"Had your niece lived there long?"
"Only a few months. She arrived less than a week before her visitor."
Outwardly the Minister was calm, unmoved; but underneath the cold exterior the lurking fear was growing stronger. He must know more—all.
"Before that—?"
"She came direct from England, where she was visiting relatives."
"She was educated there perhaps?"
"She received her education principally in Europe."
"She has traveled much, then?"
"She has spent most of her time in America since I came here; but she has many friends both in England and on the Continent, and visits them quite frequently. She has very special friends in San Sebastian."
"Ah!"