“There is no one in this household who is so near to me in a confidential capacity as Turnieff—not even my secretary. I have always, ever since he has been with me, intended to employ him as one of the messengers, when the time should come to send the documents to my august master.”
“Well?”
“It has been necessary that one member of my household should know that I had a secret mission, in addition to my regular one. Turnieff does not know, has not known, and would never know until after its completion, what that mission is. But he does know what the name of the country is which you and I have designated by the name of Siam. Now, that is one point, and it is every bit as far as it goes. It would break Turnieff’s heart if he believed that I had suggested that much about him.”
“But there is more?”
“Yes; on an entirely different basis.”
“Well, what is it?”
“It refers to that woman who has purchased the title, or has married it, or has procured it in some way that makes it hers, and gives her a right to use it—Countess Narnine.”
“Juno,” said Nick.
“Yes. That is the first name she claims. I never heard that it is hers, more than many of the others she has made use of in the past.”