Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1939-02-24
NENVOY EXTRsAORDuNA
kyE.PHILLIPS' OPPENHEIM

! 7EIM
/. 81 suppose it is foreign habit, sir,
to call first upon any person of dis
tinction. In any case, thought you
might like to see him. ventured to
tell him six o'clock"
Excellent"
Furthermore" Yates continued, II
noticed through my glasses at lunch
con time that the yacht is flying the
ensign which apparently is out of or
der as Van Westrheene is not MEM
Der of the Squadron or the Royal
Thames Yacht Club"
"He must be bit of a seaman all
the same" Matresser observed. Cali
the more so if the yacht is a charter
ed one. | saw him bring her in him
self last night. That reminds me,
Yates. You will have to look out for
yourself. Seems to me we are drift
ing back into prehistoric times. You
heard part of my conversation with
Sir Francis Tring last night. Some
one had a whack at that poor chap
who is lying at the doctors with con-
cussion. Someone near here too. He
was carrying a letter to me which is
missing"
81 understood, of course that some
thing of the sort had happened"
Yates acknowledged, ''but I was hop
ing that the letter itself would turn
up. Have you any idea of the nature
of its contents, sir?"
"Not exactly" Matresser admitted.
"I fancy that Tring is coming down.
The most disquieting thing is that it
should have happened at all. Who
can there be in this neighborhood who
is spying on us?"
| "Has your lordship inquired into
the credentials of the Mademoiselle 2"
Stamier ?" Yates ventured.
Matresser nodded 'frowning.
81 am in rather an awkward posi-
ton about that young lady," he adj
mitted. Apparently she is here as
a sort of companion to my sister, her
credentials are official and beyond
dispute. She may be working for
France, as daresay she is, and I
will admit that we are not quite ready
to take France into our whole con-
fidence on certain matters, but that
will all be explained so soon that I do
not want any trouble. You know how
anxious I am that not a soul in our
household"
"Will you pardon my interruption,
Yates begged, "but the situation is
perfectly clear to me. thank it would
be unwise to interfere with the young
lady in any way. She will be con-
tinually under our observation and
do not look upon her as a possible
source of danger"
"You mean," Matresser remarked,
'that she may be more useful than
dangerous to us now that she is under
surveillance. Besides, in the present
| iiioIe@HCC IL 10 Nu1IS IiupoSSlUlS Lndt
she could have committed a personal
assault upon the messenger"
There was knock at the door. A
footman appeared ushering in visi-
tor.
"Mr. van Westrheene to see your
lordship," he announced.
Matresser stepped forward with a
word Of welcome. Henry Yates, from
behind the typewriter, ventured to
gasp. The visitor was man consid-
erably over six feet and a half. He
was splendidly proportional and al
though his fair hair and short point
ed beard were streaked with white,
his tanned complexion gave him the
appearance of extraordinary health
and vigor. He carried a stick in his
left hand however, and limped. His
monocle glistened.
81 have the honor of addressing the
Earl of Matresser?" he said, holding
out his hand and bowling in severe
military fashion. "It is very good of
you to receive chance visitor"