"
The Baron looked at the key; he touched the silver box; his hand rested
for a moment on the sword.
"It is a marvelous story--it is wonderful! Can it be true--can it be
true?" murmured the Ambassador.
"The documents will be the best evidence. We can settle the matter in
twenty-four hours," said Judge Claiborne.
"You will pardon me for seeming incredulous, sir," said the Baron, "but
it is all so extraordinary. And these men, these prisoners--"
"They have pursued me under the impression that I am Frederick Augustus.
Oddly enough, I, too, am Frederick Augustus," and Armitage smiled. "I was
within a few months of his age, and I had a little brush with Chauvenet
and Durand in Geneva in which they captured my cigarette case--it had
belonged to Frederick, and the Archduke gave it to me--and my troubles
began. The Emperor-king was old and ill; the disorders in Hungary were to
cloak the assassination of his successor; then the Archduke Francis,
Karl's reputed son, was to be installed upon the throne."
"Yes; there has been a conspiracy; I--"
"And there have been conspirators! Two of them are safely behind that
door; and, somewhat through my efforts, their chief, Winkelried, should
now be under arrest in Vienna.
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