Ruth was obliged to smile in spite of herself at the mixture of firmness and respect in the suave Minister’s tones.  He was encouraged by the smile.

“Ah,” he said, “I see that Your Highness will be reasonable.”

Ruth looked him straight in the eye.

“But what if I should convince Your Excellency that you have made a mistake, that I am telling you the truth when I say I am not the Grand Duchess Carlotta?”

The Minister bowed.  “It would be easy to convince me, Highness, if you could produce for me one who is more likely to be the Grand Duchess than yourself.  But, alas! could there be two such faces in the world?” Admiration shone out of the little man’s eyes.

“There is no doubt, Excellency,” said Ruth, still smiling, “that His Majesty was wise in appointing you a diplomat.  We shall be good friends even though I have to stay.  You are making a mistake, and I am afraid you will have to pay for it.  I shall, however, be a model boarder, and possibly even enjoy my trip on the warship.  But I certainly shall not receive your friends at a reception, nor will I permit you to give me the honors due the Grand Duchess.  Neither can I produce her.  She is probably far away by this time.  I will tell you my story, and you may judge for yourself.”

His Excellency bowed profoundly.

“Your Highness is most gracious,” he said.  “Will you permit me to be seated?”

“Certainly, Your Excellency.”

The Minister drew up a chair and sat down, with a low bow, before his desk; but not before he had placed Ruth in a chair where the light would shine full on her face.  He seemed now to be a changed man—­almost a judge; and the fingers thrummed on the glass as they had done during the conference with Wratslav and Ivan.

With a half-amused smile, Ruth began.

“Excellency, my name is Ruth Atheson.  You may easily verify that by sending for my uncle, Monsignore Murray, of Sihasset, with whom I made my home until he went to college in Rome to study for the priesthood.  I was left in Europe to receive my education.  Afterward I came to America to be near my uncle, but I made frequent trips to Europe to visit friends.  It was during one of these visits that I first met the Grand Duchess Carlotta, four years ago, at San Sebastian.  The remarkable likeness between us caused me, as I have already told you, a great deal of annoyance.  Her Highness heard of it and asked to meet me.

“We became close friends, so close that in her trouble she turned to me.  I was with relatives in England at the time.  She wrote asking me to receive her there, telling me that she intended to give up her claim to the throne and marry Luigi del Farno, whom she sincerely loved.  I sent her a long letter warning her against the step—­for I knew what it meant—­and advising her that I was even then preparing to leave for America.  Unfortunately, she knew my address and followed me to Sihasset, directing her lover to wait until she sent for him.