At luncheon his mind was absent and he ate but little. And I ate less
than he. It was going to be very hard for me to meet Gretchen.
The Chancellor waved his hand toward a chair. We were very good
friends.
"What is it now?" he asked, smiling. "I dare not stir up the
antagonists against the government to give you a story, and aside from
the antagonists it is dull."
"I will find the story in the present instance," said I. And in the
fewest words possible I laid before him the object of my visit.
"This is a very strange story," he said, making a pyramid of his
fingers and contemplating the task with a careful air. "Are you not
letting your imagination run away with you?"
"Not for a moment. I ask you to attend the ball at the American
ministry this evening, and if the likeness between the two women does
not convince you, the matter shall drop, so far as I am concerned."
"Has Herr Wentworth any idea of the affair?"
"It is not possible. What would be his object in keeping it a secret?"
"Still, it is a grave matter, and without precedent. We must move
carefully. You understand that there was no knowledge of another
child, only rumor; and then it was believed to be an hallucination of
the mother, whose mind was not very strong."
"Do you believe," I asked, "that two persons born of different
parentage, in different lands, may resemble each other as these two do?"
"No. I shall let you know what stand I'll take when I have seen them
together. And what will His Majesty say?" he mused. "I'm afraid the
matter will assume many complications. And I might add that you seem
particularly interested."
A slight warmth came into my cheeks.
"Your Excellency understands that a journalist always takes great
interest in affairs of this sort," was my rejoinder.
"Yes, yes!" pleasantly. "But this so-called sister; has she not lived
most of her life in America, your own country?"
"Your Excellency," said I, honestly, "whether she regains her own or
not is immaterial to me, from a personal standpoint."
"Well, one way or the other, I shall decide what to do to-night. But,
mind you, there must be proofs. Though they may look enough alike to
be two peas in a pod, that will give your friend nothing you claim for
her. The fate of your Princess rests in the hands of Herr Wentworth.
Have the two met?"