The garrulous old lady was the last to take her leave, and when the Princess was left alone with her guest, she cried,—
“Jennie, I have found out absolutely nothing, what have you discovered?”
“Everything!” replied the girl, walking up and down the floor in excitement over the unearthing of such a bonanza of news.
“You don’t tell me so! Now do sit down and let me know the full particulars at once.”
When Jennie’s exciting story was finished she said,—
“You see, this robbery explains why the Premier did not follow up his warlike speech. The police seem to think that England has had a hand in this robbery, but of course that is absurd.”
“I am not so sure of that,” replied the Princess, taking as she spoke, the Chicago point of view, and forgetting for the moment her position among the aristocracy of Europe. “England takes most things it can get its hands on, and she is not too slow to pick up a gold mine here and there, so why should she hesitate when the gold is already minted for her?”
“It is too absurd for argument,” continued Jennie calmly, “so we won’t talk of that phase of the subject. I must get away to England instantly. Let us find out when the first train leaves.”
“Nonsense!” protested the Princess; “what do you need to go to England for? You have seen nothing of Vienna.”
“Oh, I can see Vienna another time; I must get to England with this account of the robbery.”