“This Sugar stock may pay twelve and seven per cent on common and preferred in a year, or else be driven down to half price. We must be wary,” she sighed. “No one can truly forecast the actions of our courts, journals, electors or government,” she mused. “The very principle of reckless instability is the one sure thing of all our American doings.” “And yet, you move along with the others, Madonna,” smilingly said Vreeland. “You shall see,” she laughed. “The stock market, the sea, and a woman’s heart are never at rest. Always distrust the seeming calm. “Now,” her voice became grave, “you are to be, each instant, ready at the post of duty. You will personally telephone your orders as received from me to your buyer. The bank will then telephone me the deliveries of the stock, and I will telephone you to pay over each cheque myself. “The thing is to be reversed in sales, when you have received certified cheques to your name as trustee, for any sales, you are then to telephone down your delivery order to be confirmed by me, after you have brought me the cheques. I have a private wire to the cashier, remember. “But, above all, silence. You are now suspected of being a daring and a lucky speculator. You will be watched. “Therefore, go out everywhere in society during the next three weeks. Show yourself as gay and jolly as you can. “I am also handling some other very heavy matters, and I wish you, just now, to be particularly thought the gayest reveler in Gotham. “In exhibiting yourself everywhere, the gossips will cease to watch us jointly and our different purposes will be divided in the public eye. “Miss Kelly’s record of each day’s transactions will be your warrant. She comes to me nightly to report.” Vreeland was overjoyed as he received Mrs. Willoughby’s hearty approval of his employing a personal stenographer. “If you get the right person,” said his patroness, “she may be a pleasant companion for my trusted little Mary.” When he had raised the lady’s hand to his lips and departed he realized how sternly he was being kept out of her real councils. Even the vainest fool could not have deceived himself. “It’s the payment of money, the changing of coin between us, that simply makes me only an upper servant,” he snarled. “Once that money passes between man and woman, in any relation, there is an end of any free will. But, I can wait. And, you shall pay me, Madame, to the uttermost, when you are in my power.” He knew the probable magnitude of the transactions and, even his iron nerve was shaken. “It cannot be merely herself, it is the grouped official cowards behind her, who are making money on the sly.” He found a new surprise awaiting him at his rooms, one which brought the blood to his heart with a sudden surge. There was a bunch of red roses awaiting him with a sealed note. He knew not the handwriting, but, his eyes gleamed with a strange fire as he read: