“Shall I wait for a few minutes?” she asked.

“Better not,” he answered, “I imagine that I may be detained some time.”

He took off his hat and coat, and made his way to the library, where Phineas Duge was awaiting him.  The ambassador was a broad-minded man, loath to take sides unless he was compelled in the huge struggle, the coming of which he had prophesied years ago.  He recognized in Phineas Duge one of the great powers at the back of the nation which he represented, and as a diplomatist he was fully prepared to receive him, and welcome him as one.

“I am very glad to see you again, Mr. Duge,” he said, hospitably, extending his hand, “I hope that you have changed your mind, and are going to let us put you in the way of a few social amusements while you are over here.”

“You are very kind,” Duge answered, “but I think not.  My visit here has to do with two matters only, to both of which I think I have already referred.  You have heard nothing of my niece?”

“Nothing whatever, I am sorry to say,” Mr. Deane answered.

“Well, there remains the other matter,” Duge answered.  “You and I have already had a few words concerning that, and I am pleased to see that up to the present, at any rate, our friend Mr. Vine has been governed by the dictates of common sense.  Still, I think you can understand that so long as that paper exists the situation is an unpleasant one.”

Mr. Deane inclined his head slowly.

“Without a doubt,” he admitted, “it would be more comfortable for you and your friends to feel that the document in question was no longer in existence.”

“I am here in the interests,” Mr. Duge answered a little stiffly, “of my friends only.  My own name does not appear upon it.  However, my anxiety to discover its whereabouts is none the less real.”

“You have seen Mr. Vine?” Mr. Dean asked.

“I have,” Duge answered, “and I have come to the conclusion, for which I have some grounds, that the document is not for the moment in his possession.  I have therefore asked myself the question—­to whom on this side would he be likely to entrust it?  It occurred to me that it might be deposited at a bank, but I find that he has no banking account over here.  The American Express Company have no packet in their charge consigned by him.  Therefore I have come to the conclusion that he has placed it in the care of some friend in whom he has unlimited confidence.  Foolish thing that to have, Mr. Deane,” Phineas Duge continued slowly, with his eyes fixed upon his companion.  “One is likely to be deceived even by the most unlikely people.”

“Your business career,” Mr. Deane replied courteously, “no doubt has taught you that caution is next to genius.”

“I would have you,” Phineas Duge said impressively, “lay that little axiom of yours to heart, Mr. Deane.  I think you will agree with me that a man in your position especially, the accredited ambassador of a great country, should show himself more than ordinarily cautious in all his doings and sayings, especially where the interests of any portion of his country people are concerned.”