“I have interviewed the writer of the letters and Your Highness may rest assured that there will be no repetition of the offence. I took the liberty, however, of promising in Your Highness’s name—if ‘promising’ be the right word to use in such circumstances—that there would be no prosecution.” “Was that wise, Mr. Bathurst? Is such a scoundrel to go?” “Come, sir, look at the matter from your own point of view. Publicity is surely the last condition that you would court?” Alexis appeared to be in doubt. “Her Royal Highness, Imogena of Natalia,” murmured Anthony. Alexis’ doubt vanished like snow under the sun. “Who was the blackmailer?” he demanded truculently. Anthony hesitated a moment before answering. “Alan Warburton, an old lover of Sheila Delaney—the girl murdered in the dentist’s chair at Seabourne. Can you in any way reconcile the two facts?” Alexis sprang to his feet excitedly. “I told you—didn’t I? I said find the blackmailer—and you’ll find the murderer.” “Not so fast, sir, if you please? Think in the first place where you are. What link was there between Sheila Delaney and yourself?” “None,” replied the Crown Prince. “None whatever—I swear it! That’s the extraordinary part about it.” “Then why did Alan Warburton attempt to blackmail you?” broke in Anthony. The Crown Prince spread out his hands. “How do I know? What can I say? It is all conjecture.” “Yet I think I know,” replied Mr. Bathurst, “and time alone will prove whether I am right or wrong.” Alexis gave a curious movement of the shoulders. “It is a mystery and I fear it will remain a mystery.” “I am not so pessimistic as to think that. But I appreciate the fact that a difficult task lies in front of me. How is Miss Carruthers?” His Royal Highness looked at him curiously. It struck him as strange that Anthony should have found time to inquire after Daphne Carruthers. What was his intention? “All right. As far as I know. I haven’t seen her since leavening Seabourne. I doubt if our paths will ever cross again. They probably lie far apart. But tell me—this man Warburton—how were you able to discover him?—how did you run him to earth? You haven’t told me.”