delicious feeling of happiness at Richard's presence, and a
keen sense of adventure that made the blood tingle through her whole
body. "Mr. Brooks!" She laughed inwardly at the thought that no one at
the table but themselves knew that they were husband and wife. She
proceeded to enter into the spirit of the occasion with huge delight,
questioning Mr. Brooks about his business in Brussels with a keen sense
of mischief.

It was along toward the middle of dinner that one of the servants came
in and handed Mr. Phelps a card. Duvall, engaged for the moment in
conversation with Mrs. Haddon, did not perceive it, but Grace, who sat
next to their host, experienced a sudden feeling of alarm. She observed
the Minister's puzzled face, as he excused himself and left the table,
and for an instant she thought of warning Richard. A moment's thought,
however, convinced her of the uselessness of the attempt, nor did she
indeed know what she could say to him. She remembered Dr. Hartmann's
remark, that he might look in at the Minister's after dinner, to which
she had attached no importance at the time. Now the thought came to her
that the doctor was in the reception-room without, and that his coming,
at this time, in the middle of dinner, meant that some disaster was
impending.

In a few moments Mr. Phelps reentered the room, followed by Dr.
Hartmann. The latter was in evening clothes, and his face seemed
peculiarly forbidding and grim.

"Dr. Hartmann has consented to join us," he said to his wife.
"Philippe"--he turned to the butler--"lay another place." Then he
proceeded to introduce Hartmann to Mr. and Mrs. Haddon and to Duvall.

The latter looked at the doctor calmly. "I think we have met before,
Doctor," he said, in an even voice.

"Quite so." Hartmann's face showed not a trace of emotion of any sort.
"I hope your servant is better."

"He's still asleep," laughed the detective, then explained to the
others, in a few words, his adventure of the morning. He saw that the
Minister was puzzled, but the latter said nothing, at the time, and in a
few moments the matter was forgotten. Only Grace showed any signs of
alarm--Duvall went calmly on with his dinner as though nothing had
happened. He spoke to her only occasionally and then addressed her with
the formal politeness of a total stranger.

Dr. Hartmann was observing him intently under cover of a spirited
conversation with Mrs. Phelps. It was clear to Grace that he could not
qui