“Turnieff? Turnieff? Now, where have I——Oh! I know. I say, Chick, that is rather an odd circumstance. Turnieff, eh? And Alexis Turnieff, at that. You say he is not more than thirty years old?” “Rather less than that, I should say.” “Humph! Oh, well, I don’t suppose the name has any significance in this matter, but it is rather a strange coincidence, just the same, that it should recur just at this time.” “Then the name does mean something to you?” asked Chick. “No; not really. It recalled my last trip to the other side, that is all. It is the name of one of the supposed victims—the first one that was known about, if I remember correctly—of Juno, otherwise ‘The Leopard’.” “It isn’t likely that Juno has anything to do with this matter, is it?” Chick asked. “No. It isn’t likely, I suppose. But the affair is Russian. Anyway, I haven’t the least notion what it is all about. The name struck me, that is all. Well, I will go down and see Colonel Turnieff. Wait here till I return.” The detective left the room and presently entered the library, where the Russian official rose from the chair to greet him. “Prince Alexis Turnieff, I believe?” said the detective, as he advanced toward his caller. He made the remark quite naturally, putting it in the form of a question. He spoke as if he had always known the man, and had always been fully aware that he was a Russian prince. “Yes. I am Prince Alexis Turnieff; but I was not aware that I mentioned my title to the person who was just here with me, sir.” “The person to whom you refer, prince, was Mr. Chickering Carter, my first and chief assistant. He is not a servant, as your words might imply was your belief.” “I beg your pardon, Mr. Carter. I had no intention to give offense.” “None is taken, prince. None at all.” “Would you do me the favor, Mr. Carter, to call me colonel instead of prince?” the Russian asked, while another flush rose to his cheeks and forehead. “Certainly, sir; the more readily, because in this country there are no hereditary titles.” “Will you tell me, please, how you knew me to be Prince Alexis Turnieff?” “Certainly.” This was precisely the point at which the detective had wished to arrive. “My assistant informed me that you sent up the wrong card by mistake. Also that your name is Alexis Turnieff, and that you are a colonel in the Russian army. Just now, I assume you to be in the diplomatic service attached to the Russian embassy. That is correct, is it not?” “Quite so.” “Very well; I am more or less familiar with many Russian names and titles. Not so very long ago I knew of a gentleman by your name, who was also a prince. He would be old enough to be your father, if he were living. I assumed that he was your father, and being aware that he is dead, I also assumed that you had succeeded to his title. So”—with a smile—“you will observe that it was not strange that I should make use of the title in addressing you.” “I quite understand. Thank you.”