"That's good. Well then, this death of Sir Simon's has thrown all my business into confusion. I said that before. I am the daughter of the President of the Republic of Indiana, and I have come on this boat to buy ships, as it is probable we may engage in war. Captain Kyles commands this boat, and was dealing with Sir Simon. I believe that Sir Simon was murdered by an emissary of a political party at variance with my father, the President, and----' "Then this chap Herries is innocent," said Kind, with well-affected simplicity. "Of course he is. I went to see if the inquest would clear his character. It did not. I am sorry for the young man, and I wish to save him if possible. Do you know where he is?" "No, Señora. He has vanished." "I thought you might have seen him," she muttered, with her eyes on the carpet and a look of perplexity on her face. "I am placed in a very difficult position." "I'm only a poor cove, ma'am, and can't help you." "Yes, you can. Find out where Mr. Herries is, and bring him to me. I will save him." "Then you know who killed Sir Simon, ma'am?" "No. I wish I did," she rose and stretched her arms over her head, "but that seems to be a mystery. Still, I can guess this much; that someone from Indiana killed him. It's a political murder, so as to stop Sir Simon from supplying ships to Indiana." "But Sir Simon was a jam manufacturer." "He dealt in other things also. Whenever he saw that he could make money he did business. If he had lived--" she stopped and clenched her hand. "The position is very difficult." Kind thought so also. She was frank enough with him; much franker than she need have been, especially as she had no guarantee that he would not blab all she had said to others. But her speech about Sir Simon's dealings with the Republic supplied him with a motive for the assassination. Perhaps after all it _was_ a political murder, for the emissary of the Republic, who had dropped the cigarette in Herries' room, might also smoke that especial brand. But why should Herries have been deliberately implicated in the affair? He might find out, if he served this lady's ends, since she also was bent upon saving Herries, and hanging the real culprit. If the murderer was a political adversary, she would certainly be doing a good service to her father. "What do you wish me to do, Señora?" he asked. "Search for the real murderer and bring Mr. Herries to me, that is, if you can find his whereabouts. I want to get at the truth of this matter, so as to explain to my father, who will certainly blame me for what has taken place." "But why should you think that I am able to help you?" asked the Cheap-jack with open suspicion. Donna Maria laughed. "Oh, I am accustomed to judge men," she said in a light tone, "and your ruse to get speech with me was very clever." Kind was taken aback. "Do you think that I----?"