Evening star., 1907-09-01

could have got you Off tonight. and in that
| case you might have gone to her own
| house early in the morning. She is In a
| frightful state Of mind, poor girl. But 1t
| was only today that the contents of the
| packet reached me and was shown TO the
| prime minister Then 1t was just before
hurried round here to see you that l re-
ceived cypher telegram from her. warm
| ing me that Count Godensky-of whom
you've probably heard-an attache of the
Russian embassy in Paris. somehow has
| come to suspect a-er-a game in high poll
| tics which she and 1 have been playing:
her last. according to present intentions. as
told you. l have an idea that this man,
| who's we'll known in Paris society, pro-
| posed to Mademoiselle de Renzie, refused
| to take no for an answer, and bored her
| until she perhaps was goaded into giving
him severe snub. Godensky Is vain
cially II it had got talked about. He'd be
| a bad enemy, and mademoiselle seems to
| think that he is very bitter and deter
| mined enemy. Apparently she doesn't
| whether he has actually found out any
thing at all, or merely guesses and bluffs
| But one thing is unfortunately certain, /
believe. Every boat and every train be-
| tween London and Paris will be watched
! more closely than usual for the next day
| or two. Any known or suspected agent
| wouldn't get through unchallenged. But
1 can see no reason why you should not"
Nor /, answered Ivor. laughing lit
tie Il think l could make some trouble
! for any one who tried to stop me-.
Caution above all, Remember you're IN
, training for a diplomatic career Ell? If
| you should lose the packet I'm going to
give you | prophesy that in twenty-four
hours the world would be empty of Maxine
! de Renzie, for the circumstances surround
ing her in this transaction are peculiar. the
most peculiar I've ever been entangled In.
perhaps, in rather varied experience, and
they intimately concern her tiance, the VII
comte Raoul du Laurier-'
"Raoul du Laurier!'' exclaimed Ivor. so
she's engaged to marry him.
Yes. Do you know him?
Il have friends who do. He's in the
French foreign office, though they say he's
| more at home in the hunting field or writ
ing plays"
(which don't get produced. Quite So
But they will get produced some day, for
believe he 8 an extremely clever fellow in
his way-in everything except the diplo-
| matte trade which his father would have
him take up. and got him into, through
heaven knows what influence. No, Du
Laurier's no fool, and is said to be a fine
sportsman. as well as almost absurdly
good-looking. Mademoiselle Maxine has
plenty Of excuse for her infatuation-for
assure you it's nothing less. Shed jump
into the fire for this young man and grill
with Joan of Arc smile on her face
This would have been pleasant hearing
for lvor If he'd ever been really in love
with Maxine. but 1 was obliged to admit
" Hly sell tfldl he ndOn l, IOT lie OlOll [ seem
to care in the least. On the contrary, he
grew little more cheerful
Il can see that Du Lauriers being in the
French foreign Office might make it rather
awkward for Miss de Renze If shelf she's
been rather too helpful to u.s." he said.
Exactly. And thereby hangs a tale-a
sensational and even romantic tale almost
complicated enough for the plot Of a novel.
When you meet mademoiSelle tomorrow
afternoon or evening, if she cares to take
you into her confidence, in reward for your
services, In regard to some private inter-
ests of her own which have got themselves
wildly mixed up with the gravest political
matters. she's at liberty to do so as far
as I'm concerned, for you are to be trusted
and deserve to be trusted. You may say
that to her from me. If the occasion arises
l hope with all my heart that everything
may go smooth. If not-the entente cordale
may burst like O. bomb. I-who have made
myself responsible in the matter. with the
clear understanding that England will deny
me If the schemes a falure-will be shat
tered by flying fragment. The favorite
actress Of Paris will be asphyxiated by the
poisonous fumes, and you, though I hope
no worse harm may come to you. will
mourn for the misfortunes of the others.
Your responsibility will be such that it will
be almost as II you carried the destructive
bomb itself. until you get the packet into
the hands of Maxine de Renzie"
Good heavens, 1 shall be glad when she
has IT, said Ivor.
You can't be gladder than sheer l.
And here it Is" replied the foreign secre-
tary. IT consider it great luck to have
found such messenger, at a house l could
enter without being suspected of any mo-
tive more subtle than wish to eat a good
supper or to see some Of the prettiest
women in London
I would have given a great deal to see
what he was giving Ivor to take to Max
inc. and I was half tempted to lift myself
up and peep at the two from behind the
lounge, but I could tell from their voices
that they were standing quite near. and 1t
would have been too dangerous. The for
efgn secretary, who Is rather a nervous
man. and fastidious about a woman's looks,
never could bear me, and I believe he
would have thought it almost as justiflable
as drowning an ugly kitten to choke me If
he knew I'd overheard his secrets.
However, Ivors next words gave me some
inklng Of what 1 wished to know It's
Importance evidently doesn't consist in
bulk" he said lightly. II can easily carry
the case in my breast pocket
Pray put 1t there at once, and guard 1t
as you would guard the life and honor of a
woman" said the foreign secretary SOL
EMMY. Now. I must go and look for my
wife. It's better that you and 1 shouldn't
may have got in among the guests at a
crush like this. I will go out at one door,
and when you've waited for a few minutes
you can go by way Of another
A moment later there was silence in the
room and 1 knew that Ivor was alone
What if spoke and startled him? All that
is impfsh in me longed to see how his face
would look, but there was too much at
stake. Not only would 1 hate to have him
scorn me for an eavesdropper, but 1 had
already built up great plan for the use
could make of what 1 had overheard.
CHAPTER III.
Lisa Makes Mischief.
When Ivor was safely out Of the room
my first thought was to. escape from behind