have　mentioned　to　you。〃
  〃What；　over　here　to　Paris？〃　Mr。　Coulson　exclaimed。
  〃Not　only　to　Paris；〃　the　other　replied　dryly；　〃but　to　discover　one　Mr。　James　B。　Coulson；　whose　health　I　now　have　the　pleasure　of　drinking。〃
  Mr。　Coulson　drained　the　glass　which　the　waiter　had　just　filled。
  〃Well；　this　licks　me！〃　he　exclaimed。　〃How　any　one　in　their　senses　could　believe　that　there　was　any　connection　between　me　and　Hamilton　Fynes　or　that　other　young　swell；　I　can't　imagine。〃
  〃You　knew　Hamilton　Fynes；〃　Mr。　Gaynsforth　remarked。　〃That　fact　came　out　at　the　inquest。　You　appeared　to　have　known　him　better　than　most　men。　Mr。　Vanderpole　had　just　left　you　when　he　was　murdered；that　also　came　out　at　the　inquest。〃
  〃Kind　of　queer；　wasn't　it；〃　Mr。　Coulson　remarked　meditatively；　〃how　I　seemed　to　get　hung　up　with　both　of　them？　You　may　also　remember　that　at　the　inquest　Mr。　Vanderpole's　business　with　me　was　testified　to　by　the　chief　of　his　department。〃
  〃Certainly；〃　Mr。　Gaynsforth　answered。　〃However；　that's　neither　here　nor　there。　Everything　was　properly　arranged；　so　far　as　you　were　concerned；　of　course。　That　doesn't　alter　my　friend's　convictions。　This　is　a　business　matter　with　me；　and　if　the　two　thousand　pounds　don't　sound　attractive　enough；　well；　the　amount　must　be　revised；　that's　all。　But　I　want　you　to　understand　this；　Mr。　Coulson；　I　represent　a　man　or　a　syndicate；　or　call　it　what　you　will。〃
  〃Call　it　a　Government；〃　Mr。　Coulson　muttered　under　his　breath。
  〃Call　it　what　you　will；〃　Mr。　Gaynsforth　continued；　with　an　air　of　not　having　heard　the　interruption；　〃we　have　the　money　and　we　want　the　information。　You　can　give　it　to　us　if　you　like。　We　don't　ask　for　too　much。　We　don't　even　ask　for　the　name　of　the　man　who　committed　these　crimes。　But　we　do　want　to　know　the　nature　of　those　papers；　exactly　what　position　Mr。　Hamilton　Fynes　occupied　in　the　Stamp　and　Excise　Duty　department　at　Washington；　and；　finally；　what　the　mischief　you　are　doing　over　here　in　Paris。〃
  〃Have　you　ordered　the　supper？〃　Mr。　Coulson　inquired　anxiously。
  〃I　have　ordered　everything　you　suggested；〃　Mr。　Gaynsforth　answered；〃some　oysters；　a　chicken　en　casserole；　lettuce　salad；　some　cheese；　and　a　magnum　of　Pommery。〃
  〃It　is　understood　that　you　are　my　host？〃　Mr。　Coulson　insisted。
  〃Absolutely；〃　his　companion　declared。　〃I　consider　it　an　honor。〃
  〃Then；〃　Mr。　Coulson　said；　pointing　out　his　empty　glass　to　the　SOMMELIER；　〃we　may　as　well　understand　one　another。　To　you　I　am　Mr。　James　B。　Coulson；　travelling　in　patents　for　woollen　machinery。　If　you　put　a　quarter　of　a　million　of　francs　upon　that　table；　I　am　still　Mr。　James　B。　Coulson；　travelling　in　woollen　machinery。　And　if　you　add　a　million　to　that；　and　pile　up　the　notes　so　high　that　they　touch　the　ceiling；　I　remain　Mr。　James　B。　Coulson；　travelling　in　patents　for　woollen　machinery。　Now；　if　you'll　get　that　firmly　into　your　head　and　stick　to　it　and　believe　it；　there's　no　reason　why　you　and　I　shouldn't　have　a　pleasant　evening。〃
  Mr。　Gaynsforth；　although　he　was　an　Englishman　and　young；　showed　himself　to　be　possessed　of　a　sense　of　humor。　He　leaned　back　in　his　seat　and　roared　with　laughter。
