Part 14 (1/2)

”I see no objection,” said I

”Better not,” said Merton ”My wife's share should not, even now, be told”

”You are right,” said the countess, ”quite right But how did it occur to you, Madame Merton, to use the ashes as you did?”

”Let me answer,” said the colonel ”Any American would kno completely ashes are non-conductors of heat I knew of their use on one occasion in our Civil War to hide and preserve the safe-conduct of a spy”

”And,” said I, ”their protective power explains some of the so-called miracles when, as in japan,red-hot coals”

”How stupid the losing side appears,” said the count, ”when one hears all of both sides!”

”But,” asked the countess, ”how did you get the papers to London? It see, but my husband will tell you that never have there been such extreme measures taken as in this case The emperor was furious, and yet to the end every one was in the dark”

”You aood player,” I said, ”and we had our share”

”Ah, there was et a word out of Madame Merton”

”My husband insists that I have never been able to hed as the count said: ”One can jest over it now, but at the tiot out of the whole affair hen your due criticisland I did want to laugh, but M de Lhuys did not”

”And the original papers?” insisted the countess ”Paris was ale”

”Yes,” said her husband, ”tell us”

”Well,” said I, laughing, ”you escorted theium e had that affair with Porthos”

”_I!_” exclai in Belgiuet the papers out of France”

”Indeed! One man did suspect you, but it was too late”