he Winkelried conspiracy is
only a bad dream and we may safely turn to other affairs."

"Yes; but the margin by which we escaped is too narrow to contemplate."

"We have a saying that a miss is as good as a mile," remarked Judge
Claiborne. "We have never told Mr. Armitage that we found the papers in
the safety box at New York to be as he described them."

"They are dangerous. We have hesitated as to whether there was more risk
in destroying them than in preserving them," said the Baron.

Armitage shrugged his shoulders and laughed.

"They are out of my hands. I positively decline to accept their further
custody."

A messenger appeared with a telegram which the Baron opened and read.

"It's from the commander of the _Sophia Margaret_, who is just leaving
Rio Janeiro for Trieste, and reports his prisoners safe and in good
health."

"It was a happy thought to have him continue his cruise to the Brazilian
coast before returning homeward. By the time he delivers those two
scoundrels to his government their fellow conspirators will have
forgotten they ever lived. But"--and Judge Claiborne shrugged his
shoulders and smiled disingenuously--"as a lawyer I deplore such methods.
Think what a stir would be made in this country if it were known that two
men had been kidnapped in the sovereign state of Virginia and taken out
to sea under convoy of ships carrying our flag for transfer to an
Austrian battle-ship! That's what we get for being a free republic that
can not countenance the extradition of a foreign citizen for a political
offense."

Armitage was not listening. Questions of international law and comity had
no interest for him whatever. The valley breeze, the glory of the blue
Virginia sky, the far-stretching lines of hills that caught and led the
eye like sea billows; the dark green of shrubbery, the slope of upland
meadows, and that elusive, vanishing gleam of white,--before such things
as these the splendor of empire and the might of armies were unworthy of
man's desire.

The Baron's next words broke harshly upon his mood.

"The gratitude of kings is not a thing to be despised. You could go to
Vienna and begin where most men leave off! Strong hands are needed in
Austria,--you could make yourself the younger--the great Stroebel--"

The mention of his name brought back the Baron's still unanswered
question. He referred to it now, as he stood before them smiling.

"I have answered all your questions but one; I