"Easy now, I'm coming to that. This lady cannot be the Duchess and Ruth Atheson at the same time."
"Decidedly not."
"She is one or the other."
"Well?"
"Either there is no Duchess, or no Ruth Atheson."
"True; but I cannot question the Padre's word. That, at least, I know is good. Then, look at his distress."
"Sure, I know that. I have been looking. And I've been thinking till my brain whirls. The Padre wouldn't lie, and there's no reason why he should. But if the lady is Ruth Atheson, she is not the Duchess?"
"N-no."
"Then why did they shoot that poor devil of an Italian? And why the abduction?"
"Oh, I don't know, Saunders." Mark spoke wearily.