them? They throw a new light upon everything,--an awful light!"

"I have known you," the Ambassador said quietly, "since you were
a baby. Every member of your family has been a friend of mine.
You come of a silent race. I know very well that you are a person
of discretion. There are certain small ways in which a government
can occasionally be served by the help of some one outside its
diplomatic service altogether, some one who could not possibly be
connected with it. You know this very well, Penelope, because you
have already been of service to us on more than one occasion."

"It was a long time ago," she murmured.

"Not so very long," he reminded her. "But for the first of these
tragedies, Fynes' despatches would have reached me through you. I
am going to ask your help even once more."

In the somewhat cold spring sunlight which came streaming through
the large window, Penelope seemed a little pallid, as though,
indeed, the fatigue of the season, even in this its earlier
stages, were leaving its mark upon her. There were violet rims
under her eyes. A certain alertness seemed to have deserted her
usually piquant face. She sat listening with the air of one half
afraid, who has no hope of hearing pleasant things.

"It has been remarked," Mr. Harvey continued, "or rather I may
say that I myself have noticed, that you are on exceedingly
friendly terms with a very distinguished nobleman who is at
present visiting this country--I mean, of course, Prince Maiyo."