A silence followed—breathless—the silence before the bursting of the storm. Mr. Von Tassen was the name of the American statesman, and the man who rose slowly from his place by his host’s side was the exact double of the man who stood now upon the threshold, gazing in upon the room. The expression of the two alone was different. The newcomer was furiously angry, and looked it. The sham Mr. Von Tassen was very much at his ease. It was he who broke the silence, and his voice was curiously free from all trace of emotion. He was looking his double over with an air of professional interest.
“On the whole,” he said, calmly, “very good. A little stouter, I perceive, and the eyebrows a trifle too regular. Of course, when you make faces at me like that, it is hard to judge of the expression. I can only say that I did the best I could.”
“Who the devil are you, masquerading in my name?” the newcomer demanded, with emphasis. “This man is an impostor!” he added, turning to Andrea Korust. “What is he doing at your table?”
Andrea leaned forward and his face was an evil thing to look upon.
“Who are you?” he hissed out.
The sham Mr. Von Tassen turned away for a moment and stooped down. The trick has been done often enough upon the stage, often in less time, but seldom with more effect. The wonderful wig disappeared, the spectacles, the lines in the face, the make-up of diabolical cleverness. With his back to the wall and his fingers playing with something in his pocket, Peter, Baron de Grost, smiled upon his host.
“Since you insist upon knowing—the Baron de Grost, at your service!” he announced.
Andrea Korust was, for the moment, speechless. One of the women shrieked. The real Mr. Von Tassen looked around him helplessly.
“Will some one be good enough to enlighten me as to the meaning of this?” he begged. “Is it a roast? If so, I only want to catch on. Let me get to the joke, if there is one. If not, I should like a few words of explanation from you, sir,” he added, addressing Peter.
“Presently,” the latter replied. “In the meantime, let me persuade you that I am not the only impostor here.”