ELUSIVE ISABEL

BY

JACQUES FUTRELLE

WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY

ALONZO KIMBALL

1908

TO

THE WONDERFUL WOMAN

CONTENTS

CHAPTER

I MISS ISABEL THORNE

II MR. CAMPBELL AND THE CABLE

III THE LANGUAGE OF THE FAN

IV THE FLEEING WOMAN

V A VISIT TO THE COUNT

VI REVELATIONS

VII THE SIGNAL

VIII MISS THORNE AND NOT MISS THORNE

IX FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS

X A SAFE OPENING

XI THE LACE HANDKERCHIEF

XII THE VANISHING DIPLOMATIST

XIII A CONFERENCE IN THE DARK

XIV A RESCUE AND AN ESCAPE

XV MASTER OF THE SITUATION

XVI LETTERS FROM JAIL

XVII A CALL ON THE WARDEN

XVIII NOTICE TO LEAVE

XIX BY WIRELESS

XX THE LIGHT IN THE DOME

XXI A SLIP OF PAPER

XXII THE COMPACT

XXIII THE PERCUSSION CAP

XXIV THE PERSONAL EQUATION

XXV WE TWO

XXVI IN WHICH THEY BOTH WIN

ELUSIVE ISABEL

I

MISS ISABEL THORNE

All the world rubs elbows in Washington. Outwardly it is merely a cityof evasion, of conventionalities, sated with the commonplace pleasuresof life, listless, blasé even, and always exquisitely, albeit frigidly, courteous; but beneath the still, suave surface strange currents play atcross purposes, intrigue is endless, and the merciless war of diplomacygoes on unceasingly. Occasionally, only occasionally, a bubble comes tothe surface, and when it bursts the echo goes crashing around the earth. Sometimes a dynasty is shaken, a nation trembles, a ministry topplesover; but the ripple moves and all is placid again. No man may know allthat happens there, for then he would be diplomatic master of theworld. 

"There is plenty of red blood in Washington, " remarked a jestinglegislative gray-beard, once upon a time, "but it's always frozen beforethey put it in circulation. Diplomatic negotiations are conducted in thedrawing-room, but long before that the fight is fought down cellar. Thediplomatists meet at table and there isn't any broken crockery, but youcan always tell what the player thinks of the dealer by the way he drawsthree cards. Everybody is after results; and lots of monarchs of Europesit up nights polishing their crowns waiting for word from Washington. "

So, this is Washington! And here at dinner are the diplomaticrepresentatives of all the nations. That is the British ambassador, thatstolid-faced, distinguished-looking, elderly man; and this is the Frenchambassador, dapper, volatile, plus-correct; here Russia's highestrepresentative wags a huge, blond beard; and yonder is the phlegmaticGerman ambassador. Scattered around the table, brilliant splotches ofcolor, are the uniformed envoys of the Orient--the smaller the countrythe more brilliant the splotch. It is a state dinner, to be followed bya state ball, and they are all present. 

The Italian ambassador, Count di Rosini, was trying to interpret aFrench _bon mot_ into English for the benefit of the dainty, doll-likewife of the Chinese minister--who was educated at Radcliffe--when aservant leaned over him and laid a sealed envelope beside his plate. Thecount glanced around at the servant, excused himself to Mrs. Quong LiWi, and opened the envelope. Inside was a single sheet of embassy notepaper, and a terse line signed by his secretary:

"A lady is waiting for you here. She says she must see you immediately, on a matter of the greatest importance. "

The count read the note twice, with wrinkled brow, then scribbled on itin pencil:

"Impossible to-night. Tell her to call at the embassy to-morrow morningat half-past ten o'clock. "

He folded the note, handed it to the servant, and resumed hisconversation with Mrs. Wi. 

Half an hour later the same servant placed a second sealed envelopebeside his plate. Recognizing the superscription, the ambassadorimpatiently shoved it aside, intending to disregard it. But irritatedcuriosity finally triumphed, and he opened it. A white card on which waswritten this command was his reward:

"It is necessary that you come to the embassy at once. "

There was no signature. The handwriting was unmistakably that of awoman, and just as unmistakably strange to him. He frowned a little ashe stared at it wonderingly, then idly turned the card over. There wasno name on the reverse side--only a crest. Evidently the countrecognized this, for his impassive face reflected surprise for aninstant, and this was followed by a keen, bewildered interest. Finallyhe arose, made his apologies, and left the room. His automobile was atthe door. 

[Illustration: The handwriting was unmistakably that of a woman. ]

"To the embassy, " he directed the chauffeur. 

And within five minutes he was there. His secretary met him in the hall. 

"The lady is waiting in your office, " he explained apologetically. "Igave her your message, but she said she must see you and would write youa line herself. I sent it. "

"Quite correct, " commented the ambassador. "What name did she give?"

"None, " was the reply. "She said none was necessary. "

The ambassador laid aside hat and coat and entered his office with aslightly puzzled expression on his face. Standing before a window, gazing idly out into the light-spangled night, was a young woman, rathertall and severely gowned in some rich, glistening stuff which fell awaysheerly from her splendid bare shoulders. She turned and he foundhimself looking into a pair of clear, blue-gray eyes, frank enough andyet in their very frankness possessing an alluring, indefinablesubtlety. He would not have called her pretty, yet her smile, slight asit was, was singularly charming, and there radiated from her asomething--personality, perhaps--which held his glance. He bowed low, and closed the door. 

"I am at your service, Madam, " he said in a tone of deep respect. "Please pardon my delay in coming to you. "

"It is unfortunate that I didn't write the first note, " she apologizedgraciously. "It would at least have saved a little time. You have thecard?"

He produced it silently, crest down, and handed it to her. She struck amatch, lighted the card, and it crumbled up in her gloved hand. The lasttiny scrap found refuge in a silver tray, where she watched it burn toashes, then she turned to the ambassador with a brilliant smile. He wasstill standing. 

"The dinner isn't over yet?" she inquired. 

"No, Madam, not for another hour, perhaps. "

"Then there's no harm done, " she went on lightly. "The dinner isn't ofany consequence, but I should like very much to attend the ballafterward. Can you arrange it for me?"

"I don't know just how I would proceed, Madam, " the ambassador objecteddiffidently. "It would be rather unusual, difficult, I may say, and--"

"But surely you can arrange it some way?" she interrupted demurely. "Thehighest diplomatic representative of a great nation should not find itdifficult to arrange so simple a matter as--as this?" She was smiling. 

"Pardon me for suggesting it, Madam, " the ambassador persistedcourteously, "but anything out of the usual attracts attention inWashington. I dare say, from the manner of your appearance to-night, that you would not care to attract attention to yourself. "

She regarded him with an enigmatic smile. 

"I'm afraid you don't know women, Count, " she said slowly, at last. "There's nothing dearer to a woman's heart than to attract attention toherself. " She laughed--a throaty, silvery note that was charming. "Andif you hesitate now, then to-morrow--why, to-morrow I am going to askthat you open to me all this Washington world--this brilliant world ofdiplomatic society. You see what I ask now is simple. "

The ambassador was respectfully silent and deeply thoughtful for a time. There was, perhaps, something of resentment struggling within him, andcertainly there was an uneasy feeling of rebellion at this attempt tothrust him forward against all precedent. 

"Your requests are of so extraordinary a nature that--" he began incourteous protestation. 

There was no trace of impatience in the woman's manner; she was stillsmiling. 

"It is necessary that I attend the ball to-night, " she explained, "youmay imagine how necessary when I say I sailed from Liverpool six daysago, reaching New York at half-past three o'clock this afternoon; and athalf-past four I was on my way here. I have been here less than onehour. I came from Liverpool especially that I might be present; and Ieven dressed on the train so there would be no delay. Now do you see thenecessity of it?"

Diplomatic procedure is along well-oiled grooves, and the diplomatistwho steps out of the rut for an instant happens upon strange andunexpected obstacles. Knowing this, the ambassador still hesitated. Thewoman apparently understood. 

"I had hoped that this would not be necessary, " she remarked, and sheproduced a small, sealed envelope. "Please read it. "

The ambassador received the envelope with uplifted brows, opened it andread what was written on a folded sheet of paper. Some subtle workingof his brain brought a sudden change in the expression of his face. There was wonder in it, and amazement, and more than these. Again hebowed low. 

"I am at your service, Madam, " he repeated. "I shall take pleasure inmaking any arrangements that are necessary. Again, I beg your pardon. "

"And it will not be so very difficult, after all, will it?" sheinquired, and she smiled tauntingly. 

"It will not be at all difficult, Madam, " the ambassador assured hergravely. "I shall take steps at once to have an invitation issued to youfor to-night; and to-morrow I shall be pleased to proceed as you maysuggest. "

She nodded. He folded the note, replaced it in the envelope and returnedit to her with another deep bow. She drew her skirts about her and satdown; he stood. 

"It will be necessary for your name to appear on the invitation, " theambassador went on to explain. "If you will give me your name I'll havemy secretary--"

"Oh, yes, my name, " she interrupted gaily. "Why, Count, you embarrassme. You know, really, I have no name. Isn't it awkward?"

"I understand perfectly, Madam, " responded the count. "I should havesaid _a_ name. "

She meditated a moment. 

"Well, say--Miss Thorne--Miss Isabel Thorne, " she suggested at last. "That will do very nicely, don't you think?"

"Very nicely, Miss Thorne, " and the ambassador bowed again. "Pleaseexcuse me a moment, and I'll give my secretary instructions how toproceed. There will be a delay of a few minutes. "

He opened the door and went out. For a minute or more Miss Thorne satperfectly still, gazing at the blank wooden panels, then she rose andwent to the window again. In the distance, hazy in the soft night, thedome of the capitol rose mistily; over to the right was thecongressional library, and out there where the lights sparkled layPennsylvania Avenue, a thread of commerce. Miss Thorne saw it all, andsuddenly stretched out her arms with an all-enveloping gesture. Shestood so for a minute, then they fell beside her, and she wasmotionless. 

Count di Rosini entered. 

"Everything is arranged, Miss Thorne, " he announced. "Will you go withme in my automobile, or do you prefer to go alone?"

"I'll go alone, please, " she answered after a moment. "I shall be thereabout eleven. "

The ambassador bowed himself out. 

And so Miss Isabel Thorne came to Washington!

II

MR. CAMPBELL AND THE CABLE

Just as it is one man's business to manufacture watches, and anotherman's business to peddle shoe-strings, so it was Mr. Campbell's businessto know things. He was a human card index, a governmental readyreference posted to the minute and backed by all the tremendousresources of a nation. From the little office in the Secret ServiceBureau, where he sat day after day, radiating threads connected with thehuge outer world, and enabled him to keep a firm hand on the diplomaticand departmental pulse of Washington. Perhaps he came nearer knowingeverything that happened there than any other man living; and no manrealized more perfectly than he just how little of all of it he didknow. 

In person Mr. Campbell was not unlike a retired grocer who had shakenthe butter and eggs from his soul and settled back to enjoy a life ofplacid idleness. He was a little beyond middle age, pleasant of face, white of hair, and blessed with guileless blue eyes. His genius had nosparkle to it; it consisted solely of detail and system andindefatigability, coupled with a memory that was well nigh infallible. His brain was as serene and orderly as a cash register; one almostexpected to hear it click. 

He sat at his desk intently studying a cable despatch which lay beforehim. It was in the Secret Service code. Leaning over his shoulder wasMr. Grimm--_the_ Mr. Grimm of the bureau. Mr. Grimm was an utterlydifferent type from his chief. He was younger, perhaps thirty-one ortwo, physically well proportioned, a little above the average height, with regular features and listless, purposeless eyes--a replica of ahundred other young men who dawdle idly in the windows of their clubsand watch the world hurry by. His manner was languid; his dress showedfastidious care. 

Sentence by sentence the bewildering intricacies of the code gave waybefore the placid understanding of Chief Campbell, and word by word, from the chaos of it, a translation took intelligible form upon a sheetof paper under his right hand. Mr. Grimm, looking on, exhibited only amost perfunctory interest in the extraordinary message he was reading;the listless eyes narrowed a little, that was all. It was a specialdespatch from Lisbon dated that morning, and signed simply "Gault. "Completely translated it ran thus:

"Secret offensive and defensive alliance of the Latin against theEnglish-speaking nations of the world is planned. Italy, France, Spainand two South American republics will soon sign compact in Washington. Proposition just made to Portugal, and may be accepted. Special envoysnow working in Mexico and Central and South America. Germany invited tojoin, but refuses as yet, giving, however, tacit support; attitude ofRussia and Japan unknown to me. Prince Benedetto d'Abruzzi, believed tobe in Washington at present, has absolute power to sign for Italy, France and Spain. Profound secrecy enjoined and preserved. I learned ofit by underground. Shall I inform our minister? Cable instructions. "

"So much!" commented Mr. Campbell. 

He clasped his hands behind his head, lay back in his chair and sat fora long time, staring with steadfast, thoughtful eyes into the impassiveface of his subordinate. Mr. Grimm perched himself on the edge of thedesk and with his legs dangling read the despatch a second time, and athird. 

"If, " he observed slowly, "if any other man than Gault had sent that Ishould have said he was crazy. "

"The peace of the world is in peril, Mr. Grimm, " said Campbellimpressively, at last. "It had to come, of course, the United States andEngland against a large part of Europe and all of Central and SouthAmerica. It had to come, and yet--!"

He broke off abruptly, and picked up the receiver of his desktelephone. 

"The White House, please, " he requested curtly, and then, after amoment: "Hello! Please ask the president if he will receive Mr. Campbellimmediately. Yes, Mr. Campbell of the Secret Service. " There was apause. Mr. Grimm removed his immaculate person from the desk, and took achair. "Hello! In half an hour? So much!"

The pages of the Almanac de Gotha fluttered through his fingers, andfinally he leaned forward and studied a paragraph of it closely. When heraised his eyes again there was that in them which Mr. Grimm had neverseen before--a settled, darkening shadow. 

"The world-war has long been a chimera, Mr. Grimm, " he remarked at last, "but now--now! Think of it! Of course, the Central and South Americancountries, taken separately, are inconsequential, and that is true, too, of the Latin countries of Europe, except France, but taken incombination, under one directing mind, the allied navies would be--wouldbe formidable, at least. Backed by the moral support of Germany, andperhaps Japan--! Don't you see? Don't you see?"

He lapsed into silence. Mr. Grimm opened his lips to ask a question: Mr. Campbell anticipated it unerringly:

"The purpose of such an alliance? It is not too much to construe it intothe first step toward a world-war--a war of reprisal and conquest besidewhich the other great wars of the world would seem trivial. For the facthas at last come home to the nations of the world that ultimately theEnglish-speaking peoples will dominate it--dominate it, because they arethe practical peoples. They have given to the world all its greatpractical inventions--the railroad, the steamship, electricity, thetelegraph and cable--all of them; they are the great civilizing forces, rounding the world up to new moral understanding, for what England hasdone in Africa and India we have done in a smaller way in thePhilippines and Cuba and Porto Rico; they are the great commercialpeoples, slowly but surely winning the market-places of the earth;wherever the English or the American flag is planted there the Englishtongue is being spoken, and there the peoples are being taught thesanity of right living and square dealing. 

"It requires no great effort of the imagination, Mr. Grimm, to foreseethat day when the traditional power of Paris, and Berlin, and St. Petersburg, and Madrid will be honey-combed by the steady encroachmentof our methods. This alliance would indicate that already that day hasbeen foreseen; that there is now a resentment which is about to findexpression in one great, desperate struggle for world supremacy. A fewhundred years ago Italy--or Rome--was stripped of her power; onlyrecently the United States dispelled the illusion that Spain wasanything but a shell; and France--! One can't help but wonder if thepower she boasts is not principally on paper. But if their forces arecombined? Do you see? It would be an enormous power to reckon with, witha hundred bases of supplies right at our doors. "

He rose suddenly and walked over to the window, where he stood for amoment, staring out with unseeing eyes. 

"Given a yard of canvas, Mr. Grimm, " he went on finally, "a Spanish boywill waste it, a French boy will paint a picture on it, an English boywill built a sail-boat, and an American boy will erect a tent. Thatfully illustrates the difference in the races. "

He abandoned the didactic tone, and returned to the material matter inhand. Mr. Grimm passed him the despatch and he sat down again. 

"'Will soon sign compact in Washington, '" he read musingly. "Now I don'tknow that the signing of that compact can be prevented, but the signingof it on United States soil can be prevented. You will see to that, Mr. Grimm. "

"Very well, " the young man agreed carelessly. The magnitude of such atask made, apparently, not the slightest impression on him. He languidlydrew on his gloves. 

"And meanwhile I shall take steps to ascertain the attitude of Russianand Japanese representatives in this city. "

Mr. Grimm nodded. 

"And now, for Prince Benedetto d'Abruzzi, " Mr. Campbell went on slowly. "Officially he is not in Washington, nor the United States, for thatmatter. Naturally, on such a mission, he would not come as a publiclyaccredited agent, therefore, I imagine, he is to be sought under anothername. "

"Of course, " Mr. Grimm acquiesced. 

"And he would avoid the big hotels. "

"Certainly. "

Mr. Campbell permitted his guileless blue eyes to linger inquiringlyupon those of the young man for half a minute. He caught himselfwondering, sometimes, at the perfection of the deliberate indifferencewith which Mr. Grimm masked his emotions. In his admiration of thisquality he quite overlooked the remarkable mask of benevolence behindwhich he himself hid. 

"And the name, D'Abruzzi, " he remarked, after a time. "What does it meanto you, Mr. Grimm?"

"It means that I am to deal with a prince of the royal blood of Italy, "was the unhesitating response. Mr. Grimm picked up the Almanac de Gothaand glanced at the open page. "Of course, the first thing to do is tofind him; the rest will be simple enough. " He perused the pagecarelessly. "I will begin work at once. "

III

THE LANGUAGE OF THE FAN

Mr. Grimm was chatting idly with Señorita Rodriguez, daughter of theminister from Venezuela, the while he permitted his listless eyes towander aimlessly about the spacious ball-room of the German embassy, ablaze with festooned lights, and brilliant with a multi-colored chaosof uniforms. Gleaming pearl-white, translucent in the mass, were thebare shoulders of women; and from far off came the plaintive whine of anorchestra, a pulsing sense rather than a living sound, of music, pointedhere and there by the staccato cry of a flute. A zephyr, perfumed withthe clean, fresh odor of lilacs, stirred the draperies of the archwaywhich led into the conservatory and rustled the bending branches ofpalms and ferns. 

For a scant instant Mr. Grimm's eyes rested on a young woman who sat adozen feet away, talking, in playful animation, with an undersecretaryof the British embassy--a young woman severely gowned in some glisteningstuff which fell away sheerly from her splendid bare shoulders. Sheglanced up, as if in acknowledgment of his look, and her eyes met his. Frank, blue-gray eyes they were, stirred to their depths now byamusement. She smiled at Señorita Rodriguez, in token of recognition. 

"Aren't they wonderful?" asked Señorita Rodriguez with the quick, bubbling enthusiasm of her race. 

"What?" asked Mr. Grimm. 

"Her eyes, " was the reply. "Every person has one dominant feature--withMiss Thorne it is her eyes. "

"Miss Thorne?" Mr. Grimm repeated. 

"Haven't you met her?" the señorita went on. "Miss Isabel Thorne? Sheonly arrived a few days ago--the night of the state ball. She's myguest at the legation. When an opportunity comes I shall present you toher. "

She ran on, about other things, with only an occasional remark from Mr. Grimm, who was thoughtfully nursing his knee. Somewhere through thechatter and effervescent gaiety, mingling with the sound of the pulsingmusic, he had a singular impression of a rhythmical beat, an indistincttattoo, noticeable, perhaps, only because of its monotony. After amoment he shot a quick glance at Miss Thorne and understood; it was thetapping of an exquisitely wrought ivory fan against one of her tapering, gloved fingers. She was talking and smiling. 

"Dot-dash-dot! Dot-dash-dot! Dot-dash-dot!" said the fan. 

Mr. Grimm twisted around in his seat and regaled his listless eyes witha long stare into the señorita's pretty face. Behind the careless easeof repose he was mechanically isolating the faint clatter of the fan. 

"Dot-dash-dot! Dot-dash-dot! Dot-dash-dot!"

"Did any one ever accuse you of staring, Mr. Grimm?" demanded theseñorita banteringly. 

For an instant Mr. Grimm continued to stare, and then his listless eyesswept the ball-room, pausing involuntarily at the scarlet splendor ofthe minister from Turkey. 

"I beg your pardon, " he apologized contritely. There was a pause. "Theminister from Turkey looks like a barn on fire, doesn't he?"

Señorita Rodriguez laughed, and Mr. Grimm glanced idly toward MissThorne. She was still talking, her face alive with interest; and the fanwas still tapping rhythmically, steadily, now on the arm of her chair. 

"Dot-dash-dot! Dot-dash-dot! Dot-dash-dot! Dot-dash-dot!"

"Pretty women who don't want to be stared at should go with their facesswathed, " Mr. Grimm suggested indolently. "Haroun el Raschid there wouldagree with me on that point, I have no doubt. What a shock he would getif he should happen up at Atlantic City for a week-end in August!"

"Dot-dash-dot! Dot-dash-dot! Dot-dash-dot!"

Mr. Grimm read it with perfect understanding; it was "F--F--F" in theMorse code, the call of one operator to another. Was it accident? Mr. Grimm wondered, and wondering he went on talking lazily:

"Curious, isn't it, the smaller the nation the more color it crowds intothe uniforms of its diplomatists? The British ambassador, you willobserve, is clothed sanely and modestly, as befits the representative ofa great nation; but coming on down by way of Spain and Italy, they getmore gorgeous. However, I dare say as stout a heart beats beneath asky-blue sash as behind the unembellished black of evening dress. "

"F--F--F, " the fan was calling insistently. 

And then the answer came. It took the unexpectedly prosaic form of aviolent sneeze, a vociferous outburst on a bench directly behind Mr. Grimm. Señorita Rodriguez jumped, then laughed nervously. 

"It startled me, " she explained. 

"I think there must be a draft from the conservatory, " said a man'svoice apologetically. "Do you ladies feel it? No? Well, if you'll excuseme--?"

Mr. Grimm glanced back languidly. The speaker was Charles WinthropRankin, a brilliant young American lawyer who was attached to the Germanembassy in an advisory capacity. Among other things he was a Heidelbergman, having spent some dozen years of his life in Germany, where heestablished influential connections. Mr. Grimm knew him only by sight. 

And now the rhythmical tapping of Miss Thorne's fan underwent a change. There was a flutter of gaiety in her voice the while the ivory fantapped steadily. 

"Dot-dot-dot! Dash! Dash-dash-dash! Dot-dot-dash! Dash!"

"S--t--5--u--t, " Mr. Grimm read in Morse. He laughed pleasantly at someremark of his companion. 

"Dash-dash! Dot-dash! Dash-dot!" said the fan. 

"M--a--n, " Mr. Grimm spelled it out, the while his listless eyes rovedaimlessly over the throng. "S--t--5--u--t m--a--n!" Was it meant for"stout man?" Mr. Grimm wondered. 

"Dot-dash-dot! Dot! Dash-dot-dot!"

"F--e--d, " that was. 

"Dot-dot-dash-dot! Dot-dash! Dash-dot-dash-dot! Dot!"

"Q--a--j--e!" Mr. Grimm was puzzled a little now, but there was not awrinkle, nor the tiniest indication of perplexity in his face. Insteadhe began talking of Raphael's cherubs, the remark being called into lifeby the high complexion of a young man who was passing. Miss Thorneglanced at him once keenly, her splendid eyes fairly aglow, and the fanrattled on in the code. 

"Dash-dot! Dot! Dot-dash! Dot-dash-dot!"

"N--e--a--f. " Mr. Grimm was still spelling it out. 

Then came a perfect jumble. Mr. Grimm followed it with difficulty, adifficulty utterly belied by the quizzical lines about his mouth. As hecaught it, it was like this: "J--5--n--s--e--f--v--a--t--5--f, "followed by an arbitrary signal which is not in the Morse code:"Dash-dot-dash-dash!"

Mr. Grimm carefully stored that jumble away in some recess of his brain, along with the unknown signal. 

"D--5--5--f, " he read, and then, on to the end: "B--f--i--n--g5--v--e--f w--h--e--n g g--5--e--s. "

That was all, apparently. The soft clatter of the fan against the arm ofthe chair ran on meaninglessly after that. 

"May I bring you an ice?" Mr. Grimm asked at last. 

"If you will, please, " responded the señorita, "and when you come backI'll reward you by presenting you to Miss Thorne. You'll find hercharming; and Mr. Cadwallader has monopolized her long enough. "

Mr. Grimm bowed and left her. He had barely disappeared when Mr. Rankinlounged along in front of Miss Thorne. He glanced at her, paused andgreeted her effusively. 

"Why, Miss Thorne!" he exclaimed. "I'm delighted to see you here. Iunderstood you would not be present, and--"

Their hands met in a friendly clasp as she rose and moved away, with anod of excuse to Mr. Cadwallader. A thin slip of paper, thrice folded, passed from Mr. Rankin to her. She tugged at her glove, and thrust thelittle paper, still folded, inside the palm. 

"Is it yes, or no?" Miss Thorne asked in a low tone. 

"Frankly, I can't say, " was the reply. 

"He read the message, " she explained hastily, "and now he has gone todecipher it. "

She gathered up her trailing skirts over one arm, and together theyglided away through the crowd to the strains of a Strauss waltz. 

"I'm going to faint in a moment, " she said quite calmly to Mr. Rankin. "Please have me sent to the ladies' dressing-room. "

"I understand, " he replied quietly. 

IV

THE FLEEING WOMAN

Mr. Grimm went straight to a quiet nook of the smoking-room and there, after a moment, Mr. Campbell joined him. The bland benevolence of thechief's face was disturbed by the slightest questioning uplift of hisbrows as he dropped into a seat opposite Mr. Grimm, and lighted a cigar. Mr. Grimm raised his hand, and a servant who stood near, approachedthem. 

"An ice--here, " Mr. Grimm directed tersely. 

The servant bowed and disappeared, and Mr. Grimm hastily scribbledsomething on a sheet of paper and handed it to his chief. 

"There is a reading, in the Morse code, of a message that seems to beunintelligible, " Mr. Grimm explained. "I have reason to believe it isin the Continental code. You know the Continental--I don't. "

Mr. Campbell read this:

"St5ut man fed qaje neaf j5nsefvat5f, " and then came the unknown, dash-dot-dash-dash. "That, " he explained, "is Y in the Continentalcode. " It went on: "d55f bfing 5vef when g g5es. "

The chief read it off glibly:

"Stout man, red face, near conservatory door. Bring over when G goes. "

"Very well!" commented Mr. Grimm ambiguously. 

With no word of explanation, he rose and went out, pausing at the doorto take the ice which the servant was bringing in. The seat where he hadleft Señorita Rodriguez was vacant; so was the chair where Miss Thornehad been. He glanced about inquiringly, and a servant who stood stolidlynear the conservatory door approached him. 

"Pardon, sir, but the lady who was sitting here, " and he indicated thechair where Miss Thorne had been sitting, "fainted while dancing, andthe lady who was with you went along when she was removed to the ladies'dressing-room, sir. "

Mr. Grimm's teeth closed with a little snap. 

"Did you happen to notice any time this evening a stout gentleman, withred face, near the conservatory door?" he asked. 

The servant pondered a moment, then shook his head. 

"No, sir. "

"Thank you. "

Mr. Grimm was just turning away, when there came the sharp, vibrantcra-a-sh! of a revolver, somewhere off to his left. The president! Thatwas his first thought. One glance across the room to where the chiefexecutive stood, in conversation with two other gentlemen, reassuredhim. The choleric blue eyes of the president had opened a little at thesound, then he calmly resumed the conversation. Mr. Grimm impulsivelystarted toward the little group, but already a cordon was being drawnthere--a cordon of quiet-faced, keen-eyed men, unobstrusively forcingtheir way through the crowd. There was Johnson, and Hastings, and Blair, and half a dozen others. 

The room had been struck dumb. The dancers stopped, with tense, inquiring looks, and the plaintive whine of the orchestra, far away, faltered, then ceased. There was one brief instant of utter silence inwhich white-faced women clung to the arms of their escorts, and thebrilliant galaxy of colors halted. Then, after a moment, there cameclearly through the stillness, the excited, guttural command of theGerman ambassador. 

"Keep on blaying, you tam fools! Keep on blaying!"

The orchestra started again tremulously. Mr. Grimm nodded a silentapproval of the ambassador's command, then turned away toward his left, in the direction of the shot. After the first dismay, there was ageneral movement of the crowd in that direction, a movement which waschecked by Mr. Campbell's appearance upon a chair, with a smile on hisbland face. 

"No harm done, " he called. "One of the officers present dropped hisrevolver, and it was accidently discharged. No harm done. "

There was a moment's excited chatter, deep-drawn breaths of relief, theorchestra swung again into the interrupted rhythm, and the dancers movedon. Mr. Grimm went straight to his chief, who had stepped down from thechair. Two other Secret Service men stood behind him, blocking thedoorway that opened into a narrow hall. 

"This way, " directed the chief tersely. 

Mr. Grimm walked along beside him. They skirted the end of the ball-roomuntil they came to another door opening into the hall. Chief Campbellpushed it open, and entered. One of his men stood just inside. 

"What was it, Gray?" asked the chief. 

"Señor Alvarez, of the Mexican legation, was shot, " was the reply. 

"Dead?"

"Only wounded. He's in that room, " and he indicated a door a little waydown the hall. "Fairchild, two servants, and a physician are with him. "

"Who shot him?"

"Don't know. We found him lying in the hall here. "

Still followed by Mr. Grimm, the chief entered the room, and togetherthey bent over the wounded man. The bullet had entered the torso justbelow the ribs on the left side. 

"It's a clean wound, " the physician was explaining. "The bullet passedthrough. There's no immediate danger. "

Señor Alvarez opened his eyes, and stared about him in bewilderment;then alarm overspread his face, and he made spasmodic efforts to reachthe inside breast pocket of his coat. Mr. Grimm obligingly thrust hishand into the pocket and drew out its contents, the while Señor Alvarezstruggled frantically. 

"Just a moment, " Mr. Grimm advised quietly. "I'm only going to let yousee if it is here. Is it?"

He held the papers, one by one, in front of the wounded man, and eachtime a shake of the head was his answer. At the last Señor Alvarezclosed his eyes again. 

"What sort of paper was it?" inquired Mr. Grimm. 

"None of your business, " came the curt answer. 

"Who shot you?"

"None of your business. "

"A man?"

Señor Alvarez was silent. 

"A woman?"

Still silence. 

With some new idea Mr. Grimm turned away suddenly and started out intothe hall. He met a maid-servant at the door, coming in. Her face wasblanched, and she stuttered through sheer excitement. 

"A lady, sir--a lady--" she began babblingly. 

Mr. Grimm calmly closed the door, shutting in the wounded man, ChiefCampbell and the others. Then he caught the maid sharply by the arm andshook some coherence into her disordered brain. 

"A lady--she ran away, sir, " the girl went on, in blank surprise. 

"What lady?" demanded Mr. Grimm coldly. "Where did she run from? Why didshe run?" The maid stared at him with mouth agape. "Begin at thebeginning. "

"I was in that room, farther down the hall, sir, " the maid explained. "The door was open. I heard the shot, and it frightened me so--I don'tknow--I was afraid to look out right away, sir. Then, an instant later, a lady come running along the hall, sir--that way, " and she indicatedthe rear of the house. "Then I came to the door and looked out to seewho it was, and what was the matter, sir. I was standing there when aman--a man came along after the lady, and banged the door in my face, sir. The door had a spring lock, and I was so--so frightened and excitedI couldn't open it right away, sir, and--and when I did I came here tosee what was the matter. " She drew a deep breath and stopped. 

"That all?" demanded Mr. Grimm. 

"Yes, sir, except--except the lady had a pistol in her hand, sir--"

Mr. Grimm regarded her in silence for a moment. 

"Who was the lady?" he asked at last. 

"I forget her name, sir. She was the lady who--who fainted in theball-room, sir, just a few minutes ago. "

Whatever emotion may have been aroused within Mr. Grimm it certainlyfound no expression in his face. When he spoke again his voice was quitecalm. 

"Miss Thorne, perhaps?"

"Yes, sir, that's the name--Miss Thorne. I was in the ladies'dressing-room when she was brought in, sir, and I remember some onecalled her name. "

Mr. Grimm took the girl, still a-quiver with excitement, and led heralong the hall to where Gray stood. 

"Take this girl in charge, Gray, " he directed. "Lock her up, ifnecessary. Don't permit her to say one word to anybody--_anybody_ youunderstand, except the chief. "

Mr. Grimm left them there. He passed along the hall, glancing in eachroom as he went, until he came to a short flight of stairs leadingtoward the kitchen. He went on down silently. The lights were burning, but the place was still, deserted. All the servants who belonged therewere evidently, for the moment, transferred to other posts. He passed onthrough the kitchen and out the back door into the street. 

A little distance away, leaning against a lamp-post, a man wasstanding. He might have been waiting for a car. Mr. Grimm approachedhim. 

