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The President covered his eyes with the spectacles.

Why," he exclaimed, "I see upon your own brow the letters--"

Stop, sir!" interrupted Rob, with a blush; "I don't care to know what the

letters are, if it's just the same to you."

The President seemed puzzled by this speech, but fortunately the

minister of police arrived just then and, under Rob's guidance, the

pictured record of the Orleanist plot was reproduced before the startled

eyes of the official.

And now," said the boy, "let us see if any of this foolishness is going on

just at present."

He turned to the opposite side of the Record and allowed the President

and his minister of police to witness the quick succession of events even

as they occurred.

Suddenly the minister cried, "Ha!" and, pointing to the figure of a man

disembarking from an English boat at Calais, he said, excitedly:

That, your Excellency, is the Duke of Orleans, in disguise! I must leave

you for a time, that I may issue some necessary orders to my men; but

this evening I shall call to confer with you regarding the best mode of

suppressing this terrible plot."

When the official had departed, the President removed the spectacles

from his eyes and handed them to Rob.

What did you see?" asked the boy.

The letters 'G' and 'W'."

Then you may trust him fully," declared Rob, and explained the

construction of the Character Marker to the interested and amazed

statesman.

And now I must go," he continued, "for my stay in your city will be a

short one and I want to see all I can."

The President scrawled something on a sheet of paper and signed his

name to it, afterward presenting it, with a courteous bow, to his visitor.

The Master Key