of them has it; but until we are certain that they have
it, we won't detain them; we want the document to aid us in running down
the traitor. I'm not at all sure that Snodgrass is aware of the
character of the document. He probably stipulated not to know; he will
be content with a division of the money--and with a chance to spend some
of it on Spencer; which spending she is quite ready to facilitate, as
witness the pleasant understanding they seem to have arrived at during
luncheon."

"What are you going to do, Mr. Harleston?" Mrs. Clephane asked.

"I think you will enjoy it better if you're not wise, little lady!" he
smiled. "Moreover, it depends on circumstances just how it's to be gone
about--except that it ends in the office of the Secretary of
State.--Hush!"

"The Secretary of State!" she exclaimed low.

"I've an appointment to take Mrs. Spencer to meet his Excellency at four
o'clock."

"And what are you going to do with me, Mr. Harleston?" she smiled.

"You mean at four o'clock, or permanently?"

"At four o'clock, sir," with a charming lilt of the head.

"Take you along."

"With _that woman_? Thank you!"

"No, with me."

"Didn't you say you had an appointment to take Mrs. Spencer?"

"I did!"

"You intend to keep the appointment?"

"I do!"

"Surely, sir, you don't imagine for a moment that I would go anywhere
with Mrs. Spencer!"

"No more than you imagine that I would ask it of you!" he smiled.

"It seems to me your meaning is somewhat obscure," she retorted.
"However, whether you don't mean it, or do mean it, I'll trust myself to
you because it's you, Mr. Harleston."

"Permanently, my lady?"

"Certainly not, sir. I refer only to this afternoon; I want to be in at
the end of the game."

"For me," said Harleston slowly, "it's been a very fortunate game."

"Games are uncertain and sometimes costly," she shrugged.

"When played with Spencer, they are both and then some," he replied.

At that moment Carpenter pushed back his chair and arose, nodded
pleasantly to Mrs. Clephane and Harleston as he passed, and went out.

"Will Mr. Carpenter be at the finish?" Mrs. Clephane asked.

"Probably; but he'll be in the lobby when we go through."

"They are going!" she whispered. "And they're coming this way."

As Mrs. Spencer and Snodgrass went by, the former with an intimate
little look at Harleston, said confidentially:

"I'll be ready at half-past three, Guy."

"Very good!" Harleston answ