For this house has a
master, a mysterious, absentee landlord, who lives in St. Petersburg,
the unknown Russian who came between Chetney and Zichy, and because
of whom Chetney left her. He is the man who bought this house for
Madame Zichy, who sent these rugs and curtains from St. Petersburg to
furnish it for her after his own tastes, and, I believe, it was he
also who placed the Russian servant here, ostensibly to serve the
Princess, but in reality to spy upon her. At Scotland Yard we do not
know who this gentleman is; the Russian police confess to equal
ignorance concerning him. When Lord Chetney went to Africa, Madame
Zichy lived in St. Petersburg; but there her receptions and dinners
were so crowded with members of the nobility and of the army and
diplomats, that, among so many visitors, the police could not learn
which was the one for whom she most greatly cared.'
"Lyle pointed at the modern French paintings and the heavy, silk rugs
which hung upon the walls.
"'The unknown is a man of taste and of some fortune,' he said, 'not
the sort of man to send a stupid peasant to guard the woman he loves.
So I am not content to believe, with Mr.
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