"I see you've caught it. It's rather odd, isn't it, that this Austrian lady, who has lived her life in Viennese Society, knows nothing apparently of any young and beautiful Countess Zattiany? I didn't give her a hint of the truth, for I certainly shall not be the one to loose the bloodhounds on this charming young woman, whoever she may be. Told her that I recalled having met a very young and handsome countess of that name in Europe before the war and wondered what had become of her. . . . But somebody else may let them loose any moment. A good many people are interested in her already." "Well, they can't do anything to her. She's a right to call herself whatever she likes, and she asks no favors. But I'd like to hypnotize Judge Trent and get the truth out of him. He knows, damn him!" "He's laying up trouble for himself if he's passing off an impostor--letting her get possession of Mary's money. I cannot understand Trent. He's a fool about women, but he's the soul of honor, and has one of the keenest legal minds in the state. That she has fooled him is unthinkable." "He knows, and is in some way justified. Madame Zattiany _must_ have your friend's power of attorney. That's positive. And there is no doubt that Countess Zattiany--Mary Ogden--is in some sanitarium in Vienna, hopelessly ill. She let that out." "Poor Mary! Is that true?" "I'm afraid it is . . . perhaps . . . that _may_ be it. . . ." "What are you talking about?" "When she was mocking my curiosity she suggested that she might have been an actress and won the confidence of Countess Zattiany owing to the resemblance. It struck me as fantastic, but who knows? . . . Still, why should she use the name Zattiany even if your friend did give her the power of attorney . . . unless . . ." he recalled Gora's suggestion, "she is out for a lark." "Lark? She hasn't tried to meet people. I can't see any point in your idea. Absurd. And that woman is no actress. She is _grande dame_ born and bred." "I've met some actresses that had very fine manners indeed, and also the _entree_." "Well, they don't measure up according to my notion. This girl is the real thing." "Then why, in heaven's name, doesn't your Countess Loyos know anything about her? If Madame Zattiany is what she says she is, they must have met in Viennese Society a hundred times. In fact she would have been one of the notable figures at court." "The only explanation I can think of is that Madame Zattiany is all that she claims to be, but that for some reason or other she is not using her own name." "Ah! That is an explanation. But why--why?"