"And if they are captured?"
"If they are captured? but they will not be captured. They know just what to do. If they are arrested, 'twill be for assault with intent to rob, something that occurs every day. And even though Albert Serra is named as accomplice, what of that? The English police will look for a Catalan smuggler—not for me. The fellows know only half the story and you may be certain that the net is well laid. Has your Excellency further orders for me?"
"Await me here and arrange a new make-up. I shall return."
The bailiff bowed and, at a signal, raised the iron shutter through which the autocrat passed back to his private office. On reaching it, he felt in his pocket for the letter which he had placed there not long since, and said to the usher:
"Has not her Grace, the Duchess de Rousillon, arrived?"
"She has been waiting some time for your Excellency."
"Ask her to be good enough to enter."
The baron gallantly advanced to place a chair for the lady. She approached boldly, trying to smile, but her pale face and the reddened semi-circles beneath her blue eyes revealed acute suffering. The duchess must have been beautiful in her prime and her style of dressing showed that she had not given up her claim to attractiveness. Her skirt was of taffeta silk ornamented with narrow lace ruffles. She wore an exquisite dulleta of rare green velvet, bordered with white embroidery mingled with gold and chenille, a large silk English bonnet of such shape as to permit the escape on each side of clusters of curls still golden. A parasol like that which had been last graced by the hand of the Duchess de Barri, of white satin embroidered in violets, completed her outfit. From her left wrist hung a reticule of pearls over satin with a jeweled clasp. She made a court bow to Lecazes and seated herself in the proffered chair with somewhat more than her usual aristocratic manner.
"In what can I serve your Grace?"
"If you but knew what has happened," she began in an agonized voice. To his querulous look, she resumed: "You had appointed today for the conference which we were to hold regarding the Montereux mines, which form part of the ducal estate of Rousillon. The possession of this property is disputed by the municipality of Montereux on the pretext of prior occupation, and I desire to place my claim in your hands for enforcement, even though it be a matter that does not concern you officially. But if it were not for this engagement with you, I should have come today to earnestly solicit an audience."