uery."

"She's a--Russian spy."

"Oh, I've heard of that for the last dozen years. All the ugly old
Frenchwomen in London are Russian spies, according to what people say;
but the Russians know how to use their money better than that. If they
employ spies, they employ people who can spy something."

Archie felt this to be cruel--very cruel, but he said nothing further
about it. His brother was stupid, pigheaded, obstinate, and quite
unfitted by nature for affairs of intrigue. It was, alas, certain that
his brother would provide no money for such a purpose as that he now
projected; but, thinking of this, he found some consolation in the
reflection that Hugh would not be a participator with him in his great
secret. When he should have bought the Russian spy, he and Doodles would
rejoice together in privacy without any third confederate. Triumviri
might be very well; Archie also had heard of triumviri; but two were
company, and three were none. Thus he consoled himself when his
pigheaded brother expressed his disbelief in the Russian spy.

There was nothing more said between them in the railway carriage, and,
as they parted at the door in Berkeley Square, Hugh swore to himself
that this should be the last season in which he would harbor his brother
in London. After this he must have a house of his own there, or have no
house at all. Then Archie went down to his club, and finally arranged
with Doodles that the first visit to the spy should be made on the
following morning. After much consultation it was agreed between them
that the way should be paved by a diplomatic note. The diplomatic note
was therefore written by Doodles and copied by Archie.

"Captain Clavering presents his compliments to Madam Gordeloup, and
proposes to call upon her to-morrow morning at twelve o'clock, if that
hour will be convenient. Captain Clavering is desirous of consulting
Madam Gordeloup on an affair of much importance." "Consult me!" said
Sophie to herself, when she got the letter. "For what should he consult
me? It is that stupid man I saw with Julie. Ah, well; never mind. The
stupid man shall come." The commissioner, therefore, who had taken the
letter to Mount Street, returned to the club with a note in which Madam
Gordeloup expressed her willingness to undergo the proposed interview.
Archie felt that the letter--a letter from a Russian spy addressed
positively to himself--gave him already diplomatic rank, and he kept it
as a treasure i