He ate his portion of beefsteak, potatoes, and toast, and emptied his

coffee cup. It was really the first substantial meal he had had in many

hours. A feeling of satisfaction began to permeate him. He smiled at

Miss Frances, who shook her head dubiously. She could not quite make him

out pathologically. Perhaps she had been treating him as shell-shocked

when there was nothing at all the matter with his nerves.

Presently Kuroki came in with a yellow envelope, which he laid at the

side of Cutty's plate.

"Telegrams!" exploded Cutty. "Hang it, I don't want any telegrams!"

"Open it and have it over with," suggested Kitty.

"If you don't mind."

It was the worst kind of news--a summons to Washington for conference.

Which signified that the Government's plans were completed and that

shortly he would be on his way to Piraeus.

A fine muddle! Hawksley in no condition to send upon his way; Kitty's

affair unsettled; the emeralds still in camera obscura; Karlov at

liberty with his infernal schemes, and Stefani Gregor his prisoner. Wild

horses, pulling him two ways. A word, and Karlov would come to the end

of his rope suddenly. But if he issued that word the whole fabric he

had erected so painstakingly would blow away like cardboard. If those

emeralds turned up in the possession of any man but himself the ensuing

complications would be appalling. For he himself would be forced to tell

what he knew about the stones: Hawksley would be thrust conspicuously

into the limelight, and sooner or later some wild anarch would kill him.

Known, Hawksley would not have one chance in a thousand. Kitty would

be dragged into the light and harassed and his own attitude toward

her misunderstood. All these things, if he acted upon his oath.

Nevertheless, he determined to risk suspension of operations until he

returned from Washington. There was one sound plank to cling to. He had

first-hand information that anarchistic elements would remain in their

noisome cellars until May first. If he were not ordered abroad until

after that, no harm would follow his suspension of operations.

"Bad news?" asked Kitty, anxiously.

"Aggravating rather than bad. I am called to Washington. May be gone

four or five days. Official business. Leaves things here a bit in the

air."

"I'll stay as long as you need me," said Miss Frances.

"I'd rather a man now. You've been a brick. You need rest. I've a chap

in mind. He'll make our friend here toe the mark. A physical instructor,

ex-pugilist; knows all about broken heads."




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