eBooks Base 2000

"My dear Jules, you act as though you had seen a ghost. Who the devil is
Armitage?"
Chauvenet glanced about the room cautiously, then bent forward and
whispered very low, close to Durand's ear:
"Suppose he were the son of the crazy Karl! Suppose he were Frederick
Augustus!"
"Bah! It is impossible! What is your man Armitage like?" asked Durand
irritably.
"He is the right age. He is a big fellow and has quite an air. He seems
to be without occupation."
"Clearly so," remarked Durand ironically. "But he has evidently been
watching us. Quite possibly the lamented Stroebel employed him. He may
have seen Stroebel here--"
Chauvenet again struck the table smartly.
"Of course he would see Stroebel! Stroebel was the Archduke's friend;
Stroebel and this fellow between them--"
"Stroebel is dead. The Archduke is dead; there can be no manner of doubt
of that," said Durand; but doubt was in his tone and in his eyes.
"Nothing is certain; it would be like Karl to turn up again with a son to
back his claims. They may both be living. This Armitage is not the
ordinary pig of a secret agent.


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