"Beg pardon, " he said, "did you see a woman come out of the back door, there?"

"Yes, just a moment or so ago, " replied the stranger. "She got into anautomobile at the corner. I imagine this is hers, " and he extended ahandkerchief, a dainty, perfumed trifle of lace. "I picked it upimmediately after she passed. "

Mr. Grimm took the handkerchief and examined it under the light. For atime he was thoughtful, with lowered eyes, which, finally raised, metthose of the stranger with a scrutinizing stare. 

"Why, " asked Mr. Grimm slowly and distinctly, "why did you slam the doorin the girl's face?"

"Why did I--what?" came the answering question. 

"Why did you slam the door in the girl's face?" Mr. Grimm repeatedslowly. 

The stranger stared in utter amazement--an amazement so frank, sounacted, so genuine, that Mr. Grimm was satisfied. 

"Did you see a man come out the door?" Mr. Grimm pursued. 

"No. Say, young fellow, I guess you've had a little too much to drink, haven't you?"

But by that time Mr. Grimm was turning the corner. 

V

A VISIT TO THE COUNT

The bland serenity of Mr. Campbell's face was disturbed by thin, spiderylines of perplexity, and the guileless blue eyes were vacant as hestared at the top of his desk. Mr. Grimm was talking. 

"From the moment Miss Thorne turned the corner I lost all trace of her, "he said. "Either she had an automobile in waiting, or else she was luckyenough to find one immediately she came out. She did not return to theembassy ball last night--that much is certain. " He paused reflectively. "She is a guest of Señorita Inez Rodriguez at the Venezuelan legation, "he added. 

"Yes, I know, " his chief nodded. 

"I didn't attempt to see her there last night for two reasons, " Mr. Grimm continued. "First, she can have no possible knowledge of the factthat she is suspected, unless perhaps the man who slammed the door--"He paused. "Anyway, she will not attempt to leave Washington; I amconfident of that. Again, it didn't seem wise to me to employ theordinary crude police methods in the case--that is, go to the Venezuelanlegation and kick up a row. "

For a long time Campbell was silent; the perplexed lines still furrowedhis benevolent forehead. 

"The president is very anxious that we get to facts in this reportedLatin alliance as soon as possible, " he said at last, irrelevantly. "Hementioned the matter last night, and he has been keeping in constantcommunication with Gault, in Lisbon, who, however, has not been able toadd materially to the original despatch. Under all the circumstancesdon't you think it would be best for me to relieve you of theinvestigation of this shooting affair so that you can concentrate onthis greater and more important thing?"

"Will Señor Alvarez die?" asked Mr. Grimm in turn. 

"His condition is serious, although the wound is not necessarily fatal, "was the reply. 

Mr. Grimm arose, stretched his long legs and stood for a little whilegazing out the window. Finally he turned to his chief:

"What do we know, here in the bureau, about Miss Thorne?"

"Thus far the reports on her are of the usual perfunctory nature, " Mr. Campbell explained. He drew a card from a pigeonhole of his desk andglanced at it. "She arrived in Washington two weeks and two days agofrom New York, off the _Lusitania_, from Liverpool. She brought somesort of an introduction to Count di Rosini, the Italian ambassador, andhe obtained for her a special invitation to the state ball, which washeld that night. Until four days ago she was a guest at the Italianembassy, but now, as you know, is a guest at the Venezuelan legation. Since her arrival here she has been prominently pushed forward intosociety; she has gone everywhere, and been received everywhere in thediplomatic set. We have no knowledge of her beyond this. "

There was a question in Mr. Grimm's listless eyes as they met those ofhis chief. The same line of thought was running in both their minds, born, perhaps, of the association of ideas--Italy as one of three greatnations known to be in the Latin compact; Prince Benedetto d'Abruzzi, ofItaly, the secret envoy of three countries; the sudden appearance ofMiss Thorne at the Italian embassy. And in the mind of the younger manthere was more than this--a definite knowledge of a message cunninglytransmitted to Mr. Rankin, of the German embassy, by Miss Thorne therein the ball-room. 

"Can you imagine--" he asked slowly, "can you imagine a person who wouldbe of more value to the Latin governments in Washington right at thisstage of the negotiations than a brilliant woman agent?"

"I most certainly can not, " was the chief's unhesitating response. 

"In that case I _don't_ think it would be wise to transfer theinvestigation of the shooting affair to another man, " said Mr. Grimmemphatically, reverting to his chief's question. "I think, on thecontrary, we should find out more about Miss Thorne. "

"Precisely, " Campbell agreed. 

"Ask all the great capitals about her--Madrid, Paris and Rome, particularly; then, perhaps, London and Berlin and St. Petersburg. "

Mr. Campbell thoughtfully scribbled the names of the cities on a slip ofpaper. 

"Do you intend to arrest Miss Thorne for the shooting?" he queried. 

"I don't know, " replied Mr. Grimm frankly. "I don't know, " he repeatedmusingly. "If I _do_ arrest her immediately I may cut off a clue whichwill lead to the other affair. I don't know, " he concluded. 

"Use your own judgment, and bear in mind that a man--_a man_ slammedthe door in the maid's face. "

"I shall not forget him, " Mr. Grimm answered. "Now I'm going over totalk to Count di Rosini for a while. "

The young man went out, thoughtfully tugging at his gloves. The Italianambassador received him with an inquiring uplift of his dark brows. 

"I came to make some inquiries in regard to Miss Thorne--Miss IsabelThorne, " Mr. Grimm informed him frankly. 

The count was surprised, but it didn't appear in his face. 

"As I understand it, " the young man pursued, "you are sponsor for her inWashington?"

The count, evasively diplomatic, born and bred in a school of caution, considered the question from every standpoint. 

"It may be that I am so regarded, " he admitted at last. 

"May I inquire if the sponsorship is official, personal, social, or allthree?" Mr. Grimm continued. 

There was silence for a long time. 

"I don't see the trend of your questioning, " said the ambassadorfinally. "Miss Thorne is worthy of my protection in every way. "

"Let's suppose a case, " suggested Mr. Grimm blandly. "Suppose MissThorne had--had, let us say, shot a man, and he was about to die, wouldyou feel justified in withdrawing that--that protection, as you callit?"

"Such a thing is preposterous!" exclaimed the ambassador. "The utterabsurdity of such a charge would impel me to offer her everyassistance. "

Mr. Grimm nodded. 

"And if it were proved to your satisfaction that she _did_ shoot him?"he went on evenly. 

The count's lips were drawn together in a straight line. 

"Whom, may I ask, " he inquired frigidly, "are we supposing that MissThorne shot?"

"No one, particularly, " Mr. Grimm assured him easily. "Just supposethat she _had_ shot anybody--me, say, or Señor Alvarez?"

"I can't answer a question so ridiculous as that. "

"And suppose we go a little further, " Mr. Grimm insisted pleasantly, "and assume that you _knew_ she _had_ shot some one, say Señor Alvarez, and you _could_ protect her from the consequences, _would_ you?"

"I decline to suppose anything so utterly absurd, " was the rejoinder. 

Mr. Grimm sat with his elbows on his knees, idly twisting a seal ring onhis little finger. The searching eyes of the ambassador found his faceblankly inscrutable. 

"Diplomatic representatives in Washington have certain obligations tothis government, " the young man reminded him. "We--that is, thegovernment of the United States--undertake to guarantee the personalsafety of every accredited representative; in return for thatprotection we must insist upon the name and identity of a dangerousperson who may be known to any foreign representative. Understand, please, I'm not asserting that Miss Thorne is a dangerous person. Youare sponsor for her here. Is she, in every way, worthy of yourprotection?"

"Yes, " said the ambassador flatly. 

"I can take it, then, that the introduction she brought to you is from aperson whose position is high enough to insure Miss Thorne's position?"

"That is correct. "

"Very well!"

And Mr. Grimm went away. 

VI

REVELATIONS

Some vague, indefinable shadow darkened Miss Thorne's clear, blue-grayeyes, in sharp contrast to the glow of radiant health in her cheeks, asshe stepped from an automobile in front of the Venezuelan legation, andran lightly up the steps. A liveried servant opened the door. 

"A gentleman is waiting for you, Madam, " he announced. "His card is hereon the--"

"I was expecting him, " she interrupted. 

"Which room, please?"

"The blue room, Madam. "

Miss Thorne passed along the hallway which led to a suite of smalldrawing-rooms opening on a garden in the rear, pushed aside theportières, and entered. 

"I'm sorry I've kept you--" she began, and then, in a tone of surprise:"I beg your pardon. "

A gentleman rose and bowed gravely. 

"I am Mr. Grimm of the Secret Service, " he informed her with frankcourtesy. "I am afraid you were expecting some one else; I handed mycard to the footman. "

For an instant the blue-gray eyes opened wide in astonishment, and thensome quick, subtle change swept over Miss Thorne's face. She smiledgraciously and motioned him to a seat. 

"This is quite a different meeting from the one Señorita Rodriguez hadplanned, isn't it?" she asked. 

There was a taunting curve on her scarlet lips; the shadow passed fromher eyes; her slim, white hands lay idle in her lap. Mr. Grimm regardedher reflectively. There was a determination of steel back of thischarming exterior; there was an indomitable will, a keen brain, and allof a woman's intuition to reckon with. She was silent, with aquestioning upward slant of her arched brows. 

"I am not mistaken in assuming that you are a secret agent of theItalian government, am I?" he queried finally. 

"No, " she responded readily. 

"In that event I may speak with perfect frankness?" he went on. "Itwould be as useless as it would be absurd to approach the matter in anyother manner?" It was a question. 

Miss Thorne was still smiling, but again the vague, indefinable shadow, momentarily lifted, darkened her eyes. 

"You may be frank, of course, " she said pleasantly. "Please go on. "

"Señor Alvarez was shot at the German Embassy Ball last night, " Mr. Grimm told her. 

Miss Thorne nodded, as if in wonder. 

"Did you, or did you not, shoot him?"

It was quite casual. She received the question without change ofcountenance, but involuntarily she caught her breath. It might havebeen a sigh of relief. 

"Why do you come to me with such a query?" she asked in turn. 

"I beg your pardon, " interposed Mr. Grimm steadily. "Did you, or did younot, shoot him?"

"No, of course I didn't shoot him, " was the reply. If there was anyemotion in the tone it was merely impatience. "Why do you come to me?"she repeated. 

"Why do I come to you?" Mr. Grimm echoed the question, while hislistless eyes rested on her face. "I will be absolutely frank, as I feelsure you would be under the same circumstances. " He paused a moment; shenodded. "Well, immediately after the shooting you ran along the hallwaywith a revolver in your hand; you ran down the steps into the kitchen, and out through the back door, where you entered an automobile. That isnot conjecture; it is susceptible of proof by eye witnesses. "

Miss Thorne rose suddenly with a queer, helpless little gesture of herarms, and walked to the window. She stood there for a long time with herhands clasped behind her back. 

"That brings us to another question, " Mr. Grimm continued mercilessly. "If you did not shoot Señor Alvarez, do you know who did?"

There was another long pause. 

"I want to believe you, Miss Thorne, " he supplemented. 

She turned quickly with something of defiance in her attitude. 

"Yes, I know, " she said slowly. "It were useless to deny it. "

"Who was it?"

"I won't tell you. "

Mr. Grimm leaned forward in his chair, and spoke earnestly. 

"Understand, please, that by that answer you assume equal guilt with theperson who actually did the shooting, " he explained. "If you adhere toit you compel me to regard you as an accomplice. " His questioning took adifferent line. 

"Will you explain how the revolver came into your possession?"

"Oh, I--I picked it up in the hallway there, " she replied vaguely. 

"I want to believe you, Miss Thorne, " Mr. Grimm said again. 

"You may. I picked it up in the hallway, " she repeated. "I saw it lyingthere and picked it up. "

"Why that, instead of giving an alarm?"

"No alarm was necessary. The shot itself was an alarm. "

"Then why, " Mr. Grimm persisted coldly, "did you run along the hallwayand escape by way of the kitchen? If you did not do the shooting, whythe necessity of escape, carrying the revolver?"

There was that in the blue-gray eyes which brought Mr. Grimm to hisfeet. His hands gripped each other cruelly; his tone was calm as always. 

"Why did you take the revolver?" he asked. 

Miss Thorne's head drooped forward a little, and she was silent. 

"There are only two possibilities, of course, " he went on. "First, thatyou, in spite of your denial, did the shooting. "

"I did not!" The words fairly burst from her tightly closed lips. 

"Or that you knew the revolver, and took it to save the person, man orwoman, who fired the shot. I will assume, for the moment, that this iscorrect. Where is the revolver?"

From the adjoining room there came a slight noise, a faint breath ofsound; or it might have been only an echo of silence. Their eyes werefixed each upon the others unwaveringly, with not a flicker to indicatethat either had heard. After a moment Miss Thorne returned to her chairand sat down. 

"It's rather a singular situation, isn't it, Mr. Grimm?" she inquiredirrelevantly. "You, Mr. Grimm of the Secret Service of the UnitedStates; I, Isabel Thorne, a secret agent of Italy together here, oneaccusing the other of a crime, and perhaps with good reason. "

"Where is the revolver?" Mr. Grimm insisted. 

"If you were any one else _but_ you! I could not afford to be frank withyou and--"

"If you had been any one else but _you_ I should have placed you underarrest when I entered the room. "

She smiled, and inclined her head. 

"I understand, " she said pleasantly. "For the reason that you are Mr. Grimm of the Secret Service I shall tell you the truth. I _did_ take therevolver because I knew who had fired the shot. Believe me when I tellyou that that person did not act with my knowledge or consent. You dobelieve that? You do?" She was pleading, eager to convince him. 

After a while Mr. Grimm nodded. 

"The revolver is beyond your reach and shall remain so, " she resumed. "According to your laws I suppose I am an accomplice. That is mymisfortune. It will in no way alter my determination to keep silent. IfI am arrested I can't help it. " She studied his face with hopeful eyes. "Am I to be arrested?"

"Where is the paper that was taken from Señor Alvarez immediately afterhe was shot?" Mr. Grimm queried. 

"I don't know, " she replied frankly. 

"As I understand it, then, the motive for the shooting was to obtainpossession of that paper? For your government?"

"The individual who shot Señor Alvarez _did_ obtain the paper, yes. Andnow, please, am I to be arrested?"

"And just what was the purpose, may I inquire, of the message youtelegraphed with your fan in the ball-room?"

"You read that?" exclaimed Miss Thorne in mock astonishment. "You readthat?"

"And the man who read that message? Perhaps he shot the señor?"

"Perhaps, " she taunted. 

For a long time Mr. Grimm stood staring at her, staring, staring. She, too, rose, and faced him quietly. 

"Am I to be arrested?" she asked again. 

"Why do you make me do it?" he demanded. 

"That is my affair. "

Mr. Grimm laid a hand upon her arm, a hand that had never knownnervousness. A moment longer he stared, and then:

"Madam, you are my prisoner for the attempted murder of Señor Alvarez!"

The rings on the portières behind him clicked sharply, and the draperiesparted. Mr. Grimm stood motionless, with his hand on Miss Thorne's arm. 

"You were inquiring a moment ago for a revolver, " came in a man's voice. "Here it is!"

Mr. Grimm found himself inspecting the weapon from the barrel end. Aftera moment his glance shifted to the blazing eyes of the man who heldit--a young man, rather slight, with clean-cut, aristocratic features, and of the pronounced Italian type. 

[Illustration: He found himself inspecting the weapon from the barrelend. ]

"My God!" The words came from Miss Thorne's lips almost in a scream. "Don't--!"

"I did make some inquiries about a revolver, yes, " Mr. Grimm interruptedquietly. "Is this the one?"

He raised his hand quite casually, and his fingers closed like steelaround the weapon. Behind his back Miss Thorne made some quick emphaticgesture, and the new-comer released the revolver. 

"I shall ask you, please, to free Miss Thorne, " he requestedcourteously. "I shot Señor Alvarez. I, too, am a secret agent of theItalian government, willing and able to defend myself. Miss Thorne hastold you the truth; she had nothing whatever to do with it. She took theweapon and escaped because it was mine. Here is the paper that was takenfrom Señor Alvarez, " and he offered a sealed envelope. "I have read it;it is not what I expected. You may return it to Señor Alvarez with mycompliments. "

After a moment Mr. Grimm's hand fell away from Miss Thorne's arm, andhe regarded the new-comer with an interest in which admiration, even, played a part. 

"Your name?" he asked finally. 

"Pietro Petrozinni, " was the ready reply. "As I say, I accept allresponsibility. "

A few minutes later Mr. Grimm and his prisoner passed out of thelegation side by side, and strolled down the street together, inamicable conversation. Half an hour later Señor Alvarez identifiedPietro Petrozinni as the man who shot him; and the maid servantexpressed a belief that he was the man who slammed the door in her face. 

