pression of self-respect; his appreciation of the exact proprieties
resulting from this casual introduction to herself and her brother was
perfect. He was already withdrawing. A waiter had followed him with his
discarded newspaper--and Armitage took it and idly dropped it on a chair.

"Have you heard the news, Armitage? The Austrian sphinx is here--in this
very house!" whispered Singleton impressively.

"Yes; to be sure, Count von Stroebel is here, but he will probably not
remain long. The Alps will soon be safe again. I am glad to have met
you." He bowed to the Claibornes inclusively, nodded in response to
Singleton's promise to look him up later, and left them.

When Shirley and her brother reached their common sitting-room Dick
Claiborne laughingly held up the copy of the _Neue Freie Presse_ which
Armitage had cast aside at their table.

"Now we shall know!" he declared, unfolding the newspaper.

"Know what, Dick?"

"At least what our friend without a country is so interested in."

He opened the paper, from which half a column had been torn, noted the
date, rang the bell, and ordered a copy of the same issue. When it was
brought he opened it, found the place, laughed loudly, and passed the
sheet over to his sister.

"Oh, Shirley, Shirley! This is almost too much!" he cried, watching her
as her eyes swept the article. She turned away to escape his noise, and
after a glance threw down the paper in disgust. The article dealt in
detail with Austro-Hungarian finances, and fairly bristled with figures
and sage conclusions based upon them.

"Isn't that the worst!" exclaimed Shirley, smiling ruefully.

"He's certainly a romantic figure ready to your hand. Probably a
bank-clerk who makes European finance his recreation."

"He isn't an Englishman, at any rate. He repudiated the idea with scorn."

"Well, your Mr. Armitage didn't seem so awfully excited at meeting
Singleton; but he seemed rather satisfied with your appearance, to put it
mildly. I wonder if he had arranged with Singleton to pass by in that
purely incidental way, just for the privilege of making your
acquaintance!"

"Don't be foolish, Dick. It's unbecoming an officer and a gentleman. But
if you should see Mr. Singleton again--"

"Yes--not if I see him _first_!" ejaculated Claiborne.

"Well, you might ask him who Mr. Armitage is. It would be amusing--and
satisfying--to know."

Later in the day the old attache fell upon Claiborne in the smoking-roo