Saunders hesitated before he answered. "I hate to tell you that.
Don't ask."

"But I _do_ ask."

"Well, you may have a right to know. There was a man, that's why."

Mark wondered at his own self-control.

"Who was he?"

"An army officer, attached to the Italian embassy at her father's
court. But, look here, Griffin, there was no scandal about it. She
just fell in love with him, that's all. I was here watching for _him_.
I thought, for a while, that _you_ might be the man, though the
descriptions did not tally. I was taking no chances. If I saw him, my
business was to telegraph to a certain Ministry at Washington; that was
all."

"And they would--"

"I don't know. Those fellows have ways I can't fathom. I don't know
what they would do. They probably have their plans laid. It's evident
that they don't want her to meet him. I can't arrest her, and neither
can they; but they certainly could do for him if they wanted to. It
would be easier to bring her back, then, without scandal or publicity.
Now you've got all I know. What are you going to do?"

"I'm afraid," Mark spoke with an effort, "I'm afraid that I don't know