cted
the attention of the farmer, while the other secured apples in a far
corner of the orchard. Don't you see?"

"No, I do not."

"Well, it is simple. Just see how easy it is. We attract the attention
of the guards, and then one of us goes into the house."

"But," said I, "if he meets there a resolute guard."

"And if," said Merton, "the guard is met by a more resolute man, let
us say, with a revolver."

"Merton, it is a thing to be done without violence."

"Or not at all?" queried Merton, with what I may call an examining
glance.

"No, I did not say that."

The captain, I suppose, understood my state of mind, for he said: "I
feel as you do. You are quite right; but if it becomes needful to use
positive means,--I say positive means to get these papers,--then--" I
shook my head and he went on, "You may rest assured that I shall use
no violence unless I am obliged to do so."

"You will have no chance," said I, "because I, as a member of the
legation, must be the one to enter the house. No one else should. You
may readily see why."

Merton was disappointed, and in fact said so, while admitting that I
was in the right. He looked grave as he added: "We are playing a
game, you and I, in which, quite possibly, the fate of our country is
involved, and, also, the character and fate of a woman. If we win, no
one can convict her of having taken these papers. On their side there
will be no hesitation. There should be none on ours."

I said nothing to relieve his evident doubt as to the spirit with
which I had undertaken a perilous venture. I, on my part, simply
insisted that the larger risk must be mine. He finally assented with a
laugh, saying he was sorry to miss the fun of it. After some careful
consideration of his plan and of our respective shares in carrying it
out, he went away, leaving me to my reflections. They would, I
presume, have amused and surprised the man who had just left me. I had
led a quiet, studious life, and never once had I been where it was
requisite to face great danger or possible death. I had often wondered
whether I possessed the form of courage which makes certain men more
competent, the greater the peril. As I sat I confessed to myself an
entire absence of the joy in risks with which Merton faced our
venture, but at the same time I knew that I was not sorry for a chance
to satisfy myself in regard to an untested side of my own character. I
knew, too, that I should be afraid, but would t