p trouble for himself if he's passing off an
impostor--letting her get possession of Mary's money. I cannot
understand Trent. He's a fool about women, but he's the soul of honor,
and has one of the keenest legal minds in the state. That she has
fooled him is unthinkable."

"He knows, and is in some way justified. Madame Zattiany _must_ have
your friend's power of attorney. That's positive. And there is no
doubt that Countess Zattiany--Mary Ogden--is in some sanitarium in
Vienna, hopelessly ill. She let that out."

"Poor Mary! Is that true?"

"I'm afraid it is . . . perhaps . . . that _may_ be it. . . ."

"What are you talking about?"

"When she was mocking my curiosity she suggested that she might have
been an actress and won the confidence of Countess Zattiany owing to
the resemblance. It struck me as fantastic, but who knows? . . .
Still, why should she use the name Zattiany even if your friend did
give her the power of attorney . . . unless . . ." he recalled Gora's
suggestion, "she is out for a lark."

"Lark? She hasn't tried to meet people. I can't see any point in your
idea. Absurd. And that woman is no actress. She is _grande dame_
born and bred."

"I've met some actresses that had very fine manners indeed, and also
the _entree_."

"Well, they don't measure up according to my notion. This girl is the
real thing."

"Then why, in heaven's name, doesn't your Countess Loyos know anything
about her? If Madame Zattiany is what she says she is, they must have
met in Viennese Society a hundred times. In fact she would have been
one of the notable figures at court."

"The only explanation I can think of is that Madame Zattiany is all
that she claims to be, but that for some reason or other she is not
using her own name."

"Ah! That is an explanation. But why--why?"

"There you have me . . . unless . . . Ah!" The familiar glitter came
into his eyes and Clavering waited expectantly. This old bird had a
marvellous instinct. "I have it! For some reason she had to get out
of Europe. Maybe she's hiding from a man, maybe from the Government.
Zattiany may be one of her husband's names--or her mother's. Of course
Mary would be interested in her--with that resemblance--and help her
out. She knew her well enough to trust her, and somebody had to
represent her here. Of course Trent knows the truth and naturally
would keep her secret."

"Another plot for the movies . . . still--it's a plau