right," Duncombe said, smiling. "We had a little spill, and
I've lost my bag. Pack me some more things quickly."

"Very good, sir," Groves answered, and withdrew precipitately.

De Bergillac laid his hand upon Duncombe's arm.

"There is only one thing, my friend," he said. "I trust that it is Mr.
Guy Poynton who is your friend, and not his beautiful sister? Eh? I am
answered! The misfortune! Never mind! I will drink my coffee to _les
beaux yeux des autres_!"

CHAPTER XI

THE MAKING OF HISTORY

Three men were the sole occupants of the great room whose windows looked
out upon the Louvre.

The table around which they were seated was strewn with papers and maps.
The door of the room was locked, and a sentry stood outside in the
passage. The three men were busy making history.

The man who occupied the seat at the head of the table was the Monsieur
Grisson to whom Guy Poynton, at the instigation of the Duc de Bergillac,
had told his story. It was he who was spokesman.

"The situation," he said, "is one which bristles with difficulties. We
will assume for a moment the truth of what we have certainly reasonable
ground to believe. Russia has shown every sign of disappointment with us
for our general attitude during the war. Our understanding with England
has provoked a vigorous though unofficial protest from her
representatives here. Since then our relations have become to a certain
extent strained. Germany, ever on the look-out for complications which
might lead to her own advantage, steps in. Her attitude towards Russia
is changed to one of open and profound sympathy. Russia, in her
desperate straits, rises like a starving fish to a fat fly. Here it is
that our secret service steps in."

"Our secret service--and her allies," one of the other men murmured.

"Exactly! We pass now to the consideration of facts which need one thing
only to justify our course of action. Evidence is brought to us that a
secret meeting took place between the Czar of Russia and the Emperor of
Germany. From all the information which we have collected that meeting
was possible. I personally believe that it took place. A treaty is said
to have been drawn up between them, having for its object the
embroilment of England with Russia, and an alliance of Germany with
Russia so far as regards her quarrel with England. We know that Germany
is secretly mobilizing men and ships. We know that the ambition of the
Emperor is to possess himself