"Might a mere man ask the nature of your plans?" Adele Kenerley looked affectionately at her husband. "Yes, but you mustn't hoot at them. Yours not to question why, yours not to make objection." "Mine only to do or die, like those other heroes, I suppose." "Yes, but you're to do, not die. The die is cast! I've cast it. Now, stop fooling, Jim, and listen to me. Those two people shall be in this house at the same time, and neither will suspect that the other is here." "Impossible!" "There was a gentleman once, named Napoleon. He remarked, 'If it is possible, it must be done. If it is impossible, it _shall_ be done!' That's my motto." "Good for you, General! Go ahead. Command me, Madame!" "Well, and now listen, Jim, and be serious. We'll have two dinners tonight----" "Whew! I can't stand everything!" "Silence, sir! We'll have dinner at six; and then I'll tuck Patty in bed early, to get her rest. Then, Bill will get here about seven, and we'll have another dinner for him. I can look after tomorrow morning,---- Patty will breakfast in her room. Then, about eleven o'clock or noon, you must take Bill for a long motor ride, lunch somewhere on the road. I'll have Patty lunch here with me. Then, I'll put her away for an afternoon nap, and we must then have dinner for Bill and,--make him go home. I couldn't keep it up any longer than that." "I should say not! Regular Box and Cox game. But it may be we can put it over. I'll do all I can. But s'pose he won't go home tomorrow afternoon?" "Make him. Even if you have to telephone to his hotel to send a hurry wire for him." "Capital! I'll do that, if I have to. All right, little woman, you act as Patty's jailer, and I'll look after Farnsworth." And so, at five o'clock, Adele went to Patty's room. She found that young woman, robed in her apple blossom gown, asleep, with her head on a much crumpled pillow. There were traces of tears on the pink cheeks, but the blue eyes were tightly closed. "Wake up, Pattibelle," said Adele, gently patting her shoulder. "We're to have an early dinner, 'cause Jim has to go off to some meeting or other, and I thought you wouldn't mind." "Mind? Of course not," and Patty sprang up, very wide-awake. "I won't dress much, Adele." "No; wear the same frock you had on for lunch. Twist up that yellow mop of yours, and come along down, now. I want you to take a stroll around the domain while there's a scrap of daylight left." The hour before dinner soon passed, and then, laughing with merriment, the hosts and guest went in to dinner. The Kenerleys were in specially gay spirits, it seemed to Patty, and she held her own in fun and repartee. "You must stay a long time, Patty," Jim declared. "You're more fun than a barrel of monkeys! I'm awfully glad you came." "So'm I," assented Patty; "I wanted to get away from the giddy whirl, and lead the simple life for a few days."