Page:Robert Barr - Lord Stranleigh Philanthropist.djvu/321

 estate alleged to be hers, and here are the papers she signed at this Embassy. I paid the very considerable sum of one hundred thousand pounds which, by an odd coincidence, is the amount bequeathed to your nephew."

"Oh, good God! good God!" cried the Ambassador, rising and clasping his hands over his brow as he walked up and down the room. "This is terrible! As bad as cheating at cards. But what you say explains everything."

"Explains what, my lord Count?"

"The letters my wretched nephew left behind him in his carelessness. Letters from this woman, recently written, indicating that he had promised to marry her, and asking fulfilment of his word. After all I have done for him! This means my disgrace and ruin."

Stranleigh's deep sympathy with the honest old man in his distress was evident.

"Not so, my lord Count. May I beg you to sit down again? We must avoid publicity, and then I ask you to leave the disentanglement to me. Do you happen to know General Goetz, heir to the Arrenfels estate?"

"I know him very well indeed. He is a valued friend of mine."