the family; wasn't he, mother? We haven't seen him for
two years now, but I know he wouldn't spoil our plans for the sake of
his paper, if he knew we were in earnest, if he understood that
everything depended upon its being kept a secret."

"We are not certain that he knows anything," the King urged. "He may
not have come here to see us. I think Father Paul should talk with him
first."

"I was going to suggest," said Miss Carson, with some hesitation, "that
if I spoke to him I might be able to put it to him in such a way that
he would see how necessary it----"

"Oh, excellent!" exclaimed the King, eagerly, and rising to his feet;
"if you only would be so kind, Miss Carson."

Kalonay, misunderstanding the situation altogether, fastened his eyes
upon the table and did not speak.

"He has not come to see you, Patricia," said Mrs. Carson, quietly.

"He does not know that I am here," Miss Carson answered; "but I'm sure
if he did he would be very glad to see us again. And if we do see him
we can make him promise not to do anything that might interfere with
our plans. Won't you let me speak to him, mother?"

Mrs. Carson turned uncertainly to the priest for direction, and his
glance apparently reassured her, for she rose, though still with a
troubled countenance, and the two women left the room together, the men
standing regarding each other anxiously across the table. When they
had gone the King lit a cigarette and, turning his back on his
companions, puffed at it nervously in silence. Kalonay sat moodily
studying the pattern on the plate before him, and the others whispered
together at the farther end of the table.

When Miss Carson and her mother stepped out upon the terrace, the
American was standing with his back toward them and was speaking to the
guards who sat cross-legged at the top of the steps. They showed no
sign of surprise at the fact of his addressing them in their own tongue
further than that they answered him with a show of respect which they
had not exhibited toward those they protected. The American turned as
he heard the footsteps behind him, and, after a startled look of
astonishment, hurried toward the two women, exclaiming, with every
expression of pleasure.

"I had no idea you were stopping here," he said, after the first
greetings were over. "I thought you were somewhere on the Continent.
I am so glad I caught you. It seems centuries since I saw you last.
You're looking very well,