, stupid? I sent her a message that her
game had been treed at last ... by me."

He waved his hands in despair.

"Then you'll do the talking, Madam Mischief."

"And you'll never say a word, even when asked. What! would I let you
mesmerize her at the start by telling her how little you think of my
idea and my plans? She would think as little of them as you do, when you
got through. No! I shall tell her, I shall plan for her, I shall lead
her to the point of feeling where that long experience with Horace
Endicott will become of some use in piercing the disguise of Arthur
Dillon. You would convince her she was not to see Horace Endicott, and
of course she would see only Arthur Dillon. I'll convince her she is to
see her runaway husband, and then if she doesn't I'll confess defeat."

"There's a good deal in your method," he admitted in a hopeless way.

"We are in for it now," she went on, scorning the compliment. "By this
time Arthur Dillon knows, if he did not before, that I am up to
mischief. He may fall on us any minute. He will not suffer this
interference: not because he cares two cents one way or the other, but
because he will not have us frightening his relatives and friends,
telling every one that he is two. Keep out of his way so that he shall
have to come here, and to send word first that he is coming. I'll
arrange a scene for him with his Sonia. It may be sublime, and again it
may be a fizzle. One way or the other, if Sonia says so, we'll fly to
the west out of his way. The dear, dear boy!"

"He'll _dear_ you after that scene!"

"Now, do you make what attempts you may to find out where he keeps his
money, he must have piles of it, and search his papers, his safe...."

"He has nothing of the kind ... everything about him is as open as the
day ... it's an impertinence to bother him so ... well, he can manage
you, I think ... no need for me to interfere or get irritated."

Then she had a tantrum, which galled the soul of Curran, except that it
ended as usual in her soft whimpering, her childish murmuring, her sweet
complaint against the world, and her falling asleep in his arms. Thus
was he regularly conquered and led captive.

They went next day at noon to visit Sonia Endicott at the Everett House,
where she had established herself with her little boy and his nurse. Her
reception of the Currans, while supercilious in expression, was really
sincere. They represented her hope in that long search of five yea