The Dark Star

"You know that the beautiful Scheherazade----"

"Was famous for her fantastic stories? Yes, I know that, Mr. Neeland.

I'm sorry you don't believe I fired only to frighten you."

"I'm sorry I don't," he admitted, laughing, "but I'll practise trying,

and maybe I shall attain perfect credulity some day. Tell me," he

added, "what have you been doing to amuse yourself?"

"I've been amusing myself by wondering whether you would come here to

see me tonight."

"But your note said you were sure I'd come."

"You have come, haven't you?"

"Yes, Scheherazade, I'm here at your bidding, spirit and flesh. But I

forgot to bring one thing."

"What?"

"The box which--you have promised yourself."

"Yes, the captain has it, I believe," she returned serenely.

"Oh, Lord! Have you even found out that? I don't know whether I'm

much flattered by this surveillance you and your friends maintain

over me. I suppose you even know what I had for dinner. Do you?"

"Yes."

"Come, I'll call that bluff, dear lady! What did I have?"

When she told him, carelessly, and without humour, mentioning

accurately every detail of his dinner, he lost his gaiety of

countenance a little.

"Oh, I say, you know," he protested, "that's going it a trifle too

strong. Now, why the devil should your people keep tabs on me to that

extent?"

She looked up directly into his eyes: "Mr. Neeland, I want to tell you why. I asked you here so that I may

tell you. The people associated with me are absolutely pledged that

neither the French nor the British Government shall have access to the

contents of your box. That is why nothing that you do escapes our

scrutiny. We are determined to have the papers in that box, and we

shall have them."

"You have come to that determination too late," he began; but she

stopped him with a slight gesture of protest: "Please don't interrupt me, Mr. Neeland."

"I won't; go on, dear lady!"

"Then, I'm trying to tell you all I may. I am trying to tell you

enough of the truth to make you reflect very seriously.

"This is no ordinary private matter, no vulgar attempt at robbery and

crime as you think--or pretend to think--for you are very intelligent,

Mr. Neeland, and you know that the contrary is true.

"This affair concerns the secret police, the embassies, the

chancelleries, the rulers themselves of nations long since grouped

into two formidable alliances radically hostile to one another.