Mr. Grex of Monte Carlo

air were streaked with grey, he wore gold-rimmed spectacles, and he carried his head a little thrust forward, as though, even with the aid of his glasses, he was still short-sighted.

Carlo is absolutely the last place in the world in which I should have

athlete, notwithstanding his colourless cheeks and the worn lines about his eyes. He was dressed with extreme simplicity. His deep-set eyes and sensitive mouth were in marked contrast to the

ere," Hunterleys remarked. "Why may

t serious of us must have our frivolous moments. I hope th

ys shook

d, "I have another

ith polite regrets, but he d

you arrive

ago," Hunte

strange! I went

rom the o

A

e, Hunterleys hesitated for a moment. Then he

ying at San Remo

yer was much

"I saw from the papers that you had accepted a six months' pair.

r a rest," Hunt

eyer smiled

ur reputation, you know. They say that you ar

from the speaker

rved. "I think that I shall have a look into the

. Mr. Draconmeyer, however, intervened.

nexpected, but in a sense it is opportune. Will you b

d. "My time is quite at your dispo

he little bar. They found a quiet corner and two easy-chairs. Draconmeyer gav

he change?" Draconmeyer began. "Her companionship is a

and asked quietly. "If so, I should like to say a few preliminary words which would

d a little uneas

ar what is in your mind at the present moment. You do not, I fear

uncompromisin

nd I are temporarily estranged," he continued. "The chief reason for t

ack. Such extreme directness of

you distress me. I do not understand

nterleys retorted coolly. "I claim the right to regu

sisted, "will you tell me why you consider my wife and myself unf

tunate condition, and that is all. You personally I dislike. I dislike my wife to be seen with you, I dislike having her name associated with yours in any

air of a benevolent pers

m a little taken aback by it. You are known to be a very skilful diplomatist and you have many weapons

n of diplomacy need come in when one's only idea is to regu

king his black beard. His eyes were fixed upon the

red. "Your opinion of me is such that I hesitate to procee

ly willing to listen to anything you have to say-all the more ready beca

enters into what I was about to say. I was going to propose not exactly an alliance-that, of course, would

what

w, from Berlin. The position which I hold in your city is still the position of president of the greatest German bank in the world. It is German finance which I have dire

ill. His face was rigid but express

know, two parties, and year by year they are drawing further apart. I will not allude to factions. I will speak broadly. There is the war party and there is the peace party. I belong to the peace party. I belong to it as a Ge

o knew him it was easy to realise that he was

t it did not occur to me to do so many months ago in London. Now to proceed. I ask you to emulate my frankness, and i

, "to be perfectly frank with you. In what

must ask it so that we may meet on a common ground of confidence. Are you here in Monte Carlo to look after your wife, or in search of change of air and scene? Is that your honest

holds in his hand a puzzle and is doubtful

r?" he asked coldly. "Or are you trying to incite a supposititi

Mr. Draconm

his case, tapped it upon the tabl

Lady Hunterleys was in Monte Carlo. I am here because I have a six months' holiday, and a holiday for the average Englishman between January and April generally means, as you must

onmeyer

t is to-day February twentieth. Do you wish me to understand

hen I left London?"

meyer purs

. "Your wife, for some reason or other, declined to discuss your move

rlo? Frankly, Mr. Draconmeyer, I look upon this close interest in my movements as an impertinence. My travels have been of no importance, b

, then? You dou

e dullest and most harmless men existing. My own position is simply as I explained it during the first few sentences we exchanged. I do

merely a jealous husband, or had he any idea of the greater game which was being played around them? Had he, by any chance, arrived to take part in it? Was it wise, in an

te Carlo, accidental though it may be, is in a sense opportune; that you may, in a short time meet here one or two politicians, friends of mine, with whom an interchange of views might be agreeable? Supposing I were to offer my services as an intermediary? You would li

er's earnestness. He seemed, indeed, a lit

ould not receive or exchange confidences. While my Party is out of power, there is nothing left for us but to mark time. I dare say you mean well, Mr. Draconme

at, with close-cropped grey hair which stuck up like bristles all over his head; a huge, clean-shaven face which seemed concentrated at that moment in one tremendous smile of overwh

. It is amazing! There is no place like this in the world. We are here to drink a bottle of wine together, mademoiselle and I, mademoiselle who was at once my instructres

nly. His gesture w

re are many who forget me as a humble Minister of my master, but there are few who forget me physi

d him, as he submitted to the newcomer's vigo

hrough Hunterleys' as thou

an banker; Sir Henry Hunterleys, the English politician-to Mademoiselle Estelle Nipon, of the Opera H

ughed, poutingly. "And I am parched! I hav

do. We will drink champagne until we do not believe that there is such a thing as losing at games or in life. We will drink champagne until we all four believe that we have been brought up together, that we are bosom friends of a

gne and they listened to Selingman. All the time he talked, save when mademoiselle interrupted him. Seated upon a chair which seemed absurdly inadequate, his gr

adies who charm away our hearts," he added, bowing to mademoiselle, "the financiers whose word can shake the money-markets of the world, and the politicians who unbend, perhaps, just a

time, then-t

d away. The two men looked after him. The smile seemed gradual

r cloak, dear," he

gman leaned across the ta

nterleys do h

er shook

has come to look after his wife. He

e told you of

r admitted. "He was suspi

ngman muttered under his breath

ly bright beneath his spectacles. "I have been suspicious ever s

-he returned to England. That same night he travelled to Germany. We lost him in V

ou came," Draconmeyer said. "I tried to gain his confidence. He

umming upon the table wi

I watched him, I listened to him in Berlin six years ago. He was with his master then but he had nothing to learn fr

posed, a little petulantly, letting the ti

y Englishman! There was mademoiselle's bracelet to be bought, and perhaps a few flowers. Selingman pulled down his waistcoat and accepted his grey Homburg ha

we drink to it from our hearts with every breath we draw of this wonderful air, every time our feet touch the buoyant ground. Believe me,