"This week," Sogrange went on, "it is expected that the result of the salvage works will be made known. That is to say, it is highly possible that the question of whether the _Maine_ was blown up from outside or inside will be settled once and for all. This week, mind, Baron. Now see what happens. Sirdeller returns to America. The Count von Hern and Prince Marsine come to America. The Duchesse della Nermino comes to America. The Duchesse, Sirdeller, and Marsine are upon this steamer. The Count von Hern travels by the _Lusitania_ only because it was reported that Sirdeller at the last minute changed his mind, and was travelling by that boat. Mix these things up in your brain--the conjurer's hat, let us call it," Sogrange concluded, laying his hand upon Peter's arm. "Sirdeller, the Duchesse, Von Hern, Marsine, the raising of the _Maine_--mix them up, and what sort of an omelette appears?" Peter whistled softly. "No wonder," he said, "that you couldn't make the pieces of the puzzle fit. Tell me more about the Duchesse." Sogrange considered for a moment. "The principal thing about her which links her with the present situation," he explained, "is that she was living in Cuba at the time of the _Maine_ disaster, married to a rich Cuban." The affair was suddenly illuminated by the searchlight of romance. Peter, for the first time, saw not the light, but the possibility of it. "Marsine has been living in Germany, has he not?" he asked. "He is a personal friend of the Kaiser," Sogrange replied. They both looked up and listened to the crackling of the electricity above their heads. "I expect Bernadine is a little annoyed," Peter remarked. "It isn't pleasant to be out of the party," Sogrange agreed. "Nearly everybody, however, believed at the last moment that Sirdeller had transferred his passage to the _Lusitania_." "It's going to cost him an awful lot in marconigrams," Peter said. "By the by, wouldn't it have been better for us to have travelled separately, and incognito?" Sogrange shrugged his shoulders slightly. "Von Hern has at least one man on board," he replied. "I do not think that we could possibly have escaped observation. Besides, I rather imagine that any move we are able to make in this matter must come before we reach Fire Island." "Have you any theory at all?" Peter asked. "Not the ghost of a one," Sogrange admitted. "One more fact, though, I forgot to mention. You may find it important. The Duchesse comes entirely against von Hern's wishes. They have been on intimate terms for years, but for some reason or other he was exceedingly anxious that she should not take this voyage. She, on the other hand, seemed to have some equally strong reason for coming. The most useful piece of advice I could give you would be to cultivate her acquaintance." "The Duchesse----" Peter never finished his sentence. His companion drew him suddenly back into the shadow of a lifeboat. "Look!"