The Washington times., 1911-08-30
CHAPTER VII.
Nella and the Prince.

1T appeared impossible to Theodore
Racksole that SO cumbrous an arti
i Gle as corpse could be reno yed ou
of his hotel, with no trace, no hint
no clue as to the time or the manner
OF the performance of the deed.
ALter the first feeling OF surprise
Racksole grew coldly and severely
angry. He had a mind to dismiss the
enIlre staff of his hotel.
ne personally examined the night
Watchman, the Chanlbermaids, and all
other persons who by chance might or
ought to know something of the affair;
bnt without avail. The corpse of ReGi-
nald Dimmock had vanished utterly,
disappeared like fieslless spirit.
Ot course, there were the police. But
Theodore Racksole held the police in
sorry esteem.
He acquainted them with the facts,
answered their queries with Il patient
WesrineSS-and expected nothing what
ever from that quarter.
He also had several interviews with
Prince Arihert OF Posen, but though The
prince was suavity itself, and beyond
doubt genuinely. concerned about the
fate of his dead attendant il seemed
TO Racksole that he was keeping some
thing back. that ne hesitated to say all
he knew.
Racksole, with characteristic insight,
decided tnat the death of Reginald Dim
mock was only a minor event, which
had occurred, as il were, on the fringe
of some far more profound mystery.
And therefore he decided to wait-with
his eyes wide open-until something
else happened that would throw light
on the business.
At the moment, he took only one
measure-he arranged that the theft Of
Dimmock's body should not appear in
the newspapers.
1t is astonishing how well a secret
can be kept when the possessors of the
secret are handled with the proper mix
ture of firmness and persuasion. Rack
sole managed this very neatly; ii was a
complicated job. and his success in it
rather pleased him.
At the same time he was conscious
OF being temporarily worsted py AN un-
felt convinced that Jules was an i'm
portant item.
He could scarcely look Nelia in the
eyes. The girl had evidently expected
him to unmask this conspiI acy at once
with a single stroke of the milliou-
aires magic wand
She was thoroughly accustomed, In
the land of her birth, to Seeing aim
achieve impossible feats. Over there
he was a boss; men trembled before
happen-well, 1t happened; if he desired
TO know thing, he just knew it,
But here in London, Theodore Rack
sole was not quite the same Theodore
1AdShSOlCs ne -NC" 1OI Dul
London for the most part seemed not
to take much interest in him, and there
were certainly various persons in Lon
don who were capable or swapping their
fingers at him-at Theodore RacksoIe.
Neither he nor his daughter could get
used to that fact.
As for Nella, she concerned herself
a little with the ordinary business of
the bureau, and watched the incomings
and outgoings of Prince Aribert with |
a kindly interest.
She perceived, what her father had |
failed to perceive, that his highness had !
assumed an attitude of reserve merely |
to hide the secret distraction and dis |
may which consumed him. She saw that |
the poor fellow had no settled plan in |
his head, and that he was troubled by |
something which SO rar he had con- |
hded to nobody.
morning he walked to and fro or the
Victoria Embankment, alone, and ap-
with no object
On the third morning she decided
that driving on the Embankment would
be good for her health, and thereupon
ordered a carriage and issued forth, ar
rayed In a miraculous outty colored
gown.
Near Black Friar bridge she met the
nrfnce. and the carriage was drawn up
Iv the pavement.
Good morning. prince" was her
greeting to him. Are you mistaking
this for 1INde Park -
He bowed and smiled.
Il usually walk here in the morning" !
he said.
You surprise me- she returned. "I
hought l was the only person in Lon
lon who preferred the Embankment with
II Hyde Park. / can't imagine how It
S that London will never take exercise
lnywherC except in that ridiculous park.
Tow, If they had Central Park"
Il think the Embankment is the finest
pot in all London" he said.
She leaned little out>of the landau,
ringing her face nearer &c his.
I 40 believe we are kindred sririts.
'ou ami l." she murmurcd, and then,
Au revoir. prince
"One moment. Miss Racksole."
His auick tones had note of en-
reatY.
IT am in a hurry" she fbbed. "'I am
ot merely taking exercise this-sQorning.
'ou have no idea Of row busy we are"
"Ah, Then / will not trouble YOU. Rut
leave the Grand Babylcr tonight"
do yuu2" she said. Then will your
ighness do me the honor of lunching
'ather will be out he is having a day
4 the city with some stock-broking per-
ons." ]
Il shall be charmed" said the prince
nd his fa:e showed that he meant it.
Nella drove off.
II The lunch was a success. that re-
nit was due partly to Rocco and partly
D Nella.
The prince said little beyond what
he ordinary rules of the conversational
anne demanded. His hostess talked
IuCh and talked well, but she failed
} rouse her guest. T..
when they had had coffee he took n I
lther formal leave of her. d
-'Gocd-hy. prince. she said, but I {
is. TO. l didn't. Good q
y, n
'iYou thought / wished to discuss :
,mething with you. / did, but have ;
ecided that / have no right to burden b
our mind with my affairs" r
But suppose-suppose wished to be c
Irdened-" q
That is your good nature"
"Sit down." she said abruptly. "and ii
II me everything everything. I u
lore secrets"
Almost before he knew II. he was h
liking to her, rapidly, eagerly.
why should I weary you with my
he said. 'T don't know.
cannot tell; but feel that / must. I
ell that you will understand me better n
an anyone else in the world.
And yet why should you understand 4
e? Again, I don't know. Miss Rack
lie, I will disclose to you the whole q
Oubla IN n uOrQ. n