th me
in a certain enterprise, the nature of which is no secret to you,
Mademoiselle, or to Mr. Bellamy here. We followed a man who, by
some strange chance, was in possession of a few sheets of foolscap,
the contents of which were alike priceless to my country and
priceless to yours. The subsequent history of those papers should
have been automatic. The first step was fulfilled readily enough.
The man disappeared--the papers were ours. Von Behrling was the
man who secured them, and Von Behrling it was who retained them.
If my advice had been followed, I admit frankly that we should have
ignored all possible comment and returned with them at once to
Vienna. The others thought differently. They ruled that we should
come on to London and deposit the packet with our Ambassador here.
In a weak moment I consented. It was your opportunity, Mademoiselle,
an opportunity of which you have splendidly availed yourself."

This time Louise held herself with composure. Bellamy's brain was
in a whirl but he remained silent.

"I come to you both," the Baron continued, "with my hands open. I
come--I make no secret of it--I come to make terms. But first of
all I must know whether I am in time. There is one question which
I must ask. I address it, sir, to you," he added, turning to
Bellamy. "Have you yet placed in the hands of your Government the
papers which you obtained from Von Behrling?"

Bellamy shook his head.

The Baron drew a long breath of relief. Though he had maintained
his savoir faire perfectly, the fingers which for a moment played
with his tie, as though to rearrange it, were trembling.

"Well, then, I am in time. Will you see my hand?"

"Mademoiselle and I," answered Bellamy, "are at least ready to
listen to anything you may have to say."

"You know quite well," the Baron continued, "what it is that I have
come to say, yet I want you to remember this. I do not come to
bribe you in any ordinary manner. The things which are to come will
happen; they must happen, if not this year, next,--if not next year,
within half a decade of years. History is an absolute science. The
future as well as the past can be read by those who know the signs.
The thing which has been resolved upon is certain. The knowledge
of the contents of those papers by your Government might delay the
final catastrophe for a short while; it could do no more. In the
long run, it would be better for your country, Mr. Bellamy, in ever