“If I tell you something which I think it is to your interest to know, and if you think the knowledge, when I have given it you, is worth it, will you in return tell me where Melun is?” “I will see,” answered Mme. Estelle. “Are you acquainted with the fact,” he asked suddenly, “that in a week's time Melun will have arranged to marry the Lady Kathleen?” Madame went pale to the lips. “It's a lie!” she almost screamed. “It's a lie! It's impossible! He has promised himself to me!” Westerham nodded thoughtfully. It was precisely as he had thought. “What I tell you,” he said, “I believe to be absolutely true.” Watching her closely, Westerham saw that Mme. Estelle was greatly agitated. “To-night,” she murmured, more to herself than to him, “to-night it could be proved, if only I had a witness here whom I could trust.” “Surely,” suggested Westerham, “though we are on opposite sides in this struggle, you can take my word on a matter of this sort.” “Yes, yes!” cried Mme. Estelle, eagerly, “you are a gentleman. I can trust you. Oh, how I wish I could trust Melun!” Her voice trailed away and she lapsed into thought. Presently she roused herself as though with an effort and looked Westerham in the face. “I will tell you how you can meet Melun if you will give me your word of honour on two points. First, that you will return and tell me all that passes, and, secondly, that you will not, whatever happens, do any harm to Melun.” “You have my word,” said Westerham. Mme. Estelle sighed as though with relief, and after a few seconds spoke again. “What I am going to tell you now,” she said, “will sound so incredible that you may possibly not believe me. I can scarcely believe it myself, except that there is practically no piece of folly which Melun will not commit when he has one of his mad fits upon him. I sometimes think he is half-crazy. “To-night Lord Penshurst gives a ball at Trant Hall. The place will be crowded, and the women will be wearing jewels worth a king's ransom. “More, I think, out of bravado, and with a foolish notion of bringing matters to a head, Melun is taking down half a score of masked men. It will be what I think you call in America ‘a hold-up.’ “Melun says that there is no risk in the business, that he and the others are bound to get away, and even if he is caught he knows the Prime Minister will have to contrive his release. The hour planned for this business is midnight.” Without a second's hesitation Westerham leapt up from his chair and took out his watch. “I have just an hour and a half to get there,” he said. CHAPTER XVII MELODRAMA AT TRANT HALL When Lady Kathleen bade good-bye to Westerham she drove first to Downing Street, where she met her father. Together they travelled down to Trant Hall, and on the way Kathleen gave Lord Penshurst a full account of all that had passed since she had been summoned so suddenly to Rouen.