VII

THE SIGNAL

"And the original question remains unanswered, " remarked Mr. Campbell. 

"The original question?" repeated Mr. Grimm. 

"_Where_ is Prince Benedetto d'Abruzzi, the secret envoy?" his chiefreminded him. 

"I wonder!" mused the young man. 

"If the Latin compact is signed in the United States--?"

"The Latin compact will _not_ be signed in the United States, " Mr. Grimminterrupted. And then, after a moment: "Have we received any furtherreports on Miss Thorne? I mean reports from our foreign agents?"

The chief shook his head. 

"Inevitably, by some act or word, she will lead us to the prince, "declared Mr. Grimm, "and the moment he is known to us everything becomesplain sailing. We know she _is_ a secret agent--I expected a denial, butshe was quite frank about it. And I had no intention whatever of placingher under arrest. I knew some one was in the adjoining room because of aslight noise in there, and I knew she knew it. She raised her voice alittle, obviously for the benefit of whoever was there. From that pointeverything I said and did was to compel that person, whoever it was, toshow himself. "

His chief nodded, understandingly. Mr. Grimm was silent for a little, then went on:

"The last possibility in my mind at that moment, " he confessed, "wasthat the person in there was the man who shot Señor Alvarez. Frankly Ihad half an idea that--that it might be the prince in person. " Suddenlyhis mood changed: "And now our lady of mystery may come and go as shelikes because I know, even if a dozen of our men have ransackedWashington in vain for the prince, she will inevitably lead us to him. And that reminds me: I should like to borrow Blair, and Hastings, andJohnson. Please plant them so they may keep constant watch on MissThorne. Let them report to you, and, wherever I am, I will reach youover the 'phone. "

"By the way, what was in that sealed packet that was taken from SeñorAlvarez?" Campbell inquired curiously. 

"It had something to do with some railroad franchises, " responded Mr. Grimm as he rose. "I sealed it again and returned it to the señor. Evidently it was not what Signor Petrozinni expected to find--in fact, he admitted it wasn't what he was looking for. "

For a little while the two men gazed thoughtfully, each into the eyes ofthe other, then Mr. Grimm entered his private office where he sat for anhour with his immaculate boots on his desk, thinking. A world-war--hehad been thrust forward by his government to prevent it--subtleblue-gray eyes--his Highness, Prince Benedetto d'Abruzzi--a hauntingsmile and scarlet lips. 

At about the moment he rose to go out, Miss Thorne, closely veiled, leftthe Venezuelan legation and walked rapidly down the street to a corner, where, without a word, she entered a waiting automobile. The wheels spunand the car leaped forward. For a mile or more it wound aimlessly in andout, occasionally bisecting its own path; finally Miss Thorne leanedforward and touched the chauffeur on the arm. 

"Now!" she said. 

The car straightened out into a street of stately residences andscuttled along until the placid bosom of the Potomac came into view;beside that for a few minutes, then over the bridge to the Virginiaside, in the dilapidated little city of Alexandria. The car did notslacken its speed, but wound in and out through dingy streets, pasttumble-down negro huts, for half an hour before it came to a standstillin front of an old brick mansion. 

"This is number ninety-seven, " the chauffeur announced. 

Miss Thorne entered the house with a key and was gone for ten minutes, perhaps. She was readjusting her veil when she came out and stepped intothe car silently. Again it moved forward, on to the end of the dingystreet, and finally into the open country. Three, four, five miles, perhaps, out the old Baltimore Road, and again the car stopped, thistime in front of an ancient colonial farm-house. 

Outwardly the place seemed to be deserted. The blinds, battered andstripped of paint by wind and rain, were all closed, and one corner ofthe small veranda had crumbled away from age and neglect. A narrow path, strewn with pine needles, led tortuously up to the door. In the rear ofthe house, rising from an old barn, a thin pole with a cup-likeattachment at the apex, thrust its point into the open above the dense, odorous pines. It appeared to be a wireless mast. Miss Thorne passedaround the house, and entered the barn. 

A man came forward and kissed her--a thin, little man of indeterminateage--drying his hands on a piece of cotton waste. His face was pale withthe pallor of one who knows little outdoor life, his eyes deep-set anda-glitter with some feverish inward fire, and the thin lips were pressedtogether in a sharp line. Behind him was a long bench on which werescattered tools of various sorts, fantastically shaped chemicalapparatus, two or three electric batteries of odd sizes, and rangedalong one end of it, in a row, were a score or more metal spheroids, ashade larger than a one-pound shell. From somewhere in the rear came theclatter of a small gasoline engine, and still farther away was anelectric dynamo. 

"Is the test arranged, Rosa?" the little man queried eagerly in Italian. 

"The date is not fixed yet, " she replied in the same language. "It willbe, I hope, within the next two weeks. And then--"

"Fame and fortune for both of us, " he interrupted with quick enthusiasm. "Ah, Rosa, I have worked and waited so long for this, and now it willcome, and with it the dominion of the world again by our country. Howwill I know when the date is fixed? It would not be well to write mehere. "

My lady of mystery stroked the slender, nervous hand caressingly, and agreat affection shone in the blue-gray eyes. 

"At eight o'clock on the night of the test, " she explained, stillspeaking Italian, "a single light will appear at the apex of the capitoldome in Washington. That is the signal agreed upon; it can be seen byall in the city, and is visible here from the window of your bedroom. "

"Yes, yes, " he exclaimed. The feverish glitter in his eyes deepened. 

"If there is a fog, of course you will not attempt the test, " she wenton. 

"No, not in a fog, " he put in quickly. "It must be clear. "

"And if it is clear you can see the light in the dome withoutdifficulty. "

"And all your plans are working out well?"

"Yes. And yours?"

"I don't think there is any question but that both England and theUnited States will buy. Do you know what it means? Do you know what itmeans?" He was silent a moment, his hands working nervously. Then, withan effort: "And his Highness?"

"His Highness is safe. " The subtle eyes grew misty, thoughtful for amoment, then cleared again. "He is safe, " she repeated. 

"Mexico and Venezuela were--?" he began. 

"We don't know, yet, what they will do. The Venezuelan answer is lockedin the safe at the legation; I will know what it is within forty-eighthours. " She was silent a little. "Our difficulty now, our greatestdifficulty, is the hostility of the French ambassador to the compact. His government has not yet notified him of the presence of Princed'Abruzzi; he does not believe in the feasibility of the plan, and wehave to--to proceed to extremes to prevent him working against us. "

"But they _must_ see the incalculable advantages to follow upon such acompact, with the vast power that will be given to them over the wholeearth by this. " He indicated the long, littered work-table. "They _must_see it. "

"They will see it, Luigi, " said Miss Thorne gently. "And now, how areyou? Are you well? Are you comfortable? It's such a dreary old placehere. "

"I suppose so, " he replied, and he met the solicitous blue-gray eyes foran instant. "Yes, I am quite comfortable, " he added. "I have no time tobe otherwise with all the work I must do. It will mean so much!"

They were both silent for a time. Finally Miss Thorne walked over to thelong table and curiously lifted one of the spheroids. It was a sinisterlooking thing, nickeled, glittering. At one end of it was a delicate, vibratory apparatus, not unlike the transmitter of a telephone, and theother end was threaded, as if the spheroid was made as an attachment tosome other device. 

"With that we control the world!" exclaimed the man triumphantly. "Andit's mine, Rosa, mine!"

"It's wonderful!" she mused softly. "Wonderful! And now I must go. I maynot see you again until after the test, because I shall be watched andfollowed wherever I go. If I get an opportunity I shall reach you bytelephone, but not even that unless it is necessary. There is alwaysdanger, always danger!" she repeated thoughtfully. She was thinking ofMr. Grimm. 

"I understand, " said the man simply. 

"And look out for the signal--the light in the apex of the capitoldome, " she went on. "I understand the night must be perfectly clear; and_you_ understand that the test is to be made promptly at three o'clockby your chronometer?"

"At three o'clock, " he repeated. 

For a moment they stood with their arms around each other, then tenderlyhis visitor kissed him, and went out. He remained looking after hervacantly until the chug-chug of her automobile, as it moved off down theroad, was lost in the distance, then turned again to the longwork-table. 

VIII

MISS THORNE AND NOT MISS THORNE

From a pleasant, wide-open bay-window of her apartments on the secondfloor, Miss Thorne looked out upon the avenue with inscrutable eyes. Behind the closely drawn shutters of another bay-window, farther downthe avenue, on the corner, she knew a man named Hastings was hiding; sheknew that for an hour or more he had been watching her as she wrote. Inthe other direction, in a house near the corner, another man named Blairwas similarly ensconced, and he, too, had been watching as she wrote. There should be a third man, Johnson. Miss Thorne curiously studied theface of each passer-by, seeking therein something to remember. 

She sat at the little mahogany desk and a note with the ink yet wetupon it lay face up before her. It was addressed to Signor PietroPetrozinni in the district prison, and read:

"My Dear Friend:

"I have been waiting to write you with the hope that I could reportSeñor Alvarez out of danger, but his condition, I regret to say, remainsunchanged. Shall I send an attorney to you? Would you like a book of anykind? Or some delicacy sent in from a restaurant? Can I be of anyservice to you in any way? If I can please drop me a line. 

"Sincerely, "Isabel Thorne. "

At last she rose and standing in the window read the note over, foldedit, placed it in an envelope and sealed it. A maid came in answer to herring, and there at the window, under the watchful eyes of Blair andHastings--and, perhaps, Johnson--she handed the note to the maid withinstructions to mail it immediately. Two minutes later she saw the maidgo out along the avenue to a post-box on the corner. 

Then she drew back into the shadow of the room, slipped on adark-colored wrap, and, standing away from the window, safe beyond thereach of prying eyes, waited patiently for the postman. He appearedabout five o'clock and simultaneously another man turned the corner nearthe post-box and spoke to him. Then, together, they disappeared fromview around the corner. 

"So that's Johnson, is it?" mused Miss Thorne, and she smiled a little. "Mr. Grimm certainly pays me the compliment of having me carefullywatched. "

A few minutes later she dropped into the seat at the desk again. Thedark wrap had been thrown aside and Hastings and Blair from theirhiding-places could see her distinctly. After a while they saw her risequickly, as an automobile turned into the avenue, and lean toward thewindow eagerly looking out. The car came to a standstill in front of thelegation, and Mr. Cadwallader, an under-secretary of the Britishembassy, who was alone in the car, raised his cap. She nodded andsmiled, then disappeared in the shadows of the room again. 

Mr. Cadwallader went to the door, spoke to the servant there, thenreturned and busied himself about the car. Hastings and Blair watchedintently both the door and the window for a long time; finally a closelyveiled and muffled figure appeared at the bay-window, and waved a glovedhand at Mr. Cadwallader, who again lifted his cap. A minute later theveiled woman came out of the front door, shook hands with Mr. Cadwallader, and got in the car. He also climbed in, and the car movedslowly away. 

Simultaneously the front door of the house on the corner, where Hastingshad been hiding, and the front door of the house near the corner, whereBlair had been hiding, opened and two heads peered out. As the carapproached Hastings' hiding-place he withdrew into the hallway; butBlair came out and hurried past the legation in the direction of therapidly disappearing motor. Hastings joined him; they spoke together, then turned the corner. 

It was about ten o'clock that night when Hastings reported to Mr. Campbell at his home. 

"We followed the car in a rented automobile from the time it turned thecorner, out through Alexandria, and along the old Baltimore Road intothe city of Baltimore, " he explained. "It was dark by the time wereached Alexandria, but we stuck to the car ahead, running withoutlights until we came in sight of Druid Hill Park, and then we had toshow lights or be held up. We covered those forty miles going in lessthan two hours. 

"After the car passed Druid Hill it slowed up a little, and ran off theturnpike into North Avenue, then into North Charles Street, and slowlyalong that as if they were looking for a number. At last it stopped andMiss Thorne got out and entered a house. She was gone for more than halfan hour, leaving Mr. Cadwallader with the car. While she was gone I madesome inquiries and learned that the house was occupied by a Mr. ThomasQ. Griswold. I don't know anything else about him; Blair may havelearned something. 

"Now comes the curious part of it, " and Hastings looked a littlesheepish. "When Miss Thorne came out of the house she was not MissThorne at all--_she was Señorita Inez Rodriguez_, daughter of theVenezuelan minister. She wore the same clothing Miss Thorne had worngoing, but her veil was lifted. Veiled and all muffled up one would havetaken oath it was the same woman. She and Cadwallader are back inWashington now, or are coming. That's all, except Blair is still inBaltimore, awaiting orders. I caught the train from the Charles Streetstation and came back. Johnson, you know--"

"Yes, I've seen Johnson, " interrupted Campbell. "Are you absolutelypositive that the woman you saw get into the automobile with Mr. Cadwallader was Miss Thorne?"

"Absolutely, " replied Hastings without hesitation. "I saw her in herown room with her wraps on, then saw her come down and get into thecar. "

"That's all, " said the chief. "Good night. " For an hour or more he satin a great, comfortable chair in the smoking-room of his own home, theguileless blue eyes vacant, staring, and spidery lines in the benevolentforehead. 

 * * * * *

On the morning of the second day following, Señor Rodriguez, theminister from Venezuela, reported to the Secret Service Bureau thedisappearance of fifty thousand dollars in gold from a safe in hisprivate office at the legation. 

IX

FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS

Mr. Campbell was talking. 

"For several months past, " he said, "the International InvestmentCompany, through its representative, Mr. Cressy, has been secretlynegotiating with Señor Rodriguez for certain asphalt properties inVenezuela. Three days ago these negotiations were successfullyconcluded, and yesterday afternoon Mr. Cressy, in secret, paid to SeñorRodriguez, fifty thousand dollars in American gold, the first of fourpayments of similar sums. This gold was to have been shipped toPhiladelphia by express to-day to catch a steamer for Venezuela. " Mr. Grimm nodded. 

"The fact that this gold was in Señor Rodriguez's possession could nothave been known to more than half a dozen persons, as the negotiationsthroughout have been in strict secrecy, " and Mr. Campbell smiledbenignly. "So much! Now, Señor Rodriguez has just telephoned asking thatI send a man to the legation at once. The gold was kept there overnight; or perhaps I should say that the señor intended to keep it thereover night. " Mr. Campbell stared at Mr. Grimm for a moment, then: "MissThorne, you know, is a guest at the legation, that is why I am referringthe matter to you. "

"I understand, " said Mr. Grimm. 

And ten minutes later Mr. Grimm presented himself to Señor Rodriguez. The minister from Venezuela, bubbling with excitement, was pacing forthand back across his office, ruffling his gray-black hair with nervous, twining fingers. Mr. Grimm sat down. 

"Señor, " he inquired placidly, "fifty thousand dollars in gold wouldweigh nearly two hundred pounds, wouldn't it?"

Señor Rodriguez stared at him blankly. 

"_Si, Señor_, " he agreed absently. And then, in English: "Yes, I shouldimagine so. "

"Well, was all of it stolen, or only a part of it?" Mr. Grimm went on. 

The minister gazed into the listless eyes for a time, then, apparentlybewildered, walked forth and back across the room again. Finally he satdown. 

"All of it, " he admitted. "I can't understand it. No one, not a soul inthis house, except myself, knew it was here. "

"In addition to this weight of, say two hundred pounds, fifty thousanddollars would make considerable bulk, " mused Mr. Grimm. "Very well!Therefore it would appear that the person, or persons, who got it musthave gone away from here heavily laden?"

Señor Rodriguez nodded. 

"And now, Señor, " Mr. Grimm continued, "if you will kindly state thecircumstances immediately preceding and following the theft?"

A slight frown which had been growing upon the smooth brow of thediplomatist was instantly dissipated. 

"The money--fifty thousand dollars in gold coin--was paid to meyesterday afternoon about four o'clock, " he began slowly, inexplanation. 

"By Mr. Cressy of the International Investment Company, " supplementedMr. Grimm. "Yes. Go on. "

The diplomatist favored the young man with one sharp, inquiring glance, and continued:

"The gentleman who paid the money remained here from four until nineo'clock while I, personally, counted it. As I counted it I placed it incanvas bags and when he had gone I took these bags from this room intothat, " he indicated a closed door to his right, "and personally stowedthem away in the safe. I closed and locked the door of the safe myself;I _know_ that it _was_ locked. And that's all, except this morning themoney was gone--every dollar of it. "

"Safe blown?" inquired Mr. Grimm. 

"No, Señor!" exclaimed the diplomatist with sudden violence. "No, thesafe was not blown! It was _closed and locked_, exactly as I had leftit!"

Mr. Grimm was idly twisting the seal ring on his little finger. 

