into her confidence, in reward for your services, in regard to some
private interests of her own which have got themselves wildly mixed up
with the gravest political matters, she's at liberty to do so as far as
I'm concerned, for you are to be trusted, and deserve to be trusted. You
may say that to her from me, if the occasion arises. I hope with all my
heart that everything may go smoothly. If not--the _Entente Cordiale_
may burst like a bomb. I--who have made myself responsible in the
matter, with the clear understanding that England will deny me if the
scheme's a failure--shall be shattered by a flying fragment. The
favourite actress of Paris will be asphyxiated by the poisonous fumes;
and you, though I hope no worse harm may come to you, will mourn for the
misfortunes of others. Your responsibility will be such that it will be
almost as if you carried the destructive bomb itself, until you get the
packet into the hands of Maxine de Renzie." "Good heavens, I shall be
glad when she has it!" said Ivor.

"You can't be gladder than she--or I. And here it is," replied the
Foreign Secretary. "I consider it great luck to have found such a
messenger, at a house I could enter without being suspected of any
motive more subtle than a wish to eat a good supper, or to meet some of
the prettiest women in London."

I would have given a great deal to see what he was giving Ivor to take
to Maxine, and I was half tempted to lift myself up and peep at the two
from behind the lounge, but I could tell from their voices that they
were standing quite near, and it would have been too dangerous. The
Foreign Secretary, who is rather a nervous man, and fastidious about a
woman's looks, never could bear me: and I believe he would have thought
it almost as justifiable as drowning an ugly kitten, to choke me if he
knew I'd overheard his secrets.