shadowy days which lie beyond - the diplomats of the world have been
powerless when matched against your sex. Rudolph Von Behrling was
an honest fellow enough until he looked into your eyes. Mademoiselle,
you have gifts which might, perhaps, have driven from his senses a
stronger man.

Louise smiled, but there was no suggestion of mirth in the curl of
her lips. Her eyes all the time sought his questioningly. She did
not understand.

"You flatter me, Baron," she murmured.

"No, I do not flatter you, I speak the truth. This plain talking
is pleasant enough when the time comes that one may indulge in it.
That time, I think, is now. Rudolph Von Behrling, against my advice,
but because he was the Chancellor's nephew, was associated with me
in a certain enterprise, the nature of which is no secret to you,
Mademoiselle, or to Mr. Bellamy here. We followed a man who, by
some strange chance, was in possession of a few sheets of foolscap,
the contents of which were alike priceless to my country and
priceless to yours. The subsequent history of those papers should
have been automatic. The first step was fulfilled readily enough.
The man disappeared - the papers were ours. Von Behrling was the
man who secured them, and Von Behrling it was who retained them.
If my advice had been followed, I admit frankly that we should have
ignored all possible comment and returned with them at once to
Vienna. The others thought differently. They ruled that we should
come on to London and deposit the packet with our Ambassador here.
In a weak moment I consented. It was your opportunity, Mademoiselle,
an opportunity of which you have splendidly availed yourself."