began to suspect that something had been taken from its
place, I had no proof. I had to get that, and I did get it--nearly all I
wanted. This affair of Dundas might have been planned for my advantage.
It is perfect. All its complications are just so many links in a chain
for me. Girard--the man Dundas chose to employ--was the very man I'd
sent to England; on what errand, do you think? To watch your friend the
British Foreign Secretary. He followed Dundas to Paris on the bare
suspicion that there'd been, communication between the two, and he was
preparing a report for me when--Dundas called on him."

"What connection can Ivor Dundas' coming to Paris have with Raoul du
Laurier?" I dared to ask.

"You know best as to that."

"They have never met. Both are men of honour, and--"

"Men of honour are tricked by women sometimes, and then they have to
suffer for being fools, as if they had been villains. Think what such a
man--a man of honour, as you say--would feel when he found out the
woman!"

"A woman can be calumniated as well as a man," I said. "You are so
unscrupulous you would stoop to anything, I know that. Raoul du Laurier
has done nothing; I--I have done nothing of which to be ashamed. Yet you
can lie about us, ruin him perhaps by a plot, as if he were guilty,
and--and do terrible harm to me."

"I can--without the trouble of lying. And I will, unless you'll give up
du Laurier and make up your mind to marry me. I always meant to have
you. You are the one woman worthy of me."

"You are the man most unworthy of any woman. But, give me till to-morrow
evening--at this time--to decide. Will you promise me that?"

"No, I know what you would do. You would kill yourself. It is what is in
your mind now. I won't risk losing you. I have waited long enough
already. Give me a ring of yours, and a written word from you to du
Laurier, saying that you find you have made a mistake; and not only will
I do nothing to injure him, but will guard against the discovery of--you
know what. Besides, as a matter of course, I'll bring all my influence
to bear in keeping your name out of this or any other scandal. I can do
much, everything indeed, for I admit that it was through me the
Commissary of Police trapped you with Dundas. I will say that I
blundered. I know what to do to save you, and I will do it--for my
future wife."

"No power on earth could induce me to break with Raoul du Laurier in the
way you wish," I said. "If--if I am