too careful of it
while he crosses the Channel?"

"Well," said the minister, smiling, "what next?"

"He will be robbed on the way, or something will happen. It will never
get there."

"No. They will stop at nothing," said I.

"I ought to tell you," said the minister, "that now Madame Bellegarde
is sure to be arrested" (as in fact did occur). "She will be subject
to one of those cruel cross-examinations which are so certain to break
down a witness. If this should happen before we can act, they will be
so secure of what we shall do that--"

Merton interrupted him. "Excuse me. She will never speak. They will
get nothing from her. That is an exceptional woman." The minister cast
a half-smiling glance at him. He was deeply distressed, as I saw, and
added: "You will, I trust, sir, stand by her. They can prove nothing,
and she will hold her tongue and resolutely."

"I will do all in my power; rest assured of that. But what next? The
papers! Mr. Adams!" He was anxious.

"Might I again venture?"

"Pray do."

"I have or can have an errand in Belgium. Give me the papers. They
will reach their destination if I am alive, and, so far, I at least
must be entirely unsuspected. My obvious reason for going will leak
out and be such as to safeguard my real reason."

"May I ask why you go to Belgium?"

"Yes, I want it known. I have arranged to satisfy a gentleman named
Porthos, who thinks himself injured."

"Porthos!" exclaimed the minister. "Why, that is a character in one of
Dumas's novels."

"Yes, I beg pardon; we call him Porthos. Mr. Greville will explain
later. He is the Baron la Garde. An absurd affair."

"I deeply regret it," said the minister. "I hoped it was settled. But
you may be hurt, and, pardon me, killed."

"In that case my second, Lieutenant West of our navy, will have the
papers and carry them to London. Count le Moyne is one of the baron's
seconds. He will hardly dream that he is an escort of the papers he
lost. But, sir, one word more. Madame Bellegarde is an American. You
will not desert her?"

"Not I. Rest easy as to that. We owe her too much."

"Then I am at your service."

"I regret, deeply regret this duel," said our chief, "but it does seem
to me, if it must take place, a sure means of effecting our purpose."
As he spoke, the secretary gathered up the various papers.

"I think, sir," said Merton, "it will be well if one, or, better, two
responsible people remain here overnight." This seem