“And now, colonel, if you are ready we will come to the business of your call upon me,” said the detective. “At once. Yes, sir. You have doubtless been informed that I am here at the request of the ambassador for the czar, but that my errand is unofficial, and——” “Pardon me, colonel; my information is solely to the effect that a gentleman from the Russian embassy would call upon me,” said Nick. Colonel Turnieff fidgeted for a moment in his chair. Then with some abruptness he said: “Will you pardon me, Mr. Carter, if I mention another subject first? I wish to do so because our conversation, since you entered the room, has suggested that what I wish now to speak about may have some bearing upon my errand here to-day.” “Speak as you please, Colonel Turnieff,” replied Nick. “I will tell you that I don’t know a thing about your errand here. I have been instructed that a gentleman would call upon me, sent here by the Russian ambassador; farther than that my information does not extend. If you were to talk about the North Pole, or the South Pole, it would be all the same to me—save only that I would like to get at the real purpose of your visit as soon as possible.” “Certainly. I was about to refer again to my father.” “Yes? Well?” “Did you, perhaps, know him personally?” “No. I never met him or saw him. All that I know about him refers to his unfortunate death, in Paris, some time ago.” “Do you know any of the particulars in relation to his—death?” “Only such as were related to me by the chief of the secret police of Paris, when I was in that city on quite another matter. The subject of your father came up between us, and it was mentioned; that is all.” “You were told that he—that he killed himself?” “If it is a painful subject to you, colonel, why continue it? Yes, I was so informed.” “Were you also informed of the circumstances associated with his death?” the Russian persisted. “Yes. Of some of them, at least. I did not go into the subject definitely. It was not of especial interest to me at the time.” “Will you tell me what was told to you?” “Really, colonel——” “Pardon me, sir, I know that this seems entirely beside the subject of my call here, but possibly it may not appear so later on. If you will be patient with me, I will be your debtor.” “Very well, sir.” “Will you tell me what was told to you in regard to the death of my father?” The detective hesitated. What had been told to him was, in a way, a privileged communication imparted in confidence. Presently he replied: “I will tell you as much about it as I think I may with discretion. The main points of my information are these: Your father, Prince Turnieff, was sent to Paris on a secret mission of some sort for his government. He took there with him a very large sum of money presumably his own. Also while there he made a great display of valuable jewels, though why he did so does not appear.”