This time Louise held herself with composure. Bellamy's brain was
in a whirl but he remained silent.

"I come to you both," the Baron continued, "with my hands open. I
come - I make no secret of it - I come to make terms. But first of
all I must know whether I am in time. There is one question which
I must ask. I address it, sir, to you," he added, turning to
Bellamy. "Have you yet placed in the hands of your Government the
papers which you obtained from Von Behrling?"

Bellamy shook his head.

The Baron drew a long breath of relief. Though he had maintained
his savoir faire perfectly, the fingers which for a moment played
with his tie, as though to rearrange it, were trembling.

"Well, then, I am in time. Will you see my hand?"

"Mademoiselle and I," answered Bellamy, "are at least ready to
listen to anything you may have to say."

"You know quite well," the Baron continued, "what it is that I have
come to say, yet I want you to remember this. I do not come to
bribe you in any ordinary manner. The things which are to come will
happen; they must happen, if not this year, next, - if not next year,
within half a decade of years. History is an absolute science. The
future as well as the past can be read by those who know the signs.
The thing which has been resolved upon is certain. The knowledge
of the contents of those papers by your Government might delay the