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 edge that none could approach the mansion while Azimoolah was on guard. Also, he was pretty sure that the siege would not be raised till the two prowlers should have reported to their superiors the doings and, as they would believe, the capture of the strange rival who had forestalled them.

The General’s confidence was justified, for the night passed without further alarms, and the three gentlemen met at the breakfast-table under ordinary country-house conditions. The servants being in the room, no reference was made to the abnormal circumstances that had brought them together, though Beaumanoir, in the course of reading letters that had come by post, held up a gorgeously monogrammed note, and remarked that Mrs. Talmage Eglinton had accepted his invitation and would be with them on the morrow.

“She writes rather flippantly for a stranger,” he added, eyeing the scented missive doubtfully, but not offering to show it. “I hope it’s all right for her to meet my cousin Sybil, and—er—the other ladies. She’s coming on your recommendation, you know, General, so you must vouch for her good behavior.”

Sadgrove growled unintelligibly, and was