k_
R.)

DUKE. (_Patronizingly_) I am honored. Interesting task you have
undertaken. May I ask if that is your regular profession?

JARVIS. That is my business, solving mysteries, looking up the family
skeleton, hunting out spooks. What we call in America a Ghost Breaker!

DUKE. Ghost Breaker? A strange calling. I indeed never heard of anything
more extraordinary.

JARVIS. It is not surprising, your Excellency. We are living in an age
of specialists--and like every other profession, this calls for its own
peculiar training.

PRINCESS. (_Interrupting_) I am so glad you are here, cousin--you will
be able to tell Mr. Warren, so much better than I, all the
circumstances.

DUKE. I'll be delighted to throw any light I can on the mystery, but
first tell me--(_To_ PRINCESS)--why did you leave your brother to come
to America?

PRINCESS. (_Takes locket from reticule_) This little locket is what
brought me to America.

DUKE. (_Crosses to her, holding out hand to take it_) May I see it?

PRINCESS. (_Takes out memo._) No, Carlos, you may see the locket--no one
must see the memorandum.

DUKE. Memorandum?

PRINCESS. Yes.

JARVIS. (_Seated on trunk--to_ DUKE) A wise precaution.

DUKE. (_Picking up locket_) Curious old piece of work--and you came all
the way to America for this?

PRINCESS. Yes.

DUKE. You were very fortunate to find it so soon. (_Cross_ R.)

PRINCESS. I knew where to go to find it--and yet I was nearly too late.
Think of it, after that dear old locket had lain in an antique shop for
ten years, suddenly in one day there came two inquiries for it. (JARVIS
_sits looking at_ CARLOS.) Mine was the second. A distinguished-looking
gentleman had been there in the morning, described it roughly to the old
man and got him to hunt for it. He had just found it when I came in. I
doubled the distinguished-looking gentleman's offer and got it.
(_Another look at_ DUKE.) Who do you suppose wanted that locket, Carlos?

DUKE. (R._, being cornered and with effort to throw it off lightly_) I
see that it has already occurred to you that I am the
distinguished-looking gentleman whose offer you doubled.

PRINCESS. (_With curiosity_) But how did you learn about the memorandum,
Carlos? (JARVIS _sits on trunk._)

DUKE. I didn't, Cousin. I had not the slightest suspicion that the
locket contained the supposed secret. I was merely following my pet
hobby, trying to recover some of those precious heirlooms which have
been sca