"Only in a general way. He said that he had that afternoon discovered proof of a gigantic plot against the United States; that the secrets of the Government were being betrayed; and that he must give you the names of the arch traitor and his confederate. He called up your house by telephone earlier in the afternoon, and found that you were expected home on the eleven o'clock train." "I had intended to take it, but was detained at the last moment by pressing business and did not reach Washington until the following night," explained the Secretary. "If he couldn't get a cab, why did he not call up his own house and send for his carriage earlier in the evening?" "He tried to, Mr. Secretary, but his telephone was out of order, and no one answered the stable call." "How, then, did he get his own carriage?" "My drawing-room windows look out on Nineteenth Street, and the Senator, in one of his numerous trips to discover if the rain was letting up, saw his carriage standing in front of my door. He recognized the horses and Hamilton by the light from the lamp-post under which they stood, waiting for the long queue of carriages ahead to move up the street. The Senator instantly decided to enter his carriage, wait for Cynthia, and then drive to your house, Mr. Secretary." "So that's how he got into the carriage without getting wet," cried Brett; "the awning protected him. I suppose he just popped into his carriage and said nothing to Hamilton, as he intended to wait for his niece, and Hamilton was too befuddled with drink and the storm to notice the opening and closing of the door. Did you watch the Senator leave the house?" Eleanor shook her head. "No," she said. "Miss Thornton,"--the Secretary bent forward impressively,--"were you engaged to Senator Carew?" Eleanor's color rose, but she faced the keen eyes watching her unflinchingly. "No, Mr. Secretary; the Senator did me the honor to ask me to marry him on Monday night, but I refused." "Then you deny running out after his carriage, which Mr. Winthrop declares you did?" "No, sir, I do not deny it. Mr. Winthrop is quite right." She paused, and the men looked at her expectantly. "I have a quest in life--not the one attributed to me by this gentleman,"--waving her hand scornfully toward Winthrop, who was listening to her statement with an incredulous smile distorting his features,--"but an honorable legacy which my dear mother left me to execute. "On bidding me a hasty good night, Senator Carew, whether in jest or earnest, told me that, if I would marry him, he would assist me to bring my mission to a successful conclusion." "Would you mind stating what this quest is?" asked the Secretary. Eleanor hesitated. "It is a family matter, and I would rather not go into it just now. But--if necessary--I promise to explain later." The Secretary did not press the point. "Continue your story, Miss Thornton."