"
"Yes; he was mad--quite mad," blurted the Baron.
"That was the common impression. He took his oldest son and went into
exile. Conjectures as to his whereabouts have filled the newspapers
sporadically ever since. He has been reported as appearing in the South
Sea Islands, in India, in Australia, in various parts of this country. In
truth he came directly to America and established himself as a farmer in
western Canada. His son was killed in an accident; the Archduke died
within the year."
Judge Claiborne bent forward in his chair as Armitage paused.
"What proof have you of this story, Mr. Armitage?"
"I am prepared for such a question, gentlemen. His identity I may
establish by various documents which he gave me for the purpose. For
greater security I locked them in a safety box of the Bronx Loan and
Trust Company in New York. To guard against accidents I named you jointly
with myself as entitled to the contents of that box. Here is the key."
As he placed the slim bit of steel on the table and stepped back to his
old position on the hearth, they saw how white he was, and that his hand
shook, and Dick begged him to sit down.
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