in his voice.

"It was he who invented 'the game,'" said Loristan. "I showed you his
strange maps and plans."

"It is a good game," the Prince answered in the manner of a man
extraordinarily interested and impressed. "They know it well. They can
be trusted."

"No such thing has ever been done before," Loristan said. "It is as
new as it is daring and simple."

"Therein lies its safety," the Prince answered.

"Perhaps only boyhood," said Loristan, "could have dared to imagine it."

"The Prince thanks you," he said after a few more words spoken aside to
his visitor. "We both thank you. You may go back to your beds."

And the boys went.

XIX

"THAT IS ONE!"

A week had not passed before Marco brought to The Rat in their bedroom
an envelope containing a number of slips of paper on each of which was
written something.

"This is another part of the game," he said gravely. "Let us sit down
together by the table and study it."

They sat down and examined what was written on the slips. At the head
of each was the name of one of the places with which Marco had
connected a face he had sketched. Below were clear and concise
directions as to how it was to be reached and the words to be said when
each individual was encountered.

"This person is to be found at his stall in the market," was written of
the vacant-faced peasant. "You will first attract his attention by
asking the price of something. When he is looking at you, touch your
left thumb lightly with the forefinger of your right hand. Then utter
in a low distinct tone the words 'The Lamp is lighted.' That is all
you are to do."

Sometimes the directions were not quite so simple, but they were all
instructions of the same order. The originals of the sketches were to
be sought out--always with precaution which should conceal that they
were being sought at all, and always in such a manner as would cause an
encounter to appear to be mere chance. Then certain words were to be
uttered, but always without attracting the attention of any bystander
or passer-by.

The boys worked at their task through the entire day. They
concentrated all their powers upon it. They wrote and re-wrote--they
repeated to each other what they committed to memory as if it were a
lesson. Marco worked with the greater ease and more rapidly, because
exercise of this order had been his practice and entertainment from his
babyhood. The Rat, however, almost kept pace with