"Now we come to the present situation. Some months ago a member of the
aforesaid royal house arrived in this country by way of Japan. He is a
distant cousin of the crown and, in a way, remotely looked upon as the
heir-apparent. Later on he sequestered himself in Canada. Our agents
in Europe learned but recently that while he pretends to be loyal to
the ruling house, he is actually scheming against it. I have been
ordered to run him to earth, for there is every reason to believe that
the men who secured the treasure have been duped into regarding him as
an avowed champion of the crown. We believe that if we find this man
we will, sooner or later, be able to put our hands on the missing
treasure. I have never seen the man, nor a portrait of him. A fairly
adequate description has been sent to me, however. Now, Mr. Barnes,
without telling you how I have arrived at the conclusion, I am
prepared to state that I believe this man to be at Green Fancy, and
that in time the loot,--to use a harsh word,--will be delivered to him
there. I am here to get it, one way or another, when that comes to
pass."
Barnes had not taken his eyes from the face of the little man during
this recital.
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