“Your Majesty must be well aware that there is but one key,” I replied, “and without that secret key I am as powerless as you are to open the vault.”
“Where is the key?” he asked.
“I do not know. Senhora de Mar stole it from Dom Miguel.”
“And it was taken from her by one of your conspirators.”
“Have you traced it no farther?” I inquired, carelessly.
He shifted uneasily in his chair.
“My men are now investigating the matter,” said he. “Doubtless the ring will soon be in our possession.”
“And how about the murdered man in the shrubbery?” I asked.
The royalists exchanged glances, and one or two uttered exclamations of surprise.
“Is there a murdered man in the shrubbery, Captain de Souza?” questioned the Emperor, sternly.