ur, I can see," she answered, "is an apt flatterer.
Afterwards as much as you please. But now--well, I want to hear about
Guy."

"Mademoiselle has commanded," he said with a little gesture. "To proceed
then. Monsieur Guy is well, and is my constant companion. He is with
friends who wish him well, and this morning, Mademoiselle, the President
himself has given written orders to the police to proceed no further in
the unfortunate little affair of which Mademoiselle has knowledge."

Phyllis had lost all her pallor. She smiled delightfully upon him.
Madame la Marquise rose with a little impatient movement, and walked to
the further end of the room.

"How nice of you to come and tell me this," she exclaimed, "and what a
relief! I am sure I think he is very fortunate to have made such good
friends."

"Mademoiselle," he declared with emphasis, "one at least of those
friends is more than repaid."

She laughed back into his eyes, frankly amused by his gallantry.

"And now," she said, "we come to the beginning of the riddles. Why is it
necessary for him to be supposed drowned, if he is no longer in danger
from the police?"

"Ah, Mademoiselle," he said, "I must speak to you now of strange things.
But, first, I must implore you to promise me this, and remember it
always. Every word that I am going to say to you now must remain for the
present a profound secret. That is agreed?"

"Certainly!" she answered.

"Your brother," he continued, "in his travels on the Continent stumbled
by chance upon a State secret of international importance. He had
himself no idea of it, but a chance word which he let fall, on the first
evening I met him, gave the clue to myself and some friends. In his
enforced retirement we--that is, my uncle and others--learned from him
the whole story of his adventure. It has placed the Government of this
country under great obligations. This, together with your service to us,
has secured his pardon."

"This is wonderful!" she murmured.

"It is not all," he continued. "The spies of the country where he learnt
this secret have followed him to Paris. They are to-day searching for
him everywhere. If they knew that he realized the importance of what he
had seen, and had communicated it to the proper persons here, our
advantage in knowing it would be largely lost. So far they have not
traced him. Now, I think that you have the key to what must have puzzled
you so much."

"This is wonderful!" she murmured. "