cording to what my conscience and common sense tell me
is right. I shall hate you if you attempt to interfere. You can do
one of two things, Archie. I give you your choice: you can either go
with them as a volunteer, and promise to keep our secret; or you can
cable what you know now, what you know only by accident, but if you do,
you will lose your best friend, and you will defeat a good and a noble
effort."

Gordon leaned back in his chair, and looked up at her steadily for a
brief moment, and then rose with a smile, and bowed to the two women in
silence. He crossed the terrace quickly with an amused and puzzled
countenance, and walked into the breakfast-room, from the windows of
which, as he rightly guessed, the five conspirators had for some time
observed him. He looked from one to the other of the men about the
table, until his eyes finally met those of the King.

"I believe, sir, you are leading an expedition against the Republic of
Messina?" Gordon said. "I am afraid it can't start unless you take me
with you."

III

The presence in Tangier of the King of Messina and his suite, and the
arrival there of the French noblemen who had volunteered for the
expedition, could not escape the observation of the resident
Consuls-General and of the foreign colony, and dinners, riding and
hunting parties, pig-sticking, and excursions on horseback into the
outlying country were planned for their honor and daily entertainment.
Had the conspirators held aloof from these, the residents might have
asked, since it was not to enjoy themselves, what was the purpose of
their stay in Tangier; and so, to allay suspicion as to their real
object, different members of the expedition had been assigned from time
to time to represent the visitors at these festivities. On the morning
following the return of the yacht from Messina, an invitation to ride
to a farmhouse some miles out of Tangier and to breakfast there had
been sent to the visitors, and the King had directed the Prince
Kalonay, and half of the delegation from Paris, to accept it in his
name.

They were well content to go, and rode forth gayly and in high spirits,
for the word had been brought them early in the morning that the
expedition was already prepared to move, and that same evening at
midnight the yacht would set sail for Messina. They were careless as
to what fortune waited for them there. The promise of much excitement,
of fighting and of danger, of po