She laughed. "Tarnowsy's agents! Why should they be here?" "They seem to be everywhere." "I can assure you there is none within fifty miles of Schloss Rothhoefen. Our men are in the city. Four of them preceded me. This morning I had Mr. Bangs telephone to the hotel where the chief operative is staying--in the guise of an American tourist, and he does it very cleverly for an Englishman, too,--and he assures me that there is absolutely no danger. Even Mr. Bangs is satisfied." "I am forced to say that I am by no means satisfied that it is a safe or wise thing to do, Mrs. Titus," I said, with more firmness than I thought I possessed. She raised her delicate eyebrows in a most exasperating well-bred, admonitory way. "I am quite sure, Mr. Smart, that Dillingham is a perfectly trustworthy detective, and--" "But why take the slightest risk?" "It is necessary for me to see Dillingham, that is the long and short of it," she said coldly. "One can't discuss things over a telephone, you know. Mr. Bangs understands. And, by the way, Mr. Smart, I have taken the liberty of calling up the central office of the telephone company to ask if they can run an extension wire to my dressing-room. I hope you do not mind." "Not in the least. I should have thought of it myself." "You have so much to think of, poor man. And now will you be good enough to have Hawkes order the man to row me across the--" "I am very sorry, Mrs. Titus," said I firmly, "but I fear I must declare myself. I cannot permit you to go into the town to-day." She was thunderstruck. "Are you in earnest?" she cried, after searching my face rather intently for a moment. "Unhappily, yes. Will you let me explain--" "The _idea!_" she exclaimed as she drew herself to her full height and withered me with a look of surpassing scorn. "Am I to regard myself as a prisoner, Mr. Smart?" "Oh, I beg of you, Mrs. Titus--" I began miserably. "Please answer my question." Her tone cut me like the lash of a whip. My choler rose. "I do not choose to regard myself as a jailer. My only object in opposing this--" "I have never known anything so absurd." Two bright red spots appeared in her cheeks. "Your attitude is most extraordinary. However, I shall go to the city this morning, Mr. Smart. Pray give me the credit of having sense enough to--Ah, Colingraft." The two sons approached from the breakfast-room, where they had been enjoying a ten o'clock chop. Colingraft, noting his mother's attire, accelerated his speed and was soon beside us. "Going out, Mother?" he enquired, flicking the ash from his cigarette. "If Mr. Smart will be good enough to withdraw his opposition," she said icily. He gave me a sharp look. "What's up?" "Mrs. Titus doesn't seem to realise the risk she runs in--" "Risk? Do you suppose, Mr. Smart, I would jeopardise my daughter's--" "What's up?" repeated Colingraft insistently. "Mr. Smart calmly informs me that I am not to go into the city."