SLOWLY the meaning of Winthrop’s words dawned on the four men.  
“It’s false! false as hell!” thundered Douglas. He stepped forward and seized Winthrop in a grip of iron and shook him as a dog would shake a rat; then, before the others could intervene, threw the struggling man on the floor. “Bah! you’re not worth .”
 
Whimpering with rage and weakness, Winthrop caught hold of the table and dragged himself upright, and stood swaying on his feet.
 
“It’s true, it’s true!” he . “Look at her,”—pointing a shaking finger to where Eleanor stood aghast, watching the scene. Her hand was on the doorknob and she seemed for instant flight. A curious smile twisted her pale lips as the men turned and faced her.
 
“He doesn’t seem to have recovered from tremens,” she remarked slowly.
 
“It may be, Miss Thornton,”—the Secretary of State with grave deliberation,—“but it is a serious charge which he is making, and I think it had better be investigated now.” Eleanor visibly, then, controlling herself, advanced further into the room.
 
“I am at your service,” she said with sudden , “but as I have an important engagement later I trust you will be brief.”
 
“Sit by me here, Eleanor.” Colonel Thornton, who had listened to Winthrop’s charges in stupefied silence, pulled forward an armchair. “Mr. Secretary, will you occupy the desk chair, and you,” turning to Winthrop, who back as he caught the in the older man’s eyes, “sit over there,” pointing to a chair some distance away.
 
Brett, seeing that Winthrop was too to move without assistance, piloted him to the chair indicated by Thornton, and, getting another chair, placed himself by Winthrop’s side. Douglas, at a sign from the Secretary, sat down at the further end of the table and handed the statesman some paper and ink.
 
“Now, Mr. Winthrop,” began the Secretary, “if you are more composed, answer my questions. Why have you waited all this time before mentioning that you think Miss Thornton guilty of Senator Carew’s murder?”
 
“Because I’ve been drugged, so that I couldn’t give evidence. I tried twice to get a message to Brett, but Annette said she couldn’t reach him.” Winthrop spoke with effort.
 
“Annette!” chorused Colonel Thornton, Brett, and Douglas, while the Secretary and Eleanor looked their surprise.
 
“Yes, Annette,” , “she used to come in occasionally to give me water when those devilish nurses were neglecting me. She told me that Brett was seldom at the house, and that she never had an opportunity to speak to him alone.”
 
“The monumental liar——” Brett checked himself. “Never mind that now, Mr. Winthrop, go on with your story.”
 
“She told me how Miss Thornton used to steal in and drug me, and asked me why she did it.”
 
“Great Heavens!” Eleanor’s was followed by a half-strangled laugh which ended in a . “What a !”
 
“You were not there last night,” Winthrop , “and therefore I didn’t get my usual dose, so I can tell what I know to-day.” A leer distorted his features.
 
“Suppose you continue your story without making comments,” directed the Secretary sternly.
 
Winthrop nodded , then began: “You that I spent Monday night at the Club, Brett?”
 
“Yes.”
 
“Well, when I left there I motored up Nineteenth Street, instead of taking the more direct way home. I thought I would turn into Massachusetts Avenue at Dupont circle, where there was less danger of running into electric cars, for the rain was falling in such that I could hardly see through my wind-shield.
 
“When opposite the Owen residence I ran into a lot of waiting carriages and motors, and had to slow down. In fact, I went so slowly that by the time I was nearly opposite Miss Thornton’s residence I stalled my engine and had to get out in all the wet and crank up,” he paused dramatically. “You can imagine my surprise when I saw Miss Thornton come down under the which led to her front door and stand at the , looking up and down the street.”
 
“How do you know it was Miss Thornton?” broke in Douglas harshly.
 
“There was a street lamp by the side of the awning and the light fell full on her; besides, I recognized the cloak she was wearing. I have seen it many times.”
 
“What did my niece do, besides still and looking up and down the street?” demanded Colonel Thornton scornfully.
 
“She ran out into the middle of the street and down where a carriage was up at the curb, opened the door, stood there talking, , for a few minutes, then shut the door and bolted back to the awning, and I presume entered her house, as I saw no more of her.”
 
“What did you do next?” inquired Douglas, with emphasis.
 
Winthrop flushed at his tone. “I had curiosity enough to step back and see that it was Senator Carew’s landau, the last of a long queue of vehicles, at which she had stopped; then I went on about my business.”
 
“Do you mean to say that you did not investigate further?” asked the Secretary, leaning forward the better to scan Winthrop’s face.
 
“No. I knew enough never to with Senator Carew’s love affairs!” His was intolerable.
 
“By God!” Colonel Thornton sprang to his feet and advanced on Winthrop, but Brett stepped between the two men.
 
“Have a little patience, Colonel,” he said, pushing the man toward his seat; “then you can settle with Mr. Winthrop.”
 
“Do you think I’m going to sit here and listen to aspersions on my niece’s character?” he shouted. “Let me get my hands on that scoundrel!”
 
“Wait, Uncle Dana,”—Eleanor leaned forward and placed her hand on his arm,—“let him finish; then I will speak,” and her lips closed .
 
“That is excellent advice,” agreed the Secretary; “resume your seat, Colonel Thornton.” His tone of command was not to be denied, and Thornton dropped back in his chair. “Now, Mr. Winthrop, explain your last remark.”
 
“Senator Carew told me on Monday afternoon that he expected to marry Miss Thornton, and that he intended to spend the evening with her.”
 
Douglas leaned forward and gazed earnestly at Eleanor, but she refused to meet his look, and with a troubled expression he turned his attention to Winthrop, who was again speaking.
 
“I told Senator Carew that I had heard a member of one of the embassies here declare that Miss Thornton was an international spy.”
 
“And what did he say to that statement?”
 
“He said that he would look into the matter.”
 
“When did this conversation take place?”
 
“On Monday afternoon.”
 
“And is that all you have to go upon for such an ?” inquired Brett scornfully.
 
Douglas was gazing ahead of him. A memory of Paris, of Eleanor’s extraordinary behavior there, of the whispers which followed her about, him. Had his faith been misplaced? No, a thousand times no. He would pin all hope of future happiness on her and purity of soul. He rose suddenly and stepped behind her chair, and laid his hand encouragingly on her shoulder. She looked up, startled, then, seeing him, her lips parted in a smile, and her hand stole up to meet his. His firm clasp gave her courage to face the situation, for it told her of his unshaken confidence and love.
 
Winthrop at them when he saw the , and his eyes gleamed wickedly. “It is very obvious,” he said, “that Senator Carew found my statement was true, and charged her with being a spy; then left her house. Exposure meant Miss Thornton’s ruin; even her relatives,”—he glanced meaningly at Thornton,—“could not intervene to sa............