arcely yet knew the worst. Presently Counsellor spoke.

'This thing has gone beyond a joke,' he said, 'What does it mean?' The
glance from under the overhanging gray brows had regained its fire.

'My orders are simple enough. I am to keep you here until to-morrow
afternoon at three o'clock.'

'By doing so you will ruin Maasau as a free State and bring a most
serious defeat upon the British policy.' Counsellor's voice was
rasping. 'Are you prepared for that?'

Both men were strenuous, and bred deep into the bone of each were the
same dominant qualities.

'I am prepared to carry out my orders,' answered Rallywood; 'I had them
practically from the Duke himself.'

'The Duke is of the same mind in which I found him at the Castle, though
he may be forced to dissemble,' asserted Counsellor; then with a twist
he sat up as his glance fell upon the square dark object lying on the
table between them. 'John Rallywood, do you know what that is?'

'The despatches thrown to me by Unziar.'

'That case is mine; it contains my private instructions; you can guess
something of their importance from the fact that I have been robbed of
them. You must give them back to me! As an Englishman and an honest man,
I call upon you to give them back to me.'

Rallywood's long nervous fingers closed over the packet.

'It is impossible!' he said. 'As an Englishman, yes, but as an honest
man, well, it--it is hard to say.'

'Are you mad?' cried Counsellor.

'I have not had long to think it out, and it is a tangled question,'
replied Rallywood wearily.

'A tangled question? I take it you are first of all an Englishman?'

'In my private capacity, and that deals with my private honour; but I
have undertaken another responsibility from which I cannot withdraw at
pleasure. I am a sworn soldier of Maasau, and as such my public honour
has first claim.'

It was a simple rendering of a tremendous problem, but it served for
Rallywood.

'Then----' said Counsellor.

There was a rush and a scuffle, but Rallywood was young and strong and
more active than the Major.

'Confound you!' Counsellor fell back a step or two, breathing hard.
There are some situations which by their elemental force destroy all
other emotions. The situation at Kofn guard-house was one of these. The
point at issue between these two men pierced to the bed-rock of national
loyalty. Perhaps Blivinski was right. Love of country was part of their
physical equipment, yet by the ir