oyed at not having any notification of
whether or not the detective would be present. However, he was compelled
to go ahead, and depend upon the slight chance that at the last moment
he would appear upon the scene. He hoped that this would occur, as
otherwise, his scheme for the evening would be incomplete.

The dinner was to be served at ten o'clock that night at Delmonico's,
where a private room had been engaged. It lacked ten minutes of the hour
for sitting down, and all the guests had arrived, except Mr. Barnes.
These were: Mr. Van Rawlston, Mr. Randolph, Mr. Fisher, Mr. Neuilly, who
had decided to spend the winter in New York, Mr. Thauret, and several
other gentlemen.

It lacked barely half a minute of ten when Mr. Barnes was announced,
and entered in handsome evening dress. Mr. Mitchel's face wore a look of
triumph as he saw him, and he hurried forward to receive him. Every one
present understood why the detective was invited, for it was by this
time well known that a wager was to be decided at twelve o'clock. After
the exchange of greetings, Mr. Mitchel gave the waiters the order to
open the doors of the dining-room, and in the moment's interval managed
to get a word with the detective.

"Tell me quickly, have you succeeded?"

"Yes, thoroughly."

"Good! Write the man's name on a card, and I will give you one upon
which I have written the name of my man."

Mr. Barnes did so. Then they exchanged cards, glanced at them, and
grasped each other's hands significantly. The cards bore the same name.
With the others they went into the dining-room. Mr. Thauret found
himself seated next to Mr. Barnes, whilst on the other side of the
detective sat Mr. Fisher.

It need scarcely be said that the dinner was enjoyable and enjoyed,
though it must be admitted that all awaited anxiously the hour of
twelve. It will be as well perhaps, therefore, to come immediately to
the _denouement_, for which all were assembled. The last course had been
served, and coffee and nuts were on the table, when the clock chimed the
hour for which all were anxious. Promptly at the first stroke Mr.
Mitchel arose. There was a silence till twelve was tolled and then he
began:

"Gentlemen, you have all kindly accepted my invitation to see me win a
rash wager made thirteen months ago. It is odd, perhaps, that I should
have won--for I announce that I have won--when we remember that the time
was thirteen months, which number, as we all know, superstit