"He does that, sir," replied the groom. "He has never taken less than a red ribbon. Only one horse beat him at the bars last winter in New York. It was Mr. Warburton's fault that he did not take first prize. He rode him in the park the day before the contest, and the animal caught a bad cold, sir." And then it was that this hero of mine conceived his great (not to say young and salad) idea. It appealed to him as being so rich an idea that the stables rang with his laughter. "Sir?" politely inquired the groom. "I'm not laughing at your statement, my good fellow; rather at an idea which just occurred to me. In fact, I believe that I shall need your assistance." "In what way, sir?" "Come with me." The groom followed Warburton into the yard, A conversation began in low tones. "It's as much as my place is worth, sir. I couldn't do it, sir," declared the groom, shaking his head negatively. "I'll guarantee that you will not suffer in the least. My brother will not discharge you. He likes a joke as well as I do. You are not handed twenty dollars every day for a simple thing like this." "Very well, sir. I dare say that no harm will come of it. But I am an inch or two shorter than you." "We'll tide that over." "I am at your orders, sir." But the groom returned to the stables, shaking his head dubiously. He was not thoroughly convinced. During the morning ride down-town the two women were vastly puzzled over their brother's frequent and inexplicable peals of laughter. "For mercy's sake, what do you see that is so funny?" asked Nancy. "I'm thinking, my dears; only thinking." "Tell us, that we may laugh, too. I'll wager that you are up to some mischief, Master Robert. Please tell," Nancy urged. "Later, later; at present you would fail to appreciate the joke. In fact, you might make it miscarry; and that wouldn't do at all. Have a little patience. It's a good joke, and you'll be in it when the time comes." And nothing more could they worm out of him. I shall be pleased to recount to you the quality of this joke, this madcap idea. You will find it lacking neither amusement nor denouement. Already I have put forth the casual observation that from Paris to the third-precinct police-station in Washington is several thousand miles. V THE PLOT THICKENS