“‘Supposed to have taken?’ What do you mean?”

“Easy now, I’m coming to that.  This lady cannot be the Duchess and Ruth Atheson at the same time.”

“Decidedly not.”

“She is one or the other.”

“Well?”

“Either there is no Duchess, or no Ruth Atheson.”

“True; but I cannot question the Padre’s word.  That, at least, I know is good.  Then, look at his distress.”

“Sure, I know that.  I have been looking.  And I’ve been thinking till my brain whirls.  The Padre wouldn’t lie, and there’s no reason why he should.  But if the lady is Ruth Atheson, she is not the Duchess?”

“N-no.”

“Then why did they shoot that poor devil of an Italian?  And why the abduction?”

“Oh, I don’t know, Saunders.”  Mark spoke wearily.

“Whoever she is, she can’t be in two places at one time, can she?”

“For heaven’s sake, Saunders!” Mark’s look was wild, his weariness gone.  “What are you driving at?  You’ll have my brain reeling, too.  What is it now?”

“I thought I’d get you,” coolly retorted Saunders.  “Here’s where the mystery gets so deep that it looks as if no one can ever fathom it.”  He paused.

“Well?” snapped Mark, exasperatedly.

“From habit a detective is always looking about for clues and possible bits of information.  And so, largely as a matter of habit, I glanced into every open compartment as we passed through the coaches.  In the second car from this the porter was entering Drawing Room A. I had a clear view of the people inside, and—­” the speaker’s tone became impressive—­“one was that old lady who told you of the abduction; the other was—­your lady of the tree.”

Mark jumped, and seemed about to rise, but Saunders held him back.

“Don’t do that; there may be others to notice.”

“Ruth?  You saw Ruth?”

“I saw that lady, Ruth Atheson or the Duchess, whichever she is, and the other.  I made no mistake.  I know for sure.  The lady of the tree is on this train.”

It was very late when Mark and Saunders retired to their berths.  Father Murray was already sleeping; they could hear his deep, regular breathing as they passed his section.  Both were relieved, for they dreaded letting him know what Saunders had discovered.  Indeed all their conversation since Saunders had told Mark of this new development, had been as to whether they should break the news gently to the priest, and if so, how; or whether it would be better to conceal it from him altogether.