

Armitage sharply, while Arm

sterous marriage. Go back where you be

waiting is not my forte. That's what I like about America;

ine!" rumbled Von St

. Who knows but that John Armitage might become famous among them-in politics, in finance! But for the deplorable accident of fo

a fool. You are youn

the reluctance of

, with all

rets. Something may happen-who can tell? Events-ev

of events," laughed Armitage; then he changed his tone. "To be sure, th

Don't mention those scavengers to me! Bah! The very thought of them makes m

o America with him. He took care that I should get what was left when he died-and, I am almost afraid to tell you that I have actua

t. "In due course it will be t

American newspaper

as busy with his own thoughts; then the count

st rate. Do you spe

n English tutor, and maybe I did not tell you in that inter

you do that for?"

rchduke died. That was three years ago. I am twenty-eight, as you may remember. I am detaining you; I h

back and make a man of yourself. You might go far-very

rom tumbling down like a stack of bricks-it does not appeal to me. You have spent a laborious life in defending a silly medieval tradition of government. You are using all the apparatus

frowned an

e like that. It

ings, who would drop through the gallows or go to planting turnips without

he old man grimly. "I shall perha

the royal palaces. If I were coming back to Europe I should go in fo

d persuade them to proclaim democ

nd, I should bec

. Much as you have grieved me, I sh

ost document, appear in Vienna and announce myself Frederick Augustus, the son of the Archduke Karl! I knew both men intimately. You may remember that Frederick and I were born in the same month. I, too, am Frederick Augustus! We passed commonly in America as brothers. Many of the personal effects of Karl and Augustus a

effort to find words with which to break in upon this impious declaratio

mad. You will do well to go back to A

nd his manner c

you. Please pardon me! Let us be

te. The chasm

ch box as though by habit. It represented power, majesty and t

ack and forth over the box caressingly. Suddenly he bent

one service-to uphold one idea. You have spoken of that wor

no one can gainsay tha

re or how you perform it. I am not so near gone as you may think. I know well enough that they are waiting for me to die; but I am in no hurry to afford my enemies that pleasure. But stop this babble of yo

for the Empire?" murmure

nand von St

not see you again." As he took Armitage's hand he scrutinized him once more with particular care; there

said abruptly, and waved h