nced at the clock.

"Hm! I've ten minutes. Yes, all right. If the gentlemen arrive
meanwhile put 'em in the smoking room. Get a coat. Shan't be a
second."

He disappeared into the bedroom and Doran went out to fetch Isabel.

"If you'll take a chair, miss, he won't keep you a moment. The evening
paper?"

"No," she said, "no."

It was a very different Isabel from the curled up little person who sat
on the cushions. Her face was white and tense--her mouth drawn in a
line of determination. She shook her head at the offer of a chair and
waved Doran to go away.

"Tony," she called as soon as the door had closed. "Tony."

He came into the room buttoning his coat.

"I say, my dear, you shouldn't have come here--really--really you
shouldn't," he said.

"I had to--had to," she repeated.

"You mustn't stay--these people'll be here directly."

"Horrible money people," she returned, "and you'd send me away for
them."

"I told you----" he began.

"You told me they'd found an easy way for you to get out--a safe way.
It isn't true."

"How do you know?" was startled from him.

"I found out tonight from Lord Almont. Danced with him--made a fool of
him--pretended I knew all about it--pretended I was sorry there was not
going to be any excitement in the thing. Said I really only cared for
men who tackled danger. Looked at him as though I thought he was
wonderful."

"I'll smash that fellow's head," said Barraclough grimly.

"You needn't--he's loyal enough. Thought he was doing you a good
turn--both of us a good turn. Said it wasn't going to be quite so easy
as you'd expected. So now I know you see--know it's going to be
horridly, hideously dangerous."

"Oh, my dear," he said, "why didn't you leave it alone?"

"I'm not the sort," she answered. "Where I love, Tony, I--I protect."

"You've a life time ahead to protect me in," he said.

"I'm going to do it now," said she. "You're not going, Tony."

"Listen," said Barraclough very earnestly, "there can't be any
interference in this. A false move now might ruin everything. If they
knew I was making a dash tonight----"

"They will know."

"How?"

"I shall tell them."

He shook his head. "Hardly, my dear. Besides I don't think you know
who to tell."

"You forget the letter you showed me. Mr. Van Diest might be
interested."

"I showed you that letter in confidence. You wouldn't betray----"

"Oh, wouldn't I? I'd betray any confidence th