e," he murmured, "have I seen that picturesque countenance before?
Not in Europe; but where?" He caught the arm of a passing gendarme. "Who
is that gentleman in fatigue uniform, coming this way?"

"That, Monsieur," answered the gendarme in tones not unmixed with awe,
"is Colonel Beauvais of the royal cuirassiers."

"Thanks.... Beauvais; I do not remember the name. Truly I have had
experiences to-day. And for what house is Mademoiselle of the Veil?
Ravens? War? `Voici le sabre de mon pyre!'" and with a gay laugh he went
his way.

Meanwhile Colonel Beauvais arrived at the table, tipped his hat to the
Veil, who rose and laid a hand on his arm. He guided her through the
pressing crowds.

"Ah, Madame," he said, "you are very brave to choose such a rendezvous."

"Danger is a tonic to the ill-spirited," was the reply.

"If aught should happen to you--"

"It was in accord with her wishes that I am here. She suffers from
impatience; and I would risk much to satisfy her whims."

"So would I, Madame; even life." There was a tremor of passion in his
voice, but she appeared not to notice it. "Here is a nook out of the
lights; we may talk here with safety."

"And what is the news?" she asked.

"This: The man remains still in obscurity. But he shall be found.
Listen," and his voice fell into a whisper.

"Austria?" Mademoiselle of the Veil pressed her hands together in
excitement. "Is it true?"

"Did I not promise you? It is so true that the end is in sight.
Conspiracy is talked openly in the streets, in the cafes, everywhere.
The Osians will be sand in the face of a tidal wave. A word from me,
and Kronau follows it. It all would be so easy were it not for the
archbishop."

"The archbishop?" contemptuously.

"Ay, Madame; he is a man so deep, with a mind so abyssmal, that I would
give ten years of my life for a flash of his thoughts. He has some
project; apparently he gives his whole time to the king. He loves this
weak man Leopold; he has sacrificed the red hat for him, for the
hat would have taken him to Italy, as we who procured it intended it
should."

"The archbishop? Trust me; one month from now he will be recalled. That
is the news I have for you."

"You have taken a weight from my mind. What do you think in regard to
the rumor of the prince and the peasant girl?"

"It afforded me much amusement. You are a man of fine inventions."

"Gaze toward the upper end of the pavilion, the end which we have
just left