e he jerked
the ash from time to time so that it should not fly and incommode his
sister.

"Rightly or wrongly, we are suspected of being malcontents. The Bukatys
have in the past been known to foster that spirit of Polish nationality
which it has been the endeavor of three great countries to suppress for
nearly a century. Despite Russia, Prussia, and Austria there is still
a Polish language and a Polish spirit; despite the Romanoffs, the
Hapsburgs, and the Hohenzollerns there are still a few old Lithuanian
and Ruthenian families extant. And rightly or wrongly, those in
authority are kind enough to blame, among others, the Bukatys for these
survivals. Weeds, it seems, are hard to kill. Whether we are really to
blame or not is of no consequence. It does not matter to the dog whether
he deserves his bad name or not--after he is hanged. But it is not good
to be a Bukaty and live in Poland just now, though some of us manage to
have a good time despite them all--eh, Wanda?"

And he laid his hand momentarily on his sister's arm. But she did not
answer. She desired before all things that clear understanding which was
part of her creed of life, and she glanced quickly from side to side for
fear some interruption should approach.

"Mr. Cartoner, on the other hand," he continued, in his airy way, "is a
most respectable man--in the employ of his country. That is what damns
Mr. Cartoner. He is in the employ of his country. And he has a great
reputation, to which I take off my hat."

And he saluted gayly Cartoner's reputation.

"It would never do," continued Martin, "for us, the suspects, to be
avowedly the friend of the man who is understood to be an envoy in some
capacity of his government. Whether he is really such or not is of no
consequence. It matters little to the dog, you remember."

"But what are we to do?" asked Wanda, practically. "Let us have a clear
understanding. Are we to pass each other in the streets?"

"No," answered Cartoner, speaking at length, without hesitation and
without haste--a man who knew his own mind, and went straight to the
heart of the question. "We must not meet in the streets."

"That may not be as easy as it sounds," said Wanda, "in a small city
like Warsaw. Are you so long-sighted that you can always make sure of
avoiding us?"

"I can, at all events, try," answered Cartoner, simply. After a
pause (the pauses always occurred when it happened, so to say, to be
Cartoner's turn to speak) he