"But America--isn't America the most marvelous product of romance in the
world,--its discovery,--the successive conflicts that led up to the
realization of democracy? Consider the worthless idlers of the Middle
Ages going about banging one another's armor with battle-axes. Let us
have peace, said the tired warrior."
"He could afford to say it; he was the victor," said Shirley.
"Ah! there is Captain Claiborne. I am indebted to you, Miss Claiborne,
for many pleasant suggestions."
The carriage was at the door, and Dick Claiborne came up to them at once
and bowed to Armitage.
"There is great news: Count Ferdinand von Stroebel was murdered in his
railway carriage between here and Vienna; they found him dead at
Innsbruck this morning."
"Is it possible! Are you quite sure he was murdered?"
It was Armitage who asked the question. He spoke in a tone quite
matter-of-fact and colorless, so that Shirley looked at him in surprise;
but she saw that he was very grave; and then instantly some sudden
feeling flashed in his eyes.
"There is no doubt of it. It was an atrocious crime; the count was an old
man and feeble when we saw him the other day.
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