more than a minute. Master won't miss
his brandy for that short time. He'll enjoy it all the more when he gets
it."

Andrew hesitated an instant, and we all know what happens to the man who
hesitates--he is lost.

"Well, what is it you want, Antoinette?" he replied, good-humoredly.
"If it only takes me a minute, as you say, I don't mind accommodating
you."

"I lost my little gold cross in the lower hall a few moments ago. I
heard something drop as I was hurrying along, but did not miss it until
just now, and I can't leave my lady to go and get it. Some one may come
along and find it, and I'd never get it again. For goodness' sake, go
quick, Andrew, and look for it. Not an instant's to be lost."

Suspecting nothing, the good fellow hurriedly set down the glass, and
hastened away to do her bidding.

His back was scarcely turned ere Antoinette flew to her own apartments,
which adjoined her mistress's, and took from a trunk, which she unlocked
with a very strange-looking key, a small vial. A few grains of the
contents she emptied into the palm of her hand, and in less time than it
takes to write it, they were transferred to the glass of brandy and
dissolved at once with its amber contents.

She had scarcely accomplished this ere Andrew returned, quite flushed
from hurrying.

"I am sorry to bring you bad news, Antoinette," he said; "but some one
has been there before me and picked up your cross. I met the butler, and
we both searched for it. He has promised to make strict inquiries
concerning it, and get it back for you if it be possible."

"You are very good to take so much trouble upon yourself," declared
Antoinette, with a well-enacted sigh. "I suppose I shall survive the
loss of it. It is a trinket that isn't of much value only as a
keep-sake. But I won't keep you standing there talking any longer,
Andrew; your master will be waiting for the brandy."

"I'll see you later, Antoinette," he said, nodding as he picked up his
glass.

The next moment he had disappeared within his master's apartments.

When she returned to her mistress she found Mrs. Gardiner in a state of
nervousness.

"The time is almost up, and you have devised no plan as yet,
Antoinette," she cried, wringing her hands. "See! the ten minutes have
almost elapsed. Oh--oh! what shall I do?"

"Monsieur will not come in ten minutes' time, my lady," replied the
maid, with a knowing nod; "nor will he go to the reception. There was
but one way out