ueen suddenly burst into a peal of
merry laughter.

"Say," she said, "he stalked us rather better than we stalked him
yesterday, didn't he?"

Next day the _Ida_, with Phillips on board, set sail for England.

CHAPTER XII

"GRAND HOTEL DES CHAMPS D'ELYSEES, PARIS,
_June 4, 1914_.

"My dear Gorman,--

"I arrive at the excellent Beaufort's Hotel the day after
to-morrow. I hope that you will dine with me that evening at
8 p.m. There are matters of importance. Corinne accompanies
me. She is adorable as ever, in good form and full of peas.
We have had a time of a life, rattling, since I saw you.
Now--alas and damn--there are matters of importance. The
Emperor--but I can write no more--Corinne awaits me. We go
to paint Paris blue, she and I, once again. Then--damn and
alas--London and the virtuous life of your English middling
class.

"KONRAD KARL."

Gorman did not hesitate for a moment. He made up his mind to accept
the invitation even if he had to miss the most important division
which Parliament enjoyed during its whole session. The prospect of
seeing Konrad Karl and Madame Ypsilante practising middle-class virtue
in Beaufort's Hotel was by itself sufficiently attractive. The
promise of important affairs for discussion was another lure. Gorman
loves important affairs, especially those of other people. But the
mention of the Emperor interested him most. The introduction of his
name made it certain that the important affairs were those of Salissa.
And Gorman had always been anxious to understand in what way the
Emperor was mixed up with Megalia and how he came to exercise an
influence over that independent state.

Gorman was dressing for dinner--was, in fact, buttoning his
collar--when his landlord entered his room and handed him a card.
Gorman looked at it.

"FRIEDRICH GOLDSTURMER,
_Dealer in Jewels and Precious Stones,
Old Bond Street._"

Written across the corner of the card were the words: "Business
important and urgent."

Gorman glanced at his watch. He had no time to spare if he meant to be
at Beaufort's at eight. Punctuality was no doubt one of the
middle-class virtues which the King and Madame Ypsilante were at that
moment practising. Gorman hesitated. The landlord, who had once been a
butler, stood waiting.

"Tell him," said Gorman, "to call to-morrow at eleven.