The Lost Ambassador

ed my question. His hand had caught my w

I will tell you of my trip to the vineyards. Do not look at that man as though his appear

me of the vineyards and the cellars of the famous champagne house whose wine we were drinking. I did my best to listen intelligently,

lled a little into the place and he bowed pleasantly to several with whom he seemed to be acquainted, amongst whom was the man Bartot. He waved his hand to others further down the room. His circle of acquaintances, indeed, seemed unlimited. Then,

very great man. His n

the police!

s no

y marvellous," he declared. "The man has genius,-genius as well as executive ability. It

"is Monsieur Myers' visit h

rvation," Louis an

hat there are criminals

s room, at the present moment, are some o

ied away upon my lips. L

had better not ask. It is one thing to be a thief. It is quite another to see

expression which seems to be the heritage of those who drink the cup of pleasure without spice, simply because the hand of Fate presses it to their lips. These people had found something else. Were they not, after all, a lit

ecify, I suppose?

he only people who do not belong who have been admitted here, and you will notice," he

odd

g to rob the widow and the millionaire. I know that I must not ask you any questions," I continued, "but the

s sm

"I cannot answer that question. Mademois

sked. "He comes here when he choos

ted, "he is not m

ed person,"

ed all over the world. He knows a little of every capital, of e

at her thoughtfully. "It seems almost a shame, do

s sm

s really going to Brazil, it matters little what she does. A

. "Yes, I agree with you, Louis. It

s sm

e some day," he remarked. "Monsieu

o admire," I remarked, "

f the turquoises has spoken once or twice to Bartot and looked this way. I feel sure that it was of you she spok

in my blood. For the first time for many days the weariness seemed to

all come to no harm. If mademoiselle loo

from the mass of costly trifles which lay with her purse upon the table, and was writing on a piece of paper which the waiter had brought. I could see her delicately manicured fingers, the bl

n my ear. "Take no notice. It woul

exclaimed p

an hour he could lead an army which would defy the whole of the gendarmes in Paris. This quarter of the city is his absolutely to do with what he wills. Do you believe that you would have a

am simply like all those others who come to you day by day,-idlers and pleasure seekers. Let me assure you, Louis, that there ar

de," Louis said. "There are hundreds

ed my sh

ote," I said, "surely it would not be

adventures," Louis said, "than by

fair to me was simply interesting because it promised a moment's distraction. But, nevertheless, as she smiled I felt my heart beat faster, and I reached a little eagerly forward as though for the note. She called a waiter to her side. I watched her whisper to him; I watched his expression-anxious and perturbed at first, doubtful

setting the wine list upon the

ked at me once more, as though, for some reason or other, he was more than ordinarily interested in my prese

d. "Be careful! And, for God

ompanion, I raised my glass, looking her full in the face, and drank. Then I slipped the note from underneath the w

pered to me. "Read your

Here, with a freshly lit cigarette in my mouth, I unclenched my fingers, and looked at the

ompany. It would be

Café de Paris, an

t, altogether puzzled. It seemed to me that Louis watched me wit

," he suggested, "per

my feet re

ill, Loui

our departure h