Mrs. Ronald Tower, strikingly handsome, richly gowned and cloaked, with an elaborate coiffure that outvied nature's best efforts, was crossing the pavement to enter a waiting car when she stopped and drew her hand from her escort's arm. "Senator Meiklejohn!" she cried. The elderly man halted. He doffed his hat with a flourish. "Ah, Helen," he said smilingly. "Whither bound?" "To see Belasco's latest. Isn't that lucky? The very thing I wanted. Poor Ronald! I don't know what has become of him, or into what net he may have fallen." The Senator beamed. He knew that Ronald Tower was one of the eight bridge-players, but was pledged to secrecy. "I only hailed you to jog your memory about that luncheon to-morrow," went on Mrs. Tower. "How could I forget?" he retorted gallantly. "Only two hours ago I postponed a business appointment on account of it." "So good of you, Senator," and Mrs. Tower's smile lent a tinge of sarcasm to the words. "I'm awfully anxious that you should meet Mr. Jacob. I'm deeply interested, you know." Meiklejohn glanced rather sharply at the lady's companion, who, however, was merely a vacuous man about town. It struck Clancy that the Senator resented this incautious using of names. The shabby-genteel woman, hovering behind the policeman, was following the scene with hawklike eyes, and Clancy kept her, too, under close observation. The Senator coughed, and lowered his voice. "I shall be most pleased to discuss matters with him," he said. "It will be a pleasure to render him a service if you ask it." Mrs. Tower laughed lightly. "One o'clock," she said. "Don't be late! Come along, Mr. Forrest. Your car is blocking the way." Mr. Meiklejohn flourished his hat again. He turned and found himself face to face with the hard-featured woman who had been waiting and watching for this very opportunity. She barred his further progress--even caught his arm. Had the Senator been assaulted by the blue-coated guardian of law and order he could not have displayed more bewilderment. "You, Rachel?" he gasped. The policeman was about to intervene, but it was the Senator, not the shabbily dressed woman, who prevented him. "It's all right, officer," he stammered vexedly. "I know this lady. She is an old friend." The man saluted again and drew aside. Clancy moved a trifle nearer. No one would take notice of such an insignificant little man. Though he had his back to this strangely assorted pair, he heard nearly every syllable they uttered. "He is here," snapped the woman without other preamble. "You must see him." "It is quite impossible," was the answer, and, though the words were frigid and unyielding, Clancy felt certain that Senator Meiklejohn had to exercise an iron self-control to keep a tremor out of his utterance. "You dare not refuse," persisted the woman.