"Has he made any statement? Has he told anybody what he knows?" demanded the Crown-Prince, who at that moment presented what might be termed a white-livered appearance, cowed, and even trembling. In his slant eyes showed a look of undisguised terror, and I realized that the truth, whatever it might be, was a damning and most disgraceful one. "I can't see him, Heltzendorff," he whined to me. "See him; hear what he has to say--and--and you will keep my secret? Promise me." I promised. And I should have kept that promise were it not for his brutal and blackguardly acts after the outbreak of war--acts which placed him, with his Imperial father, beyond the pale of respectable society. I was turning to leave the room, when he sprang towards me with that quick agility of his, and, placing his white, manicured hand upon my arm, said: "Whatever he may say you will not believe--will you?" "And if he wants money?" I asked. "Ascertain the amount, and come here to me." A quarter of an hour later Martinez Aranda sat in my room opposite my table. I had told him that unfortunately His Imperial Highness was engaged, for the Emperor had come over from the Neues Palace for luncheon. Then I inquired the nature of his business. "Well, Count, you and I are not altogether strangers, are we?" was his reply, as he sat back calmly and crossed his legs, perfectly at his ease. "But my business is only with His Highness, and with nobody else." "His Highness sees nobody upon business. I am appointed to deal with all his business affairs, and anything told to me is the same as though spoken into his ear." The Spaniard from Montmartre was silent for a moment. "If that is the case, then I would be glad if you will obtain his permission for me to speak. He will remember my name." "I already received orders before I invited you up," I said. "His Highness wishes you to deal with me. He knows that you are here to settle some delicate little piece of business concerning that secret visit of his to Rome--eh?" "Yes," he answered, after a few seconds' pause. "I am well aware, Count, that for mention of the reason I am here you might call the guard to arrest me for blackmail. But first let me assure His Highness that such action would not be advisable in the interests of either himself or of the Emperor. I have already made arrangements for exposure in case His Highness endeavours to close my mouth by such means." "Good. We understand each other. What is your complaint?" I inquired. "I know the truth concerning the mysterious death of the woman, Claudia Ferrona, in Rome last December," he said briefly. "Oh!" I exclaimed. "Perhaps you will tell me next that the Crown-Prince is an assassin? Come, that will be really interesting," I laughed. "Perhaps you will tell me how it all happened--the extent of your knowledge." "Why should I do that? Go to the Crown-Prince and tell him what I allege--tell him that the girl, Lizette Sabin, whom he knows, was a witness."