"Thank you," she said, and promptly settled herself against his shoulder. "It IS better," she sighed.
"Would you mind telling me something about yourself, Miss Cameron? What is the true story of the crown jewels?"
She did not reply at once. When she spoke it was to ask a question of him.
"Do you know who he really is,—I mean the man known to you as Mr. Loeb?"
"Not positively. I am led to believe that he is indirectly in line to succeed to the throne of your country."
"Tell me something about Sprouse. How did you meet him and what induced him to take you into his confidence? It is not the usual way with government agents."
He told her the story of his encounter and connection with the secret agent, and part but not all of the man's revelations concerning herself and the crown jewels.
"I knew that you were not a native American," he said. "I arrived at that conclusion after our meeting at the cross-roads. When O'Dowd said you were from New Orleans, I decided that you belonged to one of the French or Spanish families there. Either that or you were a fairy princess such as one reads about in books."
"And you now believe that I am a royal—or at the very worst—a noble lady with designs on the crown?" There was a faint ripple in her low voice.
"I should like to know whether I am to address you as Princess, Duchess, or—just plain Miss."