The Portland daily press., 1898-04-16
BY WILLIAM LIE oUEUx.


oiiI1lhs Adliy QOSOKtCQ LILO AOAOis
Certainly, madame" replied the
Cars official courteously, hishandsclasped
behind his back. "The completion Of the
secret convention with England was,
admit, masters stroke, and even though
directed against us, the rapidity and clev-
erness with which it was affected were
worthy of reward. - And he smiled at
her TnysteriouslJ.
"Ah," she exclaimed, tanning herself
slowly, with sudden hauteur; "no Sc.
cret seems safe from you. m sieur. Moth.
ing escapes the Embassy of Russia" And
bowling slightly, her stiff silks swept past
US, and moment later she became lost
in the chattering, well crowd.
You see, my dear Geoffrey." laughed
Paul, when the Countess was out of hear
ing, "we are accredited with the omnipo-
tence of the Evil One himself quite un-
duly. l particularly desired to learn
whether her husband had been decorated
by his Emperor for that convention which
nearly cost Europe war; therefore haz-
arded single remark. Whereupon she at
once told me all about it, and having
done SO, in her next breath denounced us
and all our works. But, there" and he
gave his shoulders shrug, ''ladies are
such strange creatures.
How cleverly you managed to ascer-
tain what you desired, observed Ella.
But the fine Viennese orchestra had
struck up, and my wife, being engaged
to him for dance then commencing, he
led her off. and 1 failed to overhear his
reply.
For the next hour did not dance, but
wandering about the rooms I exchanged
greetings and chatted with those 1 knew,
until at length l came across Lady Far
ringford, the wife of Sir Henry Earring
ford our Minister in Washington, sitting
with her daughter Mabel. We were old
friends, and Mabel quickly responded to
my invitation to waltz. She was smart
girl, and rumor said that she had become
enga ged to wealthy American, state
ment which, in reply to my inquiry, she
frankly confirmed AS we waltzed and
lounged together noticed Ella dancing
first with Paul, and afterwards with sew
eral young attaches of my acquaintance
Once or twice we exchanged smiles, and
I knew by the expression OF her face how
thoroughly she was enjoying her first
night..in the diplomatic circle. The scene
was brilliant and full of color, the music
excellent, and the scent Of exotiCs almost
overpowering. Everyone seemed intoxi-
cated with gaiety. In that cosmopolitan
crowd hearts were lighter and talk more
free than IN the ordinary London ball
room, although experienced ones knew
that here, amid this brilliant assembly,
there were Lmany strange undercurrents
affecting the prestige of monarohs and the
welfare of nations.
$50, you are to marry, Mabel" OBJ
erved when, after waltzing, led her
into an ante-room, and she sat down to
eat an ice.
eyes, at last, ,''.-she sighed, looking up
at me with a pair of mischievous dark
eyes. She was about twenty two, and
rather pretty. "I'm to be married in
June, and we are coming to Europe for
+xrxD Jxyo, 4l,a
already. I'd SO much like to meet your
wife. Since I've been here this evening
I've heard nothing but admiration of her.
You're the envy Of all your male friends,
Godfrey"
I laughed. I confess that by tke sensa.
tion Ella had caused felt flattered.
"Pll introduce you when have a
are mutual. You are to have husband;
have already wife. -
"I hope you'll find the Biblical quota
tion correct" she laughed, peering at me
over her gauzy fan. "Do you know the
words'?'
IN o. replied, ''I'm not good at re-
memb ber1ng quotations.
wife, findeth good thing Ihope you'll
be no exception to that rule"
Thanks" I replied. 81 don't know
what it says about husbands, but, how
ever. it may be worded, you have my
heartiest wishes for long life and good
luck.
At that instant Ella, on the arm of q
young Italian marquis possessed of a
longer title than his rent-roll, entered.
sprang up at once and introduced her,
and soon we all four were chatting
merrily. When, quarter of an hour
later, we rose to return to the ballroom,
Ella, radiant and happy, walked beside
me. In reply to my question, she declared
that she was enjoying herself immensely,
but as we were re-entering the salon she
clutched my arm, and in half-fright
ened whisper exclaimed:
Look Geofrey. Look at that SER
our man, Helmholtzi''
l glanced in the direction she had in
dictated, and sure enough there was the
detective Renouf, who, in the Laing
household, posed as Carl Helmholtz in
the handsome blue and gold livery of the
Embassy, handing an.ice to lady. In
stantly grasped the situation.
"lt is striking resemblance, dearest, /"
said; nothing more
But I'm certain it's Helmholtz," she
declared excitedly. "Take me closer to
him.
when We were at Pont street this
afternoon, Helmholtz was there, wasn't
he?'
eyes. He brought tea into the draw
ingroom."
''Well, no doubt he is at home now.
This fellow may be- his brother, or some
thing
For moment we stood watching, and
saw him make a servile bow. Fortunate
ly he turned his back upon us, fastening
to execute some command, otherwise he
must have come towards us q. and met us
face face
sI'm certain it is Helmholtz," Ella ex-
claimed, in tone Of conviction.
Without doubt it is a very striking re-
semblance, II admitted. "But the SER
wants OF an Embassy fare not recruited
from the nearest registry office. Besides,
they would never employ a German
here"
At that moment Paul approached and
claimed her for the next dance, while I
wandered on alone amid the crowd, my
mind full OF strange thoughts.
Presently, while Watching the dancers,
chanced to glance aside and s1ecognized
a sparse, well-known agure approaching.
1t was the Earl of Warnham. Attired in
plain evening dress of rather antiquated
cut, he wore no decorations, save the
broad blue ribbon across his narrow strip
OF shirt front, the highest honor his