"With an object, monsieur, n'est ce pas?"
"With a very great object, madame—the desire for your assistance."
Monsieur Roché leaned impressively towards me.
"Have you heard the strange news," he asked, "that is being whispered in diplomatic Paris?"
"There are many strange things whispered in diplomatic Paris," I responded.
"Truly; but this is unprecedented. Sir Edward Rivington, the English Ambassador, has been abducted."
"Yes. It was mentioned to me by a particularly uninteresting gallant at last night's reception; but"—I shrugged my shoulders—"it is too absurd."
"And therefore the more likely to be true! In fact, I know that it is true and also that it is false."
"An enigma, monsieur?"
"Listen. The story is that a closed carriage called for Sir Edward two nights ago. He left the Embassy, saying he would return in an hour. He has not been seen since, and Paris is growing perturbed at this unwarrantable violation of international courtesy. That is the story. But the facts are that Sir Edward has tricked France, has purposely promulgated this mystery, and has departed on a secret mission to England."