The remainder of that night I spent in restless agitation, and at the
Embassy early next morning showed His Excellency the note that Kaye had
left for me.
"You must see her, Ingram," he said briefly. "You must obtain her
secret from her."
"But I cannot believe that she is a secret agent!" I declared. "We
were friends, and she surely would not seek to injure me?"
"Trust nobody, my dear Ingram," answered the grave-eyed old man. "You
know how unreliable women are where diplomacy is concerned. Remember
the incident of the Princess Ghelarducci in Rome."
My lips compressed themselves. He referred to a matter which, for me,
was anything but a pleasant recollection. The Princess, after learning
our intentions regarding Abyssinia, had openly betrayed us; and I had
very foolishly thought her my friend.
"I shall call on her this afternoon," I answered briefly. "The worst of
it is that my action will lead her to think that I desire to renew the
acquaintance."
"H'm, I see," observed His Excellency quickly, for his shrewdness had
detected the truth. "You were once in love with her--eh?"