rched the faces of those around him. What he saw seemed to
confirm him in his purpose, for he folded the paper and placed it in
his pocket. "His Majesty is right," he said. "I shall not read this."

Kalonay and Father Paul turned upon him angrily. "You have no choice
in the matter, sir," Kalonay cried. "It has passed entirely out of
your hands."

"I beg your Majesty that the cablegram be read," the priest demanded,
in a voice that held less the tone of a request than of a command.

"I shall not read it," persisted Gordon, "because the person chiefly
concerned is not present."

"That is all the more reason for reading it," said Kalonay. "Your
Majesty must reconsider."

The King whispered to Barrat, and the others waited in silence that
expressed their interest more clearly than a chorus of questions would
have done.

"It shall be as you ask," the King said, at last. "You may read the
message, Mr. Gordon."

Gordon opened the paper and looked at it for some seconds of time with
a grave and perplexed expression, and then, with a short breath, as one
who takes a plunge, read it aloud. "This is it," he said.

To General Renauld. Cable Office, Tangier.--They leave Tangier Tuesday
at midnight, they land at daybreak Thursday morning on the south beach
below the old breakwater. The secret of the expedition was sold us for
three hundred thousand francs by the Countess Zara and the Prince
Kalonay.

Gordon stuck the paper in his pocket, and, crossing to Kalonay, held
out his hand, with a smile. "I don't believe it, of course," he said;
"but you would have it."

Kalonay neither saw the gesture nor heard the words. He was turning in
bewilderment from the King to Father Paul, and he laughed uncertainly.

"What nonsense is this?" he demanded. "Whose sorry trick is this? The
lie is not even ingenious."

General Renauld had not spoken since he had entered the room, but now
he advanced in front of Kalonay and faced him with a threatening
gesture.

"The President of Messina does not lie, sir," he said, sternly. "I
myself saw the Countess Zara write out that paper, which I and others
signed, and in which we agreed to pay to her and to you the money you
asked for betraying your King."

Father Paul pressed his hand heavily on Kalonay's shoulder. "Do not
answer him," he commanded. Gordon had moved to Kalonay's other side,
and the three men had unconsciously assumed an attitude of defence, and
stood back