“I let fall a hint to Mr. Saunders,” she answered—­and her smile shone suddenly, giving her straight Greek features a fascinating humanity—­” that I wanted to see you about the Heim Vandyke.”  She paused, and his eyes lit.

“Yes—­portrait?  A good example, I believe.”

She laughed quietly.  “As you very well know, Mr. Gard.  But that, let me own, was merely a ruse to gain your private ear.  I have nothing to do with that gem of art.”

The Great Man’s face fell.  He was in for a bad quarter of an hour.  Lady with a hard luck story—­he was not unused to the type—­but Mrs. Martin Marteen!  He could not very well dismiss her unheard, an acquaintance of years’ standing, a friend of his sister’s.  His curiosity was aroused.  What could be the matter with the impeccable Mrs. Marteen?  Perhaps she had been speculating.  She read his thoughts.

“Quite wrong, Mr. Gard.  I have not been drawn into the stock market.  The fact is, I have something to sell, but it isn’t a picture—­autographs.  You collect them, do you not?  Now I have in my possession a series of autograph letters by one of the foremost men of his day; one, in fact, in whom you have the very deepest interest.”

“Napoleon!” he exclaimed.

She smiled.  “I have heard him so called,” she answered.  “I have here some photographs of the letters.  They are amateur pictures—­in fact, I took them myself; so you will have to pardon trifling imperfections.  But I’m sure you will see that it is a series of the first importance.”  From her muff she took a flat envelope, slipped off the rubber band with great deliberation, glanced at the enclosures and laid them on the table.

The Great Man’s face was a study.  His usual mask of indifferent superiority deserted him.  The blow was so unexpected that he was for once staggered and off his guard.  His hand was shaking, as with an oath he snatched up the photographs.  It was his own handwriting that met his eye, and Mrs. Marteen had not exaggerated when she had designated the letters as a “series of the first importance.”  With the shock of recognition came doubt of his own senses.  Mrs. Martin Marteen blackmailing him?  Preposterous!  His eyes sought the lady’s face.  She was quite calm and self-possessed.

“I need not point out to you, Mr. Gard, the desirability of adding these to your collection.  These letters give clear information concerning the value to you of the Texas properties mentioned, which are now about to pass into the possession of your emissaries if all goes well.  Of course, if these letters were placed in the hands of those most interested it would cause you to make your purchase at a vastly higher figure; it might prevent the transaction altogether.  But far more important than that, they conclusively prove that your company is a monopoly framed in the restraint of trade—­proof that will be a body blow to your defense if the threatened action of the federal authorities takes place.