"Is my cousin Nicholas Tchigorsky? The poor fellow is blind and dumb, as the result of a terrible accident. Best not to notice him."
The Princess shrugged her beautiful shoulders as she dropped gracefully into a seat.
"I heard you were in London," she said, "and something told me that we should meet sooner or later. You are still interested in occult matters?"
Again Ralph detected the note of warning in the speech. He could see nothing of the expression on that perfect face; but he could judge it fairly well.
"I am more interested in occult matters than ever," Tchigorsky said gravely, "especially in certain discoveries placed in my hands by a traveler in Tibet."
"I am more interested in occult matters than ever," Tchigorsky said gravely, "especially in certain discoveries placed in my hands by a traveler in Thibet.—Page 43."
"Ah, that was your fellow-countryman. He died, you know!"
"He was murdered in the vilest manner. But before the end, he managed to convey important information to me."
"Useless information unless you had the key."