〃Show　me　the　mystery　of　this　lock；〃　she　begged。　〃I　have　been　trying　to　open　it　ever　since　you　went　away。　One　could　imagine　that　the　secrets　of　a　nation　might　be　hidden　here。〃
  He　smiled；　and　taking　the　box　from　her　hands；　touched　a　little　spring。　Almost　at　once　the　lid　flew　open。
  〃I　am　afraid；〃　he　said；　〃that　it　is　empty。〃
  She　peered　in。
  〃No；〃　she　exclaimed；　〃there　is　something　there！　See！〃　She　thrust　in　her　hand　and　drew　out　a　small；　curiously　shaped　dagger　of　fine　blue　steel　and　a　roll　of　silken　cord。　She　held　them　up　to　him。
  〃What　are　these？〃　she　asked。　〃Are　they　symbolsthe　cord　and　the　knife　of　destiny？〃
  He　took　them　gently　from　her　hand　and　replaced　them　in　the　box。　She　heard　the　lock　go　with　a　little　click；　and　looked　into　his　face；　surprised　at　his　silence。
  〃Is　there　anything　the　matter？〃　she　asked。　〃Ought　I　not　to　have　taken　them　up？〃
  Almost　as　the　words　left　her　lips；　she　understood。　His　face　was　inscrutable；　but　his　very　silence　was　ominous。　She　remembered　a　drawing　in　one　of　the　halfpenny　papers；　the　drawing　of　a　dagger　found　in　a　horrible　place。　She　remembered　the　description　of　that　thin　silken　cord；　and　she　began　to　tremble。
  〃I　did　not　know　that　anything　was　in　the　box；〃　he　said　calmly。　〃I　am　sorry　if　its　contents　have　alarmed　you。〃
  She　scarcely　heard　his　words。　The　room　seemed　wheeling　round　with　her；　the　floor　unsteady　beneath　her　feet。　The　atmosphere　of　the　place　had　suddenly　become　horrible；the　faint　odor　of　burning　leaves；　the　pictures；　almost　like　caricatures；　which　mocked　her　from　the　walls；　the　grinning　idols；　the　strangely　shaped　weapons　in　their　cases　of　black　oak。　She　faltered　as　she　crossed　the　room；　but　recovered　herself。
  〃Aunt；〃　she　said；　〃if　you　are　ready；　I　think　that　we　ought　to　go。〃
  The　Duchess　was　more　than　ready。　She　rose　promptly。　The　Prince　walked　with　them　to　the　door　and　handed　them　over　to　his　majordomo。
  〃It　has　been　so　nice　of　you；〃　he　said　to　the　Duchess；　〃to　honor　my　bachelor　abode。　I　shall　often　think　of　your　visit。〃
  〃My　dear　Prince；〃　the　Duchess　declared；　〃it　has　been　most　interesting。　Really；　I　found　it　hard　to　believe；　in　that　charming　room　of　yours；　that　we　had　not　actually　been　transported　to　your　wonderful　country。〃
  〃You　are　very　gracious；〃　the　Prince　answered；　bowing　low。
  Penelope's　hands　were　within　her　muff。　She　was　talking　some　nonsenseshe　scarcely　knew　what；　but　her　eyes　rested　everywhere　save　on　the　face　of　her　host。　Somehow　or　other　she　reached　the　door；　ran　down　the　steps　and　threw　herself　into　a　corner　of　the　brougham。　Then；　for　the　first　time；　she　allowed　herself　to　look　behind。　The　door　was　already　closed；　but　between　the　curtains　which　his　hands　had　drawn　apart；　Prince　Maiyo　was　standing　in　the　room　which　they　had　just　quitted；　and　there　was　something　in　the　calm　impassivity　of　his　white；　stern　face　which　seemed　to　madden　her。　She　clenched　her　hands　and　looked　away。
