PITCH AND TOSS
The following morning, I cabled a detective agency, in New York, giving them all the material facts in the case and requesting them to make an exhaustive investigation of the movements of Madeline Spencer during the period intervening between my confirmation as an Archduke and her sailing for Europe. I told them I required evidence, promptly, to disprove the marriage, and gave them carte blanche in its gathering. At the same time, I wired a prominent Army officer, at Governor's Island, to vouch for my order. I wanted no time lost while the Agency was investigating me.
Of course, the natural method would have been to direct the Valerian Ambassador, at Washington, to procure the information; but, I felt quite sure, that would simply be playing into Lotzen's hand. Some one in the Embassy would be very willing to oblige the Heir Presumptive by betraying me. And it was only reasonable to suppose the Duke had already arranged for it. It was one of those "trifles" which, as Courtney had said, would not be overlooked.
About noon, Bernheim came in with a card in his fingers and a queer smile about his firm-set lips.
I took the card.
"The devil!" I exclaimed. Then I looked at Bernheim. "What's the move, now?"
"That is what I tried to find out, sir," he answered.
"And failed?'
"Completely. And, yet, I didn't dare to dismiss her without your direct order."
"As she well knew."