f was very fond of
her--despite all and Mrs. Clephane. He had seen his mistake in time, if
it was a mistake, but that did not blind him to Madeline Spencer's
fascinating manner and beautiful person, and to the fact that she cared
for him. However, neither might he let pass the charge she had just made
against Mrs. Clephane. Yet he tried to be kind to the woman beside him,
while defending the woman who was absent, and, as is often the case
under such circumstances he played for time--the hotel was but a block
away--and made a mess of it, so far as the woman beside him was
concerned.

"Who are a trifle tinctured--and with what?" he asked.

She smiled languidly.

"That is scarcely worthy of you, Guy," she remarked. "You are aiming
at--windmills; at least, I think you are not suddenly gone stupid.
However, you do not need to answer. Mrs. Clephane, you think, is not
tinctured, and you know that I have been--several shades deep. In other
words, she surpasses me in your estimation in the petty matter of
morals. So be it; you're no fool, and a pretty woman cannot blind you to
the facts for long. Then we shall see which you prefer. The woman who
is honest about the tincture, or the woman who is not. Now let us drop
the matter, and attend strictly to business until such time as the
present business is ended,--and Mrs. Clephane appears as she is."

"So be it!" Harleston replied heartily, "We understand each other,
Madeline."

"Yes, we understand each other," she said laconically, as the car drew
in to the curb.

"So well, indeed," he continued, as he gave her his hand to the
sidewalk, "that I have to arrange for you to meet the Secretary of State
at four o'clock tomorrow afternoon."

"Where?" said she, looking at him narrowly.

"In his office. You would like to meet him, Madeline?"

"I don't know what your play is," she laughed, "but I'll meet him--and
take my chances. From all I can learn, the gentleman isn't much but
bumptiousness and wind. To either you or me, Guy, he should be easy."

"The play," Harleston explained, "is that the Secretary has heard of you
and wishes to see the remarkable woman who--almost upset a throne."

"His wish shall be gratified," she shrugged. "Will you come for me, or
am I to go to him--a rendezvous _a deux_?"

"I'll escort you to him--afterward it will depend on you."

"Very good!" she replied--"but all the same I wonder what's the game."

"The Secretary's wish and curiosity is the o