"There's nothing to thank me for," said Tony cheerfully. "It's my own stupidity and carelessness I'm paying for--that's all." He accompanied Congosta across the hall and opened the front door for him. "We shall expect you back here some time this afternoon," he added. The Livadian nodded. "I shall return as soon as I have arranged about the cartridges," he said. "It is best that I should not send the message until we know for certain what time you will be able to start." Once more he clasped Tony's hand and shook it fervently, and then, after giving some instructions to the driver, he stepped into the waiting taxi, and was whirled off down the drive. Tony came back into the hall, and closed the door. As he did so he caught sight of a note lying at the bottom of the letter-box, and taking it out discovered that it was addressed to himself. "And now," broke out Guy, who had apparently been restraining himself with difficulty; "perhaps you'll tell me if you are really in earnest." Tony slit open the envelope and pulled out its contents. "Of course I'm in earnest," he answered. "I was never so--" He paused abruptly, and his lips screwed themselves up into a sudden low whistle of amused amazement. "By Jove, Guy!" he exclaimed; "look at this!" He held out the sheet of note-paper, and then thrusting his hands into his pockets, watched his cousin's face as the latter read through the following missive. MY DEAR SIR ANTONY CONWAY: I much regret that I was unable to find time to say good-bye to you before leaving England. You have a proverb I believe in your delightful language to the effect that he laughs loudest who laughs last. You will now be able to appreciate its profound truth. Always yours sincerely, DA FREITAS. CHAPTER XVIII THE ROYAL PASS Guy read it through and then looked up with a sort of incredulous bewilderment. "When did this come?" he asked. Tony shrugged his shoulders. "My dear Guy--I don't know any more about it than you do. I suppose someone must have put it in the letter-box while we were having our pleasant little chat with Congosta." "But--but--" He stared at it again in frowning uncertainty--"Good Heavens, Tony!" he exclaimed, "do you mean to say that Da Freitas took the trouble and the risk of sending you this while he was actually--?" He broke off as if unable to complete the sentence. "Looks like it, doesn't it?" said Tony cheerfully. "My respect for the Marquis increases every hour--in fact I'm beginning to feel quite fond of him." Guy's lips tightened into an expression of restrained exasperation. "Look here, Tony," he began with forced calmness. "For goodness' sake let's get this thing quite clear. Did you really mean what you said to Congosta?" Tony took back Da Freitas' note, and put it carefully in his pocket. "I meant most of it," he replied. "I am going down to Southampton to-night, and I shall start for Livadia the moment the _Betty_ is ready to sail."