The following morning, I cabled a detective agency, in New York, giving
them all the material facts in the case and requesting them to make an
exhaustive investigation of the movements of Madeline Spencer during
the period intervening between my confirmation as an Archduke and her
sailing for Europe. I told them I required evidence, promptly, to
disprove the marriage, and gave them _carte blanche_ in its gathering.
At the same time, I wired a prominent Army officer, at Governor's
Island, to vouch for my order. I wanted no time lost while the Agency
was investigating me.
Of course, the natural method would have been to direct the Valerian
Ambassador, at Washington, to procure the information; but, I felt
quite sure, that would simply be playing into Lotzen's hand. Some one
in the Embassy would be very willing to oblige the Heir Presumptive by
betraying me. And it was only reasonable to suppose the Duke had
already arranged for it. It was one of those "trifles" which, as
Courtney had said, would not be overlooked.
About noon, Bernheim came in with a card in his fingers and a queer
smile about his firm-set lips.