r game in pretending what you and I know is
pretence."

"You're pleased to be enigmatic!" Harleston laughed.

"Oh, no I'm not," she smiled, flashing her rings and watching the
flashes--and him. "You saw me, and you know that I saw you; and I saw
you and know that you saw me. Now, as I've said it in words of one
syllable, I trust you will understand."

"I understand," said he; "but you have side-stepped the point:--To whom
does this lost letter belong: to you or to--"

"Mrs. Clephane?" she adjected.

"Exactly: to you, or to Mrs. Clephane?"

"What does that matter to you--since it does not belong to _you_?"

"I may be a friend of Mrs. Clephane? Or I may regard myself as a
trustee for the safe delivery of the letter."

"A volunteer?"

"If you so have it!" he smiled.

She beat a tattoo with her slender, nervous fingers, looking at him in
mild surprise, and some disapproval.

"Since when does sentiment enter the game?" she asked.

"Sentiment?" he inflected. "I wasn't aware of its entry."

She shrugged mockingly. "Beware, old friend and enemy! You're losing
your cleverness. Mrs. Clephane is very charming and alluring, but
remember, Guy, that a charming woman has no place in the diplomatic
game--save to delude the enemy. She seems to be winning with you--who, I
thought, was above all our wiles and blandishments. Oh, do not smile,
sir--I recognize the symptoms; I've played the innocent and the beauty
in distress once or twice myself. It's all in our game--but I'm
shockingly amazed to see it catch so experienced a bird as Guy
Harleston."

"I'm greatly obliged, Madeline, for your shocking amazement," Harleston
chuckled. "Meanwhile, and returning to the letter; who has the better
title to possession, Mrs. Clephane or yourself?"

"As I remarked before, either of us has a better title to the letter
than yourself. Also--I have heard you say it many times, and it is an
accepted rule in the diplomatic game--never meddle in what does not
concern you; never help to pull another's chestnuts out of the fire."

"My dear lady, you are perfectly right! I subscribe unreservedly to the
rule, and try to follow it; but you have overlooked another rule--the
most vital of the code."

"What is it, pray!"

"The old rule:--Never believe your adversary. Never tell the
truth--except when the truth will deceive more effectively than a lie."

"That is entirely regular, yet not applicable to the present matter. I'm
_not_ your adver