There was a desk for his
secretary, now vacant, and beyond, in the shadows of the apartment,
winged bookcases which held a collection of editions de luxe, first
editions, and a great collection of German and Russian literature,
admittedly unique. Sir Alfred was sitting at his desk, writing a letter.
He greeted his nephew with his usual cheerful nod.

"Wait before you go, Harrison," he said to his valet. "Will you take
anything, Ronald? There are cigars and cigarettes here but nothing to
drink. Harrison, you can put the whiskey and soda on the side, anyhow,
then you can wait for me in my room. I shall not require any other
service to-night. Some one must stay to let Captain Granet out. You
understand?"

"Perfectly, sir," the man replied.

"If you don't mind, Ronnie, I will finish this letter while he brings
the whiskey and soda," Sir Alfred said.

Captain Granet strolled around the room. There was no sound for a moment
but the scratching of Sir Alfred's quill pen across the paper. Presently
Harrison returned with the whiskey and soda. Sir Alfred handed him a
note.

"To be sent to-night, Harrison," he directed; "no answer."

The man withdrew, closing the door behind him. Sir Alfred, with his
hands in his pockets, walked slowly around. When he came back he turned
out all the lights except the heavily shaded one over his desk, and
motioned his nephew to draw his easy-chair up to the side.

"Well, Ronnie," he said, "I suppose you are wondering why I have sent
for you at this hour of the night?"

"I am," Granet admitted frankly. "Is there any news?--anything behind
the news, perhaps I should say?"

"What there is, is of no account," Sir Alfred replied. "We are going to
talk pure human nature, you and I for the next hour. The fate of empires
is a matter for the historians. It is your fate and mine which just now
counts for most."

"There is some trouble?" Granet asked quickly,--"some suspicion?"

"None whatever," Sir Alfred repeated firmly. "My position was never
more secure than it is at this second. I am the trusted confidant of the
Cabinet. I have done, not only apparently but actually, very important
work for them. Financially, too, my influence as well as my resources
have been of vast assistance to this country."

Granet nodded and waited. He knew enough of his uncle to be aware that
he would develop his statement in his own way.

"When all has gone well," Sir Alfred continued, "when all seems
absolutely