By Wit of Woman

nfessed, something like a spy. But our relations would now be changed. It would be at most an alliance of hostility. I should only remain because she would deem it more dangerous fo

t shaft had really hit the bull's-eye-that the influence behind her w

from it. I had always heard him spoken of not only as a man of high capacity and integrity but as a staunch friend to

be the future Duke; and if others felt this, was Gustav himself likely to hold a different opinion? From such an opinion it was no do

s resentment; and the difficulty it would present. To send me out of the house would in his view be tantamount to giving away the whole scheme at once to Gen

ng, when Madame's French maid came to my room, saying

s she, E

alon, mad

lo

e Gustav is

it seemed, but very much right; and I went down to meet them with the confidence

He had one of the handsomest faces I had ever looked upon; eyes of the franke

ed him, and spoke in that ingratiating t

hand when Madam

rtelle's new friend, Miss Gilmore. I trust

for titles. You flatter me." I was intensely American for the m

eally Amer

fine a State as anywhere in the world. Not that I run down t

regre

ould be. Fine broad straight streets, ple

he replied, with a look intended to put the

he dollar measure, Count. You

living away fro

k, you know, and every woman too. Wh

than capable

plough my own

to Pesth for

t of th

you think of p

getting to understand one another, some. Though whether we're going to co

dear," put in Madame d'Artelle; and I knew f

to place what influence I have

I answered, demurely. "There is General von

the Count, with a pretty sharp look. "One is temp

knack for languages. I know Magyar just as well. And French, and Italian, and a bit of Russian. I'

u have been mu

rs ago;" and at that Mada

"It was there you met, of course. It was the

stake wa

s husband was

ter all, and this was to

is it?" I said this just as though I we

Gilmore. It is a mistake. We

back so sharply

onfided in me

as not lost much; and must be

"You are very qui

proofs within the last hour. It is nothing to me, of course; but I don

brother's friend as wel

oes tha

my brother's heart is so deeply se

happen to me if I were not?" I paused and then

th obvious relief. "Those who help my family-a very powerful and influenti

h the earnestness of truth-although the favour

deal about all who co-operate with her," h

now about me; and what

d leave you to tell us what you please, of course, and aff

me to me. My father was a failure in life, and my mother died when I was a little child. I'm afraid I haven't made much histo

no friends

Erlanger; I was his children's gover

ere?" There was a glint in h

d you. I am a studen

t is

ds with any opportunity that chances to come my way. I am a soldieress of

ou were not

hen? My uncle Gilmore was alive;

further. You know New York we

and once stood in a whirl of amazement on Brooklyn

there five

he States that my flying visits to New York are difficult to fix. Was that the year I went to California? If

onsiderable sta

ars ago before I started for Paris," I said, la

t a Miss Christab

shook my head meditatively. "I have met hundred

t as she has the same Christian name. My brother

scarcely have believed he had eyes or thoug

nowledged to be seeking your fortune here. You are doin

ty I could assume. "When I have cause to hide myself under an alias, Count, it will b

insult. Nothing was farther from my thoughts. I was merely speaking out of my h

be pacified and sat down again. I was cu

fair moustache in

w to have the advantage of my f

ith Madame, then?

e, dear," she ans

and my brother in this impo

call it helping any one to connive at a marriage when on

; and in his impatience of

ur friends, Miss Gilmore, and not le

if I do not. And how do you think you could harm an insignific

d for that matter. You are labouring under a mistake as to Madame d'Artelle's husband-her late husband; and by spe

been shown that

ite angrily. "In the meantime if you speak of t

roduce the proofs and I of course have no more to say. But until they are produced I give no

rtelle, and I had something to do. They intended to produce proofs of M.

the university for an evening lecture, I drove

tion about Madame, and I now telegraphed to him that I must know the whereabouts of

fellow, and he was now in Paris where I had sent him to get information about Madame d'Artelle. I wired to him also, telling him

long been a habit with me. I was perfectly able to take care of myself, too; for at home I had been accustomed to carr

It is a good excuse for flirtation, possibly; but an extremely undignified ad

ne-the great Suspension Bridge which constitutes the hyphen between Buda and Pesth. My house was close to the bridge in that part of Pest

across the flat country on the Pesth side, up the river toward the witching Margaret Island, and away to th

mmonplace soul must feel a quickening of thought and sentiment at

ecognized the voice of Count Gustav; and glancing round saw him on the other side of the bridge with a companio

adow of the deep buttress as two men came slouching past me stealthily; and I heard enough

of Buda-a deserted spot enough at such an hour. Presently, as the two reached an open place, I saw the

pace and closed up to the pair. A momentary scuffle followed; the girl gave a half-smothered cry for help; and then the Cou

rough. I hid myself as the men came hurrying back with the girl, half-le

tood there some moments, when one of then went out into the road and stood listening. I heard i

the girl, I must act at once; and to save h

eeping my hand on my revolver I darted across to where the girl and her one capt

I was close to him, and gave a gr

t once," I said, in

ching her arm out of his grasp, she rushed to me

ple of words were exchanged hurriedly between them, and then they c

ered a sharp

and the two scoundrels pu

els pulled up at

t you," I called, "but bring the police up

d thus, the ca