Shirley had been awake much of the night.  On returning from the ball at the inn she found Dick still absent, and when at six o’clock he had not returned she called her father and they had set off together for the hills, toward which, the stablemen reported, Dick had ridden.  They had met Oscar just outside the Springs, and had returned to the hotel for Baron von Marhof.  Having performed her office as guide and satisfied herself that Dick was safe, she felt her conscience eased, and could see no reason why she should not ride home and leave the men to their council.  Armitage saw her turn to her horse, whose nose was exploring her mackintosh pockets, and he stepped quickly toward her.

“You see, Miss Claiborne, your brother is quite safe, but I very much hope you will not run away.  There are some things to be explained which it is only fair you should hear.”

“Wait, Shirley, and we will all go down together,” said Judge Claiborne reluctantly.

Baron von Marhof, very handsome and distinguished, but mud-splashed, had tied his horse to a post in the driveway, and stood on the veranda steps, his hat in his hand, staring, a look of bewilderment on his face.  Armitage, bareheaded, still in his riding leggings, his trousers splashed with mud, his left arm sleeveless and supported by a handkerchief swung from his neck, shook hands with Judge Claiborne.

“Baron von Marhof, allow me to present Mr. Armitage,” said Dick, and Armitage walked to the steps and bowed.  The Ambassador did not offer his hand.

“Won’t you please come in?” said Armitage, smiling upon them, and when they were seated he took his stand by the fireplace, hesitated a moment, as though weighing his words, and began: 

“Baron von Marhof, the events that have led to this meeting have been somewhat more than unusual—­they are unique.  And complications have arisen which require prompt and wise action.  For this reason I am glad that we shall have the benefit of Judge Claiborne’s advice.”

“Judge Claiborne is the counsel of our embassy,” said the Ambassador.  His gaze was fixed intently on Armitage’s face, and he hitched himself forward in his chair impatiently, grasping his crop nervously across his knees.

“You were anxious to find me, Baron, and I may have seemed hard to catch, but I believe we have been working at cross-purposes to serve the same interests.”

The Baron nodded.

“Yes, I dare say,” he remarked dryly.

“And some other gentlemen, of not quite your own standing, have at the same time been seeking me.  It will give me great pleasure to present one of them—­one, I believe, will be enough.  Mr. Claiborne, will you kindly allow Monsieur Jules Chauvenet to stand in the door for a moment?  I want to ask him a question.”

Shirley, sitting farthest from Armitage, folded her hands upon the long table and looked toward the door into which her brother vanished.  Then Jules Chauvenet stood before them all, and as his eyes met hers for a second the color rose to his face, and he broke out angrily: