"
"'Mrs. Clephane,' she said, sitting on the corner of the table just
where you are sitting now, 'I have a proposition to make to you--may I
make it?'
"I could see no reason to forbid, so I acquiesced.
"'And if you cannot accept straightway, will you promise to forget that
it was made?' she asked.
"Again I acquiesced. I admit, I was curious.
"'We assume,' said she, 'that between France and Germany you are
indifferent.'
"'Paris and Berlin have each their good points,' I replied.
"'Quite so,' she acquiesced; 'just now, however, we ask you to favour
Berlin and for a consideration.'
"'I don't want a consideration,' I smiled; 'tell me what's the favour
you seek?'
"'We ask you,' she replied instantly, 'to take a letter to the French
Ambassador and tell him that it is the letter Madame Durrand gave you in
New York, and that it has just been returned to you by the American
State Department.'
"'Have you the letter with you?' I asked.
"'I have,' she replied, producing it from her bag. 'It may not exactly
resemble the original.'
"'It doesn't,' said I.
"'But the French Ambassador won't know it,' she smiled. 'Further, so as
to make the matter entirely regular with you, you will receive an
appointment in the German Secret Service and five thousand dollars in
advance.
Pages:
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216