"THE GERMAN EMPEROR EXPLAINS! THERE WILL BE NO WAR! GERMAN CONSUL ORDERED HOME! NO RUPTURE!" Wolfenden, in common with most of his fellow-countrymen, could scarcely believe his eyes; yet there it was in plain black and white. The dogs of war had been called back. Germany was climbing down--not with dignity; she had gone too far for that--but with a scuffle. Wolfenden read the paper through before he even thought of his letters Then he began to open them slowly. The first was from his mother. The Admiral was distinctly better; the doctors were more hopeful. He turned to the next one; it was in a delicate, foreign handwriting, and exhaled a faint perfume which seemed vaguely familiar to him. He opened it and his heart stood still. "14, GROSVENOR SQUARE, "LONDON, W "Will you come and see me to-day about four o'clock?--HELÈNE." He looked at his watch--four o'clock seemed a very long way off. He decided that he would go out and find Felix; but almost immediately the door was opened and that very person was shown in. Felix was radiant; he appeared to have grown years younger. He was immaculately dressed, and he wore an exquisite orchid in his button-hole. Wolfenden greeted him warmly. "Have you seen the paper?" he asked. "Do you know the news?" Felix laughed. "Of course! You may not believe it, but it is true that I am the person who has saved your country! And I am quits at last with Herbert de la Meux, Duc de Souspennier!" "Meaning, I suppose, the person whom we have been accustomed to call--Mr. Sabin?" Wolfenden remarked. "Exactly!" Wolfenden pushed an easy chair towards his visitor and produced some cigarettes. "I must say," he continued, "that I should exceedingly like to know how the thing was done." Felix smiled. "That, my dear friend," he said, "you will never know. No one will ever know the cause of Germany's suddenly belligerent attitude, and her equally speedy climb-down! There are many pages of diplomatic history which the world will never read, and this is one of them. Come and lunch with me, Lord Wolfenden. My vow is paid and without bloodshed. I am a free man, and my promotion is assured. To-day is the happiest of my life!" Wolfenden smiled and looked at the letter on the table before him; might it not also be the happiest day of his own life! * * * * * And it was! Punctually at four o'clock he presented himself at Grosvenor Square and was ushered into one of the smaller reception rooms. Helène came to him at once, a smile half-shy, half-apologetic upon her lips. He was conscious from the moment of her entrance of a change in her deportment towards him. She held in her hand a small locket. "I wanted to ask you, Lord Wolfenden," she said, drawing her fingers slowly away from his lingering clasp, "does this locket belong to you?" He glanced at it and shook his head at once.