o begin."

"Then vanish Madame X, and enter Mistress Clephane."

At that moment a woman and a man entered the room from the corridor by
the middle door, and crossed to a divan in the corner farthest from Mrs.
Clephane and Harleston. The former had her back to them; Harleston was
facing their way and saw them.

The man was middle-aged, bald, and somewhat stout--and Harleston
recognized one of his visitors of the early morning. The woman was
sinuous, with raven hair, dead white complexion, a perfectly lovely
face, and a superb figure. Harleston would have known that walk and that
figure anywhere and at any time even if he had not seen her face.

It was Madeline Spencer.

VIII

THE STORY

Harleston quickly swung his chair around so that the broad back hid Mrs.
Clephane and himself. He was quite sure that she had noticed the pair;
though when he glanced at her she was looking thoughtfully at him, as if
considering where to begin her story.

"Do you know the two who just came in and are sitting in the far
corner," he asked; "the slender woman and the bald-headed man?"

"No," she answered; "except that she is an exceedingly fine-looking
woman--as you doubtless have noted."

"I've noted other things!" he smiled.

"About her?"

"No, not about her."

She laughed, deliciously he thought.

"I best get on with my tale," she said. "So, once upon a time, which
means, to be accurate, about ten days ago, I took a steamer at
Cherbourg for New York. On the boat was a Madame Durrand, whom I had
known on the Continent and in London for a number of years. Neither was
aware of the other's sailing until we met aboard. I think that it was on
the fourth day out she asked me to come to her state-room; there she
told me that she was a secret agent of the French Government and the
bearer of a most important letter from a high official, written however
in his private capacity to their Ambassador in Washington; that she had
a presentiment ill fortune would befall her on the way; that there was
no one else on the ship in whom she trusted; and that she wanted me to
accompany her to Washington, and, if she were to meet with an accident,
to deliver the letter to the Ambassador. I consented, wishing to oblige
her, and being bound for Washington. She showed me where she carried the
letter, and gave me the verbal message that went with it, which was the
name of the Minister and that he sent it in his private capacity and not
offi