"Humph! you're chaffing."

"Not in the least. He paid--I couldn't help being a witness to the
transaction--he actually paid five hundred francs for a watch to give to
the foreman of his ranch--_his_ ranch, mind you, in Montana, U.S.A.
He spoke of it incidentally, as though he were always buying watches for
cowboys. Now where does that leave us?"

"I'm afraid it rather does for my theory. I'll look him up when I get
home. Montana isn't a good hiding-place any more. But it was odd the way
he acted about old Stroebel's death. You don't suppose he knew him,
do you?"

"It's possible. Poor Count von Stroebel! Many hearts are lighter, now
that he's done for."

"Yes; and there will be something doing in Austria, now that he's out of
the way."

Four days passed, in which they devoted themselves to their young
brother. The papers were filled with accounts of Count von Stroebel's
death and speculations as to its effect on the future of Austria and the
peace of Europe. The Claibornes saw nothing of Armitage. Dick asked for
him in the hotel, and found that he had gone, but would return in a few
days.

It was on the morning of the fourth day that Armitage appeared suddenly
at the hotel as Dick and his sister waited for a carriage to carry them
to their train. He had just returned, and they met by the narrowest
margin. He walked with them to the door of the Monte Rosa.