After dinner that evening Merton and I settled ourselves in my little salon with coffee, cognac, and cigars. Merton said: "Are we safe here?" "Yes. There are two doors, and the outer one I have locked. My last valet was a spy. The information he got for their Foreign Office must have been valuable. My present man--the fellow who waited on us just now--is also a spy," and upon this I told the captain of my arrangement with Alphonse. He was much amused. "Can you really trust him?" he said. "Yes, he has an old mother whom I have seen and have helped. I believe that it is his desire and interest to serve me and at the same time to keep his place as a paid spy." "What a droll arrangement! And are you really sure of him?" "Yes, as far as one can be sure of any one in this tangle of spies." "But does he not--must he not--seem to earn his outside pay?" "Yes, seem. I will call him in. He will talk if I assure him that he is safe." "Delightful--most delightful! By all means!" I rang for Alphonse. "Alphonse," I said, "this gentleman is my friend. He cannot quite believe that you can be true to me and yet satisfy your superiors in the police." "Oh, monsieur!" exclaimed Alphonse. He was evidently hurt. "To relieve him, tell monsieur of our little arrangement." "The letters, monsieur?" "Yes." "Well, my master is kind enough to leave open certain letters. They have been found to be of interest. My pay has been raised. Circumstances make it desirable." "What is her name?" said Merton, laughing. "Louise." "What letters, Greville, do you turn over for the recreation and service of the Foreign Office?" "My uncle's," said I, "usually." "Ah, I see. The old gentleman's opinions must be refreshing--authoritative they are, I am sure. When last I saw him he had, as usual, secret intelligence from the army. He always has. I think with joy of the effect of his letters on the young secretaries of the Foreign Office." I confessed my own pleasure in the game, and was about to let Alphonse go when Merton said: "May I take a great liberty?" "Certainly," I laughed--"short of taking Alphonse. What is it?" "Alphonse," asked Merton, "would you know the lady you followed and guided that night in the Bois?" "Yes, monsieur." "Do you want to make two hundred francs?" "Without doubt." "Find that woman and I will give you three hundred." "It will be difficult. Paris is large and women are numerous." "Yes, but there is the Count le Moyne as a clue." "Yes, yes." He seemed to be thinking. Then he turned to me. "If monsieur approves and can do without me for two days?" "Certainly." I was not very anxious to add the woman to our increasing collection of not easily solved problems, but Merton was so eager that I decided to make this new move in our complicated game. Alphonse stood still a moment. "Well?" I said. "The lady, monsieur,--she is, I think, not French." "No; she is an American, and that is all we know."