Topham nodded. “In an hour or so,” he answered, quietly.
“I thought as much. Well! We haven’t much time to waste and I will come right to the point. I want you to believe that what I am going to say I say as a representative of the United States to an officer of the United States Navy. I don’t want to pry into your affairs. But I do want all the information I can get about the Count of Ouro Preto and his sister—No! let me go on—Risdon told me of your agitation on meeting the countess on the street yesterday. I know myself that you are interested in her. I know, too, that Ouro Preto was trying to pump you last night. We both know more about your trip across the ocean than we perhaps care to say. We both suspect much about that so-called burglary. But the point of it all is that the United States is greatly interested in this Ouro Preto matter—in anything that concerns Germany and Brazil for that matter. I have seen Lord Maxwell. He is positive that Ouro Preto saw the emperor last night and he believes that the Kaiser has offered to recognize his claims to that dukedom on conditions. What these conditions are I don’t know, and it may be important that I should. You are leaving for Japan and will be out of the way later. Now, can’t you tell me anything that would throw light on the matter?”
“On the question of the dukedom?” he asked. “Not a thing. Absolutely nothing!”
Rutile hesitated. “I don’t want to offend you, old man,” he burst out. “But I must go on. There is a big game afoot, and the Ouro Preto may well wish to keep in touch with a navy officer. The countess Elsa may be fooling you and—”
“Stop!” Topham leaned forward. “I don’t misunderstand you, Rutile, my friend,” he said. “You are quite right from your point of view, and I will tell you all I may. First, though, I must tell you that today I asked the Countess Elsa to marry me—”
“Marry you!” Rutile sprang to his feet.
“To marry me,” reiterated the navy man, steadily, “and she accepted me—provisionally. I am to go away now and come for her in a year. During the year, I am neither to see her nor write to her. She said that—that my honor was at stake. I did not know what she meant. Her words, however, are significant. They may confirm your suspicions—whatever these are. More, I recognized the man who was murdered last night outside that door yonder.”
“You did!”
“Yes! He came over on the steamer with me. I smoked a cigarette he had given me just before I was taken ill. I saw him at the hotel of the countess yesterday. I do not doubt that he and the count and perhaps the countess have tried to get those papers from me.”
“And yet—”