He was safe in the trap, and the other knew
it.

"Sir, I will not discredit you by choosing methods. As to the
results desired, I say no more."

"Yet we sit here and discuss this matter as though we contemplated
a simple, proper and dignified act!"

"Murder is perhaps not legal, even for the sake of one's country.
But suppose we halt this side of murder. Suppose that by means
known only to yourself, and not even to myself, you gained this
young woman's _free consent_ to accompany you, say, to Europe--that
would be legal, dignified, proper--and ah! so useful."

"And rather risky!"

"And altogether interesting."

"And quite impossible."

"Altogether impossible. Oh, utterly!"

"Quite utterly!"

They spoke with gravity. What the gentleman from New York really
thought lay in his unvoiced question: "Could it by any possibility
be true that the Fillmore administration would give me support for
the next nomination if I agree to swing the Free Soil vote nearer
to the compromise?" What the gentleman from Kentucky asked in his
own mind, was this:

"Will he play fair with us, or will he simply make this an occasion
to break into our ranks?" What they both did was to break out into
laughter at least feignedly hearty. The Kentuckian resolved to put
everything upon one hazard.

"I was just saying," he remarked, "that we have been told the
adorable countess perhaps contemplates only a short visit in
America after all. She might be easy to lead back to Europe, If
necessary, you shall have a dignified errand made for you
abroad--entirely what you yourself would call fitting. You must
see to that. Your reward will come somewhere this side of Heaven."

"Again you have forgotten about--"

"I have forgotten nothing, and to show you that I speak with
authority, I will tell you this: Within the hour the Countess St.
Auban will leave her entertainment at the theater and return to her
hotel. You see, we are advised of all her movements. We give you
an hour to meet her at her hotel; an hour to persuade her. There
the curtain drops.

"No one in Washington or in New York seeks to look beyond that
curtain," he concluded slowly. "No one counsels you what to do,
and indeed, no one can suggest. Only take this woman away, and
lose her,--that is all! A few days or weeks will do, but for ever
would be better. It is no light errand that is offered to you, and
we are not fools or children to look at this altogether li