taxicab。 For the second time he bade his friend good night。
〃And when next we dine；〃 he called to him in parting； 〃choose a
restaurant where the detective service is quicker！〃
Three hours later； brushed and repaired by Mrs。 Wroxton； and
again resplendent； Sam sat in a secluded corner of Deptford House
and bade Polly a long farewell。 It was especially long； owing to
the unusual number of interruptions； for it was evident that Polly
had many friends in London； and that not to know the Richest One
in America and her absurd mother； and the pompous； self…satisfied
father； argued oneself nobody。 But finally the duchess carried Polly
off to sup with her； and as the duchess did not include Sam in her
invitationat least not in such a way that any one could notice it
Sam said good…nightbut not before he had arranged a meeting
with Polly for eleven that same morning。 If it was clear； the
meeting was to be at the duck pond in St。 James's Park； if it
snowed； at the National Gallery in front of the 〃Age of
Innocence。〃
After robbing the duchess of three suppers； Sam descended to
the hall and from an attendant received his coat and hat； which
latter the attendant offered him with the inside of the hat
showing。 Sam saw in it the trademark of a foreign maker。
〃That's not my hat；〃 said Sam。
The man expressed polite disbelief。
〃I found it rolled up in the pocket of your greatcoat； sir；〃 he
protested。
The words reminded Sam that on arriving at Deptford House he had
twisted the hat into a roll and stuffed it into his overcoat
pocket。
〃Quite right；〃 said Sam。 But it was not his hat； and with some hope
of still recovering his property he made way for other departing
guests and at one side waited。
For some clew to the person he believed was now wearing his hat；
Sam examined the one in his hand。 Just showing above the inside
band was something white。 Thinking it might be the card of the
owner； Sam removed it。 It was not a card； but a long sheet of thin
paper； covered with typewriting； and many times folded。 Sam
read the opening paragraph。 Then he backed suddenly toward a
great chair of gold and velvet； and fell into it。
He was conscious the attendants in pink stockings were regarding
him askance； that； as they waited in the drafty hall for cars and taxis；
the noble lords in stars and ribbons； the noble ladies in tiaras and
showing much…fur…lined galoshes； were discussing his strange
appearance。 They might well believe the youth was ill； they might
easily have considered him intoxicated。 Outside rose the voices of
servants and police calling the carriages。 Inside other servants echoed
them。
〃The Duchess of Sutherland's car！〃 they chanted。 〃Mrs。 Trevor
Hill's carriage！ The French ambassador's carriage！ Baron
Haussmann's car！〃
Like one emerging from a trance； Sam sprang upright。 A little fat
man； with mild blue eyes and curly red hair； was shyly and with
murmured apologies pushing toward the exit。 Before he gained it
Sam had wriggled a way to his elbow。
〃Baron Haussmann！〃 he stammered。 〃I must speak to you。 It's a
matter of gravest importance。 Send away your car；〃 he begged；
〃and give me five minutes。〃
The eyes of the little fat man opened wide in surprise； almost in
alarm。 He stared at Sam reprovingly。
〃Impossible！〃 he murmured。 〃II do not know you。〃
〃This is a letter of introduction；〃 said Sam。 Into the unwilling
fingers of the banker he thrust the folded paper。 Bending over
him； he whispered in his ear。 〃That；〃 said Sam； 〃is the Treaty of
London！〃
The alarm of Baron Haussmann increased to a panic。
〃Impossible！〃 he gasped。 And； with reproach； he repeated： 〃I do
not know you； sir！ I do not know you！〃
At that moment； towering above the crush； appeared the tall figure
of Senator Seward。 The rich man of the New World and the rich
man of Europe knew each other only by sight。 But； upon seeing
Sam in earnest converse with the great banker； the senator
believed that without appearing to seek it he might through Sam
effect a meeting。 With a hearty slap on the shoulder he greeted
his fellow countryman。
〃Halloo； Sam！〃 he cried genially。 〃You walking home with me？〃
Sam did not even turn his head。
〃No！〃 he snapped。 〃I'm busy。 Go 'way！〃
Crimson； the senator disappeared。 Baron Haussmann regarded the
young stranger with amazed interest。
〃You know him！〃 he protested。 〃He called you Sam！〃
〃Know him？〃 cried Sam impatiently。 〃I've got to know him！ He's
going to be my father…in…law。〃
The fingers of the rich man clutched the folded paper as the
