"I need not introduce myself," he said. "With Mr. Bellamy I have
the honor to be well acquainted. Madame is known to all the world."

Louise nodded, somewhat coldly.

"We can dispense with an introduction, I think, Monsieur le Baron,"
she said. "At the same time, you will perhaps explain to what I
owe this somewhat unexpected pleasure?"

"Mademoiselle, an explanation there must certainly be. I know that
it is an impossible hour. I know, too, that to have forced my
presence upon you in this manner may seem discourteous. Yet the
urgency of the matter, I am convinced, justifies me.

Louise motioned him to a chair, but he declined with a little bow
of thanks.

"Mademoiselle," he said, "and you, Mr. Bellamy, we need not waste
words. We have played a game of chess together. You, Mademoiselle,
and Mr. Bellamy on the one side - I and my friends upon the other.
The honor of Rudolph Von Behrling was the pawn for which we fought.
The victory remains with you."

Bellamy never moved a muscle. Louise, on the contrary, could not
help a slight start.

"Under the circumstances," the Baron continued smoothly, "the
struggle was uneven. I do myself the justice to remember that from
the first I realized that we played a losing game. Mademoiselle,"
he added, "from the days of Cleopatra - ay, and throughout those