or me. If I get safe across to France tonight, I shall be lucky."

"Incautious as ever," sighed Raeburn. "And that Kellner richly deserves
his fate. Why should you meddle?"

"I was bound to," said Haeberlein. "He did me many a good turn during my
exile, and though he has made a grave mistake, yet--"

"Yet you must run your chivalrous head into a halter for his sake!"
exclaimed Raeburn. "You were ever Quixote. I shall live to see you
hanged yet."

Haeberlein laughed.

"No, I don't think you will," he said, cheerfully. "I've had some bad
falls, but I've always fallen on my feet. With a good cause, a man has
little to fear."

"If this WERE a good cause," said Raeburn, with significant emphasis.

"It was the least I could do," said Haeberlein, with the chivalrous
disregard of self which was his chief characteristic. "I only fear that
my coming here may involve you in it which Heaven forfend! I should
never forgive myself if I injured your reputation."

Raeburn smiled rather bitterly.

"You need not fear that. My reputation has long been at the mercy of
all the lying braggarts in the country. Men label me socialist one
day, individualist the next. I become communist or egotist, as is most
convenient to the speaker and most damaging to myself. But there," he
exclaimed, regaining the tranquil serenity which characterized him, "why
should I rail at the world when I might be talking to you? How is my old
friend Hans?"

The sound of a key in the latch startled them.

"It is only Erica," said Raeburn. "I had forgotten she was out."

"My pretty little namesake! I should like to see her. Is she still a
zealous little atheist?"

"No, she has become a Christian," said Raeburn, speaking with some
effort.

"So!" exclaimed Haeberlein, without further comment. He himself was of
no particular creed; he was just indifferent, and the zeal of his friend
often surprised him.

Raeburn went out into the passage, drew Erica into the front sitting
room, and closed the door.

"There is an old friend of yours in my study," he said. "He wishes to
see you, but you must promise secrecy, for he is in danger."

"Is it Herr Haeberlein?" asked Erica.

"Yes, on one of his rash, kindly errands, but one of which I don't
approve. However, his work is over, and we must try to get him safely
off to France. Come in with me if you will, but I wanted to tell you
about it first, so that you should not be mixed up with this against
your will,