"Just as I left it!" Señor Rodriguez repeated excitedly. "Last nightafter I locked the safe door I tried it to make certain that it _was_locked. I happened to notice then that the pointer on the dial hadstopped precisely at number forty-five. This morning, when I unlockedthe safe--and, of course, I didn't know then that the money had beentaken--the pointer was still at number forty-five. "

He paused with one hand in the air; Mr. Grimm continued to twist theseal ring. 

"It was all like--like some trick on the stage, " the minister went on, "like the magician's disappearing lady, or--or--! It was as though I hadnot put the money into the safe at all!"

"Did you?" inquired Mr. Grimm amiably. 

"Did I?" blazed Señor Rodriguez. "Why, Señor--! I did!" he concludedmeekly. 

Mr. Grimm believed him. 

"Who else knows the combination of the safe?" he queried. 

"No one, Señor--not a living soul. "

"Your secretary, for instance?"

"Not even my secretary. "

"Some servant--some member of your family?"

"I tell you, Señor, not one person in all the world knew thatcombination except myself, " Señor Rodriguez insisted. 

"Your secretary--a servant--some member of your family might have seenyou unlock the safe some time, and thus learned the combination?"

Señor Rodriguez did not quite know whether to be annoyed at Mr. Grimm'spersistence, or to admire the tenacity with which he held to this onepoint. 

"You must understand, Señor Grimm, that many state documents are keptin the safe, " he said finally, "therefore it is not advisable that anyone should know the combination. I have made it an absolute rule, as didmy predecessors here, never to unlock the safe in the presence ofanother person. "

"State documents!" Mr. Grimm's lips silently repeated the words. Thenaloud: "Perhaps there's a record of the combination somewhere? If youhad died suddenly, for instance, how would the safe have been opened?"

"There would have been only one way, Señor--blow it open. There is norecord. "

"Well, if we accept all that as true, " observed Mr. Grimm musingly, "itwould seem that you either didn't put the money into the safe at all, or--please sit down, there's nothing personal in this--or else the moneywas taken out of the safe without it being unlocked. This last wouldhave been a miracle, and this is not the day of miracles, therefore--!"

Mr. Grimm's well modulated voice trailed off into silence. SeñorRodriguez came to his feet with a blaze of anger in his eyes; Mr. Grimmwas watching him curiously. 

"I understand then, Señor, " said the minister deliberately, "that youbelieve that I--!"

"I believe that you have told the truth, " interrupted Mr. Grimmplacidly, "that is the truth so far as you know it. But you have statedone thing in error. Somebody besides yourself _does_ know thecombination. Whether they knew it or not at this time yesterday I can'tsay, but somebody knows it now. "

Señor Rodriguez drew a deep breath of relief. The implied accusation hadbeen withdrawn as pleasantly and frankly as it had been put forward. 

"I ran across a chap in New York once, for instance, " Mr. Grimm took thetrouble to explain, "who could unlock any safe--that is, any safe of thekind used at that time--twelve or fourteen years ago. So you see. Idoubt if he would be so successful with the new models, with all theirimprovements, but then--! You know he would have made an ideal burglar, that chap. Now, Señor, who lives here in the legation with you?"

"My secretary, Señor Diaz, my daughter Inez, and just at the moment, aMiss Thorne--Miss Isabel Thorne, " the señor informed him. "Also fourservants--two men and two women. "

"I've had the pleasure of meeting your daughter and Miss Thorne, " Mr. Grimm informed him. "Now, suppose we take a look at the safe?"

"Certainly. "

Señor Rodriguez started toward the closed door just as there came atimid knock from the hall. He glanced at Mr. Grimm, who nodded, then hecalled:

"Come in!"

The door opened, and Miss Thorne entered. She was clad in some filmy, gossamer-like morning gown with her radiant hair caught up on her whiteneck. At sight of Mr. Grimm the blue-gray eyes opened as if insurprise, and she paused irresolutely. 

"I beg your pardon, Señor, " she said, addressing the diplomatist. "I didnot know you were engaged. And Mr. Grimm!" She extended a slim, whitehand, and the young man bowed low over it. "We are old friends, " sheexplained, smilingly, to the minister. Then: "I think I must havedropped my handkerchief when I was in here yesterday with Inez. Perhapsyou found it?"

"_Si, Señorita_, " replied Señor Rodriguez gallantly. "It is on my deskin here. Just a moment. "

He opened the door and passed into the adjoining room. Mr. Grimm's eyesmet those of Miss Isabel Thorne, and there was no listlessness in themnow, only interest. She smiled at him tauntingly and lowered her lids. Señor Rodriguez appeared from the other room with the handkerchief. 

"_Mil gracias, Señor_, " she thanked him. 

"_No hay de que, Señorita_, " he returned, as he opened the door forher. 

"_Monsieur Grimm, au revoir_!" She dropped a little curtsey, and stillsmiling, went out. 

"She is charming, Señor, " the diplomatist assured him enthusiastically, albeit irrelevantly. "Such vivacity, such personality, such--such--sheis charming. "

"The safe, please, " Mr. Grimm reminded him. 

X

A SAFE OPENING

Together they entered the adjoining room, which was small compared tothe one they had just left. Señor Rodriguez used it as a private office. His desk was on their right between two windows overlooking the samepleasant little garden which was visible from the suite of tinydrawing-rooms farther along. The safe, a formidable looking receptacleof black enameled steel, stood at their left, closed and locked. Theremaining wall space of the room was given over to oak cabinets, evidently a storage place for the less important legation papers. 

"Has any one besides yourself been in this room to-day?" Mr. Grimminquired. 

"Not a soul, Señor, " was the reply. 

Mr. Grimm went over and examined the windows. They were both lockedinside; and there were no marks of any sort on the sills. 

"They are just as I left them last night, " explained Señor Rodriguez. "Ihave not touched them to-day. "

"And there's only one door, " mused Mr. Grimm, meaning that by which theyhad entered. "So it would appear that whoever was here last nightentered through that room. Very well. "

He walked around the room once, opening and shutting the doors of thecabinets as he passed, and finally paused in front of the safe. A briefexamination of the nickeled dial and handle and of the enameled edges ofthe heavy door satisfied him that no force had been employed--the safehad merely been unlocked. Whereupon he sat himself down, cross-legged onthe floor, in front of it. 

"What are the first and second figures of the combination?" he asked. 

"Thirty-six, then back to ten. "

Mr. Grimm set the dial at thirty-six, and then, with his ear pressedclosely against the polished door, turned the dial slowly back. SeñorRodriguez stood looking on helplessly, but none the less intently. Thepointer read ten, then nine, eight, seven, five. Mr. Grimm gazed at itthoughtfully, after which he did it all over again, placidly and withouthaste. 

"Now, we'll look inside, please, " he requested, rising. 

Señor Rodriguez unlocked the safe the while Mr. Grimm respectfullyturned his eyes away, then pulled the door wide open. The books had beenpiled one on top of another and thrust into various pigeonholes at thetop. Mr. Grimm understood that this disorder was the result of makingroom at the bottom for the bulk of gold, and asked no questions. Instead, he sat down upon the floor again. 

"The lock on this private compartment at the top is broken, " he remarkedafter a moment. 

"_Si, Señor_, " the diplomatist agreed. "Evidently the robbers were notcontent with only fifty thousand dollars in gold--they imagined thatsomething else of value was hidden there. "

"Was there?" asked Mr. Grimm naively. He didn't look around. 

"Nothing of monetary value, " the señor explained. "There were someimportant state papers in there--they are there yet--but no money. "

"None of the papers was stolen?"

"No, Señor. There were only nine packets--they are there yet. "

"Contents all right?"

"Yes. I personally looked them over. "

Mr. Grimm drew out the packets of papers, one by one. They were allunsealed save the last. When he reached for that, Señor Rodriguez made aquick, involuntary motion toward it with his hand. 

"This one's sealed, " commented Mr. Grimm. "It doesn't happen that youopened it and sealed it again?"

Señor Rodriguez stood staring at him blankly for a moment, then somesudden apprehension was aroused, for a startled look came into his eyes, and again he reached for the packet. 

"_Dios mio_!" he exclaimed, "let me see, Señor. "

"Going to open it?" asked Mr. Grimm. 

"Yes, Señor. I had not thought of it before. "

Mr. Grimm rose and walked over to the window where the light was better. He scrutinized the sealed packet closely. There were three red splotchesof wax upon it, each impressed with the legation seal; the envelope waswithout marks otherwise. He turned and twisted it aimlessly, and peeredcuriously at the various seals, after which he handed it to the franklyimpatient diplomatist. 

Señor Rodriguez opened it, with nervous, twitching fingers. Mr. Grimmhad turned toward the safe again, but he heard the crackle of parchmentas some document was drawn out of the envelope, and then came a deepsigh of relief. Having satisfied his sudden fears for the safety of thepaper, whatever it was, the señor placed it in another envelope andsealed it again with elaborate care. Mr. Grimm dropped into the swivelchair at the desk. 

"Señor, " he inquired pleasantly, "your daughter and Miss Thorne were inthis room yesterday afternoon?"

"Yes, " replied the diplomatist as if surprised at the question. 

"What time, please?"

"About three o'clock. They were going out driving. Why?"

"And just where, please, did you find that handkerchief?" continued Mr. Grimm. 

"Handkerchief?" repeated the diplomatist. "You mean Miss Thorne'shandkerchief?" He paused and regarded Mr. Grimm keenly. "Señor, what amI to understand from that question?"

"It was plain enough, " replied Mr. Grimm. "Where did you find thathandkerchief?" There was silence for an instant. "In this room?"

"Yes, " replied Señor Rodriguez at last. 

"Near the safe?" Mr. Grimm persisted. 

"Yes, " came the slow reply, again. "Just here, " and he indicated a spota little to the left of the safe. 

"And _when_ did you find it? Yesterday afternoon? Last night? Thismorning?"

"This morning, " and without any apparent reason the diplomatist's faceturned deathly white. 

"But, Señor--Señor, you are mistaken! There can be nothing--! A woman!Two hundred pounds of gold! Señor!"

Mr. Grimm was still pleasant about it; his curiosity was absolutelyimpersonal; his eyes, grown listless again, were turned straight intothe other's face. 

"If that handkerchief had been there last night, Señor, " he resumedquietly, "wouldn't you have noticed it when you placed the gold in thesafe?"

Señor Rodriguez stared at him a long time. 

"I don't know, " he said, at last. He dropped back into a chair with hisface in his hands. "Señor, " he burst out suddenly, impetuously, after amoment, "if the gold is not recovered I am ruined. You understand thatbetter than I can tell you. It's the kind of thing that could not beexplained to my government. " He rose suddenly and faced the impassiveyoung man, with merciless determination in his face. "You must find thegold, Señor, " he said. 

"No matter who may be--who may suffer?" inquired Mr. Grimm. 

"Find the gold, Señor!"

"Very well, " commented Mr. Grimm, without moving. "Do me the favor, please, to regain possession of the handkerchief you just returned toMiss Thorne, and to send to me here your secretary, Señor Diaz, and yourservants, one by one. I shall question them alone. No, don't be alarmed. Unless they know of the robbery they shall get no inkling of it from me. First, be good enough to replace the packet in the safe, and lock it. "

Señor Rodriguez replaced the packet without question, afterward lockingthe door, then went out. A moment later Señor Diaz appeared. He remainedwith Mr. Grimm for just eight minutes. Señor Rodriguez entered again ashis secretary passed on, and laid a lace handkerchief on the desk. Mr. Grimm stared at it curiously for a long time. 

"It's the same handkerchief?"

"_Si, Señor_. "

"There's no doubt whatever about it?"

"No, Señor, I got it by--!"

"It's of no consequence, " interrupted Mr. Grimm. "Now the servants, please--the men first. "

The first of the men servants was in the room two minutes; thesecond--the butler--was there five minutes; one of the women was notquestioned at all; the other remained ten minutes. Mr. Grimm followedher into the hall; Señor Rodriguez stood there helpless, impatient. 

"Well?" he demanded eagerly. 

"I'm going out a little while, " replied Mr. Grimm placidly. "No one haseven an intimation of the affair--please keep the matter absolutely toyourself until I return. "

That was all. The door opened and closed, and he was gone. 

At the end of an hour he returned, passed on through to thediplomatist's private office, sat down in front of the locked safeagain, and set the dial at thirty-six. Señor Rodriguez looked on, astonished, as Mr. Grimm pressed the soft rubber sounder of astethoscope against the safe door and began turning the dial back towardten, slowly, slowly. Thirty-five minutes later the lock clicked. Mr. Grimm rose, turned the handle, and pulled the safe door open. 

"That's how it was done, " he explained to the amazed diplomatist. "Andnow, please, have a servant hand my card to Miss Thorne. "

XI

THE LACE HANDKERCHIEF

Still wearing the graceful, filmy morning gown, with an added touch, ofscarlet in her hair--a single red rose--Miss Thorne came into thedrawing-room where Mr. Grimm sat waiting. There was curiosity in hermanner, thinly veiled, but the haunting smile still lingered about herlips. Mr. Grimm bowed low, and placed a chair for her, after which hestood for a time staring down at one slim, white hand at rest on the armof the seat. At last, he, too, sat down. 

"I believe, " he said slowly, without preliminaries, "this is yourhandkerchief?"

He offered the lacy trifle, odd in design, unique in workmanship, obviously of foreign texture, and she accepted it. 

"Yes, " she agreed readily, "I must have dropped it again. "

"That is the one handed to you by Señor Rodriguez, " Mr. Grimm told her. "I think you said you lost it in his office yesterday afternoon?"

"Yes?" She nodded inquiringly. 

"It may interest you to know that Señor Rodriguez's butler positivelyidentifies it as one he restored to you twice at dinner last evening, between seven and nine o'clock, " Mr. Grimm went on dispassionately. 

"Indeed!" exclaimed Miss Thorne. 

"The señor identifies it as one he found this morning in his office, "Mr. Grimm explained obligingly. "During the night fifty thousand dollarsin gold were stolen from his safe. "

There was not the slightest change of expression in her face; theblue-gray eyes were still inquiring in their gaze, the white hands stillat rest, the scarlet lips still curled slightly, an echo of a smile. 

"No force was used in opening the safe, " Mr. Grimm resumed. "It wasunlocked. It's an old model and I have demonstrated how it could havebeen opened either with the assistance of a stethoscope, which catchesthe sound of the tumbler in the lock, or by a person of acute hearing. "

Miss Thorne sat motionless, waiting. 

"All this means--what?" she inquired, at length. 

"I'll trouble you, please, to return the money, " requested Mr. Grimmcourteously. "No reason appears why you should have taken it. But I'mnot seeking reasons, nor am I seeking disagreeable publicity--only themoney. "

"It seems to me you attach undue importance to the handkerchief, " sheobjected. 

"That's a matter of opinion, " Mr. Grimm remarked. "It would be useless, even tedious, to attempt to disprove a burglar theory, but against it isthe difficulty of entrance, the weight of the gold, the ingenious methodof opening the safe, and the assumption that not more than six personsknew the money was in the safe; while a person in the house _might_ havelearned it in any of a dozen ways. And, in addition, is the fact thatthe handkerchief is odd, therefore noticeable. A lace expert assures methere's probably not another like it in the world. "

He stopped. Miss Thorne's eyes sparkled and a smile seemed to be tuggingat the corners of her mouth. She spread out the handkerchief on herknees. 

"You could identify this again, of course?" she queried. 

"Yes. "

She thoughtfully crumpled up the bit of lace in both hands, then openedthem. There were two handkerchiefs now--they were identical. 

"Which is it, please?" she asked. 

If Mr. Grimm was disappointed there was not a trace of it on his face. She laughed outright, gleefully, mockingly, then, demurely:

"Pardon me! You see, it's absurd. The handkerchief the butler restoredto me at dinner, after I lost one in the señor's office, might have beeneither of these, or one of ten other duplicates in my room, all given tome by her Maj--I mean, " she corrected quickly, "by a friend in Europe. "She was silent for a moment. "Is that all?"

"No, " replied Mr. Grimm gravely, decisively. "I'm not satisfied. I shallinsist upon the return of the money, and if it is not forthcoming I daresay Count di Rosini, the Italian ambassador, would be pleased to givehis personal check rather than have the matter become public. " Shestarted to interrupt; he went on. "In any event you will be requested toleave the country. "

Then, and not until then, a decided change came over Miss Thorne's face. A deeper color leaped to her cheeks, the smile faded from her lips, andthere was a flash of uneasiness in her eyes. 

"But if I am innocent?" she protested. 

"You must prove it, " continued Mr. Grimm mercilessly. "Personally, I amconvinced, and Count di Rosini has practically assured me that--"

"It's unjust!" she interrupted passionately. "It's--it's--you haveproved nothing. It's unheard of! It's beyond--!"

