e wanted to know particularly. Had
there, or had there not, been a coalition between them? If there had,
it would change Harlson's policy, naturally, but work so far had been
conducted on the supposition that an ancient political feud between the
two was not yet ended, and that upon the support of one against the
other he could count with reasonable certainty. We were discussing
this very matter when there came a ring at the door, and a cab-driver
entered.

"There is a lady in my cab," said he, "who wants to see Mr. Harlson."

Harlson was puzzled.

"I don't know what it means," he said. "Come down with me and we'll
solve the mystery," and we went to where the cab was drawn close to the
sidewalk.

The door was opened with some energy, and a woman's head appeared--a
head with brown hair.

"Grant!"

"Jean! What is the matter? What brings you here at such a time? My
poor child."

She laughed. "There is nothing the matter, you big baby. Only I heard
something I thought you would care to know, and which I thought you
should know at once, so I came to tell you."

"Yes, tell me."

"It was this way, you see." All this impetuously. "I was at Mrs.
Carlson's party, and among the guests were Mr. Gordon and Mr. Mason,
with their wives. I didn't listen intentionally, of course, but Mr.
Mason and Mr. Gordon came close to where I was sitting and I heard your
name mentioned, and I suppose that made my hearing suddenly acute, and
I heard in two sentences enough to know that those two gentlemen are
working together against you in something political. So, sir, knowing
your foolish interest in such things, and actuated by my foolish
interest in you, I told aunt I'd like to go home early, and a cab was
called and I was put into it, and I told the driver to come here,
and--you know the rest, you staring personage."

Women can read men's faces, and Jean Cornish must have been repaid for
what she had done by the mere look of the man before her. He said
nothing for a moment, and then uttered only these words softly:

"My little rhinoceros-bird."

"Will you kindly explain the meaning of that extraordinary phrase?"

He did not answer just then, but got into the cab with her and directed
the driver to her home.

She had removed her wraps in the drawing-room when she turned to him
and demanded further information as to the term applied to her. He
made comment on some people's general ignorance of natural history,
to