military salute, Catin turned and left the place. Within half
an hour he was carefully brushing Ensign Summers' clothes, as Summers
came in.

"Would it be too much to ask, sir," inquired the perfect valet, "that
I might accompany you in the submarine? I am afraid you will be very
uncomfortable without me."

Summers laughed good-naturedly.

"It's impossible, Catin. This boat is a government secret in itself,
and my new torpedo makes it a double secret. No one but a picked crew
will be allowed on it, except--"

"'Except, sir?"

"Well, I admit I could command it. But it would be very unwise, Catin,
and, I assure you, I shall get along all right."

Mlle. de Longeon's apartment was characteristic of the lady herself.
The artist would have found it a little too luxurious for good taste--
a little over-toned in the richness of draperies, the heavy scent of
flowers, the subtleties of half-screened divans--there was something
more than feminine--something feline. To Raymond Owen, however, it
was ideal. The dimmed ruby lights, the suggestive shadows of the
tapestries, were in tune with the surreptitious mind of the secretary.
But there remained for him a picture that he admired more--Mlle. de
Longeon coming through the portieres with a cry of pleasure.

"I am so glad you came--and so sorry I must send you away quickly,"
exclaimed Mlle. de Longeon. "The little ensign has telephoned that he
is coming early to take me for a drive before the ball."

"I can come again--if I may have the honor," said Owen, rising
quickly.

"Oh, there is time for a word," she said, smiling.

"There was something you wished to say to me, was there not? Something
you did not care to say at the luncheon yesterday?"

"Yes. Why do you hate Miss Marvin?"

Owen was silent for a moment. "Why do you hate the little ensign, as
you call another?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean that we can be of service to one another, in all likelihood,
and that, therefore, we should be frank friends. You wish to have
Pauline Marvin out of the way, do you not?"

"How did you find that out?"

"People engaged in similar business find out many things. Now I--"

"Wish to be rid of Ensign Summers."

"Precisely."

"You are an international agent?"

"Yes. And I offer you my aid and the aid of the powerful men I control
in return for your aid to me and them. Is it a bargain?"

They were seated on one of the curtained divans, a low-turned light
a