Suddenly she became silent. A minute, two minutes, three minutes passed;Mr. Grimm waited patiently. 

"Will you give me time and opportunity to prove my innocence?" shedemanded finally. "And if I _do_ convince you--?"

"I should be delighted to believe that I have made a mistake, " Mr. Grimmassured her. "How much time? One day? Two days?"

"I will let you know within an hour at your office, " she told him. 

Mr. Grimm rose. 

"And meanwhile, in case of accident, I shall look to Count di Rosini foradjustment, " he added pointedly. "Good morning. "

One hour and ten minutes later he received this note, unsigned:

"Closed carriage will stop for you at southeast corner of PennsylvaniaAvenue and Fourteenth Street to-night at one. "

He was there; the carriage was on time; and my lady of mystery wasinside. He stepped in and they swung out into Pennsylvania Avenue, noiselessly over the asphalt. 

"Should the gold be placed in your hands now, within the hour, " shequeried solicitously, "would it be necessary for you to know who wasthe--the thief?"

"It would, " Mr. Grimm responded without hesitation. 

"Even if it destroyed a reputation?" she pleaded. 

"The Secret Service rarely destroys a reputation, Miss Thorne, althoughit holds itself in readiness to do so. I dare say in this case therewould be no arrest or prosecution, because of--of reasons which appearto be good. "

"There wouldn't?" and there was a note of eagerness in her voice. "Theidentity of the guilty person would never appear?"

"It would become a matter of record in our office, but beyond that Ithink not--at least in this one instance. "

Miss Thorne sat silent for a block or more. 

"You'll admit, Mr. Grimm, that you have forced me into a most remarkableposition. You seemed convinced of my guilt, and, if you'll pardon me, without reason; then you made it compulsory upon me to establish myinnocence. The only way for me to do that was to find the guilty one. Ihave done it, and I'm sorry, because it's a little tragedy. "

Mr. Grimm waited. 

"It's a girl high in diplomatic society. Her father's position is anhonorable rather than a lucrative one; he has no fortune. This girlmoves in a certain set devoted to bridge, and stakes are high. Sheplayed and won, and played and won, and on and on, until her winningswere about eight thousand dollars. Then luck turned. She began to lose. Her money went, but she continued to play desperately. Finally some oldfamily jewels were pawned without her father's knowledge, and ultimatelythey were lost. One day she awoke to the fact that she owed some nine orten thousand dollars in bridge debts. They were pressing and there wasno way to meet them. This meant exposure and utter ruin, and women dostrange things, Mr. Grimm, to postpone such an ending to socialaspirations. I know this much is true, for she related it all to meherself. 

"At last, in some way--a misplaced letter, perhaps, or a wordoverheard--she learned that fifty thousand dollars would be in thelegation safe overnight, and evidently she learned the precise night. "She paused a moment. "Here is the address of a man in Baltimore, ThomasQ. Griswold, " and she passed a card to Mr. Grimm, who sat motionless, listening. "About four years ago the combination on the legation safewas changed. This man was sent here to make the change, therefore someone besides Señor Rodriguez _does_ know the combination. I havecommunicated with this man to-day, for I saw the possibility of justsuch a thing as this instead of your stethoscope. By a trick and aforged letter this girl obtained the combination from this man. "

Mr. Grimm drew a long breath. 

"She intended to take, perhaps, only what she desperately needed--but atsight of it all--do you see what must have been the temptation then? Weget out here. "

There were many unanswered questions in Mr. Grimm's mind. He repressedthem for the time, stepped out and assisted Miss Thorne to alight. Thecarriage had turned out of Pennsylvania Avenue, and at the moment hedidn't quite place himself. A narrow passageway opened beforethem--evidently the rear entrance to a house possibly in the nextstreet. Miss Thorne led the way unhesitatingly, cautiously unlocked thedoor, and together they entered a hall. Then there was a short flight ofstairs, and they stepped into a room, one of a suite. She closed thedoor and turned on the lights. 

"The bags of gold are in the next room, " she said with the utmostcomposure. 

Mr. Grimm dragged them out of a dark closet, opened one--there wereten--and allowed the coins to dribble through his fingers. Finally heturned and stared at Miss Thorne, who, pallid and weary, stood lookingon. 

"Where are we?" he asked. "What house is this?"

"The Venezuelan legation, " she answered. "We are standing less thanforty feet from the safe that was robbed. You see how easy--!"

"And whose room?" inquired Mr. Grimm slowly. 

"Must I answer?" she asked appealingly. 

"You must!"

"Señorita Rodriguez--my hostess! Don't you see what you've made me do?She and Mr. Cadwallader made the trip to Baltimore in his automobile, and--and--!" She stopped. "He knows nothing of it, " she added. 

"Yes, I know, " said Mr. Grimm. 

He stood looking at her in silence for a moment, staring deeply into thepleading eyes; and a certain tense expression about his lips passed. Foran instant her hand trembled on his arm, and he caught the fragrance ofher hair. 

"Where is she now?" he asked. 

"Playing bridge, " replied Miss Thorne, with a sad little smile. "It isalways so--at least twice a week, and she rarely returns before two orhalf-past. " She extended both hands impetuously, entreatingly. "Pleasebe generous, Mr. Grimm. You have the gold; don't destroy her. "

Señor Rodriguez, the minister from Venezuela, found the gold in his safeon the following morning, with a brief note from Mr. Grimm, in whichthere was no explanation of how or where it had been found. .. . And twohours later Monsieur Boisségur, ambassador from France to the UnitedStates, disappeared from the embassy, vanished!

XII

THE VANISHING DIPLOMATIST

It was three days after the ambassador's disappearance that MonsieurRigolot, secretary of the French embassy and temporary_chargé-d'affaires_, reported the matter to Chief Campbell in the SecretService Bureau, adding thereto a detailed statement of several singularincidents following close upon it. He told it in order, concisely and tothe point, while Grimm and his chief listened. 

"Monsieur Boisségur, the ambassador, you understand, is a man whosehabits are remarkably regular, " he began. "He has made it a rule to beat his desk every morning at ten o'clock, and between that time and oneo'clock he dictates his correspondence, and clears up whatever routinework there is before him. I have known him for many years, and havebeen secretary of the embassy under him in Germany and Japan and thiscountry. I have never known him to vary this general order of workunless because of illness, or necessary absence. 

"Well, Monsieur, last Tuesday--this is Friday--the ambassador was at hisdesk as usual. He dictated a dozen or more letters, and had begunanother--a private letter to his sister in Paris. He was well along inthis letter when, without any apparent reason, he rose from his desk andleft the room, closing the door behind him. His stenographer'simpression was that some detail of business had occurred to him, and hehad gone into the general office farther down the hall to attend to it. I may say, Monsieur, that this impression seemed strengthened by thefact that he left a fresh cigarette burning in his ash tray, and his penwas behind his ear. It was all as if he had merely stepped out, intending to return immediately--the sort of thing, Monsieur, that anyman might have done. 

"It so happened that when he went out he left a sentence of his letterincomplete. I tell you this to show that the impulse to go must havebeen a sudden one, yet there was nothing in his manner, so hisstenographer says, to indicate excitement, or any other than his usualframe of mind. It was about five minutes of twelve o'clock--highnoon--when he went out. When he didn't return immediately thestenographer began transcribing the letters. At one o'clock MonsieurBoisségur still had not returned and his stenographer went to luncheon. "

As he talked some inbred excitement seemed to be growing upon him, due, perhaps, to his recital of the facts, and he paused at last to regaincontrol of himself. Incidentally he wondered if Mr. Grimm was taking theslightest interest in what he was saying. Certainly there was nothing inhis impassive face to indicate it. 

"Understand, Monsieur, " the secretary continued, after a moment, "that Iknew nothing whatever of all this until late that afternoon--that is, Tuesday afternoon about five o'clock. I was engaged all day upon someimportant work in my own office, and had had no occasion to see MonsieurBoisségur since a word or so when he came in at ten o'clock. Myattention was called to the affair finally by his stenographer, MonsieurNetterville, who came to me for instructions. He had finished theletters and the ambassador had not returned to sign them. At this pointI began an investigation, Monsieur, and the further I went the moreuneasy I grew. 

"Now, Monsieur, there are only two entrances to the embassy--the frontdoor, where a servant is in constant attendance from nine in the morninguntil ten at night, and the rear door, which can only be reached throughthe kitchen. Neither of the two men who had been stationed at the frontdoor had seen the ambassador since breakfast, therefore he could nothave gone out that way. _Comprenez_? It seemed ridiculous, Monsieur, butthen I went to the kitchen. The _chef_ had been there all day, and hehad not seen the ambassador at all. I inquired further. No one in theembassy, not a clerk, nor a servant, nor a member of the ambassador'sfamily had seen him since he left his office. "

Again he paused and ran one hand across his troubled brow. 

"Monsieur, " he went on, and there was a tense note in his voice, "theambassador of France had disappeared, gone, vanished! We searched thehouse from the cellar to the servants' quarters, even the roof, butthere was no trace of him. The hat he usually wore was in the hall, andall his other hats were accounted for. You may remember, Monsieur, thatTuesday was cold, but all his top-coats were found in their properplaces. So it seems, Monsieur, " and repression ended in a burst ofexcitement, "if he left the embassy he did not go out by either door, and he went without hat or coat!"

He stopped helplessly and his gaze alternated inquiringly between thebenevolent face of the chief and the expressionless countenance of Mr. Grimm. 

"_If_ he left the embassy?" Mr. Grimm repented. "If your search of thehouse proved conclusively that he wasn't there, he _did_ leave it, didn't he?"

Monsieur Rigolot stared at him blankly for a moment, then nodded. 

"And there are windows, you know, " Mr. Grimm went on, then: "As Iunderstand it, Monsieur, no one except you and the stenographer saw theambassador after ten o'clock in the morning?"

"_Oui, Monsieur. C'est--_" Monsieur Rigolot began excitedly. "I begpardon. I believe that is correct. "

"You saw him about ten, you say; therefore no one except thestenographer saw him after ten o'clock?"

"That is also true, as far as I know. "

"Any callers? Letters? Telegrams? Telephone messages?"

"I made inquiries in that direction, Monsieur, " was the reply. "I havethe words of the servants at the door and of the stenographer that therewere no callers, and the statement of the stenographer that there wereno telephone calls or telegrams. There were only four letters for himpersonally. He left them all on his desk--here they are. "

Mr. Grimm looked them over leisurely. They were commonplace enough, containing nothing that might be construed into a reason for thedisappearance. 

"The letters Monsieur Boisségur had dictated were laid on his desk bythe stenographer, " Monsieur Rigolot rushed on volubly, excitedly. "Inthe anxiety and uneasiness following the disappearance they were allowedto remain there overnight. On Wednesday morning, Monsieur"--and hehesitated impressively--"_those letters bore his signature in his ownhandwriting_!"

Mr. Grimm turned his listless eyes full upon Monsieur Rigolot'sperturbed face for one scant instant. 

"No doubt of it being his signature?" he queried. 

"_Non, Monsieur, non!_" the secretary exclaimed emphatically. "_Vousavez_--that is, I have known his signature for years. There is no doubt. The letters were not of a private nature. If you would care to look atcopies of them?"

He offered the duplicates tentatively. Mr. Grimm read them over slowly, the while Monsieur Rigolot sat nervously staring at him. They, too, seemed meaningless as bearing on the matter in hand. Finally, Mr. Grimmnodded, and Monsieur Rigolot resumed:

"And Wednesday night, Monsieur, another strange thing happened. MonsieurBoisségur smokes many cigarettes, of a kind made especially for him inFrance, and shipped to him here. He keeps them in a case on hisdressing-table. On Thursday morning his valet reported to me that _thiscase of cigarettes had disappeared_!"

"Of course, " observed Mr. Grimm, "Monsieur Boisségur has a latch-key tothe embassy?"

"Of course. "

"Anything unusual happen last night--that is, Thursday night?"

"Nothing, Monsieur--that is, nothing we can find. "

Mr. Grimm was silent for a time and fell to twisting the seal ring onhis finger. Mr. Campbell turned around and moved a paper weight one inchto the left, where it belonged, while Monsieur Rigolot, disappointed attheir amazing apathy, squirmed uneasily in his chair. 

"It would appear, then, " Mr. Grimm remarked musingly, "that after hismysterious disappearance the ambassador has either twice returned to hishouse at night, or else sent some one there, first to bring the lettersto him for signature, and later to get his cigarettes?"

"_Certainement, Monsieur_--I mean, that seems to be true. But where ishe? Why should he not come back? What does it mean? Madame Boisségur isfrantic, prostrated! She wanted me to go to the police, but I did notthink it wise that it should become public, so I came here. "

"Very well, " commented Mr. Grimm. "Let it rest as it is. Meanwhile youmay reassure madame. Point out to her that if Monsieur Boisségur signedthe letters Tuesday night he was, at least, alive; and if he came orsent for the cigarettes Wednesday night, he was still alive. I shallcall at the embassy this afternoon. No, it isn't advisable to go withyou now. Give me your latch-key, please. "

Monsieur Rigolot produced the key and passed it over without a word. 

"And one other thing, " Mr. Grimm continued, "please collect all therevolvers that may be in the house and take charge of them yourself. Ifany one, by chance, heard a burglar prowling around there to-night hemight shoot, and in that event either kill Monsieur Boisségur or--orme!"

When the secretary had gone Mr. Campbell idly drummed on his desk as hestudied the face of his subordinate. 

"So much!" he commented finally. 

"It's Miss Thorne again, " said the young man as if answering a question. 

"Perhaps these reports I have received to-day from the Latin capitalsmay aid you in dispelling that mystery, " Campbell suggested, and Mr. Grimm turned to them eagerly. "Meanwhile our royal visitor, PrinceBenedetto d'Abruzzi, remains unknown?"

The young man's teeth closed with a snap. 

"It's only a question of time, Chief, " he said abruptly. "I'll findhim--I'll find him!"

And he sat down to read the reports. 

XIII

A CONFERENCE IN THE DARK

The white rays of a distant arc light filtered through the half-drawnvelvet hangings and laid a faintly illumined path across theambassador's desk; the heavy leather chairs were mere impalpablesplotches in the shadows; the cut-glass knobs of a mahogany cabinetcaught the glint of light and reflected it dimly. Outside was the vague, indefinable night drone of a city asleep, unbroken by any sound that wasdistinguishable, until finally there came the distant boom of a clock. It struck twice. 

Seated on a couch in one corner of the ambassador's office was Mr. Grimm. He was leaning against the high arm of leather, with his feet onthe seat, thoughtfully nursing his knees. If his attitude indicatedanything except sheer comfort, it was that he was listening. He had beenthere for two hours, wide-awake, and absolutely motionless. Five, ten, fifteen minutes more passed, and then Mr. Grimm heard the grind and whirof an automobile a block or so away, coming toward the embassy. Now itwas in front. 

"Honk! Hon-on-onk!" it called plaintively. "Hon-on-onk! Honk!"

The signal! At last! The automobile went rushing on, full tilt, whileMr. Grimm removed his feet from the seat and dropped them noiselessly tothe floor. Thus, with his hands on his knees, and listening, listeningwith every faculty strained, he sat motionless, peering toward the opendoor that led into the hall. The car was gone now, the sound of it wasswallowed up in the distance, still he sat there. It was obviously somenoise in the house for which he was waiting. 

Minute after minute passed, and still nothing. There was not even thewhisper of a wind-stirred drapery. He was about to rise when, suddenly, with no other noise than that of the sharp click of the switch, theelectric lights in the room blazed up brilliantly. The glare dazzled Mr. Grimm with its blinding flood, but he didn't move. Then softly, almostin a whisper:

"Good evening, Mr. Grimm. "

It was a woman's voice, pleasant, unsurprised, perfectly modulated. Mr. Grimm certainly did not expect it now, but he knew it instantly--therewas not another quite like it in the wide, wide world--and though he wasstill blinking a little, he came to his feet courteously. 

"Good morning, Miss Thorne, " he corrected gravely. 

Now his vision was clearing, and he saw her, a graceful figure, silhouetted against the rich green of the wall draperies. Her lips werecurled the least bit, as if she might have been smiling, and herwonderful eyes reflected a glint of--of--was it amusement? The folds ofher evening dress fell away from her, and one bare, white arm wasextended, as her hand still rested on the switch. 

"And you didn't hear me?" still in the half whisper. "I didn't think youwould. Now I'm going to put out the lights for an instant, while youpull the shades down, and then--then we must have a--a conference. "

The switch snapped. The lights died as suddenly as they had been born, and Mr. Grimm, moving noiselessly, visited each of the four windows inturn. Then the lights blazed brilliantly again. 

