e ejaculated at last.

"I saw Samoval for the first time," said Colonel Grant by way of answer,
"in Oporto at the time of Soult's occupation. He did not call himself
Samoval just then, any more than I called myself Colquhoun Grant. He was
very active therein the French interest; I should indeed be more precise
and say in Bonaparte's interest, for he was the man instrumental in
disclosing to Soult the Bourbon conspiracy which was undermining the
marshal's army. You do not know, perhaps, that French sympathy runs in
Samoval's family. You may not be aware that the Portuguese Marquis of
Alorna, who holds a command in the Emperor's army, and is at present
with Massena at Salamanca, is Samoval's cousin."

"But," faltered Sir Terence, "Count Samoval has been a regular visitor
here for the past three months."

"So I understand," said Grant coolly. "If I had known of it before I
should have warned you. But, as you are aware, I have been in Spain on
other business. You realise the danger of having such a man about the
place. Scraps of information--"

"Oh, as to that," Sir Terence interrupted, "I can assure you that none
have fallen from my official table."

"Never be too sure, Sir Terence. Matters here must ever be under
discussion. There are your secretaries and the ladies--and Samoval has a
great way with the women. What they know you may wager that he knows."

"They know nothing."

"That is a great deal to say. Little odds and ends now; a hint at one
time; a word dropped at another; these things picked up naturally by
feminine curiosity and retailed thoughtlessly under Samoval's charming
suasion and display of Britannic sympathies. And Samoval has the devil's
own talent for bringing together the pieces of a puzzle. Take the lines
now: you may have parted with no details. But mention of them will
surely have been made in this household. However," he broke off
abruptly, "that is all past and done with. I am as sure as you are that
any real indiscretions in this household are unimaginable, and so we may
be confident that no harm has yet been done. But you will gather from
what I have now told you that Samoval's visits here are not a mere
social waste of time. That he comes, acquires familiarity and makes
himself the friend of the family with a very definite aim in view."

"He does not come again," said Sir Terence, rising.

"That is more than I should have ventured to suggest. But it is a very
wise resolve. It will need