n his breast coat-pocket.

It then became necessary that he and his friend should discuss the
manner in which the spy should be managed. Doodles had his misgivings
that Archie would be awkward, and almost angered his friend by the
repetition of his cautions. "You mustn't chuck your money at her head,
you know," said Doodles.

"Of course not; but when the time comes I shall slip the notes into her
hand--with a little pressure perhaps."

"It would be better to leave them near her on the table."

"Do you think so?"

"Oh, yes; a great deal. It's always done in that way."

"But perhaps she wouldn't see them--or wouldn't know where they came
from."

"Let her alone for that."

"But I must make her understand what I want of her--in return, you know.
I ain't going to give her twenty pounds for nothing."

"You must explain that at first; tell her that you expect her aid, and
that she will find you a grateful friend--a grateful friend, say; mind
you remember that."

"Yes; I'll remember that. I suppose it would be as good a way as any."

"It's the only way, unless you want her to ring for the servant to kick
you out of the house. It's as well understood as A B C, among the people
who do these things. I should say take jewelry instead of money if she
were anything but a Russian spy; but they understand the thing so well,
that you may go further with them than with others."

Archie's admiration for Sophie became still higher as he heard this. "I
do like people," said he, "who understand what's what, and no mistake."

"But even with her you must be very careful."

"Oh, yes; that's a matter of course."

"When I was declaring for the last time that she would find me a
grateful friend, just at the word grateful, I would put down the four
flyers on the table, smoothing them with my hand like that." Then
Doodles acted the part, putting a great deal of emphasis on the word
'grateful' as he went through the smoothing ceremony with two or three
sheets of club note paper. "That's your game, you may be sure. If you
put them into her hand she may feel herself obliged to pretend to be
angry; but she can't be angry simply because you put your money on her
table. Do you see that, old fellow?" Archie declared that he did see it
very plainly. "If she does not choose to undertake the job, she'll
merely have to tell you that you have left something behind you."

"But there's no fear of that, I suppose?"

"I can't say. Her hands may