The Spectator., 1916-04-28

 He never was anything else all these seventeen years. The truth Is, sue cess has developed a coarseness in our methods And now it is too late for fnesse. We have tried every device we can think of; and there they are the girl free, Norton unharmed, and the father as secure in his retreat as though he wore an invisible cloak. My head aches. I have ceased to be in ventive.'
 "The two are in love with each oth, CT"
 Are you sure of that?"
 q have my eyes. But l begin to wonder
 About what?"
 "Whether or not Jones suspects me and is giving me rope to hang myself with. Not once have the police been called in and told what has really hap pened. They are totally at sea. And what has become of the man over the way"
 By the Lord Harry!" exclaimed Braine, clapping his hands. Il believe I've solved that. We shot man com ing out of Hargreave's. Since then there's been no one across the way One and the same man."
 But that knowledge doesn't get us anywhere"
 "No. You say they are in lover
 Secretly. don't believe the butler has an inkling of it. It is possible however, that Susan has caught the trend of affairs. But, being rather romantic, she will in no wise inter fere"
 Braine smoked in silence. Pres ently a smile twisted his lips.
 You have thought of something? she asked.
 You might try it." he said. They have accepted your friendshlp' whether with ulterior purpose remains | to be learned She has been to your apartments two or three times to tea and always got home safely
 No" she said determinedly. Moth ing shall happen here. l will not take the risk"
 Wait till I'm through. Break up | the romance in such a way that the girl will bar Norton from the house That's what we've been aiming at; to get rid of that meddling reporter We've tried poisons. Try your kind. What do you mean?"
 Lies"
 "Ahl I understand You want me to win him away from her. It cannot be done"
 "Pshaw. You have a bag full oi | tricks You can easily manage to pu, him into an equivocal position out oi which he cannot possibly squirm sc far as the girl is concerned little melodrama, arranged for the benefit of Florence. Fall into Norton's arms at the right moment. or something | like that
 'I suppose could. But if I failed
 You're too damnably clever to fai | in your own particular work. Some l thing has got to be done to keep those two apart. I've often thought of raid | ing the house boldly and carrying on the whole family. Susan and all. Bu' | a wholesale affair like that would be too noisy. Think it over, Olga; we have gone too far to back down now There's always Russia; and while Tn the boss over here they never cease to watch me. They'll make me an swer for failure like this"
 She eyed him speculatively. "Yor have money"
 70, the money doesn't matter. It's the game It's the game of playing fast and loose with society, of pilfer ing with it with one hand and making it kow-tow with the other. It's the sport of the thing. What was youl thought"
 We could go away together, tc South America"
 And tire of each other within { month" he retorted shrewdly. No we are in the same boat. We could not live but for this never ending ex citement And, more than that, w' never cOuld get Tar enough away ITOii the long arm of the First Ten. Vel have to stick it out here. Can't you seer"
 Yes, I can see"
 But in her heart she knew that she would have lived in hut with this man till the end of her days Sht abhorred the life. though she never by the slightest word, let him become aware of it. There was always that abiding fear that at the first sign o weakness he would desert her. AnC she was wise in her deductions Braine was loyal to her because sht held his interest. Once that failed he would be of and away.
 The next afternoon the countess having matured her plans against thu happiness of the young girl wht trusted her, drew up before the liar greave place and alighted. Her wei come was the same as ever. and thi' strengthened her confidence.
 The countess was always gesticu lating' Her hands fiuttered to empha