y dainty little
friend, "I make you this promise not only on my own behalf--but also on
behalf of my country, England. Is it a compact?"

"Do you really believe you can help me to free myself of my hateful
bond?" she cried, bending towards me with eager anticipation.

"I tell you, Suzette, that in return for this service you shall be
free."

Tears again stood in those fine dark eyes. I knew of her secret
affection for young Thomas, the hard-working bank clerk, who dared not
aspire to the hand of the niece of the great American financier.

What a narrative of subterfuge and adventure the delightful little girl
seated there before me could write! The small amount I knew was
amazingly romantic. Some of Banfield's smartest financial _coups_ had
been accomplished owing to her clever manoeuvring and to the
information she had gained by her almost childish artlessness. Surely
the British Government could have no more ingenious seeker after
political secrets than she. Women are always more successful as spies
than men. That is why so many are employed by both Germany and France.

In all the varied adventures in my search after spies I had never met a
girl with a stranger history than Suzette Darbour. That she had actually
imposed upon me was in itself, I think, sufficient evidence of her wit,
cunning, and innate ability.

When I rose from the table and strolled back to where we had left the
"auto," it was with the knowledge that my long search had not been in
vain. She had taken my hand in promise to go to the "Kaiserhof" in
Berlin and pry into the papers of that foremost of secret agents,
Charles Pierron.

At five o'clock next morning I was back again in London, and at ten I
was seated in conference with Ray Raymond in his cosy flat in Bruton
Street.

"We must get at the terms offered by the Germans, Jacox," he declared,
snapping his fingers impatiently. "It is imperative that the Foreign
Office should know them. At present our hands are utterly tied. We are
unable to act, and our diplomacy is at a complete standstill. The
situation is dangerous--distinctly dangerous. The guv'nor was only
saying so last night. Once the agreement is signed, then good-bye for
ever to Britain's power and prestige."

I explained that so carefully was the secret preserved that I had been
unable to discover anything. Yet I had hopes.

"My dear Jack, England relies entirely upon you," he exclaimed. "We must
know the plans of our enemies