Mr. Grex of Monte Carlo

e standing two or three deep around the roulette tables. Selingman, very warm, and looking somewhat annoyed, withdrew him

"I have had the devil's own luck. I shall play n

nd table in a distant c

We sit here in close touch with one of the most interesting phases of modern life. We can even hear the voice of fate, the cli

meyer glan

must say that I prefer a sma

chocolate éclair and sh

and eating many cakes together? Certainly not that we conspire, that we make mischief here. On the other hand, they will say 'There are three great men at play, come to Monte Carlo to rest from

avoured tea and toyed with his cig

lingman," he remarked, "I think that what you

eed with pond

very certain. At the sight of Hunterleys he will take alarm. He will be like a frightened bird, all ruffled feathers. He will never settle down to a serious discussion. Hunterleys kn

Mr. Draconmeyer said calmly, "th

out of the win

as our other friend from Paris comes, too. Any small task which may arise from the necessi

assented

es not gamble. To the ordinary attractions of Monte Carlo he is indifferent. He is one of

Mr. Grex queried, with sl

ifficulties, let us say at once that they are very minor ones. Only the thing mu

unexplained disappearance of Sir Henry Hunterleys might, by some people, b

mpathetically. Neither of them looked at Draconmeyer. Finally S

thoughtfully, "that Hunterleys' pre

across the table. The heads of the three men wer

Sofia. He was heard of in Athens and Constantinople. My own agent wrote me that he was in Belgrade. Hunterleys is the bosom friend of the English Foreign Secretary. That I know for myself. You have your reports. You can read between the lines. I tell you that Hunterleys is the man who has paralysed our action amongst the Balkan States. He has played a neat little game out there. It is he who was the in

se, doesn't it occur to you that his Party is not in office? He is simply a member of the Opposition. If his Party get in again a

nterleys has actually been consulted and has helped in one or two recent crises. The very circumstance that he is not of the ruling Party makes a free lance of him. When his people are in power, he will have to take office and wear the shackles. To-day, with every quality which would make him the greatest Foreign Minister England has ever had since Disraeli, he is nothing more nor less

o an awful complaint," he went on, and, addressing one of the head-waiters. "Your éclairs are too small, your cream-cakes too i

he situation perfectly. Hunterleys and Richard Lane had entered the room together and were seated at an

de out. I shall not be observed. Our friend," he continued, under his breath, "h

for a moment. Then h

very extraordinary piece of impertinence of which, only this afternoon, he was guilty. He accosted me upon the Ter

There was very little change in his face,

n addressed to me. He had the presumption to enquire whether I could procure for him an introduction to the young lady whom he knew as Mi

iberately, "is ignorant. If necess

vened. He breat

what we can. I am a tender-hearted man, and if extremes can be avoided, I shall like my task better.... And no

Richard Lane, who remained in his seat with an eff

his. Why, I'd only got to go over to Draconmeyer there and s

ys shook

d for another-well, I won't trouble you with the other reason.... Look here, Lane, take my advice, there's a sensible fellow. I am a man of the world, you know, and there are c

teeth. He was looking

he declared, "which is going to blow me out of Monte