The old man nodded.

"--that packet contained the Archduke Karl's sworn arraignment of his
wife. It is of great importance, indeed, to Francis, his worthless son,
or supposed son, who may present himself for coronation one of these
days!"

"Not with Karl appearing in all parts of the world, never quite dead,
never quite alive--and his son Frederick Augustus lurking with him in the
shadows. Who knows whether they are dead?"

"I am the only person on earth in a position to make that clear," said
John Armitage.

"Then you should give me the documents."

"No; I prefer to keep them. I assure you that I have sworn proof of the
death of the Archduke Karl, and of his son Frederick Augustus. Those
papers are in a box in the Bronx Loan and Trust Company, in New York
City."

"I should have them; I _must_ have them!" thundered the old man.

"In due season; but not just now. In fact, I have regretted parting with
that document I gave you in Paris. It is safer in America than in Vienna.
If you please, I should like to have it again, sir."

The palsy in the old man's hands had increased, and he strove to control
his agitation; but fear had never been reckoned among his weaknesses, and