"Things are going wrong with us, my dear. Savrola, the deputation, the newspapers, and, above all, the reports I receive of the people, are ominous and alarming." "I noticed black looks this morning when I drove. Do you think there is danger?" "I do," he answered in his precise official manner, "grave danger." "I wish I could help you," she said, "but I am only a woman. What can I do?" He did not answer and she continued: "Señor Savrola is a kind man. I used to know him quite well before the war." "He will ruin us." "Surely not." "We shall have to fly the country, if indeed they allow us to do that." She turned paler. "But I know what men look like; there is a sympathy between us; he is no fanatic." "There are powers behind and beneath him of which he knows little, which he cannot control, but which he has invoked." "Can you do nothing?" "I cannot arrest him; he is too popular, and besides he has broken no law. He will go on. In a fortnight are the elections; he will be returned in spite of my precautions; then the trouble will begin." He paused, and then speaking as if to himself continued: "If we could learn what he means to do, perhaps we might defeat it." "Can I not help you?" she asked quickly. "I know him; I think he likes me. He might whisper to me what he would not tell to others." She thought of many victories in the past. "My darling," said Molara, "why should you spoil your life by mixing in the darker side of politics? I would not ask you." "But I want to. I will try if it would help you." "It might do much more." "Very well, I will find out for you; in a fortnight you shall know. He must come to the State Ball; I will meet him there." "I am loth to let you talk to such a man, but I know your wit, and the need is great. But will he come?" "I will write him a note with the invitation," she said, "laugh at politics and advise him to keep his private life at least free from them. I think he will come; if not, I will find some other way of seeing him." Molara looked at her with admiration. At no time did he love her more than when he realised of what use she was to him. "I leave it to you, then. I fear you will fail, but if you can do it, you may have saved the State. If not, no harm will have been done." "I shall succeed," she answered confidently, and rising from her seat began to walk towards the house. She saw from her husband's manner that he would like to be alone. He remained seated there for a long time, staring into the water in which the fat, lazy, gold fish swam placidly. His face wore the expression of one who has swallowed some nasty thing. CHAPTER VI. ON CONSTITUTIONAL GROUNDS.