Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-25
THE GREAT SECRET

assurance pleased him. Tell me now" he
said-"you are a man of common sense-iS
that fellow a crank, or is he going to Sue
ceed?"
l hesitated. His scheme is ingenious
enough" | said, and l believe it is quite true
that there are great many people in France
who would be glad to see the monarchy revived.
They are a people too, whom 1T IS easy to
catch on the top of wave of sentiment. But,
far as | can see there are at least two
things against him. In the first place, doubt
whether de Valentin is a sufficiently heroic
figure to fire the imagination of the people.
And in the second place, do not believe that
the Power whose intervention he relies so much
upon is England l do not believe that my
country would risk much to gain so little.
We are on excellent terms with France, as 1t is.
Secret negotiations with de Valentin would be
objectionable chicanery our part, and | do
not think that our ministers would lend them
selves to it
Van Reinberg nodded "Whom do you
believe he referred to, them" he asked.
Germany" | told him. That is where |
believe that he has made fatal mistake. He
will never make successful bid for the SYM
pathies of the French people, if he presents
himself before them backed by their historic
enemy"
asked anxiously, you would not back his
chances?"
81 should not" I admitted.
For man who had just invested two million
dollars in those chances, Van Reinberg looked
remarkably cheerful Il am right down glad
to hear YOU say thatr' he admitted. 1t will
be blow to my wife, am afraid, if it doesn't
come off but fancy it will be bigger one to
me if it does"
You do not fancy yourself, then, as Mon
sieur lie Due l remarked smiling.
He looked at me in speeches. scorn. DO
7 lilo DrIre2p he asked ipdipD ant1V
Besides, | am an American citizen, an Amer
lean born and bred, and love my country"
he added, with note of pride in his tone
Paris, to me, means the Grand Hotel, the
American bar, the telephone, and an inter
prefer When / am through with business,
am meaning to spend what | can of my dol
lars in the country where | made Them and
not go capering about among a lot OF people
whose language l don't understand, and who
wouldn't care ten cents about me anyway.
| hope | shall die with my window wide open,
so that l can hear the ferry boats in the river,
and the cable cars and the rattle of the ele-
waited trains Say, will you pass that bottle
to me? Well drink once more, sir, and I'll
give you a toast. May that last investment
of mine go to smash! l drink to the French
Republicl"
In moment Mrs Van Reinberg came in
and motioned me to follow her into the
billiard room. "Well?" she inquired. look
ing at searchingly.
l could scarcely keep from smll1ng, Dut she
was terribly in earnest.
Il want to know exactly" she said, what
YOU think of it all. l know my husband has
been making fun of it. He does not under
stand. He never will"
"Mr. de Vaentin's scheme is good one,'
said slowly; but he has not told us every
thing If you want my opinion"
"Of course do" she declared.
Then | think" l continued, that his
success depends good deal upon something
which he did not tell u.s.
What is it," she asked eagerly.
at depends. l think" l said upon the
Power which has agreed to back his claims. If
that Power is England, as he tried to make us
Cx,oo~e;e &c D.