ticularly Chaffee's notion that white uniforms don't
suit the climate?"

I shrugged my shoulders.

"Is that a criticism of your superior officer?" Marmont demanded.

"That is never done in the Army," I answered.

"Which being the case let us take a drink," said Westlake, and led the
way to the cafe.

"Looks rather squally in Europe," Courtney observed, as the dice were
deciding the privilege of signing the check.

"It will blow over, I fancy," I answered.

"Have you seen the afternoon papers?"

"No."

"Then you don't know the Titian Ambassador has been recalled."

"Indeed! Well, I still doubt if it means fight."

Courtney stroked his grey imperial. "Getting rather near one, don't
you think?" he said.

"No closer than France and Turkey were only a short while ago," I
answered. "Moreover, in this case, the Powers would have a word to
say."

"Yes, they are rather ready to speak out on such occasions; but, unless
I'm much mistaken, if the Titians and the Valerians get their armies
moving it will take more than talk from the Powers to stop them."

"And it's all over a woman," I observed carelessly.

Courtney gave me a sharp glance. "I thought that was rather a secret,"
he replied.

I laughed. "It's one, at least, that the newspapers have not
discovered--yet. But, where did you get it?"

"From a friend; same as yourself," he said, with the suggestion of a
smile.

"My dear fellow," I said. "I know more about the Kingdom of Valeria
than--well, than your friend and all his assistants of the State
Department."

"I don't recall mentioning the State Department," Courtney replied.

"You didn't. I was honoring your friend by rating him among the
diplomats."

He ignored my thrust. "Ever been to Valeria?" he asked.

I nodded.

"Recently?"

"About six years ago."

"Is that the last time?"

"What are you driving at?" I asked.

He answered with another question: "Seen the last number of the London
Illustrated News?"

"No," I answered.

He struck the bell. "Bring me the London News," he said to the boy.
Opening it at the frontispiece he pushed it across to me.

"Has she changed much since you saw her?" he asked, and smiled.

It was a woman's face that looked at me from the page; and, though it
was six years since I had seen it last, I recognized it instantly.
There was, however, a certain coldness in the eyes and a firm set of
the lip and jaw that were new to me. But, as I looked, they