leet Street, a little more comfortable, I think, in my forty
horsepower motor-car than you in that very disreputable hansom. The
other details are too absurdly simple; one need not enlarge upon them."

Bernadine shrugged his shoulders.

"I am at your service," he declared calmly.

De Grost laughed.

"My dear fellow," he said, "need I say that you are free to come or go,
to take a whisky and soda with me or to depart at once--exactly as you
feel inclined? The door was locked only until you restored to me my
keys."

He crossed the room, fitted the key in the lock and turned it.

Bernadine drew himself up.

"I will not drink with you," he said. "But some day a reckoning shall
come."

He turned to the door. De Grost laid his finger upon the bell.

"Show Count von Hern out," he directed the astonished servant who
appeared a moment or two later.

CHAPTER V

THE SEVEN SUPPERS OF ANDREA KORUST

Baron de Grost was enjoying what he had confidently looked forward to as
an evening's relaxation, pure and simple. He sat in one of the front
rows of the stalls of the Alhambra, his wife by his side and an
excellent cigar in his mouth. An hour or so before he had been in
telephonic communication with Paris, had spoken with Sogrange himself,
and received his assurance of a calm in political and criminal affairs
amounting almost to stagnation. It was out of the season, and though his
popularity was as great as ever, neither he nor his wife had any social
engagements. Hence this evening at a music-hall, which Peter, for his
part, was finding thoroughly amusing.

The place was packed--some said owing to the engagement of Andrea Korust
and his brother, others to the presence of Mademoiselle Sophie Celaire
in her wonderful _Danse des Apaches_. The violinist that night had a
great reception. Three times he was called before the curtain; three
times he was obliged to reiterate his grateful but immutable resolve
never to yield to the nightly storm which demanded more from a man who
has given of his best. Slim, with the worn face and hollow eyes of a
genius, he stood and bowed his thanks, but when he thought the time had
arrived he disappeared, and though the house shook for minutes
afterwards, nothing could persuade him to reappear.

Afterward came the turn which, notwithstanding the furore caused by
Andrea Korust's appearance, was generally considered to be equally
responsible for the packed house--the Apache dance of M