Ambrose Lavendale, Diplomat

d loiterers, were occupying their accustomed chairs in one corner of the long, green-carpeted room. Around the bar, would-be customers were crowded three or four deep-many

urless, with a stoop which was almost a deformity. His fingers were stained to the tip of his nails as though by chemicals or tobacco juice. He held the

ver been known in civilized warfare!' a

ducting this war decently,' another asse

cally. 'I should like to know when Germany has ever shown the slightest regard f

listening eagerly to the conversation, ventured upon a ques

this morning?' he inquired. 'I

glanced down

s gases by the Germans. They started pumping them at u

naccountable, that they all turned and stared at him. There was no doubt whatever that for some reason or other the news which he had just heard had excited this strange little person almost hysterically. His lips grew further apart, the whole of his face was puckered up in little creases. Then, just a

the Canadian exclaimed angrily. 'I'd like to take hi

d. He was a tall, well-set-up young man, with a face rather grave for his years and a mouth a litt

raordinary little

The waiter paused with

America, sir,' he announced. 'I don't know his n

t down his glass

h at such a ghastly thing, must be eit

rose?' his co

. 'Well, au revoir, you fellows! I'm going in

n ten minutes,' the other r

himself, the little man who had been guilty of such a breach of good-feeling was studying the menu with a waiter by his side. Lavendale watch

s morning, Jules,' he announced.

tle man whom he had been watching. The ma?tr

he said. 'It isn't often you care a

ve. He considered himself a practical, hard-headed person, notwithstanding the fact that he had embraced what was for his country practically a new profession. Nevertheless, he was conscious of what almost amounted to a new interest in life as he studied, a little too eagerly, perhaps, the girl's features. She was dark, with hair brushed plainly back from a somewhat high and beautifully shaped forehead. Her complexion was

s course. He summoned Jules and inquired the young lady's name

I am not quite sure,' the man added, 'whether she is not the agent over here

o weak. He ransacked his memory for the names of all the theatrical people whom he knew, and made mental notes of them. It was his firm intention to make her acquaintance before the day was over. Once their eyes met, and, notwithstanding a reasonable amount of savoir faire, for the moment he was almost embarrassed. He found it impossible to gla

r to you, but I should like, if

elt that his proceeding had attracted the strongest interest from the young woman seated only a few feet away. She had leaned ever so slightly

e a question? Why, I don't know as there'd be any h

ch the Germans are using. I heard you ask a question and I heard the answer. You were apparently for the f

head slowly as though in

low,' he invited. 'A

s Ambrose Lavendale and I was attached

don't know a soul in London and you may be useful to me, so if you li

l did. I dare say you heard some of

u what that piece of information which I heard at the bar, and which I find in the paper here, means to me and means to the world. Hold tight, young man. I am

ited. 'I guess my nerves

e table and looked upwards at his companio

the war,'

t him incredulousl

'll be the greatest benefactor the

he final stage of his luncheon, help

hinking, I guess, that I am a pitifully insignificant little unit in this great city, in this ragin

e of mutual understanding flashed between them. Doubtless she had overheard some part of their conversation. Lavendale raised his voice

romised. 'In what direction

king a glass of water, squinted at his q

rt of a crank you'

ed. The little man did not lo

eeping proposition, you

ssible before it was done. Your help needn't be very strenuous. I guess t

r Office,' Lave

ny one

any soldiers who have

time. Do you happen to be acquainted w

eflected fo

st as well to warn you, though, that they're abs

with some quality of self-appreciation which seemed at o

ked, 'or will he be taking his

g after he gets there in the

ed his bill and laid do

d. 'Right! Then what about taking me along a

ed, a little doubtfully, 'but

ill watching them closely. Jules, whom she had apparently just summoned, was standing by her side, and Lavendale was convinced that the question

ked, as he seated himself, 'that my name is Hur

mechanically. 'You are not taking anything with

shook h

ace to face with a live man-that's all I

can,' Lavendal

ale, dressed by an English tailor and at home in mo

ught it,' he admitt

down many corridors until they reached a room in the rear of the building. A boy scout guarded

gested. 'My friend is in this room, working with several other

agreed. 'You run t

t and approached the desk befo

ggie!' he

ork, looked up from a sheaf of p

y the side of me, if you want to

leaned ove

, perhaps. I've got a little American outside. He's a most unholy-lookin

k his head r

otested. 'We've had our mor

said, 'but you've got

ything a

d to him for five minutes, and I have just an

a paperweight up

l round to Bembridge, if you say the word, but I warn you,

ive,' Lavendale observed. 'Anyhow, m

hed and clo

way,

taken aback as Lavendale briefly introduced them, and his glance towards his friend was signi

gaged?' he asked the

opying plans. There were models in the room of every form of modern warfare. A tall, thin man

