The Red Cloud chief., 1907-08-23

definite character
Guy looked his amazemcnt, but he
said nothing.
ITO you" the duke continued. "a Sc
cret meeting between these two mon.
archs may not seem at all an astonisb.
ing thing. To us 1t Is of the grayest
political importance. Some sort of an
understanding was arrived at between
them. What was 1t? That sheet of pa.
per which was once in your possession
might very possibly contain the clew.
Now you can appreciate its Importance
to us"
what an ass ! was not to take more
care Of It," Guy muttered.
'Thcre are other things to be consid.
ered," the duke continued. For the
last month every dockyard In Germany
has becn working night and day, and
we have authentic information as to u
huge mobilization scheme which il al.
ready OF foot. We might have wonder.
ed against whom these preparations
were intended but for you. As 1t Is the
English government has beer fully
appraised Of everything. Your magnif.
cen fleet, under the pretcxt of seeing
the Baltic squadron safely on It's way,
has been gradually concentrated From
dispatches to the German ambassador
which we have managed to intercept
in England we know that 1t IL intended
to raise a 'casus belli' during the pres.
ence Of the squadron in British waters.
Quite unexpectedly, as 1t was hoped.
Germany was to range herself on Rus
sia's side and strike against England.
We, Russia's nominal ally. have had no
intimatlon Of this whatever. We are
apparently left to ourselves-ignored.
Our friendship with your country has
destroyed Russla's friendship for us.
She relies, no doubt, on our neutrality,
and she makes terms. doubtless alb
surdly favorable ones. with our ancient
enemy. In the eyes Of the world France
is to be made to appear ridiculous. The
German empire is to be ruled from
London, and the Emperor Wilhelm's
known ambition is to be realized"
at sounds" Guy admitted. like a
nightmare. l know you foreigners all
think we English are a lot too cock.
sure, but W. have our own ideas. you
know, about any attempt ut invasion"
Il am afraid" the duke said, that
when it comes to throwing a million
men at different points Of your coasts,
protected by a superb navy. you might
find yourselves unpleasantly surprised.
But let that pass. Have | said enough
to make you understand the impor-
lance of what you saw In the forest of
Pozen? Good! Now | want you to un.
derstand this-in the interests of your
country and mine it is most important
that the fact of our knowledge OF this
meeting should be kept n profound Sc
crct."
YES" Guy said; Il understand that"
Your presence there" the vicomte
continued, created n certain amount
Of suspicion. You were watched to
Paris by German spies, and if they had
had the least idea of how much you
had seen your life would not have been
worth five minutes purchase. AS it is.
they are uneasy over your disappear
ance. There are Mt least n dozen men
and women in Paris and England to-
day who are searching for you. You
are moderately safe here, but not alto.
gether. l wan to put them finally off
the scent. | might, of course, put you
into such confinement that detection
would be impossible. | do not want to
do that. You have rendered your own
country and mini an immense service.
! prefer to treat you MS Il gentleman
and n man of honor and to take you. as
| hope you will see that l have done,
info orr pntirp papfIapra
M. le Due" Guy answered, II can
assure you that | appreciate a. that
you have said. l am willing to do ex-
actly as you say"
Tomorrow mornings papers," the
duke said slowly, twill contain an ac-
count Of the finding Of your body in
the Seine"
"AIy what?' Guy exclaimed.
Your body. We are going to stab
and drown you. Perhaps l should say
we are going to discover you stabbed
and drowned"
Guy half rose from his seat.
81 say he began.
II need not explain, of course" the
duke continued, that you will suffer
by proxy. The whole affair has been
carefully arranged by the commission
, ers of police. An account Of your do
ings since you arrived I'm Paris will be
given, which I fear may not flattei
' you, but you must remember that 1t l.
necessary to put our German friends
. completely of the scent, and in q