The Spectator., 1916-02-22
SEVENTEENTH INSTALLMENT
The Plotters of Grahoffcn.
CHAPTER Lx.

In the court of Grahoffen, meantime, mixed sensations occupied the minds of those responsible for the disappear ance of Kitty Gray and her servant, Rolesu. Old Cortislaw and his re- doubtable aid, Count Sachio, foregath- cred in the palace rooms immediately following the acts which had meant the forced deportation.
 She has gone, then. Sachio?' de- manded the king.
 Without q doubt, your majesty! I myself from a distance saw the two hoisted inboard in freight nets-as so many cattle. They went into the hold of the vessel beyond any question-- whether or not they come out again is their concern, not ours!
 q am not so sure,'' said the old king thoughtfully, mot so sure. True. we have rid ourselves of potential trouble, but at the same time we have deprived ourselves of potential aid in questions not yet solved. They might have been useful, perhaps
 You mean the girl?'
 "Yes. She has a mind, be sure of that But what she might have done of use to us we may no longer ask with profit-she now is beyond our re- call. That is only as to her knowl- edge, whatever 1t may have been, of the broken coin. AS to this other enig- ma, this scrap of paper, which may or may not be connected therewith-who knows? I declare, I am like horse in the dark-ready to shy at any such trifie as scrap of paper blowing on the wind"
 We still have it, your majesty-we took it from her"
 Yes, but when we separate the two the scrap of paper and the scrap of a girl-what do we actually accomplish? ? We have only a larger secret left, 8 deeper mystery. Curses on all women. anyhow They only make us trouble. Mysterious themselves. they solve no mysteries. The best 1 hope for wonder traveller is that she sinks at sea. l swear, sometimes our little kingdom bids fair to sink in it's own waves of trouble"
 Well, now, your majesty" said Sachio, who disliked this discontent of his sovereign, at no time safe for any courier, let us see what we our selves may be able to do in solution of this mystery which has been be- queathed us. Surely our minds are as good as those of a rattle-brained girl
 
 from America"
 Hunt may be true. What do you propose, at least?'
 "Why. your majesty, that is obvious What we must do is to get into our hands the other half of this scrap of paper. It lies still somewhere over in Gretzhoffen, along with the other half of the Gretzhoffen coin"
 "Yes, along with the missing half of that coin, also! They hold the key or half of it, that is true. And yet we hold as much as they-half of the answer. Each is complement of the other That is to say, stalemate. a drawn game-there Is never profit in any such."
 Stay, your majesty, let us see fur ther before we call the game done. Surely our chances outweigh theirs. for we have a monarch to guide us who has brains and courage. I count myself, also, as worth an equal bal ance with Count Frederick, their strongest man. And how shall we es- timate wonder drunken, worthless, pup yxIr ,f hntr stand in comparison with ours?"
 Sachio bowed deeply. His hattery was not without it's effect on the old king, who smiled his approval.
 My dear Sachio. whenever need comfort you have 1t at hand!" ex- claimed he. Well, then, what fur ther may we plan against them? How may we loose their hold upon these se- crets which perplex and menace us so much?"
 Why, this: That we profess new and profound friendship for Michael. He will be but too glad to listen to our proposition, be sure of that"
 Suppose we may be assured of that-what then?"
 He would be willing to do us some little favor if it caused him but little trouble to grant it. He looks on us as defeated. Let us encourage him to play the role of the grand Caesar, able to be gracious, to be magnanimous, to a fallen foe"
 "Good-go on-I see the point
 "So we ask of that weak mind some thing which his mere slofh will dis pose him to grant us--nofhing much --only the ownership of worthless bit of paper. He does not know it's value perhaps he does pot know of ata esiutsnce