, Mr. Ambrose Lavendale, who was in the American Embassy for some ti

opped his eyeg

on?' he ask

itted briskly. 'Do I understand that

General Bembr

bly say 'Prove it.' I will prove it. There's a row of taxicabs down below. Take me outside this city of yours to where there's a garden and

writing at the table, had turned around. General Bembrid

with devices which will end the war, is twenty. To-day that average has been exceeded. I have already spoken to twenty-f

hose cranks,' Mr. Hurn i

ed his eyeglass and read. The heading at the top of the notepaper was

this society. We recommend the attention of the B

is is from the greatest firm of steel p

ame which recommended Mr. Hurn to the consi

Hatton Park, three miles from Hatfield, on the road to Baldock. You can meet me

Hurn observed, buttoning up the letters in

glanced curiously at the American as

e if I hurry, Lavendale. Don't let your friend be a mi

aptain Merrill,' he added, by way of parting salute, holding out his curiously stained hand. 'I am much obliged to you fo

d within his room. The latter, with the inve

there to-morrow mo

e your best for me and it's only right you should have your

laugh which his companion ab

ake you down in my car. I'll be

l,' Mr. Hurn promised, 'you shall see the most won

ore the front door of the Milan Hotel. Mr. Hurn, looking, if possible, shabbier and more insignifi

tus to bring, or anythi

urn s

darned

le was

tart with your experiment,

answered, 'and you'd

d at the shabby little object by his side, began to lose confi

w are you going to

lanced at

nside of an ho

ngloved; his boots were of some dull, indescribable material which seemed to have escaped the attentions of the valet; his flannel shirt was of the style and pattern displayed in Strand establishments

ade a fool of mys

od. Lavendale lit a cigarette and paused to watch the approach of a great limousine car rushing up the hill. It passed them in a cloud of dust,-he stood staring after it. Notwithstanding the closed windows, he had caught a glimpse of a face

you people about, you don't want any spectators to this show. The

ed to have come once more together. What was the girl doing out here? Could her appearance really be fortuitous? The little man's warning became au

ht, anyway,' he remarked. 'You see, no one

Hurn replied dryly. 'Anyway, I gu

p at the lodge gate. General Bembridge descended bris

, if you please, I am at your disposal for a quarter of

ffably. 'You don't need to worry. I've been tak

. The others followed him, the Ge

paratus to show us?' he inquired i

ld me nothing. If it weren't for those letters he

fringe of trees which bordered the road-side and terminated after a s

ou just hop round the other side a

from the General, hurried off. T

he dark, sir, he remarked. 'What i

said grandiloquently, 'a work of destruction which

. From the latter he selected a pellet a little smaller than a marble. He fitted it carefully in

ne about, sir,

evertheless, their eyes were all riveted upon the strange little figure a few feet in front of them. Slowly he drew back the elastic of the catapult and discharged the pellet. It struck a tree inside the spinney and there was immediately a curious report, which sounded more like a slow muttering of human pain than an ordinary detonation. Mr. Hurn

of you,' he ordered. 'T

-coloured ashen-grey. Without any cause that they could see, the bark began to fall away from many of the trees, as though unseen hands were engage

this strong westerly wind you won't need res

every living thing, were the same ashen colour. The ground on which their footsteps fell broke away as though the life had been sapped from it. There were two rabbits, a dead cock pheasant, the glory of his p

rains. I reckon that this spinney is eighty yards in area. I will guarantee to you that within that eighty yards there is not alive, at the present moment, any bird or insect or anima

he shock of being fired from a

They are absolutely harmless until concussion breaks down that division. This little matter,' he added, waving his hand upon that scene of hideous desolation, 'is like the b

it. Suddenly Lavendale gave a little cry. Out in the field on the othe

ound here, Merrill!'

officer replied. 'There

nto her face, he recognized her. There were little flecks of grey upon her dress and she

assured them feebly. '

hed his way to her side. From another pill-box which he had withdrawn from his po

en I was experimenting. She's only got a touch of it. She'll be all right in five minutes. What I

first sat up. Then, with the help of Lavendale's hand,

s this awful thi

poke for

und here, young lady?'

her big, innocent eye

she went on, turning towards the General. 'I remembered that I had hear

was a

d, 'the young lady will giv

her eyebrow

nne de Freyne, and my address is at the Milan

le assured her hastily. '

ld when suddenly that happened. I felt as though all the strength were going out of my body. I didn'

all,' he went on complacently, 'if we may take it for granted that the young lady's

ell me what it mea

he General took Miss de Freyne courteously by the arm and led her on one side.

car. You will confer a great obligation upon every one here, and upon

n Lavendale's face which she failed to find. Then she turned away

you all,' she declared, with a little wave of farewell,

the gate and enter the car w

now her?' the G

observed thoughtfully. 'She was listening to our conversation. It may be a coincidence, b

sed his arm thr

y dear sir, our positions are now reversed. My time is yours. I will find another opp

l, alert, military figure-queerest contrast in the world-'give me a factory-one of your ordinary factories will do, all your

*

balance, he was almost bewildered at his own sensations as he elbowed his way through the throng of waiters and passers-by. At the corner of the glass screen he paused. The girl was there, seated at the same table, with a newspaper propped up

?' a soft voice mu

is abstraction and gl

he replied. 'He said eight o'clock

ly reserved for two people. There were hors d'o

ck punctually, sir,' he announced. 'I ha

by the side of which Jules was standing. The three of them for a moment seemed to have concentrated their

nt dinner,' Jules observed. 'I have a

eyes met the girl's. There was a quiver of recognition in he

covered, I trust,

f baffling impenetrability. It was impossible even to

' she said. 'You have seen nothin

t all,' sh

plained, 'at eight o'clock punctually. I have

k and Lavendale, with a

his room,' he remarked, addressin

urt, sir,' the man rep

elf,' Lavend

ascended to the fourth floor, made his way down the corridor and paused before number eighty-nine. He knocked at the door-there was no reply. Then he tried the

exclaimed, ra

nd found it with an impulse of relief. The room was flooded with soft light-Lavendale's hand seemed glued to the little brass knob. He stood there with his back to the wall, his face set, speechless. Mr. Daniel H. Hurn was seated in an easy-chair in what appeared

down the corridor, paused

thing wrong,

the world of real things. He withdrew the key

nager,' he said. 'I will wait outsi

g, sir?' the v

dale

the chair is dea

ype="