  〃Really；　I　was　not　so　much　bored　as　I　had　feared；〃　the　Duchess　remarked　composedly。　〃That　Stretton…Wynne　woman　generally　gets　on　my　nerves；　but　her　nephew　seemed　to　have　a　restraining　effect　upon　her。　She　didn't　tell　me　more　than　once　about　her　husband's　bad　luck　in　not　getting　Canada；　and　she　never　even　mentioned　her　girls。　But　I　do　think；　Penelope；〃　she　continued；　〃that　I　shall　have　to　talk　to　you　a　little　seriously。　There's　the　best…looking　and　richest　young　bachelor　in　London　dying　to　marry　you；　and　you　won't　have　a　word　to　say　to　him。　On　the　other　hand；　after　starting　by　disliking　him　heartily；　you　are　making　yourself　almost　conspicuous　with　this　fascinating　young　Oriental。　I　admit　that　he　is　delightful；　my　dear　Penelope；　but　I　think　you　should　ask　yourself　whether　it　is　quite　worth　while。　Prince　Maiyo　may　take　home　with　him　many　Western　treasures；　but　I　do　not　think　that　he　will　take　home　a　wife。〃
  〃If　you　say　another　word　to　me；　aunt；〃　Penelope　exclaimed；　〃I　shall　shriek！〃
  The　Duchess；　being　a　woman　of　tact；　laughed　the　subject　away　and　pretended　not　to　notice　Penelope's　real　distress。　But　when　they　had　reached　Devenham　House；　she　went　to　the　telephone　and　called　up　Somerfield。
  〃Charlie；〃　she　said；
  〃Right　o'！〃　he　interrupted。　〃Who　is　it？〃
  〃Be　careful　what　you　are　saying；〃　she　continued；　〃because　it　isn't　any　one　who　wants　you　to　take　them　out　to　supper。〃
  〃I　only　wish　you　did；〃　he　answered。　〃It's　the　Duchess；　isn't　it？〃
  〃The　worst　of　having　a　distinctive　voice；〃　she　sighed。　〃Listen。　I　want　to　speak　to　you。〃
  〃I　am　listening　hard；〃　Somerfield　answered。　〃Hold　the　instrument　a　little　further　away　from　you；that's　better。〃
  〃We　have　been　to　the　Prince's　for　tea　this　afternoonPenelope　and　I；〃　she　said。
  〃I　know；〃　he　assented。　〃I　was　asked；　but　I　didn't　see　the　fun　of　it。　It　puts　my　back　up　to　see　Penelope　monopolized　by　that　fellow；〃　he　added　gloomily。
  〃Well；　listen　to　what　I　have　to　say；〃　the　Duchess　went　on。　〃Something　happened　thereI　don't　know　whatto　upset　Penelope　very　much。　She　never　spoke　a　word　coming　home；　and　she　has　gone　straight　up　to　her　room　and　locked　herself　in。　Somehow　or　other　the　Prince　managed　to　offend　her。　I　am　sure　of　that；　Charlie！〃
  〃I'm　beastly　sorry；〃　Somerfield　answered。　〃I　meant　to　say　that　I　was　jolly　glad　to　hear　it。〃
  The　Duchess　coughed。
  〃I　didn't　quite　hear　what　you　said　before；〃　she　said　severely。　〃Perhaps　it　is　just　as　well。　I　rang　up　to　say　that　you　had　better　come　round　and　dine　with　us　tonight。　You　will　probably　find　Penelope　in　a　more　reasonable　frame　of　mind。〃
  〃Awfully　good　of　you；〃　Somerfield　declared　heartily。　〃I'll　come　with　pleasure。〃
  Dinner　at　Devenham　House　that　evening　was　certainly　a　domestic　meal。　Even　the　Duke　was　away；　attending　a　political　gathering。　Penelope　was　pale；　but　otherwise　entirely　her　accustomed　self。　She　talked　even　more　than　usual；　and　though　she　spoke　of　a　headache；　she　declined　all　remedies。　To　Somerfield's　surprise；　she　made　not　the　slightest　objection　when　he　followed　her　into　the　library　after　dinner。
  〃Penelope；〃　he　said；　〃something　has　gone　wrong。　Won't　you　tell　me　what　it　is？　You　look　worried。〃
  She　returned　his　anxious　gaze；　dry…eyed　but　speechless。
  〃Has　that　fellow；　Prince　Maiyo；　done　or　said　anything〃
