en the two cars sped along the country road in the direction of the ostrich farm. Marian, Mollie, Mrs. De Lancey Smythe, Miss Stuart, Barbara, Maud a

uth over her shoulder. "Grace, sing so

e old melody in her swe

!" she declared. "What an exquisite melody. I have not h

, Countess?" be

lone," she avowed. "But I am sure Monsieur Duval has the throat

renchman quickly. Could it be that he, too, was curious to disco

her eyes under Mr.

an accompaniment, Monsi

should be so secretive. She spoke French, German and English almost equall

ners. Instead in a full baritone voice he sang the "Marseillaise." His audien

. But he said nothing. It was impos

begged Grace later. "I know

e us a song of your count

y to him. But in a voice

like unto

," expostulated Mr. Duval wh

" sang the countess, this time in German. "Shall I try it in French and

the Countess Sophia von Stolberg was

ealed amusement on Madame de Villiers's fa

aud Warren's. The count joined them, but Ruth did not withdraw her arm. Maud did not seem to mind Ruth's "playing gooseberry."

look taller, walked with the two girls. He talked constan

a mere infant. Most of my life I have spent in Paris. I do not often g

ou around your castle

e question. "It is a very larg

ite information. "Is your chateau on a

"It is on the side of a mountain,

the cages containing the ostriches. The gre

about it. "Have you ever visited the Count de Sonde at his chateau, Mr.

lked With th

," answered Monsieur Duval. "Th

y?" queried Ruth. She did not know herse

in the heart of a valley," was

t was Ruth, not Monsieur Duval, who blushed furiously. The man's eyes

brilliant, so traveled, so strong, so dangerous. And yet, he had just tol

lled Mr. Stuart an hour later, when his guests

girls. She was all radiant smiles and gayety. She hummed a song to herself full of delicious, bird-like trills, in a voice that had been wonderfu

nd her father with flushed faces. They had evidently been having a private altercatio

chanting. The chicken and nut sandwiches and other eatables tasted unusually good

e. Suddenly the countess began to sing again in a

listened wi

sh the occupants of the carriage. The countess's back was turned toward the equipage. She did not look around. Mollie and Ruth were glad that

y hitched their horse. Then they walked deliberately over to the picnickers. Without a w

sulting. His companion waited near him. The Countess Sophia shuddered as the

u are wanted by the police. We

he gave a hysterica

ess quickly recover

e man, whose hand still rested on her arm. "What have

e of two continents," accused the German. "I am her

She lifted her great mahogany

s day's work," she a

he intruder by the collar, and before the man could more than raise his hand from the

isturbance among my friends. You are without a warrant or a policeman. The Countess Sophia von Stolberg is our friend.

ad also risen and hurried to his friend's aid and the two Am

riage. After a slight delay they drov

wn the avenue, Countess Soph

to have a protector. I do not know why those men attempted to arrest me without a w

ou are some one else. I know there is a notorious swindler at l

eyes at the mention of the word "swindler." Bab glanced quickly about her and encountered the eyes of Monsieur Duval. In them