"To be sure! How stupid not to think of it. You see, your Excellency, I
am not accustomed to the ways of diplomacy and to assuming every one's a
rogue until he proves otherwise."
"You have a poor opinion of diplomats!" he smiled.
"Not of diplomats, only of their professional ways. And as they all have
the same ways, it's fair, I suppose, among one another."
"Did you tell Monsieur Harleston your opinion of our vocation?" he
asked.
"I did--somewhat more emphatically."
"And what, if you care to tell, did he say?"
"He quite agreed with me; he even went further."
"Wise man, Harleston!" the Marquis chuckled.
"Implying that he was not sincere?"
The Marquis threw up his hands. "Perish the thought! I imply that he is
a man of rare discrimination and admirable taste."
"Now won't you please tell me, your Excellency, if you credit, no, if
you _believe_, my story--and don't be a diplomat for the telling."
"My dear Madame Clephane, I do believe your tale--it bears the impress
of truth in what you've not done, as well as in what you've done. Had
you ever been in the service you would recognize my meaning. That the
abductors did not triumph was due first to their carelessness, and
second to chance, in the person of Monsieur Harleston.
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