Part 9 (1/2)

The Duke bowed. ”Just that, Your Royal Highness,” he said; ”just that, since you must have it-you Americans are so blunt of speech.”

Armand leaned forward. ”The only way to deal with a liar,” he answered, ”is to put him where he can't lie out.”

Ferdinand shrugged his shoulders deprecatingly. ”You play it very cleverly, cousin mine, but the logic of elimination is against you. I a.s.sume you will not accuse our dear dead master of having hid the Laws; and since his decease, the key, you admit, has been with only you and His Excellency, the Prime Minister. I a.s.sume also you will acquit Count Epping-I am quite sure I will-and so we come back to-you.”

The Archduke had long ago learned that in an encounter with Lotzen it was the smiling face that served him best; so he controlled his anger and turned to the Ministers.

”His Highness overlooks the logic of opportunity,” he said. ”I was not in the Summer Palace, since the King's death, until this morning.”

Ferdinand laughed again. ”Naturally not; you're not such a bungler.”

Baron Steuben, who had been pulling thoughtfully at his beard, eyeing first one and then another, here broke in, addressing Armand.

”Would Your Highness care to tell us when you last saw the Book of Laws?”

he inquired.

”I shall gladly answer any question the Council may ask. The only time I ever saw either Book or box was the day the King offered me my inheritance as the heir of Hugo.”

And once again came Lotzen's sneering interruption.

”And yet you could instruct Count Epping just how to manipulate the key:-'turn the bit sidewise and push down and in.'”

Retz half closed his eyes and smiled; Epping's lips grew tighter; Duval and Marquand frowned; Steuben, with a last fierce tug at his beard, relapsed into silence.

But Armand met the issue squarely.

”It is my word against your inference,” he said. ”I am quite content to let the Council choose. They, too, have seen that key used but once, and yet I venture that a year hence they also will remember the peculiar motion it requires.”

”They are much more likely to remember your ready wit and clever tongue,”

Lotzen retorted.

The Archduke turned from him to the Council.

”My lords,” he said, ”there is small profit to you in these personal recriminations. The question is, who is King of Valeria, Ferdinand of Lotzen or myself-and as only the Book of Laws can answer, I ask that you, yourselves, search King Frederick's apartments and interrogate his particular attendants.”

Count Epping arose. ”Will the Minister of Justice aid in the search,” he said-”and also Your Royal Highness?” addressing Lotzen.

The latter smiled. ”No; I thank you-what is the good in searching for something that isn't there!”-then he turned upon Armand. ”I a.s.sume you brought the box here,” pointing to the table, ”and that you found it in the vault, where it is always kept-may I inquire how you got into the vault?”

”Through the door,” said the Archduke dryly.

”Then you know the combination-something the King never told even me.

Observe, my lords, the logic of opportunity!”

But Armand shook his head. ”No,” said he, ”I do not know the combination.”

And Lotzen, seeing suddenly the pit that yawned for him if he pursued farther, simply smiled incredulously and turned away.

The old Count, however, saw it too, and had no mind to let the opportunity slip.