rom Mr. Caryll's point of view--and yet it
was disappointing. Five pairs of dilating eyes confronted him, five
gaping mouths. Then her ladyship broke into a laugh.

"The creature's mad--I've long suspected it." And she meant to be taken
literally; his many whimsicalities were explained to her at last. He
was, indeed, half-witted, as he now proved.

Mr. Templeton, recovering, smote the table angrily. He thought he had
good reason to lose his self-control on this occasion, though it was a
matter of pride with him that he could always preserve an unruffled
calm under the most trying circumstances. "What is your name, sir?" he
demanded again.

"You are hard of hearing, sir, I think. I am Lord Ostermore. Set down
that name in the warrant if you are determined to be bubbled by that
fellow there and made to look foolish afterwards with my Lord Carteret."

Mr. Templeton sat back in his chair, frowning; but more from utter
bewilderment now than anger.

"Perhaps," said Mr. Caryll, "if I were to explain, it would help you
to see the imposture that is being practiced upon you. As for the
allegations that have been made against me--that I am a Jacobite spy and
an agent of the Pretender's--" He shrugged, and waved an airy hand. "I
scarce think there will remain the need for me to deny them when you
have heard the rest."

Rotherby took a step forward, his face purple, his hands clenched. Her
ladyship thrust out a bony claw, clutched at his sleeve, and drew him
back and into the chair beside her. "Pho! Charles," she said; "give the
fool rope, and he'll hang himself, never doubt it--the poor, witless
creature."

Mr. Caryll sauntered over to the secretaire, and leaned an elbow on the
top of it, facing all in the room.

"I admit, Mr. Secretary," said he, "that I had occasion to assault
Mr. Green, to the end that I might possess myself of the papers he was
seeking in this desk."

"Why, then--" began Mr. Templeton.

"Patience, sir! I admit so much, but I admit no more. I do not, for
instance, admit that the object--the object itself--of my search was
such as has been represented."

"What then? What else?" growled Rotherby.

"Ay, sir--what else?" quoth Mr. Templeton.

"Sir," said Mr. Caryll, with a sorrowful shake of, the head, "I have
already startled you, it seems, by one statement. I beg that you will
prepare yourself to be startled by another." Then he abruptly dropped
his languor. "I should think twice, sir," he advised