it. I remained perfectly quiet.

"'Well,' was his answer, 'we're almost there, and it's a lucky chance.
No trouble at all, Seraphina.'

"I had felt the cab round several corners; almost immediately after the
last it stopped. I'm a trifle hazy as to what they did; but finally I
was passed out of the cab like a corpse and carried into a house. There
the wrap was removed from my head; I blinked uncertainly, and looked
around in a bewildered fashion.

"'Where am I?' I gasped.

"The woman replied, 'You're in absolutely no danger, Mrs. Clephane. We
want the package you have for the French Ambassador; when we have it, we
will send you back to your hotel.'

"'What is to be done with the cab?' someone asked.

"'Nothing,' another replied. 'The horse will find his way to his stand;
he's almost there.'

"'But I haven't any package!' I protested.

"'Come, come!' the woman answered briskly. 'You have it about you
somewhere; that was what you were going to the Embassy to deliver?'

"'Who are you?' I demanded.

"'It matters not who we are--we want the package.'

"'The package is not with me,' I remarked. 'It's locked in the hotel
safe.'

"'Will you permit yourself to be searched?' she asked, with an amused
smile. I knew it was a threat.

"'I'm perfectly willing to submit to a search by _you_,' I said. 'The
quicker you set about it, the quicker I'll be released. I don't care for
these diplomatic affairs; they may be regular but they seem
unnecessarily dangerous. I was simply a substitute anyway, and I won't
substitute again; though how you people discovered it I don't see.'

"'Because you're new at the game,' she replied, as we passed into the
drawing-room.

"She closed the door--and I soon satisfied her that the package was not
concealed about me.

"'I may go now?' I inquired.

"'I think so, but I must consult the Chief,' she replied. 'I'll be back
in a minute.'

"They seemed high-class knaves at least; but it was quite evident that
the diplomatic game and its secret service were distinctly not in my
line. I want no more of them even to oblige a friend in distress. I hate
a mess!"

"I'm very glad for this mess," Harleston interjected. "Otherwise I
should not have--met you."

"And you are the only compensation for the mess, Mr. Harleston!" she
smiled.

She said it so earnestly Harleston was almost persuaded that she meant
it--though he replied with a shrug and a sceptical laugh.

"But the woman was long i