emocrats and fed the gossip of the
card-tables, while Rene rode on his homeward way with a mind at ease.
Nothing had so disturbed the social life of the city for many a day.
Before long the matter came to the ear of the Secretary of State, who
saw at once its bearing upon his department and the weapon it would be
in the hands of party. It was, however, he said to Mr. Bingham, too wild
a story for ready credence, and De Courval would soon be at home.

A day later, Fauchet presented to the amazed and angry Secretary of
State Carteaux's formal statement, but made no explanation of its delay
except the illness of his attache. The man was near to death. He himself
believed his statement, the words of a man about to die. Randolph stood
still in thought. "Your charge, sir," he said, and he spoke French well,
"is that my clerk, the Vicomte de Courval, has stolen your despatch and
perhaps fatally wounded the gentleman commissioned to deliver it."

"You state it correctly. I am not surprised."

The tone was so insolent that Randolph said sharply: "You are not
surprised? Am I to presume that you consider me a party to the matter?"

"I have not said so, but subordinates are sometimes too zealous and--"

"And what, sir?"

"It is idle to suppose that the theft had no motive. There was some
motive, but what it was perhaps the English party may be able to
explain. My despatch is lost. Your secretary took it with the help of
one Schmidt. The loss is irreparable and of great moment. I insist, sir,
that the one man who has not fled be dealt with by you, and by the law."

"I shall wait, sir, until I hear the vicomte's story. He is a gentleman
of irreproachable character, a man of honor who has served us here most
faithfully. I shall wait to hear from him. Your secretary seems to have
lied at first and waited long to tell this amazing story."

The minister did not explain, but said sharply:

"It will be well if that despatch can be found. It was meant only for
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs."

"I do not understand you."

Fauchet laughed. "I trust that you may never have occasion to understand
me better." He was angry, and lost both his prudence and what little
manners he ever possessed. "It is desirable, or at least it is to be
hoped that the thief destroyed it."

"The gentleman you condemn, sir, is not yet on trial, and this has gone
far enough and too far. I shall lay the matter in due time before the
President." Upon which