"Just for a moment, " Miss Thorne explained to him quietly, and shehanded him a sheet of paper. "I want you to read this--read itcarefully--then I shall turn out the lights again. They are dangerous. After that we may discuss the matter at our leisure. "

Mr. Grimm read the paper while Miss Thorne's eyes questioned hisimpassive face. At length he looked up indolently, listlessly, and theswitch snapped. She crossed the room and sat down; Mr. Grimm sat besideher. 

"I think, " Miss Thorne suggested tentatively, "that that accountsperfectly for Monsieur Boisségur's disappearance. "

"It gives one explanation, at least, " Mr. Grimm assented musingly. "Kidnapped--held prisoner--fifty thousand dollars demanded for hissafety and release. " A pause. "And to whom, may I ask, was this demandaddressed?"

"To Madame Boisségur, " replied Miss Thorne. "I have the envelope inwhich it came. It was mailed at the general post-office at half-past oneo'clock this afternoon, so the canceling stamp shows, and the envelopewas addressed, as the letter was written, on a typewriter. "

"And how, " inquired Mr. Grimm, after a long pause, "how did it come intoyour possession?" He waited a little. "Why didn't Monsieur Rigolotreport this development to me this afternoon when I was here?"

"Monsieur Rigolot did not inform you of it because he didn't know of ithimself, " she replied, answering the last question first. "It came intomy possession directly from the hands of Madame Boisségur--she gave itto me. "

"Why?"

Mr. Grimm was peering through the inscrutable darkness, straight intoher face--a white daub in the gloom, shapeless, indistinct. 

"I have known Madame Boisségur for half a dozen years, " Miss Thornecontinued, in explanation. "We have been friends that long. I met herfirst in Tokio, later in Berlin, and within a few weeks, here inWashington. You see I have traveled in the time I have been an agent formy government. Well, Madame Boisségur received this letter abouthalf-past four o'clock this afternoon; and about half-past five she sentfor me and placed it in my hands, together with all the singular detailsfollowing upon the ambassador's disappearance. So, it would seem thatyou and I are allies for this once, and the problem is already solved. There merely remains the task of finding and releasing the ambassador. "

Mr. Grimm sat perfectly still. 

"And why, " he asked slowly, "are you here now?"

"For the same reason that you are here, " she replied readily, "to seefor myself if the--the person who twice came here at night--once for theambassador's letters and once for his cigarettes--would, by any chance, make another trip. I knew you were here, of course. "

"You knew I was here, " repeated Mr. Grimm musingly. "And, may I--?"

"Just as you knew that I, or some one, at least, had entered this housea few minutes ago, " she interrupted. "The automobile horn outside was asignal, wasn't it? Hastings was in the car? Or was it Blair or Johnson?"

Mr. Grimm did not say. 

"Didn't you anticipate any personal danger when you entered?" he queriedinstead. "Weren't you afraid I might shoot?"

"No. "

There was a long silence. Mr. Grimm still sat with his elbows on hisknees, staring, staring at the vague white splotch which was MissThorne's face and bare neck. One of her white arms hung at her side likea pallid serpent, and her hand was at rest on the seat of the couch. 

"It seems, Miss Thorne, " he said at length, casually, quite casually, "that our paths of duty are inextricably tangled. Twice previously wehave met under circumstances that were more than strange, and now--this!Whatever injustice I may have done you in the past by my suspicions has, I hope, been forgiven; and in each instance we were able to work side byside toward a conclusion. I am wondering now if this singular affairwill take a similar course. "

He paused. Miss Thorne started to speak, but he silenced her with aslight gesture of his hand. 

"It is only fair to you to say that we--that is, the SecretService--have learned many things about you, " he resumed in the samecasual tone. "We have, through our foreign agents, traced you step bystep from Rome to Washington. We know that you are, in a way, arepresentative of a sovereign of Europe; we know that you were on asecret mission to the Spanish court, perhaps for this sovereign, andremained in Madrid for a month; we know that from there you went toParis, also on a secret mission--perhaps the same--and remained therefor three weeks; we know that you met diplomatic agents of thosegovernments later in London. We know all this; we know the manner ofyour coming to this country; of your coming to Washington. But we don'tknow _why_ you are here. "

Again she started to speak, and again he stopped her. 

"We don't know your name, but that is of no consequence. We _do_ knowthat in Spain you were Señora Cassavant, in Paris Mademoiselled'Aubinon, in London Miss Jane Kellog, and here Miss Isabel Thorne. Werealize that exigencies arise in your calling, and mine, which makechanges of name desirable, necessary even, and there is no criticism ofthat. Now as the representative of your government--rather _a_government--you have a right to be here, although unaccredited; you havea right to remain here as long as your acts are consistent with ourlaws; you have a right to your secrets as long as they do not, directlyor indirectly, threaten the welfare of this country. Now, why are youhere?"

He received no answer; he expected none. After a moment he went on:

"Admitting that you are a secret agent of Italy, admitting everythingthat you claim to be, you haven't convinced me that you are not theperson who came here for the letters and cigarettes. You have saidnothing to prove to my satisfaction that you are not the individual Iwas waiting for to-night. "

"You don't mean that you suspect--?" she began in a tone of amazement. 

"I don't mean that I suspect anything, " he interposed. "I mean merelythat you haven't convinced me. There's nothing inconsistent in the factthat you are what you say you are, and that in spite of that, you cameto-night for--"

He was interrupted by a laugh, a throaty, silvery note that heremembered well. His idle hands closed spasmodically, only to beinstantly relaxed. 

"Suppose, Mr. Grimm, I should tell you that immediately after MadameBoisségur placed the matter in my hands this afternoon I went straightto your office to show this letter to you and to ask your assistance?"she inquired. "Suppose that I left my card for you with a clerk there onbeing informed that you were out--remember I knew you were on the casefrom Madame Boisségur--would that indicate anything except that I wantedto put the matter squarely before you, and work with you?"

"We will suppose that much, " Mr. Grimm agreed. 

"That is a statement of fact, " Miss Thorne added. "My card, which youwill find at your office, will show that. And when I left your office Iwent to the hotel where you live, with the same purpose. You were notthere, and I left a card for you. And _that_ is a statement of fact. Itwas not difficult, owing to the extraordinary circumstances, to imaginethat you would be here to-night--just as you are--and I came here. Mypurpose, still, was to inform you of what I knew, and work with you. Does that convince you?"

"And how did you enter the embassy?" Mr. Grimm persisted. 

"Not with a latch-key, as you did, " she replied. "Madame Boisségur, atmy suggestion, left the French window in the hall there unfastened, andI came in that way--the way, I may add, that _Monsieur l'Ambassadeur_went out when he disappeared. "

"Very well!" commented Mr. Grimm, and finally: "I think, perhaps, I oweyou an apology, Miss Thorne--another one. The circumstances now, asthey were at our previous meetings, are so unusual that--is it necessaryto go on?" There was a certain growing deference in his tone. "I wonderif you account for Monsieur Boisségur's disappearance as I do?" heinquired. 

"I dare say, " and Miss Thorne leaned toward him with sudden eagerness inher manner and voice. "Your theory is--?" she questioned. 

"If we believe the servants we know that Monsieur Boisségur did not goout either by the front door or rear, " Mr. Grimm explained. "That beingtrue the French window by which you entered seems to have been the way. "

"Yes, yes, " Miss Thorne interpolated. "And the circumstances attendingthe disappearance? How do you account for the fact that he went, evidently of his own will?"

"Precisely as you must account for it if you have studied the situationhere as I have, " responded Mr. Grimm. "For instance, sitting at his deskthere"--and he turned to indicate it--"he could readily see out thewindows overlooking the street. There is only a narrow strip of lawnbetween the house and the sidewalk. Now, if some one on the sidewalk, or--or--"

"In a carriage?" promptly suggested Miss Thorne. 

"Or in a carriage, " Mr. Grimm supplemented, "had attracted hisattention--some one he knew--it is not at all unlikely that he rose, forno apparent reason, as he did do, passed along the hall--"

"And through the French window, across the lawn to the carriage, and nota person in the house would have seen him go out? Precisely! There seemsno doubt that was the way, " she mused. "And, of course, he must haveentered the carriage of his own free will?"

"In other words, on some pretext or other, he was lured in, then madeprisoner, and--!"

He paused suddenly and his hand met Miss Thorne's warningly. The silenceof the night was broken by the violent clatter of footsteps, apparentlyapproaching the embassy. The noise was unmistakable--some one wasrunning. 

"The window!" Miss Thorne whispered. 

She rose quickly and started to cross the room, to look out; Mr. Grimmsat motionless, listening. An instant later and there came a tremendouscrash of glass--the French window in the hallway by the sound--thenrapid footsteps, still running, along the hall. Mr. Grimm moved towardthe door unruffled, perfectly self-possessed; there was only a narrowingof his eyes at the abruptness and clatter of it all. And then theelectric lights in the hall flashed up. 

Before Mr. Grimm stood a man, framed by the doorway, staring unseeinglyinto the darkened room. His face was haggard and white as death; hismouth agape as if from exertion, and the lips bloodless; his eyes werewidely distended as if from fright--clothing disarranged, collarunfastened and dangling. 

"The ambassador!" Miss Thorne whispered thrillingly. 

XIV

A RESCUE AND AN ESCAPE

Miss Thorne's voice startled Mr. Grimm a little, but he had no doubts. It was Monsieur Boisségur. Mr. Grimm was going toward the enframedfigure when, without any apparent reason, the ambassador turned and ranalong the hall; and at that instant the lights went out again. For onemoment Grimm stood still, dazed and blinded by the sudden blackness, andagain he started toward the door. Miss Thorne was beside him. 

"The lights!" he whispered tensely. "Find the switch!"

He heard the rustle of her skirts as she moved away, and stepped outinto the hall, feeling with both his hands along the wall. A few feetaway, in the direction the ambassador had gone, there seemed to be aviolent struggle in progress--there was the scuffling of feet, andquick-drawn breaths as muscle strained against muscle. The lights! If hecould only find the switch! Then, as his hands moved along the wall, they came in contact with another hand--a hand pressed firmly againstthe plastering, barring his progress. A light blow in the face causedhim to step back quickly. 

The scuffling sound suddenly resolved itself into moving footsteps, andthe front door opened and closed with a bang. Mr. Grimm's listless eyessnapped, and his white teeth came together sharply as he started towardthe front door. But fate seemed to be against him still. He stumbledover a chair, and his own impetus forward sent him sprawling; his headstruck the wall with a resounding whack; and then, over the house, cameutter silence. From outside he heard the clatter of a cab. Finally thatdied away in the distance. 

"Miss Thorne?" he inquired quietly. 

"I'm here, " she answered in a despairing voice. "But I can't find theswitch. "

"Are you hurt?"

"No. "

And then she found the switch; the lights flared up. Mr. Grimm wassitting thoughtfully on the floor. 

"That simplifies the matter considerably, " he observed complacently, ashe rose. "The men who signaled to me when you entered the embassy willnever let that cab get out of their sight. "

Miss Thorne stood leaning forward a little, eagerly gazing at him withthose wonderful blue-gray eyes, and an expression of--of--perhaps it wasadmiration on her face. 

"Are you sure?" she demanded, at last. 

"I know it, " was his response. 

And just then Monsieur Rigolot, secretary of the embassy, thrust aninquisitive head timidly around the corner of the stairs. The crash ofglass had aroused him. 

"What happened?" he asked breathlessly. 

"We don't know just yet, " replied Mr. Grimm. "If the noise aroused anyone else please assure them that there's nothing the matter. And youmight inform Madame Boisségur that the ambassador will return hometo-morrow. Good night!"

At his hotel, when he reached there, Mr. Grimm found Miss Thorne'scard--and he drew a long breath; at his office he found another of hercards, and he drew another long breath. He did like corroborativedetails, did Mr. Grimm, and, of course, this--! On the following dayMiss Thorne accompanied him to Alexandria, and they were driven in aclosed carriage out toward the western edge of the city. Finally thecarriage stopped at a signal from Mr. Grimm, and he assisted Miss Thorneout, after which he turned and spoke to some one remaining inside--aman. 

"The house is two blocks west, along that street there, " he explained, and he indicated an intersecting thoroughfare just ahead. "It is numberninety-seven. Five minutes after we enter you will drive up in front ofthe door and wait. If we don't return in fifteen minutes--come in afterus!"

"Do you anticipate danger?" Miss Thorne queried quickly. 

"If I had anticipated danger, " replied Mr. Grimm, "I should not havepermitted you to come with me. "

They entered the house--number ninety-seven--with a key which Mr. Grimmproduced, and a minute or so later walked into a room where three menwere sitting. One of them was of a coarse, repulsive type, large andheavy; another rather dapper, of superficial polish, evidently aforeigner, and the third--the third was Ambassador Boisségur!

"Good morning, gentlemen!" Mr. Grimm greeted them, then ceremoniously:"Monsieur Boisségur, your carriage is at the door. "

The three men came to their feet instantly, and one of them--he of theheavy face--drew a revolver. Mr. Grimm faced him placidly. 

"Do you know what would happen to you if you killed me?" he inquiredpleasantly. "You wouldn't live three minutes. Do you imagine I came inhere blindly? There are a dozen men guarding the entrances to thehouse--a pistol shot would bring them in. Put down the gun!"

Eyes challenged eyes for one long tense instant, and the man carefullylaid the weapon on the table. Mr. Grimm strolled over and picked it up, after which he glanced inquiringly at the other man--the ambassador'ssecond guard. 

"And you are the gentleman, I dare say, who made the necessary trips tothe ambassador's house, probably using his latch-key?" he remarkedinterrogatively. "First for the letters to be signed, and again for thecigarettes?"

There was no answer and Mr. Grimm turned questioningly to MonsieurBoisségur, silent, white of face, motionless. 

"Yes, Monsieur, " the ambassador burst out suddenly. His eyes were fixedunwaveringly on Miss Thorne. 

"And your escape, Monsieur?" continued Mr. Grimm. 

"I did escape, Monsieur, last night, " the ambassador explained, "butthey knew it immediately--they pursued me into my own house, these twoand another--and dragged me back here! _Mon Dieu, Monsieur, c'est--!_"

"That's all that's necessary, " remarked Mr. Grimm. "You are free to gonow. "

"But there are others, " Monsieur Boisségur interposed desperately, "twomore somewhere below, and they will not allow--they will attack--!"

Mr. Grimm's listless eyes narrowed slightly and he turned to MissThorne. She was a little white, but he saw enough in her face to satisfyhim. 

"I shall escort Monsieur Boisségur to his carriage, Miss Thorne, " hesaid calmly. "These men will remain here until I return. Take therevolver. If either of them so much as wags his head--_shoot_! You arenot--not afraid?"

"No. " She smiled faintly. "I am not afraid. "

Mr. Grimm and the ambassador went down the stairs, and out the frontdoor. Mr. Grimm was just turning to reenter the house when from abovecame a muffled, venomous cra-as-ash!--a shot! He took the steps goingup, two at a time. Miss Thorne was leaning against the wall as if dazed;the revolver lay at her feet. A door in a far corner of the room stoodopen; and the clatter of footsteps echoed through the house. 

"One of them leaped at me and I fired, " she gasped in explanation. "Hestruck me, but I'm--I'm not hurt. "

She stooped quickly, picked up the revolver and made as if to follow thedying footsteps. Mr. Grimm stopped her. 

"It doesn't matter, " he said quietly. "Let them go. " And after a while, earnestly: "If I had dreamed of such a--such a thing as this I shouldnever have consented to allow you--"

"I understand, " she interrupted, and for one instant her outstretchedhand rested on his arm. "The ambassador?"

"Perfectly safe, " responded Mr. Grimm. "Two of my men are with him. "

XV

MASTER OF THE SITUATION

As the women rose and started out, leaving the gentlemen over theircoffee and cigars, Miss Thorne paused at the door and the blue-gray eyesflashed some subtle message to the French ambassador who, after aninstant, nodded comprehendingly, then resumed his conversation. As heleft the room a few minutes later he noticed that Mr. Grimm had joined agroup of automaniacs of which Mr. Cadwallader was the enthusiasticcenter. He spoke to his hostess, the wife of the minister from Portugal, for a moment, then went to Miss Thorne and dropped into a seat besideher. She greeted him with a smile and was still smiling as she talked. 

"I believe, Monsieur, " she said in French, "you sent a code message tothe cable office this afternoon?"

His eyes questioned hers quickly. 

"And please bear in mind that we probably are being watched as we talk, "she went on pleasantly. "Mr. Grimm is the man to be afraid of. Smile--don't look so serious!" She laughed outright. 

"Yes, I sent a code message, " he replied. 

"It was your resignation?"

"Yes. "

"Well, it wasn't sent, of course, " she informed him, and her eyes weresparkling as if something amusing had been said. "One of my agentsstopped it. I may add that it will not be sent. "

The ambassador's eyes grew steely, then blank again. 

