without a superior."

"You are very generous, Mr. Harleston!"

"I believe in giving the devil his dues. Indeed, in handling some
affairs, she is in a class by herself. Her beauty and finesse and
alluringness make her simply irresistible. It's a cold and stony heart
that she can't get inside of and use."

"A man's heart, you mean?"

"Certainly. A man is in control of such affairs."

"Then Mrs. Spencer's presence here indicates that this letter matter is
of the first importance to Germany."

"It indicates that her business is of the first importance to Germany;
the letter may simply be incidental to that business, in that its
delivery to the French Ambassador will embarrass or complicate that
business. The latter is likely the fact."

"It grows more involved every minute," Mrs. Clephane sighed. "It's
useless to try to make me comprehend. I want to hear what happened to
you; such simple concrete doings are more adapted to my unsophisticated
mind."

"When I returned to the telephone, you were gone," he said; "I waited
awhile, then cruised through the rooms, then went back to our place and
waited again. Finally I went in to dinner, leaving word to be notified
the moment you returned. I was at my soup when a note was brought to me