anytime, and day or night! and no collection-plate, ha, ha!"

"I make it a practice every day, if only briefly."

"Quite right! quite! I am inclined that way myself, since I lost my wife
and our boy. He said something about hoping to meet me one day up
there!" and he flourished his handkerchief about his eyes and toward the
clouds. "Blessed relief to pray and do you really get an answer now and
then? in time, no doubt, for it's a great way off!"

"Do you not believe in heaven, M. Cantagnac?" demanded Clemenceau,
bluntly.

In the twilight and loneliness, the question struck home, and the spy
felt compelled to make some answer.

"My dear M. Clemenceau," he faltered, "I never meddle with matters which
do not teach me anything. One word has existed thousands of years, and
yet full explanations on the highest secrets have been wholly refused,
so that the finest intellects give up seeking them unless they want to
go mad. So I think it my duty to abstain and not lose my time in studies
useless and dangerous. It is not merely a matter of reasoning, but of
prudence. Of course, every man is his own master. I grant that we
certainly are subjected to a power above our wit and will. We are born
without knowing how, and die without knowing why. Between birth and
death, swarm struggles, passions, sorrows, maladies, miseries of all
kinds; an unfair, uneven sharing of worldly goods, and scoundrels often
happy and triumphant and honest people most often unhappy and
erroneously judged. We are told that we should adore and praise this
state of things; but I only hold such events as certainties that I can
see and turn to my profitable use. Now you, M. Clemenceau, are a
honorable man--a great man since you can carry on a conversation with
Nature! Why not ask her a favor on account of your belief and your work?
so that you will not have to doubt her some day more than I do. But let
us talk of more substantial things. I have inspected the plan of the
property and walked over the grounds. I have your agent's address, and
in a week, I will write to him and make my offer. I dare say we shall
come to an agreement. Let me thank you for your very kind welcome--I
shall be off in ten minutes."

Absorbed in meditation, Clemenceau did not hold out his hand, and, with
the idea upon him of the engagement with Madame Clemenceau, the spy did
not remind him of the omission.

"You need not walk over to the station, for M. Daniels and his daughter
are