ouse at four, and I should bring you an hour earlier. On the
chance of overtaking you, I beat it after you. Now if Captain Snodgrass
will permit you, we have just time to get over to the Department."

"Will you excuse me, Captain Snodgrass?" she asked, with her compelling
smile.

"A Secretary of State may not be denied," Snodgrass replied. "In this
instance in particular I would I were his Excellency."

"Come and dine with me at eight," giving him her hand.... "Now, Mr.
Harleston, I am ready."

"What did you do with Mrs. Clephane?" she asked, when they were started.

"I left her at the Rataplan," he replied.

"Alone?"

"Oh no--with Carpenter, who chanced to be handy."

"The bald-headed chap, who spoke to you in the dining-room?"

"Exactly!"

"Carpenter is the chief of the Cipher Division, I believe you said."

"I don't recall that I said it, Madeline, but your information is
correct."

"I think I'll ask the Secretary for the letter," she remarked.

"Ask him anything you've a mind to!" Harleston laughed. "You've a very
winning pair of black eyes et cetera, my lady."

"I've never seen the Secretary!" she smiled.

"Small matter. He'll see you, all right."

"I'll make an impression, you think?"

"If you don't, it will be the first failure of the sort you've ever
registered."

"Except with you," she murmured.

"Good Lord!" he exclaimed. "You've had me going many times."

"Yes, Guy--but not now," she whispered.

"Now, I'm strong!" he laughed, bluntly declining the overture.

"Hence you are willing that I try my smiles on the Secretary," she
retorted.

"We are fellow diplomats," he countered. "You did me a good turn in the
Du Plesis affair; I'm trying now to show my appreciation. Moreover, it
will give Snodgrass an opportunity to reflect on your beauty and
fascinating ways--and to look forward to eight o'clock."

"It is pleasant to have something agreeable to look forward to," she
replied, ironically suggestive.

"Isn't it?" he approved. "I don't know anything more pleasant--unless it
is the finishing stroke of an _affaire Diplomatique_."

"Do you anticipate the finishing stroke to the present affair?"

"In due time."

"Due time?" she inflected.

"Whatever is necessary in the premises," he explained.

"It hasn't then gotten beyond the premises?"

"No, it hasn't gotten beyond the premises," he replied--with an inward
chuckle.

There was no occasion to explain that, by the latter premise