myself unable to negotiate it successfully. He agreed that it was
fair and when he looked at me again he seemed to suggest that he did
not believe me so young after all.

"There's rather an unhappy and most inconvenient entanglement in my
household," he began. "My nephew, the young Grand Duke, is tangled up
and ensnarled with a certain lady in England whom he wishes to marry.
It is unfortunate that she is of too high a social status to be
entirely ignored or roughly bought off. Still, she is not eligible
for admission into our house. For more than political reasons, it is
impossible that she enter into an alliance with us." His eyes
flashed. "This lady has lately threatened to make trouble through my
persistent refusal to countenance her desired relationship." He
frowned. "She has in her possession compromising letters and
documents which my nephew was foolish enough to give her. These must
be returned to my hands. Monetary questions need not be considered
for a moment. Pressure and influence have been tried on both my
nephew and the lady. But of no avail. The means I leave to you. But
force and publicity must at all cost be avoided. I can give you very
little help as to procedure and information. What do you think of the
chances?"

It has ever been my way to he conservative in making promises and I
said:

"I hope your Highness will pardon me, but I find it often undesirable
to voice my thoughts until I have reached a certain stage of my
investigations."

This appeared to impress him and he rose saying: