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 professed to hail from Chicago, and was reputed wealthy.

“She is hardly the type of American one expects to meet in such a house as this—or wants to meet anywhere,” said the Senator. “And,” he added, poising the match with which he was about to light another of his own green Havanas, “she is the cause of prejudice in a usually unbiased mind. She has the misfortune to be fashioned in the likeness of one Cora Lestrade, a person of note in my country, whom I once saw in my capacity of Visiting Prison Commissioner. That was three years ago, but of course it can’t be the same woman.”

“It would be a curious coincidence,” was all the General would admit. “She was taken up by Lord and Lady Roseville, impecunious folk who would take up anyone for value received. What was this Cora Lestrade’s particular line of business?”

The Senator reflected for a moment.

“I don’t think she specialized herself,” he said. “Her forte was organization, and I heard that at the time she was taken she bossed a complete outfit, comprising forgers, confidence-men, train-robbers, and high-grade criminals of all sorts, who operated over the