At this point the pair found themselves appealed to by Wilfrid.
“Was there not a letter in the Princess’s dress-pocket?” he asked, giving his reason for the question.
“I can of myself testify that there was not,” said the unabashed doctor, “for I examined her clothing in the hope of finding some clue to her identity. If it were the object of the four ruffians to get hold of a compromising letter we can scarcely expect them to leave it upon her person.”
A specious argument that answered the purpose intended.
The Princess here put to Wilfrid a very sensible suggestion.
“This Prince Ouvaroff, who as you say acted as my escort from some unknown place to St. Petersburg, must surely know who I am. Is it not possible to communicate with him?”
“You echo my thoughts,” said Pauline. “Dr. Beauvais and I will go to St. Petersburg this very day for the purpose of seeing the Prince upon this matter.”
This proposal on the part of Pauline was more acceptable to the Princess than it was to Wilfrid.
“Supposing,” he whispered to Pauline, “that Ouvaroff suspects the motive of your questioning, and springs to the conclusion that Princess Marie must be at Runö?”
“Why, in that case,” whispered Pauline in turn, “she would be restored to her old surroundings. But have no fear. I’ll approach the matter so cautiously that he shall suspect nothing. I must not delay, however, lest I be too late, for he told me at the masquerade that the Czar was about to send him on a diplomatic mission to Berlin.”