"Not unless my government needs it?"

"_Peste!_" she exclaimed. "You and your government are--However, I'll
tell you." Her voice dropped to a mere whisper. "It has to do with
England, Germany, and France: at least, I so assume. It has to do with
Germany or I wouldn't be in it, as you know."

"And what is the business?" he continued.

"I'm not informed--further than that it's a secret agreement between
England and Germany, which France suspects and would give much to block
or to be advised of. As to what the agreement embodies, I am in the
dark--though I fancy it has to do with some phase of the Balkan
question."

"Why would England and Germany conclude an agreement as to the Balkan
question--or any question, indeed--in Washington?" Harleston asked.

"I do not know; I'm quite ready to admit its seeming improbability.
Possibly Germany desired the experience of her new Ambassador, Baron
Kurtz, and didn't care to order him to Europe. Possibly, too, they chose
Washington in order to avoid the spying eyes of the secret service of
the other Powers. At all events, I've told you all that I know."

"Why are _you_ here?" he went on.

"I'm here to watch--and to do as I'm directed. I'm on staff duty, so to
speak. I'm not quite in your class, Guy. I've never operated quite
alone." She looked at him thoughtfully. "We two together would make a
great pair--oh, a very great pair!"