country has destroyed
Russia's friendship for us. She relies no doubt on our neutrality, and
she makes terms, doubtless absurdly favorable ones, with our ancient
enemy. In the eyes of the world France is to be made to appear
ridiculous. The German Empire is to be ruled from London, and the
Emperor Wilhelm's known ambition is to be realized."

"It sounds," Guy admitted, "like a nightmare. I know you foreigners all
think we English are a lot too cock-sure, but we have our own ideas, you
know, about any attempt at invasion."

"I am afraid," the Duke said, "that when it comes to throwing a million
men at different points of your coasts protected by a superb navy you
might find yourselves unpleasantly surprised. But let that pass. Have I
said enough to make you understand the importance of what you saw in the
forest of Pozen? Good! Now I want you to understand this. In the
interests of your country and mine it is most important that the fact of
our knowledge of this meeting should be kept a profound secret."

"Yes," Guy said, "I understand that."

"Your presence there," the Duke continued, "created a certain amount of
suspicion. You were watched to Paris by German spies, and if they had
had the least idea of how much you had seen your life would not have
been worth five minutes' purchase. As it is they are uneasy over your
disappearance. There are at least a dozen men and women in Paris and
England to-day who are searching for you! You are moderately safe here,
but not altogether. I want to put them finally off the scent. I might,
of course, put you into such confinement that detection would be
impossible. I do not want to do that. You have rendered your own country
and mine an immense service. I prefer to treat you as a gentleman and a
man of honor, and to take you, as I hope you will see that I have done,
into our entire confidence."

"Monsieur le Duc," Guy answered, "I can assure you that I appreciate all
that you have said. I am willing to do exactly as you say."

"To-morrow morning's papers," the Duke said slowly, "will contain an
account of the finding of your body in the Seine."

"My what!" Guy exclaimed.

"Your body! We are going to stab and drown you. Perhaps I should say we
are going to discover you stabbed and drowned."

Guy half rose from his seat.

"I say----" he began.

"I need not explain, of course," the Duke continued, "that you will
suffer by proxy. The whole affair has been carefully arranged