ve, you are
discovered to be in touch with the robber bands, and--well--that's an
end of you."

"A nice, salubrious spot," Nigel murmured.

"It sounds most interesting," Maggie declared. "I think a woman would
be less likely to cause suspicion," she added hopefully.

"Utterly out of the question," Jesson pronounced. "Kroten is the one
place that must be left in my hands. I know more about the getting there
than any of you, and I know the tricks of changing my identity."

"I should rather like to go with you," Nigel confessed.

"Impossible!" was the brief reply.

"Why?"

Jesson smiled.

"To be perfectly frank," he said, "because you are developing an
interest in the one person in the world who might give success over into
our hands. It is necessary for you to remain where you can encourage
that interest."

Nigel was a little staggered.

"My friendship with Mademoiselle Karetsky," he protested, "is scarcely
likely to influence her political views."

"I am a somewhat close observer," Jesson continued. "You will not ask me
to believe that your conversation with mademoiselle in her box at the
Opera last night related all the time to--well, shall we say music?"

"Nigel, you never told me you were at the Opera," Maggie intervened.
"What made you go?"

"I think that it was a message from Mademoiselle Karetsky," Jesson
suggested quietly.

Nigel smiled.

"Upon my word, I think you're going to be a success, Jesson," he
declared. "Perhaps you can tell me what we did talk about?"

"I believe I almost could," was the calm reply. "In any case, I think I
see the situation as it exists. Mademoiselle Karetsky is a wonderful
woman. She has a great, open mind. To a certain extent, of course, she
has seen things from the point of view of Paul Matinsky, Immelan, and
that little coterie of Russo-Germans who see a future for both countries
only in an alliance of the old-fashioned order. Matinsky, however, has
always had his doubts. That is why he sent over here the one person whom
he trusted. Presently she will make a report, and the whole issue will
remain with her. Immelan knows this and pays her ceaseless court. My
impression, however, is that his influence is waning. I believe that
to-day he is terrified at the bare reflection of how much Naida Karetsky
knows."

"You believe that she does know exactly what is intended?" Nigel asked.

"I am perfectly certain of it," Jesson replied. "If she could be induced
to tell u