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there had been no visit from any one at all。
A desire to talk to somebody was upon him。 He strolled down stairs and into the smoking and reading rooms； hoping to see a man he knew； even if it were Coke。 But the only occupants were two strangers； furiously debating the war。 Passing the minister's room； Coleman saw that there was a light within； and he could not forbear knocking。 He was bidden to enter； and opened the door upon the minister； care… fully reading his Spectator fresh from London。 He looked up and seemed very glad。 〃How are you？〃 he cried。 〃I was tremendously anxious to see you； do you know！ I looked for you to dine with me to…night； but you were not down？〃 〃No ； I had a great deal of work。〃
〃 Over the Wainwright affair？ By the way； I want you to accept my personal thanks for that work。 In a week more I would have gone demented and spent the rest of my life in some kind of a cage； shaking the bars and howling out State Department messages about the Wainwrights。 You see； in my territory there are no missionaries to get into trouble； and I was living a life of undisturbed and innocent calm； ridiculing the sentiments of men from Smyrna and other interesting towns who maintained that the diplomatic service was exciting。 However； when the Wainwright party got lost； my life at once became active。 I was all but helpless； too； which was the worst of it。 I suppose Terry at Constantinople must have got grandly stirred up； also。 Pity he can't see you to thank you for saving him from probably going mad。 By the way；〃 he added； while looking keenly at Coleman； 〃 the Wainwrights don't seem to be smothering you with gratitude？ 〃
〃 Oh； as much as I deserve…sometimes more；〃 answered Coleman。 〃 My exploit was more or less of a fake； you know。 I was between the lines by accident； or through the efforts of that blockhead of a dragoman。 I didn't intend it。 And then； in the night； when we were waiting in the road because of a fight； they almost bunked into us。 That's all。〃
〃They tell it better；〃 said the minister； severely。 〃 Especially the youngsters。〃
〃Those kids got into a high old fight at a town up there beyond Agrinion。 Tell you about that； did they？ I thought not。 Clever kids。 You have noted that there are signs of a few bruises and scratches？〃 〃 Yes； but I didn't ask…〃 〃 Well； they are from the fight。 It seems the people took us for Germans； and there was an awful palaver； which ended in a proper and handsome shindig。 It raised the town； I tell you。〃
The minister sighed in mock despair。 〃 Take these people home； will you ？ Or at any rate； conduct them out of the field of my responsibility。 Now； they would like Italy immensely； I am sure。〃
Coleman laughed； and they smoked for a time。
〃 That's a charming girl…Miss Wainwright；〃 said the minister； musingly。 〃And what a beauty！ It does my exiled eyes good to see her。 I suppose all those youngsters are madly in love with her ？ I don't see how they could help it。〃
〃 Yes；〃 said Coleman； glumly。 〃 More than half of them。〃
The minister seemed struck with a sudden thought。 〃 You ought to try to win that splendid prize yourself。 The rescuer ！ Perseus！ What more fitting？ 〃
Coleman answered calmly： 〃Well * * * I think I'll take your advice。〃
CHAPTER XXVIII。
THE next morning Coleman awoke with a sign of a resolute decision on his face； as if it had been a development of his sleep。 He would see Marjory as soon as possible； see her despite any barbed…wire entanglements which might be placed in the way by her mother； whom he regarded as his strenuous enemy。 And he would ask Marjory's hand in the presence of all Athens if it became necessary。
He sat a long time at his breakfast in order to see the Wainwrights enter the dining room； and as he was about to surrender to the will of time； they came in； the professor placid and self…satisfied； Mrs。 Wainwright worried and injured and Marjory cool； beautiful； serene。 If there had been any kind of a storm there was no trace of it on the white brow of the girl。 Coleman studied her closely but furtively while his mind spun around his circle of speculation。 Finally he noted the waiter who was observing him with a pained air as if it was on the tip of his tongue to ask this guest if he was going to remain at breakfast forever。 Coleman passed out to the reading room where upon the table a multitude of great red guide books were crushing the fragile magazines of London and Paris。 On the walls were various depressing maps with the name of a tourist agency luridly upon them； and there were also some pictures of hotels with their rates…in francs…printed beneath。 The room was cold； dark； empty； with the trail of the tourist upon it。
Coleman went to the picture of a hotel in Corfu and stared at it precisely as if he was interested。 He was standing before it when he heard Marjory's voice just without the door。 〃All right！ I'll wait。〃 He did not move for the reason that the hunter moves not when the unsuspecting deer approaches his hiding place。 She entered rather quickly and was well toward the centre of the room before she perceived Coleman。 〃 Oh；〃 she said and stopped。 Then she spoke the immortal sentence； a sentence which； curiously enough is common to the drama； to the novel； and to life。 〃 I thought no one was here。〃 She looked as if she was going to retreat； but it would have been hard to make such retreat graceful； and probably for this reason she stood her ground。
Coleman immediately moved to a point between her and the door。 〃You are not going to run away from me； Marjory Wainwright；〃 he cried； angrily。 〃 You at least owe it to me to tell me definitely that you don't love me…that you can't love me…〃
She did not face him with all of her old spirit； but she faced him； and in her answer there was the old Marjory。 〃 A most common question。 Do you ask all your feminine acquaintances that？ 〃
〃I mean…〃 he said。 〃I mean that I love you and…〃
〃Yesterday…no。 To…day…yes。 To…morrow…who knows。 Really； you ought to take some steps to know your own mind。〃
〃 Know my own mind；〃 he retorted in a burst of in… dignation。 〃You mean you ought to take steps to know your own mind。〃
〃 My own mind！ You…〃 Then she halted in acute confusion and all her face went pink。 She had been far quicker than the man to define the scene。 She lowered her head。 Let me past； please…〃
But Coleman sturdily blocked the way and even took one of her struggling hands。 〃Marjory…〃 And then his brain must have roared with a thousand quick sentences for they came tumbling out； one over the other。 * * Her resistance to the grip of his fingers grew somewhat feeble。 Once she raised her eyes in a quick glance at him。 * * Then suddenly she wilted。 She surrendered； she confessed without words。 〃 Oh； Marjory； thank God； thank God…〃 Peter Tounley made a dramatic entrance on the gallop。 He stopped； petrified。 〃Whoo！〃 he cried。 〃My stars！ 〃 He turned and fled。 But Coleman called after him in a low voice； intense with agitation。
〃 Come back here； you young scoundrel！ Come baok here I 〃
Peter returned； looking very sheepish。 〃 I hadn't the slightest idea you…〃
〃 Never mind that now。 But look here； if you tell a single soul…particularly