"That I shall see for myself," said I, and I called Marie and told her to show me the way to the room where she and the baroness had been kept.
The old man followed, protesting at every step energetically.
"This is the room, your Highness," said the girl, laying her hand on the door.
I opened it and looked in. It was empty and dark.
"How long have you been in the house?" I asked the old man, on whom the mention of the term "highness" had produced a marked effect.
"I live here, my lord," he answered in a tone of much greater respect.
"Were you here this afternoon and evening?" and I took out a couple of gold pieces so that he could see them.
"No, your Highness," he said, with a bow—the mere sight of them had given me a step in the peerage in his opinion. "I was away in the country this morning and only returned late."
"Were there two ladies here when you returned?"
"Not that I know of, sire."