"And what was that?" interrupted Contraras. "His opinion was, to start with, that women should never be employed in enterprises of this character, because they had not sufficient nerve. His theory is that there was no treachery from our side, because if there had been they would never have allowed her to get inside the Palace, they would have arrested her at the entrance." "It seems feasible," interrupted the Chief. "He thinks that Valerie got nervous and overstrung, that she detached herself too early from her chaperon, that the numerous spies who were watching got suspicious of her movements, and arrested her on the off-chance." Contraras nodded his head, as he added, "It might be so, and it is quite true that women lose their heads more quickly than men, when things are not running exactly in the beaten track." "Of course, as you may or may not know, our friend Moreno, although a very excellent fellow, is one of the vainest of men. He boasted that if you had given him the job he would have done it successfully. And I have sufficient faith in him to believe he would." Lucue spoke quite warmly. It was not a little to the journalist's credit that he had succeeded in persuading this rather suspicious man both of his ability and his _bona fides_. Contraras reflected for a few moments. "I have great confidence in your judgment, Lucue. You have known this man for a long time, eh?" "For six or seven years, I should say." It was perfectly true. Moreno had been coquetting with Lucue and the brotherhood, and half a dozen other things, for quite a period. "And you trust him implicitly? He is making much money?" "A little more than he used. But he tells me he is miserably paid, that the capitalists he works for suck his brains to swell their own enormous profits." Contraras smiled. "He has brains, and he is poorly paid--in a word, he enriches the drones. He seems just our man, Lucue." "I am sure of it," answered the other warmly. "Good! I shall be seeing him in Madrid very shortly. We will try his mettle. He shall have the management of the next _coup_." "And that, I take it, is the removal of that busy marplot, Guy Rossett?" "Yes," said Contraras shortly. "But keep it to yourself and Maceda as much as possible. I won't have too many people in the know this time." Lucue and Maceda promised to observe silence. The other members of the fraternity had drawn respectfully aside while the three chiefs conversed together. Jaques, otherwise Mr Jackson, arrived presently, and was informed of the conversation. He was always to be trusted. He was as great an enthusiast as Contraras himself. "How is my little Violet getting on?" he asked. "So far she has done good quiet work," was the chief's answer. "Of course, she never had the grit of poor Valerie, nor, I think, the enthusiasm."