nd then only shall I send that cablegram. That moment
can only arrive at the end of my journey."

Mr. Fentolin leaned now a little forward in his chair. His face was
still smooth and expressionless, but there was a queer sort of meaning
in his words.

"The end of your journey," he said grimly, "may be nearer than you
think."

"If I am not heard of in The Hague to-morrow at the latest," Mr. Dunster
pointed out, "remember that before many more hours have passed, I shall
be searched for, even to the far corners of the earth."

"Let me assure you," Mr. Fentolin promised serenely, "that though your
friends search for you up in the skies or down in the bowels of the
earth, they will not find you. My hiding-places are not as other
people's."

Mr. Dunster beat lightly with his square, blunt forefinger upon the
table which stood by his side.

"That's not the sort of talk I understand," he declared curtly. "Let us
understand one another, if we can. What is to happen to me, if I refuse
to give you that word?"

Mr. Fentolin held his hand in front of his eyes, as though to shut out
some unwelcome vision.

"Dear me," he exclaimed, "how unpleasant! Why should you force me to
disclose my plans? Be content, dear Mr. Dunster, with the knowledge
of this one fact: we cannot part with you. I have thought it over
from every point of view, and I have come to that conclusion; always
presuming," he went on, "that the knowledge of that little word of which
we have spoken remains in its secret chamber of your memory."

Mr. Dunster smoked in silence for a few minutes.

"I am very comfortable here," he remarked.

"You delight me," Mr. Fentolin murmured.

"Your cook," Mr. Dunster continued, "has won my heartfelt appreciation.
Your cigars and wines are fit for any nobleman. Perhaps, after all, this
little rest is good for me."

Mr. Fentolin listened attentively.

"Do not forget," he said, "that there is always a limit fixed, whether
it be one day, two days, or three days."

"A limit to your complacence, I presume?"

Mr. Fentolin assented.

"Obviously, then," Mr. Dunster concluded, "you wish those who sent me
to believe that my message has been delivered. Yet there I must confess
that you puzzle me. What I cannot see is, to put it bluntly, where you
come in. Any one of the countries represented at this little conference
would only be the gainers by the miscarriage of my message, which is,
without doubt, so far as they are concer