The Washington herald., 1912-08-18

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particular about any one entering his
study"
do what you like so long as you
do not keep me waiting" Bernadine
replied. Your masters instructions
are clear enough"
Violet came down the great staircase
a few moments later, still in her din
ner gown, her face a little pale, her
eyes luminous. Bernadine smiled as he
accepted her eagerly offered hand. She
was evidently anxious. A thrill of tri-
umph warmed his blood. Once she
had been less kind to him than she
seemed now.
MY husband gave you this" she ex-
claimed.
, "a few minutes ago." Bernadine an
swered. "He tried to make his instruc-
tons as clear as possible. We are
Jointly interested in small matter
which needs immediate action"
She led the way to the study.
1T seems strange" she remarked
that you and he should be working to-
gether. l always thought that you
were on opposite sides"
IL ID d-sA1LlCl Vi IIldll1C.
dine told her Your husband is a wise
man, baroness. He knows when to
listen to reason"
She threw open the door of the
study, which was in darkness.
IF you will wait a moment" she
said, closing the door. Il will turn on
the electric light"
She touched the knobs in the wall
and the room was suddenly flooded
with illumination At the further end
of the apartment was the great safe
Close to it, in an easy chair. his even
ing coat changed for a smoking jacket
with a neatly tied black tie replacing
his crumpled white cravat. the Baron
de GroSt sat awaiting his guest. A
fierce oath broke from Bernadine's
lips He turned toward the door only
in time to hear the key turn. Violet
tossed it lightly in the air across to her
husband.
My dear Bernadine," the latter re-
marked. "on the whole, l do not think
that this has been one OF your sue
cesses. My keys, if you please"
Bernadine stood for a moment. his
face dark with passion. He bit his lip
till the blood came. and the veins at the
back of his clenched hands were
swollen and thick. Nevertheless, when
he spoke he had recovered in great
measure his self-control
Your keys are here. Baron de
Grost," he said. placing them upon the
table III bungling amateur may
make such a request of a professor.
may I inquire how you escaped from
Il ,b,a,rt, ,ba 49,,
of locked warehouse, and reached
here before me-"
The Baron de Grost smiled as he
pushed the cigarettes across to his Wis
itor.
Really" he said, you have only
to think for yourself for moment. my
dear Bernadine, and you will under
stand. In the first place, the letter
YOU sent me signed 'Greening was
clearly a forgery. There was no one
else anxious to get me into their pow
er. hence | associated il at once with
you. Naturally. I telephone to the
chief of my staff. too tam obliged
to employ some of these ununiformed
policemen. nv dear Bernadine. as you
may be aware Il may interest you TO
know. further. that there are seven
entrances to the warehouse in Tooley
Street. Through one of these some
thing like twenty OF my men passed
and were already concealed in the
place when I entered. Al another OF
the doors motor car waited Tor me.
If | had chosen TO lift my finger at
any time. YOUR men would have been
overpowered and | might have had
the pleasure OF debating terms to YOU
in nv own office. Such a course did
not appeal 10 me You and |, as you
know. dear Count Won Hern. conduct
our peculiar business under very deli
cate conditions. and the least thing we
either OF us desire is notoriety. | man
aged things. as | thought. for the best.
The moment you left the place my
men swarmed III. We kindly. but gent
", elected your guard. released Green
ing and my clerk. and | passed YOU
myself in Fleet Street. little more
l think. in my forty-horSc-
power motor car than you in that very
disreputable hanson. As to my pres
ence here. | have an entrance from the
street there which makes me indcpend-
ent of my servants. The other details
are too absurdly simple: one need not
enlarge upon them
Bernadine turned slowly 10 Violet
you knew" he muttered. lou
knew when you brought me here;
Naturally" she answered. We have.
telephones in every room IN the house
Il am at your service. Bernadme
declared, calmly
De Grost laughed
INV dear fellow" he said. need
saw that YOU are free to come and go,
to take a whisky and soda with me.
or to depart at once. exactly as YOU
feel inclined? The door was locked
only until you restored to me my keys.
He crossed the room. fitted the key
in the lock and turned it.
I'VE do not make war as those 9TH
ers." he remarked, smiling.
Bernadine drew himself up.
"I will not drink with YOU he said.
II will not smoke with YOU But some
dav this reckoning shall come
He turned to the door. De Grost
laid his finger upon the bell.
show Count Won Hern out" he di-
rected the astonished servant who ap-
pcared a moment or two later.