he pile a light was burning. De Bergillac looked at it
curiously. A small brougham, which he recognized, stood outside.

"If one could see inside," he muttered. "It should be interesting!"

* * * * *

In a sense it was interesting. Monsieur Grisson sat there in front of
his open table. His secretary's place by his side was vacant. Opposite
sat a tall man with gray hair and dark moustache. He was dressed for the
evening, and his breast glittered with stars and orders.

"It is exceedingly kind of you, Monsieur," he said, "to grant me this
interview at so short notice. I was most anxious to apprise you of news,
which as yet I believe has not found its way into your papers. You have
read accounts of a Russian attack upon an English fishing-fleet, but you
have not yet been informed of the presence--the undoubted presence--of
Japanese torpedo-boats concealed amongst them."

Monsieur Grisson raised his eyebrows.

"Indeed no!" he answered. "We have not even heard a rumor of anything of
the sort."

"Nevertheless, their presence was indubitable," the Prince declared. "In
those circumstances, Monsieur, you can doubtless understand that our
reply to any protests on the part of England will be of an unpacific
nature. We should not for a moment allow ourselves to be dictated to by
the allies of our enemy."

"Naturally!" Monsieur Grisson answered. "On the other hand, you surely
do not wish to embroil yourself in a quarrel with England at the present
moment?"

"We wish to quarrel with no one," the Prince answered haughtily. "At the
same time, we are not afraid of England. We recognize the fact that if
war should come it is an independent affair, and does not come under the
obligations of our alliance. We ask, therefore, for your neutrality
alone."

Monsieur Grisson bowed.

"But, Prince," he said gravely, "you speak lightly enough of the
possibilities of war, but surely you must know that the English fleet in
the Channel and at Gibraltar altogether outmatches the Baltic Fleet?"

"A Russian," the Prince answered grandly, "is not afraid of great odds!"

Monsieur Grisson bowed.

"For the sake of humanity," he said, "I trust most sincerely that the
affair may be peaceably arranged. If the contrary should turn out to be
the case, I can only say that in a quarrel which concerns Russia and
England alone, France would remain benevolently neutral. As you have
remarked, the obligations of our treaty