y from here. Our
quiet little corner of the world is becoming quite notorious. Florence
dear, you are tired. I can see it in your eyes. Your headache continues,
I am sure. We will not be selfish. Mr. Hamel and I are going to have a
long evening in the library. Let me recommend a phenacetin and bed."

She rose at once to her feet, with a dog under either arm.

"I'll take the phenacetin," she promised, "but I hate going to bed
early. Shall I see you again, I wonder, Mr. Hamel?"

"Not this evening, I fear," he answered. "I am going to ask Mr. Fentolin
to excuse me early."

She passed out of the room. Hamel escorted her as far as the door and
then returned. Mr. Fentolin was sitting quite still in his chair. His
eyes were fixed upon the tablecloth. He looked up quickly as Hamel
resumed his seat.

"You are not in earnest, I hope, Mr. Hamel," he said, "when you tell me
that you must leave early? I have been anticipating a long evening. My
library is filled with books on South America which I want to discuss
with you."

"Another evening, if you don't mind," Hamel begged. "To-night I must ask
you to excuse my hurrying away."

Mr. Fentolin looked up from underneath his eyelids. His glance was quick
and penetrating.

"Why this haste?"

Hamel shrugged his shoulders.

"To tell you the truth," he admitted, "I had an idea while I was reading
an article on cantilever bridges this morning. I want to work it out."

Mr. Fentolin glanced behind him. The door of the dining-room was closed.
The servants had disappeared. Meekins alone, looking more like a prize
fighter than ever in his somber evening clothes, had taken the place of
the butler behind his master's chair.

"We shall see," Mr. Fentolin said quietly.

CHAPTER XXX

Mr. Fentolin pointed to the little pile of books upon the table, the
deep easy-chair, the green-shaded lamps, the decanter of wine. He had
insisted upon a visit, however brief, to the library.

"It is a student's appeal which I make to you, Mr. Hamel," he said,
with a whimsical smile. "Here we are in my study, with the door closed,
secure against interruption, a bright fire in the grate, a bowling and
ever-increasing wind outside. Let us go together over the ground of your
last wonderful expedition over the Andes. You will find that I am not
altogether ignorant of your profession, or of those very interesting
geological problems which you spoke of in connection with that
marvellous railway schem