She smiled at me again.  “I told you not to go back to your hotel, did I not?”

I got no further with her, it seemed.

“You interest me sometimes,” she went on slowly, at last, “yet you seem to have so little brain!  Now, in your employment, I should think that brain would be somewhat useful at times.”

“I do not deny that suggestion, Madam.”

“But you are unable to analyze.  Thus, in the matter of yourself.  I suppose if you were told of it, you would only say that you forgot to look in the toe of the slipper you had.”

“Thus far, Baroness,” I said soberly, “I have asked no special privilege, at least.  Now, if it affords you any pleasure, I beg you, I implore you, to tell me what you mean!”

“Did you credit the attache of Mexico with being nothing more than a drunken rowdy, to follow me across town with a little shoe in his carriage?”

“But you said he was in wine.”

“True.  But would that be a reason?  Continually you show your lack of brain in accepting as conclusive results which could not possibly have occurred. Granted he was in wine, granted he followed me, granted he had my shoe in his possession—­what then?  Does it follow that at the ball at the White House he could have removed that shoe?  Does Monsieur think that I, too, was in wine?”

“I agree that I have no brain!  I can not guess what you mean.  I can only beg once more that you explain.”

“Now listen.  In your most youthful and charming innocence I presume you do not know much of the capabilities for concealment offered by a lady’s apparel!  Now, suppose I had a message—­where do you think I could hide it; granted, of course, the conditions obtaining at a ball in the White House?”

“Then you did have a message?  It came to you there, at that time?”

She nodded.  “Certainly.  Mr. Van Zandt had almost no other opportunity to meet me or get word to me.”

“Van Zandt! Madam, are you indeed in the camp of all these different interests?  So, what Pakenham said was true!  Van Zandt is the attache of Texas.  Van Zandt is pleading with Mr. Calhoun that he shall take up the secretaryship.  Van Zandt promises us the friendship of Texas if we will stand out for the annexation of Texas.  Van Zandt promises us every effort in his power against England.  Van Zandt promises us the sternest of fronts against treacherous Mexico.  Van Zandt is known to be interested in this fair Dona Lucrezia, just as Polk is.  Now, then, comes Van Zandt with his secret message slipped into the hand of Madam at the Ambassador’s ball—­Madam, the friend of England! The attache of Mexico is curious—­furious—­to know what Texas is saying to England!  And that message must be concealed!  And Madam conceals it in—­”

She smiled at me brilliantly.  “You come on,” she said.  “Should your head be opened and analyzed, yes, I think a trace of brain might be discovered by good chemistry.”