Arms and the Woman

He replied with a scowl.

"Perhaps your name is ------"

"Winthrop, John Winthrop, if that will throw any light on the subject."' "One name is as good as another," with a smile of unbelief.

"That is true. What's in a name? There is little difference, after

all, between the names of the nobility and the rabble."

"You are determined to irritate me beyond measure," said he. A German

is the most sensitive man in the world as regards his title.

"Grant that I have some cause. And perhaps," observing him from the

corner of my eye, "it is because you smoke such vile tobacco."

Remembering the incident in the railway carriage, he smiled in spite of

the gravity of the situation.

"It was the best I had," he said; "and then, it was done in

self-defence. I'll give you credit for being a fearless individual.

But you haven't answered my question."

"What question?"

"Why you returned to this country when you were expressly forbidden to

do so."

"I answered that," said I. "And now let me tell you that you may go on

asking questions till the crack of doom, but no answer will I give you

till you have told me why I am here, I, who do not know you or what

your business is, or what I am supposed to have done."

He began to look doubtful. He thumped the table with the butt of the

pistol.

"Do you persist in affirming that your name is Winthrop?"

"These gardens are very fine. I could see them better," said I, "if

the window was larger."

"Perhaps," he cried impatiently, "you do not know where she is?"

"She?" I looked him over carefully. There was a perfectly sane light

in his eyes. "Am I crazy, or is it you? She? I know nothing about

any she!"

"Do you dare deny that you know of the whereabouts of her Serene

Highness the Princess Hildegarde, and that you did not come here with

the purpose to aid her to escape the will of his Majesty? And do you

mean--Oh, here, read this!" flinging me a cablegram.

The veil of mystery fell away from my eyes. I had been mistaken for

Hillars. Truly, things were growing interesting. I bent and picked up

the cablegram and read:

"COUNT VON WALDEN: He has left London and is on his way to the capital.

Your idea to allow him to cross the frontier is a good one.

Undoubtedly he knows where the Princess is in hiding. In trapping him

you will ultimately trap her. Keep me informed."