, when his privacy was
invaded by Doctor Sarson.

"Our guest," the latter announced, in his usual cold and measured tones,
"has sent me to request that you will favour him with an interview."

Mr. Fentolin laid his pen deliberately down.

"So soon," he murmured. "Very well, Sarson, I am at his service. Say
that I will come at once."

Mr. Fentolin lost no time in paying this suggested visit. Mr. John P.
Dunster, shaved and clothed, was seated in an easy-chair drawn up to
the window of his room, smoking what he was forced to confess was a very
excellent cigar. He turned his head as the door opened, and Mr. Fentolin
waved his hand pleasantly.

"Really," he declared, "this is most agreeable. I had an idea, Mr.
Dunster, that I should find you a reasonable person. Men of your
eminence in their profession usually are."

Mr. Dunster looked at the speaker curiously.

"And what might my profession be, Mr. Fentolin?" he asked. "You seem to
know a great deal about me."

"It is true," Mr. Fentolin admitted. "I do know a great deal."

Mr. Dunster knocked the ash from his cigar.

"Well," he said, "I have been the hearer of several important
communications from my side of the Atlantic to England and to the
Continent, and I have always known that there was a certain amount
of risk in the business. Once I had an exceedingly narrow shave," he
continued reminiscently, "but this is the first time I have ever been
dead up against it, and I don't mind confessing that you've fairly got
me puzzled. Who the mischief are you, Mr. Fentolin, and what are you
interfering about?"

Mr. Fentolin smiled queerly.

"I am what you see," he replied. "I am one of those unfortunate human
beings who, by reason of their physical misfortunes, are cut off from
the world of actual life. I have been compelled to seek distraction in
strange quarters. I have wealth--great wealth I suppose I should say;
an inordinate curiosity, a talent for intrigue. As to the direction in
which I carry on my intrigues, or even as to the direct interests which
I study, that is a matter, Mr. Dunster, upon which I shall not gratify
your curiosity nor anybody else's. But, you see, I am admitting freely
that it does interest me to interfere in great affairs."

"But how on earth did you get to know about me," Mr. Dunster asked, "and
my errand? You couldn't possibly have got me here in an ordinary way. It
was an entire fluke."

"There, you speak with some show of reason. I