E. Phillips Oppenheim

“ Perhaps her eyes looked back for a moment into the world which lay behind; the world which the pulses of youth made beautiful; the world where romance flourished as bountifully as the roses that hung on every side of her. For Madame grew younger with the pity which shone in her eyes, as the car drew up, and its solitary occupant, tall still, but bent, the specter of a gray, handsome man, stepped out and came toward her with nervous footsteps. ”

“ The sky had become gray and leaden and a mistral was blowing across from the mountain air was white with falling blossoms as the car mounted the long avenue. The wheat fields were bent as though a wave were passing over them. Spiky buds from the chestnut trees fell all around him. The rose petals caught and tossed by the wind came down to lie like velvety snow on the broad empty piazza. There was no sign of life in the villa, the chairs outside were unoccupied. ”

“ Indoors we keep our rooms at a higher temperature than you do.”
“Tell me about yourselves,” she enjoined, “you of the new race who mean to unmake and remake the world. You have many sins piled up against you. How do you justify yourselves?”
Kornstamm's sense of humor was almost negligible. Nevertheless, he smiled. life,” b
“There is indeed nothing new in life,” he declared. “I feel as though I were the defensive. We're doing our best, Madame, to assist in the birth of a nation. It is a terrible sponsorship. Sometimes we fail. In the main we are succeeding.” ”

“ It happens that I do want to.”
“My dear Eric,” she sighed, “you are very simple. One can only make use of people for what they are. I can only make use of you in your present character—a young man of the highest respectability, engaged to be married, a budding diplomat.”
“And entirely at your service so long as that is understood,” he put in.
“You have been attending the meetings of the European Congress at Cannes every day,” she went on. “You know the delegates?”
“I have met them all,”
“The man from the new East, Nicholas Kornstamm?”
“I know him very slightly. We have to be civil. ”

“ With the first threat of the mistral the chauffage had been lit, and the atmosphere of the place was warm and exotic. Madame, stretched upon a sofa, gave her hand to her visitor without moving.
“So you have come,” she exclaimed. “I was not sure whether it was to-day or to-morrow that we were to expect you. My niece will be glad. So am I. You don't find the house too warm?”
“Not in the least,” he assured her. “In my own country we have all the cold we can face out of doors. ”

“ I cannot conceive any one thinkig it worth while to search for you. I will imagine that you are off on some adventure. You have already established a reputation, I understand, for unexplained abscences from your hotel.”
Kornstamm scowled.
“Very well,” he submitted. “Do what you will with me.”
Madame rose to her feet.
“Excellent!” she exclaimed. “My friend here and I will do our best to reproduce the conditions of your prison at Minkt. I fear that we shall err on the side of luxury. Our water is more drinkable, and our bread, I fancy, not so coarse. ”

“ Cardinge confessed. “He used to tell us who he was fifty times a day for the first week. His name is Nicholas Kornstamm. He was second envoy and representative of your nation at the recent conference here He has also a position there which, I understand, is practically equivalent to our Lord Chief Justice.”
“You kidnapped him?” Smolatensk gasped.
“Why not?” Madame demanded. “One must have one's amusement. I had Cardinge here, too. He stayed on purpose to help. Kornstamm,” she went on, “this is Prince Paul of Smolatensk. Stand up and bow to your superior.”
Kornstamm rose to his feet. ”