eplace them with three million men born closer
to freedom and citizenship--"

"Yes. But you are here somewhat mysteriously; you come privately
and secretly. What harm, then, if you return as privately and
secretly as you have come to Washington? Let your agents carry on
your work here. The mission on which I shall be engaged will have
to do with Louis Kossuth."

"Ah!"

"Yes; and you know that noble patriot, I am told. Consider of what
aid you might be to me. You speak his tongue, you know his
history, you could supply me at once with information--Come, 'tis
no idle errand. And, perhaps,--you will forgive me, since we both
know how cruel is such gossip as this that has wronged you--the
tongue of gossip wags the least when the eye of gossip has seen
least. Tins is a most natural and proper--indeed, most convincing
opportunity."

"That is precisely what I pondered, Sir." She nodded gravely.

"And let me add this," he continued: "every day you are here in
Washington the tongue of rumor wags the more. Listen to me! Leave
this place. Let gossip quiet down. It has been cruel with you;
yet the public soon forgets. To remain and appear in public would
freshen gossip anew. Come, it is an adventure! I swear it does
not lack its appeal to me! Ah, would only that I were younger, and
that it were less seemly and sedate! Dear lady, I offer you my
apology for coming as I have, but large plans work rapidly at
times, and there is little time to wait. Now there is but one word
I can say; that you have courage and decision, I know."

He had risen, and unconsciously the young woman also had
risen,--balancing, measuring, watching, warding, in this contest,
all too unequal. Suddenly, with a swift and most charming smile
she approached him a half step and held out her hand.

"You are a great man, Sir. Your country has found you great. I
have always found the greatest men the simplest and most frank.
Therefore I know you will tell me--you will satisfy any doubt I may
feel--If I should ask a question, you would not condemn me as
presuming?"

"Certainly not. Upon the contrary, my dear Countess, I should feel
flattered."

She looked at him for an instant, then came up to the side of the
table beyond which he had taken his seat. Leaning her chin upon
her hand, her elbow upon the table, in a sudden posture of
encounter, she asked him a question whose answer took him swiftly
far back into his own past, into anoth