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"Thank you," she said, returning the look in his earnest grey eyes with one in which the utmost confidence shone "You are the only man to whom I feel sure that I can reveal myself and be quite understood It isn't as if I had positive facts to divulge, for I have not; they are suspicions, fears, that's all, but they are no longer vague shapes to "

"Tell me," he said quietly He seemed to square his broad shoulders and to set his jaw firmly, as if to resist physical attack She knew she had come with her fears to a h at substance as well as shadow

"I a roo watched thismay be above suspicion We may speak freely here, for we cannot be heard unless we raise our voices Don't betray surprise or consternation The eyes of the wall may be better than its ears"

"You don'twatched here in your father's house?" he demanded

"I don't know This I do know: the Count has many spies in Edelweiss He is syste that occurs at court, in the city, or in the council cha well served, whether to an evil purpose or to satisfy his own innate curiosity, I do not know He has reports als, partly in cipher, partly free, and he is forever sending men away on secret, mysterious missions Understand, I do not know that he is actually planning disaster to Graustark Day before yesterday I saw his secretary in the streets--a man who has been in his employ for five years or more and who now pretends to be a lawyer here His name is Brutus I spoke with hio in Vienna, determined to set out for himself in his chosen profession He knows, of course, that I am not and never have been in the confidences of my husband I asked him if it was known in Edelweiss that he had served the Count as secretary He promptly handed me one of his business cards, on which he refers to himself as the former trusted and confidential secretary of Count Marlanx Now, I happen to know that he is still in o than last week"

"My dear Countess, he itie in that"