far livelier
imagination. Once started on an untruth, he would pursue it hither and
yon as a greyhound courses a hare. Like every artist of the mendacious,
he was quick for those little deeds that would give his lies a look of
righteous integrity. Thus it befell on the occasion in hand.

"Behold now," cried Storri, as though the idea had just occurred to him,
"I will, while the thought is fresh with me, telegraph a friend in New
York to select our staterooms for the next ship after June first."

Storri wrote his message; the San Reve watching him, her heart a-brim
with love and the happiness of returning home. She would see France, see
Paris--see them with the man whom she adored! Storri whirred the
telegraph call that was fixed in the hall; presently a gray-coat lad
appeared and bore away the message. Then Storri beamed affably upon the
San Reve, who took his hand and put it to her grateful lips.

Storri beamed because he was in a right royal humor. The episode had
been unpremeditated, and yet it dove-tailed to the advantage of his
designs. The maneuver, he could see, had extinguished the final sparks
of the San Reve's jealous suspicions; extinguished them at a time, too,
when it was of consequence to lull the San Reve into fullest assurance
of his faith. And at that he had not thrown away his wire. Storri had
remembered that he must send a word to Steamboat Dan in the morning. He
decided to forestall the morning; he would dispatch the message at once.
Being one of those who suck joy from deceit, it gave Storri a thrill of
supremest satisfaction to transact the duplicity of which she was to be
one of the victims, in the unsuspecting presence of the San Reve. The
Storri vanity owned an appetite for two-faced triumphs of that feather.

Storri had departed; and the San Reve was thinking on her love for him,
and how they would return together to the France she was sick to see.
The bell rang; it was the messenger lad in need of light. The message
did not specify the city; the lad had been told to return and have the
omission supplied.

The San Reve took the message with the purpose of writing in "New York."
She ran her gray-green eye over it. The message read:

Daniel Loughlin,
Albion House, James Slip.

Get the men together at your place; I will meet them Friday. They
must go aboard at once, and take the yacht to Fortress Monroe. We
shall then be sure of having it in Washington when we want