  She　interrupted　him。
  〃No！〃　she　cried。　〃No！〃　don't　mention　his　name；　please！　I　don't　want　to　hear　his　name　again　just　now。〃
  〃For　my　part；〃　Somerfield　said　bitterly；　〃I　never　want　to　hear　it　again　as　long　as　I　live！〃
  There　was　a　short　silence。　Suddenly　she　turned　towards　him。
  〃Charlie；〃　she　said；　〃you　have　asked　me　to　marry　you　six　times。〃
  〃Seven；〃　he　corrected。　〃I　ask　you　again　nowthat　makes　eight。〃
  〃Very　well；〃　she　answered；　〃I　accepton　one　condition。〃
  〃On　any；〃　he　exclaimed；　his　voice　trembling　with　joy。　〃Penelope；　it　sounds　too　good　to　be　true。　You　can't　be　in　earnest〃
  〃I　am；〃　she　declared。　〃I　will　marry　you　if　you　will　see　that　our　engagement　is　announced　everywhere　tomorrow；　and　that　you　do　not　ask　me　for　anything　at　all；　mind；　not　evennot　anythingfor　three　months'　time；　at　least。　Promise　that　until　then　you　will　not　let　me　hear　the　sound　of　the　word　marriage？〃
  〃I　promise；〃　he　said　firmly。　〃Penelope；　you　mean　it？　You　mean　this　seriously？〃
  She　gave　him　her　hands　and　a　very　sad　little　smile。
  〃I　mean　it；　Charlie；〃　she　answered。　〃I　will　keep　my　word。〃
  CHAPTER　XV。　PENELOPE　EXPLAINS
  Once　more　Penelope　found　herself　in　the　library　of　the　great　house　in　Park　Lane；　where　Mr。　Blaine…Harvey　presided　over　the　interests　of　his　country。　This　time　she　came　as　an　uninvited；　even　an　unexpected　guest。　The　Ambassador；　indeed；　had　been　fetched　away　by　her　urgent　message　from　the　reception　rooms；　where　his　wife　was　entertaining　a　stream　of　callers。　Penelope　refused　to　sit　down。
  〃I　have　not　much　to　say　to　you；　Mr。　Harvey；〃　she　said。　〃There　is　just　something　which　I　have　discovered　and　which　you　ought　to　know。　I　want　to　tell　it　you　as　quickly　as　possible　and　get　away。〃
  〃A　propos　of　our　last　conversation？〃　he　asked　eagerly。
  She　bowed　her　head。
  〃It　concerns　Prince　Maiyo；〃　she　admitted。
  〃You　are　sure　that　you　will　not　sit　down？〃　he　persisted。　〃You　know　how　interesting　this　is　to　me。〃
  She　smiled　faintly。
  〃To　me；〃　she　said；　〃it　is　terrible。　My　only　desire　is　to　tell　you　and　have　finished　with　it。　You　remember；　when　I　was　here　last；　you　told　me　that　it　was　your　firm　belief　that　somewhere　behind　the　hand　which　murdered　Hamilton　Fynes　and　poor　Dicky　stood　the　shadow　of　Prince　Maiyo。〃
  〃I　remember　it　perfectly；〃　he　answered。
  〃You　were　right；〃　Penelope　said。
  The　Ambassador　drew　a　little　breath。　It　was　staggering；　this；　even　if　expected。
  〃I　have　talked　with　the　Prince　several　times　since　our　conversation；〃　Penelope　continued。　〃So　far　as　any　information　which　he　gave　me　or　seemed　likely　to　give　me；　I　might　as　well　have　talked　in　a　foreign　language。　But　in　his　house；　the　day　before　yesterday；　in　his　own　library；　hidden　in　a　casket　which　opened　only　with　a　secret　lock；　I　found　two　things。〃
  〃What　were　they？〃　the　Ambassador　asked　quickly。
  〃A　roll　of　silken　cord；〃　Penelope　said；　〃such　as　was　used　to　strangle　poor　Dicky；　and　a　strangely　shaped　dagger　exactly　like　the　picture　of　the　one　with　which　Hamilton　Fynes　was　stabbed。〃
  〃Did　he　know　that　you　found　them？〃　Mr。　Blaine…Harvey　asked。
  〃He　w