But he said warmly, "It is I who must apologize, my dear colonel.

I am not laughing at your conclusions, but at this singular coincidence with a discovery I have made." "As how, sir ?" "I find in the report of the Chief of the Police for the year 1850 that Kate Howard was under the protection of a man named Arguello." The colonel's exaggeration instantly left him.

He stared blankly at Paul.

"And you call this a laughing matter, sir ?" he said sternly, but in his more natural manner.
"Perhaps not, but I don't think, if you will allow me to say so, my dear colonel, that YOU have been treating the whole affair very seriously.

I left you two months ago utterly opposed to views which you are now treating as of no importance.