"And you say that security will be given?"
"Certainly. The proposal is to give the customs receipts. They would
be ample. Failing that, it is probable that the Princess's jewels,
which, as you know, include some of the finest pearls in Europe, might
be available. Of the latter, however, I am not sure."
I remained silent, turning over the papers she had passed across to me.
They were mostly in French, and, therefore, easily understood. The
documents related to "the long projected scheme of constructing a
railway from Philippopolis to Eski Saghra, thence across the Shipka to
Rasgrad, joining the line already in operation between Varna and
Rustchuk." Appended were official declarations from the Bulgarian
Minister of Finance, countersigned by the Prince himself.
The documents were certainly very ingeniously contrived so as to conceal
the real purpose of the loan. I remarked this, and my companion,
laughing lightly, said--
"Deception, to some extent, is always necessary in delicate diplomacy."
The discovery that the mysterious woman--whose name she had withheld
from me--was actually a secret agent of the autonomous Principality
created by the Berlin Treaty--that turbulent State mostly notable for
the assassination of its Ministers--was entirely unlooked for. On the
night when accident had thrown us together, and she had smoothed my brow
with her cool hand, I had believed her to be a young girl who had taken
pity upon me in my helplessness; but the revelations she had made during
that half-hour showed that there had been some firm purpose underlying
it all.
She alone knew the truth of that tragic occurrence at The Boltons, and I
saw that in this matter I had to deal with a very clever and ingenious
woman.
I had now a double purpose in life--to discover Mabel, and to elucidate
the mystery of the crime. Towards that end I intended to strive, and as
I sat with my glance fixed upon those mysterious grey eyes, I
endeavoured to form some plan of action.
"Madam," I said gravely, at last, "as you appear not to place sufficient
confidence in me to tell me your name, I regret that I can place no
confidence in these documents."
"My name!" she laughed. "Ah, of course; I had quite forgotten. There
is no secret about it;" and from her purse she drew forth a folded,
much-worn blue paper, which she handed to me.