  〃Mr。　Coulson；〃　he　said；　〃I　congratulate　you　and　your　employers。　To　the　lower　regions　with　business！　Help　yourself　to　the　oysters　and　pass　the　wine。〃
  CHAPTER　XVIII。　MR。　COULSON　IS　INDISCREET
  On　the　following　morning　Mr。　Coulson　received　what　he　termed　his　mail　from　America。　Locked　in　his　room　on　the　fifth　floor　of　the　hotel；　he　carefully　perused　the　contents　of　several　letters。　A　little　later　he　rang　and　ordered　his　bill。　At　four　o'clock　he　left　the　Gare　du　Nord　for　London。
  Like　many　other　great　men；　Mr。　Coulson　was　not　without　his　weakness。　He　was　brave；　shrewd；　and　far…seeing。　He　enjoyed　excellent　health；　and　he　scarcely　knew　the　meaning　of　the　word　nerves。　Nevertheless　he　suffered　from　seasickness。　The　first　thing　he　did；　therefore；　when　aboard　the　boat　at　Boulogne；　was　to　bespeak　a　private　cabin。　The　steward　to　whom　he　made　his　application　shook　his　head　with　regret。　The　last　two　had　just　been　engaged。　Mr。　Coulson　tried　a　tip；　and　then　a　larger　tip；　with　equal　lack　of　success。　He　was　about　to　abandon　the　effort　and　retire　gloomily　to　the　saloon；　when　a　man　who　had　been　standing　by；　wrapped　in　a　heavy　fur　overcoat；　intervened。
  〃I　am　afraid；　sir；〃　he　said；　〃that　it　is　I　who　have　just　secured　the　last　cabin。　If　you　care　to　share　it　with　me；　however；　I　shall　be　delighted。　As　a　matter　of　fact；　I　use　it　very　little　myself。　The　night　has　turned　out　so　fine　that　I　shall　probably　promenade　all　the　time。〃
  〃If　you　will　allow　me　to　divide　the　expense；〃　Mr。　Coulson　replied；　〃I　shall　be　exceedingly　obliged　to　you；　and　will　accept　your　offer。　I　am；　unfortunately；　a　bad　sailor。〃
  〃That　is　as　you　will；　sir；〃　the　gentleman　answered。　〃The　amount　is　only　trifling。〃
  The　night　was　a　bright　one；　but　there　was　a　heavy　sea　running；　and　even　in　the　harbor　the　boat　was　rocking。　Mr。　Coulson　groaned　as　he　made　his　way　across　the　threshold　of　the　cabin。
  〃I　am　going　to　have　a　horrible　time；〃　he　said　frankly。　〃I　am　afraid　you'll　repent　your　offer　before　you've　done　with　me。〃
  His　new　friend　smiled。
  〃I　have　never　been　seasick　in　my　life；〃　he　said；　〃and　I　only　engage　a　cabin　for　fear　of　wet　weather。　A　fine　night　like　this　I　shall　not　trouble　you；　so　pray　be　as　ill　as　you　like。〃
  〃It's　nothing　to　laugh　at；〃　Mr。　Coulson　remarked　gloomily。
  〃Let　me　give　you　a　little　advice；〃　his　friend　said；　〃and　I　can　assure　you　that　I　know　something　of　these　matters；　for　I　have　been　on　the　sea　a　great　deal。　Let　me　mix　you　a　stiff　brandy　and　soda。　Drink　it　down　and　eat　only　a　dry　biscuit。　I　have　some　brandy　of　my　own　here。〃
  〃Nothing　does　me　any　good；〃　Mr。　Coulson　groaned。
  〃This；〃　the　stranger　remarked；　producing　a　flask　from　his　case　and　dividing　the　liquor　into　equal　parts；　〃may　send　you　to　sleep。　If　so；　you'll　be　across　before　you　wake　up。　〃Here's　luck！〃
  Mr。　Coulson　drained　his　glass。　His　companion　was　in　the　act　of　raising　his　to　his　lips　when　the　ship　gave　a　roll；　his　elbow　caught　the　back　of　a　chair；　and　the　tumbler　slipped　from　his　fingers。
