should talk with him first."

"I was going to suggest," said Miss Carson, with some
hesitation, "that if I spoke to him I might be able to put it
to him in such a way that he would see how necessary it----"

"Oh, excellent!" exclaimed the King, eagerly, and rising to
his feet; "if you only would be so kind, Miss Carson."

Kalonay, misunderstanding the situation altogether, fastened
his eyes upon the table and did not speak.

"He has not come to see you, Patricia," said Mrs. Carson,
quietly.

"He does not know that I am here," Miss Carson answered; "but
I'm sure if he did he would be very glad to see us again. And
if we do see him we can make him promise not to do anything
that might interfere with our plans. Won't you let me speak
to him, mother?"

Mrs. Carson turned uncertainly to the priest for direction,
and his glance apparently reassured her, for she rose, though
still with a troubled countenance, and the two women left the
room together, the men standing regarding each other anxiously
across the table. When they had gone the King lit a cigarette
and, turning his back on his companions, puffed at it
nervously in silence. Kalonay sat moodily studying the
pattern on the plate before him, and the others whispered
together at the farther end of the table.