claws of a parrot cling to the bars of his cage。 He let his sable
coat slip into the hands of a servant； he turned back toward the
marble staircase。
〃Come！〃 he commanded。
Sam led him to the secluded corner Polly and he had left vacant
and told his story。
〃So； it is evident；〃 concluded Sam； 〃that each night some one in
the service of the Times dined at Pavoni's； and that his hat was
the same sort of hat as the one worn by Hertz； and each night；
inside the lining of his hat； Hertz hid the report of that day's
proceedings。 And when the Times man left the restaurant he
exchanged hats with Hertz。 But to…nightI got Hertz's hat and
with it the treaty！〃
In perplexity the blue eyes of the little great man frowned。
〃It is a remarkable story；〃 he said。
〃You mean you don't believe me！〃 retorted Sam。 〃If I had
financial standingif I had creditif I were not a stranger…
you would not hesitate。〃
Baron Haussmann neither agreed nor contradicted。 He made a polite
and deprecatory gesture。 Still in doubt； he stared at the piece of white
paper。 Still deep in thought； he twisted and creased between his fingers
the Treaty of London！
Returning with the duchess from supper； Polly caught sight of Sam
and； with a happy laugh； ran toward him。 Seeing he was not alone；
she halted and waved her hand。
〃Don't forget！〃 she called。 〃At eleven！〃
She made a sweet and lovely picture。 Sam rose and bowed。
〃I'll be there at ten；〃 he answered。
With his mild blue eyes the baron followed Polly until she had
disappeared。 Then he turned and smiled at Sam。
〃Permit me；〃 he said； 〃to offer you my felicitations。 Your young
lady is very beautiful and very good。〃 Sam bowed his head。 〃If
she trusts you；〃 murmured the baron； 〃I think I can trust you
too。〃
〃How wonderful is credit！〃 exclaimed Sam。 〃I was just saying so
to my landlady。 If you have only cash you spend it and nothing
remains。 But with credit you can〃
〃How much；〃 interrupted the banker； 〃do you want for this？〃
Sam returned briskly to the business of the moment。
〃To be your partner；〃 he said〃to get half of what you make out
of it。〃
The astonished eyes of the baron were large with wonder。 Again he
reproved Sam。
〃What I shall make out of it？〃 he demanded incredulously。 〃Do you
know how much I shall make out of it？〃
〃I cannot even guess；〃 said Sam； 〃but I want half。〃
The baron smiled tolerantly。
〃And how；〃 he asked； 〃could you possibly know what I give you is
really half？〃
In his turn； Sam made a deprecatory gesture。
〃Your credit；〃 said Sam； 〃is good！〃
That morning； after the walk in St。 James's Park； when Sam returned
with Polly to Claridge's； they encountered her father in the hall。
Mindful of the affront of the night before； he greeted Sam only
with a scowl。
〃Senator；〃 cried Sam happily； 〃you must be the first to hear the news！
Polly and I are going into partnership。 We are to be married。〃
This time Senator Seward did not trouble himself even to tell Sam
he was an ass。 He merely grinned cynically。
〃Is that all your news？〃 he demanded with sarcasm。
〃No；〃 said Sam〃I am going into partnership with Baron Haussmann
too！〃
THE BURIED TREASURE OF COBRE
Young Everett at last was a minister plenipotentiary。 In London
as third secretary he had splashed around in the rain to find the
ambassador's carriage。 In Rome as a second secretary he had
served as a clearing…house for the Embassy's visiting…cards； and
in Madrid as first secretary he had acted as interpreter for a
minister who； though valuable as a national chairman； had much
to learn of even his own language。 But although surrounded by
all the wonders and delights of Europe； although he walked； talked；
wined； and dined with statesmen and court beauties； Everett was
not happy。 He was never his own master。 Always he answered the
button pressed by the man higher up。 Always over him loomed his
chief； always； for his diligence and zeal； his chief received credit。
As His Majesty's naval attache put it sympathetically； 〃Better be
a top…side man on a sampan than First Luff on the Dreadnought。
Don't be another man's right hand。 Be your own right hand。〃
Accordingly when the State Department offered to make him
minister to the Republic of Amapala； Everett gladly deserted the
flesh…pots of Europe； and； on mule…back over trails in the living
rock； through mountain torrents that had never known the shadow
of a bridge； through swamp and jungle； rode sunburnt and
saddle…sore into his inheritance。
When giving him his farewell instructions； the Secretary of State