  〃It's　of　no　consequence；〃　he　declared；　ringing　for　the　steward。　〃I'll　go　into　the　smoking　room　and　get　a　drink。　I　was　only　going　to　have　some　to　keep　you　company。　As　a　matter　of　fact；　I　prefer　whiskey。〃
  Mr。　Coulson　sat　down　upon　the　berth。　He　seemed　indisposed　for　speech。
  〃I'll　leave　you　now；　then；〃　his　friend　said；　buttoning　his　coat　around　him。　〃You　lie　flat　down　on　your　back；　and　I　think　you'll　find　yourself　all　right。〃
  〃That　brandy；〃　Mr。　Coulson　muttered；　〃was　infernally…　strong。〃
  His　companion　smiled　and　went　out。　In　a　quarter　of　an　hour　he　returned　and　locked　the　door。　They　were　out　in　the　Channel　now；　and　the　boat　was　pitching　heavily。　Mr。　James　B。　Coulson；　however；　knew　nothing　of　it。　He　was　sleeping　like　one　who　wakes　only　for　the　Judgment　Day。　Over　his　coat　and　waistcoat　the　other　man's　fingers　travelled　with　curious　dexterity。　The　oilskin　case　in　which　Mr。　Coulson　was　in　the　habit　of　keeping　his　private　correspondence　was　reached　in　a　very　few　minutes。　The　stranger　turned　out　the　letters　and　read　them；　one　by　one；　until　he　came　to　the　one　he　sought。　He　held　it　for　a　short　time　in　his　hand；　looked　at　the　address　with　a　faint　smile；　and　slipped　his　fingers　lightly　along　the　gummed　edge　of　the　envelope。
  〃No　seal；〃　he　said　softly　to　himself。　〃My　friend　Mr。　Coulson　plays　the　game　of　travelling　agent　to　perfection。〃
  He　glided　out　of　the　cabin　with　the　letter　in　his　hand。　In　about　ten　minutes　he　returned。　Mr。　Coulson　was　still　sleeping。　He　replaced　the　letter；　pressing　down　the　envelope　carefully。
  〃My　friend；〃　he　whispered；　looking　down　upon　Mr。　Coulson's　uneasy　figure；　〃on　the　whole；　I　have　been　perhaps　a　little　premature。　I　think　you　had　better　deliver　this　document　to　its　proper　destination。　If　only　there　was　to　have　been　a　written　answer；　we　might　have　met　again！　It　would　have　been　most　interesting。〃
  He　slipped　the　oilskin　case　back　into　the　exact　position　in　which　he　had　found　it；　and　watched　his　companion　for　several　minutes　in　silence。　Then　he　went　to　his　dressing　bag　and　from　a　phial　mixed　a　little　draught。　Lifting　the　sleeping　man's　head；　he　forced　it　down　his　throat。
  〃I　think；〃　he　said；　〃I　think；　Mr。　Coulson；　that　you　had　better　wake　up。〃
  He　unlocked　the　door　and　resumed　his　promenade　of　the　deck。　In　the　bows　he　stood　for　some　time；　leaning　with　folded　arms　against　a　pillar；　his　eyes　fixed　upon　the　line　of　lights　ahead。　The　great　waves　now　leaped　into　the　moonlight；　the　wind　sang　in　the　rigging　and　came　booming　across　the　waters；　the　salt　spray　stung　his　cheeks。　High　above　his　head；　the　slender　mast；　with　its　Marconi　attachment；　swang　and　dived；　reached　out　for　the　stars；　and　fell　away　with　a　shudder。　The　man　who　watched；　stood　and　dreamed　until　the　voyage　was　almost　over。　Then　he　turned　on　his　heel　and　went　back　to　see　how　his　cabin　companion　was　faring。
  Mr。　Coulson　was　sitting　on　the　edge　of　his　bunk。　He　had　awakened　with　a　terrible　headache　and　a　sense　of　some　hideous　indiscretion。　It　was　not　until　he　had　examined　every　paper　in　his　pocket　and　all　his　money　that　he　had　begun　to　feel　more　comfortable。　And　in　the　meantime　he　had　forgotten　altogether　to　be　seasick。
  〃W