nfaithful? It was not
possible.

"Well?"

"Even you," the Baron continued, "have not yet solved the mystery of
_l'affaire Poynton_. But you know more than Sir George. Let me recommend
that you do not share your knowledge with him."

"Why not?"

"If you do Sir George will at once share your indisposition."

"I begin to understand," Spencer said.

"How otherwise? Send Sir George home. You see the delicacy of our
position. It is not so much that we fear Sir George Duncombe's
interference, but he again is followed and watched over by our enemies,
who would easily possess themselves of any information which he might
gain."

Spencer nodded.

"It is good reasoning," he admitted.

"Listen," Monsieur Louis continued. "I speak now on behalf of my
friends. You know whom I mean. You have solved the mystery of our
existence. We are omnipotent. The police and the secret service police
and the Government itself are with us. We have license throughout the
city. We may do what others may not. For us there is no crime. I kill
you now perhaps. The police arrive. I am before the Commissioner. I give
him the sign--it is _l'affaire Poynton_. I go free! It is a certain
thing."

"Granted!" Spencer said. "Proceed with your killing, or your argument."

"With the latter, if you please," Monsieur Louis answered. "I do not
choose to kill. _L'affaire Poynton_, then. Harm is not meant to either
of these young people. That I assure you upon my honor. In three weeks,
or say a month, we have finished. They may return to their homes if they
will. We have no further interest in them. For those three weeks you
must remain as you are--you, and if you have influence over him, Sir
George Duncombe. The other two fools we have no care for. If they
blundered into knowledge--well, they must pay. They are not our concern,
yours and mine. For you, I bring you an offer, Monsieur Spencer."

"_Timeo Danaos et dona ferentes!_" Spencer murmured.

Monsieur Louis smiled.

"My gift," he answered, "will not terrify you. You are a journalist. I
offer to make the fortune of your paper. You shall be the first to
announce an affair of the greatest international importance since the
war between Russia and Japan was declared. No, I will go further than
that. It is the greatest event since Waterloo."

"_L'affaire Poynton_ strikes so deep?" Spencer remarked.

"So deep," the Baron answered. "It is the fools who grope their way into
great places. So did the boy