The Spectator., 1915-12-14
CHAPTER XVIII.
Means to an End.

Kitty, left alone once more, found herself in better heart than she had been but now. At least, she had seen Roleau-had found once more proof of his faithfulness and his efficiency. Surely he would help her to escape yet again. And as for Sachio-better he, of whom she knew something, than . stranger of whom she knew nothing at all. Of late despair had been knock ing at her heart in such fashion that the summons of opportunity found no hearing, but now she began to plan once more.
 She sought to study the exits of the | apartment in which she found herself There were two doors, so it seemed. both fastened. She pushed strongly at one; 1t opened before her. She stood once more face to face with | Count Sachio. the mocking conspira- tor who had of late had so much to do with her own misfortunes!
 ''Mademoiselle!" said he, "T am SO pleased"
 For myself" rejoined Kitty indig- nantly, T was never so much dis pleased as I am now. So the gentle men of this country in this way show their quality-in their treatment of women? I compliment you" l Your words are at least better than your absence, mademoiselle-I like neither"
 And what of me? What shall | l say of man who treats me as a crim- l inal? Nay a criminal would be treat ed better in my country-he would have trial. There woud be process of law, observance of the law. Is the habeas corpus writ thing unknown in this country-have the people never, yet wrung that right from the hands of tyrants? In my country there are some recourses which any citizen may | have"
 Your own country? Why did you ever leave it, mademoiselle The reasons concern me alone, sir" Indeed. you mistake-they do not concern you alone. We are many of us | in this country also concerned with | them. We would that you never had come from America. There are many reasons moving to that. And. indeed. we even ask your return to your own | country"
 "So, then, it was your message to me that l got? Most melodramatic of you, Count Sachio-but by what right do you demand my return?"
 There are some large rights, mademoiselle, which need small ex- planation."
 | But which allow you to hinder me in the performance of my own duties 1 to ask me to be unfaithful to my em- ployers? Why, you even ask me to | deceive the public-to present a coun- | terfeit-to pretend that l have done what I have not done"
 50? And you cannot take such good advice?"
 "No, will not. To deceive, to pre- tend, to counterfeit-those are attrib- utes of your kingdom. not of my own | country, America. In my country we have better standards-men and wom- en alike-for which l heartily am glad"
 | You have a stinging tongue, ma demoiselle," said Count Sachio, red un- l der his swarthy skin. Perhaps 1t will | grow milder if left unused. l shall leave you here-until you are willing | to say you are done with Gretzhoffen and ready to return to your own coun- try. This land, mademoiselle. can keep its own secrets-it could even close ever the secret of the disappear ance of a young woman-and leave her fate a mystery. l trust that you will reconcider what you have said.' A moment and he had left her once more. Before he passed through the door she glanced beyond. The room was occupied, apparently. by his | friends-escape on that side was i'm possible.
 The other door still remained fas- tened. Kitty turned to 1t with bur | glarious intent-uslng an art learned when she was a schoolgirl. With no better instrument than a hairpin, she had seen wonders done at opening locks.
 | Her brisk interchange of compli- ments with Count Sachio had set her pulses stirring once more. She want ed to get out-she wanted to escape. and she proposed to escape. Once more free, she admitted to herself, she would be willing enough to take the advice which but now she had scorned-willing enough to take ship back home, to see the familiar sky line of her own city. to find her own place back in the smoky and grimy city. her own place in the hum and grind of the old newspaper. How | good it would seem to her now to see the faces of the local room They might chaff her all they liked. Yes. she would go back home.
 And now, with schoolgirl finesse in the employment of the small instru- ment at her disposal. she succeeded | in npr h1lrplarv Gho foIf ho tO01 ty,pve