Evening star., 1921-06-23

rs it wise?" she murmured. "If
my enemies knew that you were
alive. that had seen you here. what
chance should 1 have, do you think,
before the courts"
He bent over her hands.
Il have brought enough trouble
upon you," he said simply. II will
wait! Only 1 hope that there will be
work for me to do"'
CHAPTER XXI.
AT THE HOTEL SPLENDIDE.
II asked you" the baron remarked.
helping himself to hors d'oeuvres. ito
that the little inn at st. Etarpe is
being closely watched. Always when
one has private matters to discuss. l
believe in certain amount of pub
licity. Here we are in a quiet cor
ner. it is true. but we are surrounded
They are far too occupied with their
own affairs to watch US. 1t is the
last place. for instance. where our
friend from MeXonia would dream
of looking for u.s."
The three men were seated at a
small round table in the great dining
room of the Hotel Splendide of
Dinant- -on-Sea. The season was at
its height, and the room was full. On
every side they were surrounded by
chattering groups of English tourists
and French holiday makers. Outside
on the promenade band was play
ing and leisurely crowd was pass
ine-sack and forth.
"The lady whom we will continue.
if you please, to call Nine. de Mel
bain." the baron continued. has de-
sired me to take you two gentlemen
into our entire confidence. You are
both aware that for eighteen months
the suit for divorce brought by that
lady's husband has been before a
special court"
marked, that the sympathies of all
Europe are with-the lady"
The baron bowed.
ENTIRELY Her cause. too. is the
popular one in Mexonia. 1t is the
ministry and the aristocracy who
anxious for an alliance which will
safeguard Mexonia from certain dam
gers to which she is at present eX-
posed. Nine. de Melbain, as you are
both aware. comes from one of the
oldest families of Europe, but it is
nificance. The betrothal was COM
pleted before Frederick stood so near
to the throne. If his accession had
seemed even a likely thing at the
time it would not have been sane
toned. I speak as the stanch friend
to US. but I wish you to grasp the
There was brief pause while a
fresh course was served by an apollo
getic and breathless waiter. The
three men spoke together for a while
they were alone. the baron continued.
"The court. although powerful in
fuences were at work. found itself
unable to pronounce the decree which
those in authority so much desired.
All that those who were behind the
scenes could do was to keep the case
open, hoping that while living apart
from her husband some trifiing. in
discretion on the part OF madame
would afford them a pretext for CIV
ing the desired verdict. I need not
say that. up to the present. no such
the time we have been on the brink
of q volcano!"
.The letters" Duncan muttered.
The baron nodded:
"About year ago" he said. Mime.
de Melbain received a terrifying let
ter from the miscreant into whose
hands they had fallen. Madame very
wisely made a confidant of me. and.
with the Baroness de Sturm. left
at once for London and saw this
man. very soon persuaded myself
that he had the letters and that he
knew their value. He asked a sum
for them which it was utterly r7able
for US to pay"
"Did he explain" Duncan asked,
"how they came into his hands,"
HE said that they were picked up
on the battlefield Of Colenso at first.
the baron declared "Afterward he
was brutally frank. You see your
death was gazetted. fact of which
he was no doubt aware. He admit
ted that they had been given to him
to destroy"
Duncan leaned across the table.
Baron he said, "who killed that
man? He cheated me of my task.
but j t. should like to know. who 1t
was."
$50 would . great many more of
US, "a the baron answered. The fact
is; We are in the curious position OF