o her horse, whose nose was exploring her
mackintosh pockets, and he stepped quickly toward her.

"You see, Miss Claiborne, your brother is quite safe, but I very much
hope you will not run away. There are some things to be explained which
it is only fair you should hear."

"Wait, Shirley, and we will all go down together," said Judge Claiborne
reluctantly.

Baron von Marhof, very handsome and distinguished, but mud-splashed, had
tied his horse to a post in the driveway, and stood on the veranda steps,
his hat in his hand, staring, a look of bewilderment on his face.
Armitage, bareheaded, still in his riding leggings, his trousers splashed
with mud, his left arm sleeveless and supported by a handkerchief swung
from his neck, shook hands with Judge Claiborne.

"Baron von Marhof, allow me to present Mr. Armitage," said Dick, and
Armitage walked to the steps and bowed. The Ambassador did not offer his
hand.

"Won't you please come in?" said Armitage, smiling upon them, and when
they were seated he took his stand by the fireplace, hesitated a moment,
as though weighing his words, and began:

"Baron von Marhof, the events that have led to this meeting have been
somewhat more than unusual--they are unique. And complications have
arisen which require prompt and wise action. For this reason I am glad
that we shall have the benefit of Judge Claiborne's advice."

"Judge Claiborne is the counsel of our embassy," said the Ambassador. His
gaze was fixed intently on Armitage's face, and he hitched himself
forward in his chair impatiently, grasping his crop nervously across his
knees.

"You were anxious to find me, Baron, and I may have seemed hard to catch,
but I believe we have been working at cross-purposes to serve the same
interests."

The Baron nodded.

"Yes, I dare say," he remarked dryly.

"And some other gentlemen, of not quite your own standing, have at the
same time been seeking me. It will give me great pleasure to present one
of them--one, I believe, will be enough. Mr. Claiborne, will you kindly
allow Monsieur Jules Chauvenet to stand in the door for a moment? I want
to ask him a question."

Shirley, sitting farthest from Armitage, folded her hands upon the long
table and looked toward the door into which her brother vanished. Then
Jules Chauvenet stood before them all, and as his eyes met hers for a
second the color rose to his face, and he broke out angrily:

"This is infamous! This is an outrage! Baro