London. Oh, that reminds me.
A young lady was here only two days ago, asking for your address."

"Did she leave her name?" Vine asked, with a faint curiosity.

"I think not," the ambassador answered. "Wolfe saw her, and I asked him
the question particularly."

"I cannot imagine whom she could have been," Vine said, thoughtfully. "I
have not many acquaintances over here."

"Another man who was asking after you," Deane remarked, "was Littleson.
He was dining here last night."

Vine smiled.

"I can imagine," he said, "his being curious as to my whereabouts. I
have taken rooms where I don't think any one is likely to find me out
except by accident."

Deane rose.

"I think," he said, "we had better go downstairs. The ladies will be
wondering what has become of us. My wife is expecting a young woman in
this evening whom I think you know--Stella Duge."

Vine started slightly.

"Yes," he said, "I have met Miss Duge often in New York."

CHAPTER V

A QUESTION OF COURAGE

Stella turned towards him with a slight frown upon her forehead.

"Do you mean, Norris, then, that after all you will not use your power
over these men, that you will let them go free?"

"Not if I can help it," he answered, "but there are many things to be
considered. I shall be guided largely by what Deane advises."

"It is absurd," she declared. "You have wanted money all your life,
money and power. You have both now in your grasp. If you do not use
them, I shall think--"

She hesitated. He shrugged his shoulders slightly.

"Go on!" he said.

"I shall think that you are a coward," she said quietly. "I shall think
that you are afraid to use what I risked--well, a great deal--to win
for you."

"It isn't a question of courage," he protested.

"It is," she answered. "You are afraid to do what in your heart you must
know is the right thing, because for a year or two, perhaps even a
decade of years, it will mean a great upheaval. The end must be good. I
am sure of it."

"If Deane and I," he answered, "can also convince ourselves of this, I
shall act. You need not be afraid of that."

"Deane and you!" she repeated, contemptuously. "Who am I, then, in your
counsels? Just a puppet, I suppose? Anyhow, it was I who ran the risk, I
who gave these men into your hands. If you play the poltroon,
everything is over between us, Norris."

He raised his eyes and looked at her in half-unwilling admiration. She
and their hostess had come out o