"In a couple of hours they will be sending up from the Plaza to know if I want anything--Irish Jake or Manilla will be coming on some trivial matter--I'd better take the opportunity of complete secrecy while I can." For the next few minutes or so he hesitated.

With the sudden fancy that he had forgotten something, he turned out his pockets, looking for he scarcely knew what.

The contents were mixed and various, and among them was a crumpled letter which he had received some days since from Sam Gwent.

He smoothed it out carefully and re-read it, especially one passage-- "I think the States will never get involved in another war, but I am fairly sure Germany will.

If she joins up with Russia look out for squalls.