"Is his Excellency within?" he asked a tall servant in plain dress who came forward to meet him. "Yes, Monsieur Felix," the man answered; "he is dining very late to-night--in fact, he has not yet risen from the table." "Who is with him?" Felix asked. "It is a very small party. Madame la Princesse has just arrived from Paris, and his Excellency has been waiting for her." He mentioned a few more names; there was no one of importance. Felix walked into the hall-porter's office and scribbled a few words on half a sheet of paper, which he placed in an envelope and carefully sealed. "Let his Excellency have this privately and at once," he said to the man; "I will go into the waiting room." The man withdrew with the note, and Felix crossed the hall and entered a small room nearly opposite. It was luxuriously furnished with easy chairs and divans; there were cigars, and cigarettes, and decanters upon a round table. Felix took note of none of these things, nor did he sit down. He stood with his hands behind him, looking steadily into the fire. His cheeks were almost livid, save for a single spot of burning colour high up on his cheek-bone. His fingers twitched nervously, his eyes were dry and restlessly bright. He was evidently in a state of great excitement. In less than two minutes the door opened, and a tall, distinguished-looking man, grey headed, but with a moustache still almost black, came softly into the room. His breast glittered with orders, and he was in full Court dress. He nodded kindly to the young man, who greeted him with respect. "Is it anything important, Felix?" he asked; "you are looking tired." "Yes, your Excellency, it is important," Felix answered; "it concerns the man Sabin." The Ambassador nodded. "Well," he said, "what of him? You have not been seeking to settle accounts with him, I trust, after our conversation, and your promise?" Felix shook his head. "No," he said. "I gave my word and I shall keep it! Perhaps you may some day regret that you interfered between us." "I think not," the Prince replied. "Your services are valuable to me, my dear Felix; and in this country, more than any other, deeds of violence are treated with scant ceremony, and affairs of honour are not understood. No, I saved you from yourself for myself. It was an excellent thing for both of us." "I trust," Felix repeated, "that your Excellency may always think so. But to be brief. The report from Cartienne is to hand." The Ambassador nodded and listened expectantly. "He confirms fully," Felix continued, "the value of the documents which are in question. How he obtained access to them he does not say, but his report is absolute. He considers that they justify fully the man Sabin's version of them." The Prince smiled. "My own judgment is verified," he said. "I believed in the man from the first. It is good. By the bye, have you seen anything of Mr. Sabin to-day?" "I have come straight," Felix said, "from watching his house." "Yes?"