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"Mr. Barsad," he went on, in the tone of one who really was

looking over a hand at cards: "Sheep of the prisons, emissary of

Republican committees, now turnkey, now prisoner, always spy and

secret informer, so much the more valuable here for being English

that an Englishman is less open to suspicion of subornation in

those characters than a Frenchman, represents himself to his

employers under a false name. That's a very good card. Mr.

Barsad, now in the employ of the republican French government,

was formerly in the employ of the aristocratic English

government, the enemy of France and freedom. That's an excellent

card. Inference clear as day in this region of suspicion, that

Mr. Barsad, still in the pay of the aristocratic English

government, is the spy of Pitt, the treacherous foe of the

Republic crouching in its bosom, the English traitor and agent of

all mischief so much spoken of and so difficult to find. That's a

card not to be beaten. Have you followed my hand, Mr. Barsad?"