The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-09-02
[ he overs
and Maxine
By C. m. and A. M. Williamson
Copyright 1907 by the Authors
CHAPTER Ir.-continded.

CHAPTER J1.--continticd.
Nor H. answered Ivor, laughing n
little. ~ think could make some
trouble for any ono who tried to stop
me-"
Caution above all Remember
you're in training for a diplomatic ca
reer, ell? IL you should lose the packet
I'm going to give you. ! prophecy that
IN twenty -four hours the world would
be empty of Maxine de Renzle: for the
circumstances surrounding her In this
transaction are peculiar. the most pc
culiar I've ever been entangled In, per-
haps, In rather varied experience;
and they intimately concern her flance.
the Vicomte Raoule du Iaurier--'
"Raoule du 14aurier!" exclaimed 1vor,
80 she's engaged to marry bim!"
Yes. DO you knoY him."
~ have friends who do. He's in tbs
French Foreign Office though they
say he's more at home in the hunting
field. or writing plays"
Which don't get produced. Quite
SO. But they will get produced some
clever fellow III his way.-n every
thing except the diplomatic trade
which his father would have him take
up, and got him into, through heaven
knows what influence. No; Du Ian
rier's no fool. and Is said TO be fine
sportsman. us we'll as almost absurdly
good-lookipg. Mndcmoiselle Maxine
las plenty of excuse for her infntua-
tion--for l assure you It's nothing less.
She'd jump into the fire for this young
man, and grill with u Joan of Arc smile
on her face.
This would have been pleasant hear
ing for Ivor, If he'd ever been really
in love with Maxine; but l WAS obliged
to admit to myself that he hadn't. for
he didn't seem to care In the least
on the contrary lie grew little more
cheerful.
Il can see that du I.aurier's being in
the French Foreign Office might make
1t rather awkward for Miss dc Rem
zie If shelf she's been rather too
helpful TO u.s." he said.
Exactly And thereby hangs tale
Ia sensational and even romantic tale
almost complicated enough for the plot
OF novel. When you meet Made
inoisellc Tomorrow afternoon or eve
ming, IL she cares to take you into her
confidence, in reward for your services.
in regard to some private interests of
her own which have got themselves
wildly mixed up with the gravest polit-
zeal matters. she's at liberty to do so
as far as I'm concerned, for you are
to be trusted, and deserve TO be trust
ed. You may say that to her from me.
il the occasion arises. ] hope with all
my heart that everything may go
smooth. IL not-the entente cordiale
may burst like bomb. I--who have
made myself responsible in the matter.
with the clear understanding that
England will deny me IL the schemes
n failureSwiil be shattered by flying
fragment The fayorlte actress of
Paris will be asphyxiated by the pois-
onous fumes: and you, though l hope
no worse harm may come to you. will
mourn for the msfortunes OF the 9th :
ers. Your responsibility will be such
that 1t VIII be almost as II your car
ried the destructive bomb itself, until
you get the packet into the hands OF
Maxine de Renzie."
Good heavens, shall be glad when
she has IT." said Ivor.
"You can't be gladder than sheer
l. And here it Is" replied the Foreign
Secretary. II consider 1t great luck
to have found such messenger, at a
house could enter without being sus-
pectcd OF any motive more subtle than
wish to eat good supper, or to see
some of the prettlest women in Lon-
DON"
would have given a great deal to
see what he was giving Ivor to take
to Maxine, and was half tempted to
lit myself up and peep at the two
from behind tho lounge, but could
tell from their voices that they were
standing quite near, and 1t would have
been too dangerous. The Foreign Sec
rotary. who is rather nervous man.
and fastidious about a woman's looks.
never could bear me: and believe he
would have thought it almost as jus
tifiable as drowning an ugly kitten
to choke me If he knew I'd overheard
his secrets.
However, Ivor's next words gave me
some inkling of what I wished to
know. tits Importance evidently
doesn't consist in bulk" he said light
~ Il can easily carry the case in
my breast pocket.
Pray. put it there sat once and
guard 1t as you would guard the life
and honor OF Il woman" said the For
eign Secretary solemnly NOW. must
go and look for my Wife. It's better
that you and I shouldn't be seen to-
!. gether. One never knows who 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 few
minutes, you can go by way Of an
other"
moment later there was silence
In the room, and knew that Ivor was
alone. What If I spoke. and startled
him? All that is impish in me longed
to see how his face would look; but
there was too much at stake. Not only
only would 7 hate to have him scorn
me for an eavesdropper, but had al
ready built up a great plan for the
use could make Of what had over
heard.
CHAPTER III.
I.lsu Makes Mischief.
When Ivor was safely out OF tho
room, my first thought was to escape
from behind the lounge. and got up
stairs to my own quarters. But lust
as had sat up, very cramped and
wretched, with ono foot and one arm
asleep. i Lord Mountstuart came in
again, and down had to duck.
IIo had brought a friend, who was
as mad about old books and first cdi-.
tionS as he; q stuffy, elderly thing,