She reflected hastily that, if Madame Veno took her for a fool, it would be better to let it go at that rather than risk losing a chance--possibly the only chance--of saving Pat. As for telling Jack and Sanders secretly, this course must be decided later. There was surely no more harm in deceiving such a woman than in tricking a dangerous animal, so far as moral principles were concerned. The one question was, could Madame Veno safely be deceived, or would she find a way of _forcing_ a promise to be kept? That question was answered at once. "I don't blame you," said Madame, with a good-natured smile. "These great forces of Nature are beyond belief to those who haven't tested them. But I know by experience what I can do. I know also what I can't do. I can do nothing if the people whose interests I serve work against me consciously or unconsciously. Now, I read your mind as I read the crystal. I see you're thinking whether or not to make a mental reservation about that promise! Well, I don't want to control you, Duchess, though I _could_ do so. But if you bring any one into this, the whole effort will be vain. I might get the man we want here. I might hypnotize him to the point of speaking out. I might 'phone you. And yet, if you weren't alone, or if someone were spying outside, my power over him would break like--that!" she snapped her fingers together, her black eyes holding Juliet's. "Now," she went on when she'd got her effect, "I'm going to give you a proof of good faith. My fee for a consultation--just an ordinary one, not a special like this--is twenty-five dollars. No, don't take out your purse, Duchess! I won't accept a cent unless I bring off the stunt. The rest--is up to you." "Very well," said Juliet on a sudden resolution. "Let it be so. I'll promise what you ask, and--I'll keep my promise. If you send for me, I'll come alone. And I'll tell nobody. But--I'm not a child. I must protect myself in some way. When I start for your place next time, I shall leave a letter for my cousin, Captain Manners, to be delivered by hand if I'm not back in two hours after leaving home. In the letter I shall tell him everything. But it won't be sent if all goes right. So if you play fair you've nothing to dread." "Unless the letter should be sent to your cousin by mistake." "My maid is a very intelligent woman," said Juliet. "She doesn't make mistakes." "Oh, you'll leave the letter with your maid!" echoed Madame Veno. "Yes. Do you agree to the arrangement?" "I do," returned Madame.