sary."

"You say you're not--yet how does that avoid the rule?"

"Won't you take my word, Guy?" she murmured.

"I am at a loss whether to take it or not," he reflected; "being so,
I'm in a state of equipoise until I'm shown."

"Tell me how I can show you?" she smiled.

"I haven't the remotest idea. You know as well as I that if you were to
tell me truthfully why you are here, and what you aim to accomplish, I
couldn't accept your story; I should have to substantiate it by other
means."

"You mean that I can't show you?" she said sorrowfully.

He nodded. "No more than I could show you were our positions reversed."

What her purpose, in all this talk, he failed to see--unless she were
seeking to establish an _entente cordiale_, or to gain time. The latter
was the likelier--yet time for what? They both were aware that all this
discussion was twaddle--like much that is done in diplomacy; that they
were merely skirmishing to determine something as to each other's
position.

"I had hoped that for once you would forget business and trust me," she
said softly; "in memory of old times when we worked together, as well as
when we were against each other. We played the game then for all that
was in it, and neither of us asked nor gave quarter. But this isn't
business Guy,--" she had gradually bent closer until her hair brushed
his cheek--"that is, it isn't business that concerns your government.
You may believe this implicitly, old enemy, absolutely implicitly."

"With whom, then, has it to do?" he inquired placidly.

She sighed just a trifle--and moved closer.

"You will never tell, nor use the information?" she breathed.

"Not unless my government needs it?"

"_Peste!_" she exclaimed. "You and your government are--However, I'll
tell you." Her voice dropped to a mere whisper. "It has to do with
England, Germany, and France: at least, I so assume. It has to do with
Germany or I wouldn't be in it, as you know."

"And what is the business?" he continued.

"I'm not informed--further than that it's a secret agreement between
England and Germany, which France suspects and would give much to block
or to be advised of. As to what the agreement embodies, I am in the
dark--though I fancy it has to do with some phase of the Balkan
question."

"Why would England and Germany conclude an agreement as to the Balkan
question--or any question, indeed--in Washington?" Harleston asked.

"I do not know; I'm quite ready to admit