"It is a grave offence, monsieur," he said, "an unparalleled offence, to enter my kitchen at this hour. I fear you have irremediably spoiled the new casserole dish that I was endeavouring to compose." I was ready to go on my knees to the offended artist. "It grieves me indeed to have interfered with so rare an art, which I have often admired at His Excellency's table. But there is danger behind me and an urgent mission in front. Monsieur will forgive me? Necessity will, sometimes, overrule the finest sensibility." He bowed to me and I bowed to him, and my pardon was assured. Suddenly a door opened, another than that by which I had entered, and a man appeared whom I took to be a footman. He was struggling into his livery coat, but at the sight of me he dropped it. I thought I recognised the face as that of the man who had emerged from the public-house and tried to cut me off. "'Ere, Mister Alphonse," he cried, "'elp me to collar this man. The police are after 'im." "You forget, my friend," I said, "that an Embassy is privileged ground which the police can't enter. I desire to be taken before His Excellency." "So that's yer game," he shouted. "But two can play at that. 'Ere, give me an 'and, moosoo, and we'll 'ave him in the street in a jiffy. There's two 'undred of the best in our pockets if we 'ands 'im over to them as wants 'im." The cook looked puzzled and a little frightened. "Will you allow them to outrage your kitchen--an Embassy kitchen too--without your consent?" I said. "What have you done?" he asked in French. "Only what your patron will approve," I replied in the same tongue. "_Messieurs les assassins_ have a grudge against me." He still hesitated, while the young footman advanced on me. He was fingering something in his trousers pocket which I did not like. Now was the time when, as they say in America, I should have got busy with my gun; but alas! I had no gun. I feared supports for the enemy, for the footman at the first sight of me had run back the way he had come, and I had heard a low whistle. What might have happened I do not know, had not the god appeared from the machine in the person of Hewins, the butler. "Hewins," I said, "you know me. I have often dined here, and you know that I am a friend of Monsieur Felix. I am on my way to see him on an urgent matter, and for various reasons I had to enter by Monsieur Alphonse's kitchen. Will you take me at once to Monsieur Felix?" Hewins bowed, and on his imperturbable face there appeared no sign of surprise. "This way, sir," was all he said. As I followed him I saw the footman plucking nervously at the something in his trousers-pocket. Lumley's agents apparently had not always the courage to follow his instructions to the letter, for I made no doubt that the order had been to take me alive or dead.