s to write, and I
fear you will have to dine alone. You must excuse me, but it is
inevitable.... Do you mind ringing the bell?"

He obeyed, and a moment later the footman entered. "Take this gentleman
to the blue room, Forbes," said Miss Arkwright. "See that he has
everything he wants." The footman bowed and held the door open for
Lionel. "Dinner is at half past seven. If you are dull before then,
please go to the library. But perhaps you are not a reader? Perhaps you
are of those 'whose only books are----'" She checked herself, as if
remembering her own correctness or the immobile Forbes.

"They taught me only wisdom--the best wisdom of all," said Lionel,
answering the unfinished quotation. Then he went out, wondering.

CHAPTER XVI

A LETTER AND SOME REFLECTIONS

"BLOOMSBURY, LONDON.

"DEAR MR. MORTIMER,--Long before this reaches you my sister
will have received a telegram introducing you properly. I am so
sorry that I forgot to wire before, but I have been so harassed
and busy that I never thought about it. A true woman, you will
say--I can almost see your superior smile as I sit writing
here, yet I dare to hope that the smile will not be too
superior, that a touch of pity will creep in when you remember
that my worry is for a husband's freedom. If only I can save
Lukos--but it is foolish to waste time on 'if's.' I _mean_ to
succeed, and you have promised to help me. You have my
heartfelt gratitude already.

"Thank you for your letter telling me of your arrival at The
Quiet House. Do not be discouraged that you have not seen Mizzi
yet, and that you have been unable to approach the ambassador
again. I have been working very hard and am not dissatisfied
with the results, though they would look paltry if I committed
them to paper. My information leads me to think that we are on
the right track--that Mizzi _is_ the guilty party--that sooner
or later an attempt _will_ be made to sell the document--and
lastly that we must suspect every one. Yes, _every one_! Even
my sister, perhaps, and that brings me to the more important
part of my letter.

"I have not seen Winifred for some years, but from the hints
you gave me in your letter I gather that she is of distinctly
prepossessing appearance. (Isn't that how the police reports
usually describe it?) My pen hesitates whether to