"Mademoiselle, what am I to understand from that?" he demanded. 

"You are to understand that I am absolute master of the situation inWashington at this moment, " she replied positively. The smile on herlips and the tone of her voice were strangely at variance. "From thebeginning I let you understand that ultimately you would receive yourinstructions from Paris; now I know they will reach you by cableto-morrow. Within a week the compact will be signed. Whether you approveof it or not it will be signed for your country by a special envoy whoseauthority is greater than yours--his Highness, the Prince Benedettod'Abruzzi. "

"Has he reached Washington?"

"He is in Washington. He has been here for some time, incognito. " Shewas silent a moment. "You have been a source of danger to our plans, "she added. "If it had not been for an accident you would still have beencomfortably kept out in Alexandria where Mr. Grimm and I found you. Please remember, Monsieur, that we will accomplish what we set out todo. Nothing can stop us--nothing. "

At just about the same moment the name of Prince d'Abruzzi had been usedin the dining-room, but in a different connection. Mr. Cadwallader wasreciting some incident of an automobile trip in Italy when he had beenconnected with the British embassy there. 

"The prince was driving, " he said, "and one of the best I ever saw. Corking chap, the prince; democratic, you know, and all that sort ofthing. He was one scion of royalty who didn't mind soiling his hands bydiving in under a car and fixing it himself. At that time he wasinclined to be wild--that was eight or nine years ago--but they say nowhe has settled down to work, and is one of the real diplomatic powers ofItaly. I haven't seen him for a half dozen years. "

"How old a man is he?" asked Mr. Grimm carelessly. 

"Thirty-five, thirty-eight, perhaps; I don't know, " replied Mr. Cadwallader. "It's odd, you know, the number of princes and blue-bloodsand all that sort of thing one can find knocking about in Italy andGermany and Spain. One never hears of half of them. I never had heardof the Prince d'Abruzzi until I went to Italy, and I've heard jolly welllittle of him since, except indirectly. "

Mr. Cadwallader lapsed into silence as he sat staring at a large groupphotograph which was framed on a wall of the dining-room. 

"Isn't that the royal family of Italy?" he asked. He rose and went overto it. "By Jove, it is, and here is the prince in the group. The picturewas taken, I should say, about the time I knew him. "

Mr. Grimm strolled over idly and stood for a long time staring at thephotograph. 

"He can drive a motor, you know, " said Mr. Cadwallader admiringly. "AndItaly is the place to drive them. They forgot to make any speed lawsover there, and if a chap gets in your way and you knock him silly theyarrest him for obstructing traffic, you know. Over here if a chap reallystarts to go any place in a hurry some bally idiot holds him up. "

"Have you ever been held up?" queried Mr. Grimm. 

"No, but I expect to be every day, " was the reply. "I've got a newmotor, you know, and I've never been able to see how fast it is. Theother evening I ran up to Baltimore with it in an hour and thirty-sevenminutes from Alexandria to Druid Hill Park, and that's better than fortymiles. I never did let the motor out, you know, because we ran in thedark most of the way. "

Mr. Grimm was still gazing at the photograph. 

"Did you go alone?" he asked. 

"There's no fun motoring alone, you know. Señorita Rodriguez was withme. Charming girl, what?"

A little while later Mr. Grimm sauntered out into the drawing-room andmade his way toward Miss Thorne and the French ambassador. MonsieurBoisségur rose, and offered his hand cordially. 

"I hope, Monsieur, " said Mr. Grimm, "that you are no worse off foryour--your unpleasant experience?"

"Not at all, thanks to you, " was the reply. "I have just thanked MissThorne for her part in the affair, and--"

"I'm glad to have been of service, " interrupted Mr. Grimm lightly. 

The ambassador bowed ceremoniously and moved away. Mr. Grimm droppedinto the seat he had just left. 

"You've left the legation, haven't you?" he asked. 

"You drove me out, " she laughed. 

"Drove you out?" he repeated. "Drove you out?"

"Why, it was not only uncomfortable, but it was rather conspicuousbecause of the constant espionage of your Mr. Blair and your Mr. Johnsonand your Mr. Hastings, " she explained, still laughing. "So I have movedto the Hotel Hilliard. "

Mr. Grimm was twisting the seal ring on his little finger. 

"I'm sorry if I've made it uncomfortable for you, " he apologized. "Yousee it's necessary to--"

"No explanation, " Miss Thorne interrupted. "I understand. "

"I'm glad you do, " he replied seriously. "How long do you intend toremain in the city?"

"Really I don't know--two, three, four weeks, perhaps. Why?"

"I was just wondering. "

Señorita Rodriguez came toward them. 

"We're going to play bridge, " she said, "and we need you, Isabel, tomake the four. Come. I hate to take her away, Mr. Grimm. "

Mr. Grimm and Miss Thorne rose together. For an instant her slim whitehand rested on Mr. Grimm's sleeve and she stared into his eyesunderstandingly with a little of melancholy in her own. They left Mr. Grimm there. 

XVI

LETTERS FROM JAIL

For two weeks Signor Pietro Petrozinni, known to the Secret Service asan unaccredited agent of the Italian government, and the self-confessedassailant of Señor Alvarez of the Mexican legation, had been taking hisease in a cell. He had been formally arraigned and committed withoutbail to await the result of the bullet wound which had been inflictedupon the diplomatist from Mexico at the German Embassy Ball, and, sincethen, undisturbed and apparently careless of the outcome, he had spenthis time in reading and smoking. He had answered questions with only acurt yes or no when he deigned to answer them at all; and there had beenno callers or inquiries for him. He had abruptly declined a suggestionof counsel. 

Twice each day, morning and night, he had asked a question of thejailer who brought his simple meals. 

"How is Señor Alvarez?"

"He is still in a critical condition. " The answer was always the same. 

Whereupon the secret agent would return to his reading with not a shadowof uneasiness or concern on his face. 

Occasionally there came a courteous little note from Miss Thorne, whichhe read without emotion, afterward casting them aside or tearing themup. He never answered them. And then one day there came another notewhich, for no apparent reason, seemed to stir him from his lethargy. Outwardly it was like all the others, but when Signor Petrozinni scannedthe sheet his eyes lighted strangely, and he stood staring down at it asthough to hide a sudden change of expression in his face. His gaze wasconcentrated on two small splotches of ink where, it seemed, the penhad scratched as Miss Thorne signed her name. 

The guard stood at the barred door for a moment, then started to turnaway. The prisoner stopped him with a quick gesture. 

"Oh, Guard, may I have a glass of milk, please?" he asked. "No ice. Iprefer it tepid. "

He thrust a small coin between the bars; the guard accepted it andpassed on. Then, still standing at the door, the prisoner read the noteagain:

"MY DEAR FRIEND:

"I understand, from an indirect source, that there has been a markedimprovement in Señor Alvarez's condition, and I am hastening to send youthe good news. There is every hope that within a short while, if hecontinues to improve, we can arrange a bail bond, and you will be freeuntil the time of trial anyway. 

"Might it not be well for you to consult an attorney at once? Drop me aline to let me know you received this. 

"Sincerely, "ISABEL THORNE. "

Finally the prisoner tossed the note on a tiny table in a corner of hiscell, and resumed his reading. After a time the guard returned with themilk. 

"Would it be against the rules for me to write an answer to this?"queried Signor Petrozinni, and he indicated the note. 

"Certainly not, " was the reply. 

"If I might trouble you, then, for pen and ink and paper?" suggested thesignor and he smiled a little. "Believe me, I would prefer to get themfor myself. "

"I guess that's right, " the guard grinned good-naturedly. 

Again he went away and the prisoner sat thoughtfully sipping the milk. He took half of it, then lighted a cigarette, puffed it once or twiceand permitted the light to die. After a little there came again theclatter of the guard's feet on the cement pavement, and the writingmaterials were thrust through the bars. 

"Thank you, " said the prisoner. 

The guard went on, with a nod, and a moment later the signor heard theclangor of a steel door down the corridor as it was closed and locked. He leaned forward in his chair with half-closed eyes, listening for along time, then rose and noiselessly approached the cell door. Again helistened intently, after which he resumed his seat. He tossed away thecigarette he had and lighted a fresh one, afterward holding the noteover the flame of the match. Here and there, where the paper charred inthe heat, a letter or word stood out from the bare whiteness of thepaper, and finally, a message complete appeared between the innocuousink-written lines. The prisoner read it greedily:

"Am privately informed there is little chance of Alvarez's recovery. Shall I arrange escape for you, or have ambassador intercede? Wouldadvise former, as the other might take months, and meeting to signtreaty alliance would be dangerously delayed. "

Signor Petrozinni permitted the sputtering flame to ignite the paper, and thoughtfully watched the blaze destroy it. The last tiny scrapdropped on the floor, burned out, and he crushed the ashes under hisheel. Then he began to write:

"My Dear Miss Thorne:

"Many thanks for your courteous little note. I am delighted to know ofthe improvement in Señor Alvarez's condition. I had hoped that myimpulsive act in shooting him would not end in a tragedy. Please keep meinformed of any further change in his condition. As yet I do not see thenecessity of consulting an attorney, but later I may be compelled to doso. 

"Respectfully, "Pietro Petrozinni. "

This done the secret agent carefully cleaned the ink from the pen, wiping it dry with his handkerchief, then thrust it into the half emptyglass of milk. The fluid clung to the steel nib thinly; he went onwriting with it, between the lines of ink:

"I am in no danger. I hold credentials to United States, which, whenpresented, will make me responsible only to the Italian government asspecial envoy, according to international law. Arrange escape for oneweek from to-night; use any money necessary. Make careful arrangementsfor the test and signing of compact for two nights after. "

Again the prisoner cleaned the steel nib, after which he put it back inthe bottle of ink, leaving it there. He waved the sheet of paper backand forth to dry it, and at last scrutinized it minutely, standing underthe light from the high-up window of his cell. Letter by letter the milkevaporated, leaving the sheet perfectly clean and white except for theink-written message. This sheet he folded, placed in an envelope, andaddressed. 

Later the guard passed along the corridor, and Signor Petrozinni thrustthe letter out to him. 

"Be good enough to post that, please, " he requested. "It isn't sealed. Idon't know if your prison rules require you to read the letters that goout. If so, read it, or have it read, then seal it. "

For answer the guard dampened the flap of the envelope, sealed it, thrust it into his pocket and passed on. The secret agent sat downagain, and sipped his milk meditatively. 

One hour later Mr. Grimm, accompanied by Johnson, came out of aphotographer's dark room in Pennsylvania Avenue with a developednegative which he set on a rack to dry. At the end of another hour hewas sitting at his desk studying, under a magnifying glass, a finishedprint of the negative. Word by word he was writing on a slip of paperwhat his magnifying glass gave him and so, curiously enough, it came topass that Miss Thorne and Chief Campbell of the Secret Service werereading the hidden, milk-written message at almost the identical moment. 

"Johnson got Petrozinni's letter from the postman, " Mr. Grimm wasexplaining. "I opened it, photographed it, sealed it again and remailedit. There was not more than half an hour's delay; and Miss Thorne cannot possibly know of it. " He paused a moment. "It's an odd thing thatwriting such as that is absolutely invisible to the naked eye, and yetwhen photographed becomes decipherable in the negative. "

"What do you make of it?" Mr. Campbell asked. The guileless blue eyeswere alive with eagerness. 

"Well, he's right, of course, about not being in danger, " said Mr. Grimm. "If he came with credentials as special envoy this governmentmust respect them, even if Señor Alvarez dies, and leave it to his owngovernment to punish him. If we were officially aware that he has suchcredentials I doubt if we would have the right to keep him confined; wewould merely have to hand him over to the Italian embassy and demand hispunishment. And, of course, all that makes him more dangerous thanever. "

"Yes, I know that, " said the chief a little impatiently. "But who isthis man?"

"Who is this man?" Mr. Grimm repeated as if surprised at the question. "I was looking for Prince Benedetto d'Abruzzi, of Italy. I have foundhim. "

Mr. Campbell's clock-like brain ticked over the situation in detail. 

"It's like this, " Mr. Grimm elucidated. "He has credentials which heknows will free him if he is forced to present them, but I imagine theywere given to him more for protection in an emergency like this than forintroducing him to our government. As the matter stands he can't affordto discover himself by using those credentials, and yet, if the Latincompact is signed, he must be free. Remember, too, that he is accreditedfrom three countries--Italy, France and Spain. " He was silent for amoment. "Naturally his escape from prison would preserve his incognito, and at the same time permit him to sign the compact. "

There was silence for a long time. 

"I believe the situation is without precedent, " said Mr. Campbellslowly. "The special envoy of three great powers held for attempted--!"

"Officially we are not aware of his purpose, or his identity, " Mr. Grimmreminded him. "If he escaped it would clarify the situationtremendously. "

"If he escaped!" repeated Mr. Campbell musingly. 

"But, of course, the compact would not be signed, at least in thiscountry, " Mr. Grimm went on tentatively. 

Mr. Campbell gazed straight into the listless eyes of the young man fora minute or more, and gradually full understanding came home to him. Finally he nodded his head. 

"Use your own judgment, Mr. Grimm, " he directed. 

XVII

A CALL ON THE WARDEN

The restful silence of night lay over the great prison. Here and therein the grim corridors a guard dozed in the glare of an electric light;and in the office, too, a desk light glimmered where the warden sat athis desk, poring over a report. Once he glanced up at the clock--it wasfive minutes of eleven--and then he went on with his reading. 

After a little the silence was broken by the whir of the clock and thefirst sharp stroke of the hour; and at just that moment the door fromthe street opened and a man entered. He was rather tall and slender, anda sinister black mask hid his face from the quickly raised eyes of thewarden. For a bare fraction of a second the two men stared at eachother, then, instinctively, the warden's right hand moved toward theopen drawer of his desk where a revolver lay, and his left towardseveral electrically connected levers. The intruder noted both gestures, and, unarmed himself, stood silent. The warden was first to speak. 

"Well, what is it?"

"You have a prisoner here, Pietro Petrozinni, " was the reply, in apleasant voice. "I have come to demand his release. "

The warden's right hand was raised above the desk top, and the revolverin it clicked warningly. 

"You have come to demand his release, eh?" he queried. He still satmotionless, with his eyes fixed on the black mask. "How did you pass theoutside guard?"

"He was bribed, " was the ready response. "Now, Warden, " the maskedintruder continued pacifically, "it would be much more pleasant allaround and there would be less personal danger in it for both of us ifyou would release Signor Petrozinni without question. I may add that nobribe was offered to you because your integrity was beyond question. "

"Thank you, " said the warden grimly, "and it shall remain so as long asI have this. " He tapped on the desk with the revolver. 

"Oh, that isn't loaded, " said the masked man quietly. 

One quick glance at the weapon showed the warden that the cartridges hadbeen drawn! His teeth closed with a snap at the treachery of it, andwith his left hand he pulled back one of the levers--that which shouldarouse the jailers, turnkeys and guards. Instead of the insistentclangor which he expected, there was silence. 

"That wire has been cut, " the stranger volunteered. 

With clenched teeth the warden pulled the police alarm. 

"And that wire was cut, too, " the stranger explained. 

The warden came to his feet with white face, and nails biting into thepalms of his hands. He still held the revolver as he advanced upon themasked man threateningly. 

"Not too close, now, " warned the intruder, with a sudden hardening ofhis voice. "Believe me, it would be best for you to release this man, because it must be done, pleasantly or otherwise. I have no desire toinjure you, still less do I intend that you shall injure me; and itwould be needless for either of us to make a personal matter of it. Iwant your prisoner, Signor Petrozinni--you will release him at once!That's all!"

The warden paused, dazed, incredulous before the audacity of it, whilehe studied two calm eyes which peered at him through the slits of themask. 

"And if I _don't_ release him?" he demanded at last, fiercely. 

"Then I shall take him, " was the reply. "It has been made impossible foryou to give an alarm, " the stranger went on. "The very men on whom youmost depended have been bought, and even if they were within sound ofyour voice now they wouldn't respond. One of your assistants who hasbeen here for years unloaded the revolver in the desk there, and lessthan an hour ago cut the prison alarm wire. I, personally, cut thepolice alarm outside the building. So you see!"

As yet there was no weapon in sight, save the unloaded revolver in thewarden's hand; at no time had the stranger's voice been raised. His tonewas a perfectly normal one. 

"Besides yourself there are only five other men employed here who arenow awake, " the masked man continued. "These are four inner guards andthe outer guard. They have all been bought--the turnkeys at fivethousand dollars each, and the outer guard at seven thousand. Thereceipt of all of this money is conditional upon the release of SignorPetrozinni, therefore it is to their interest to aid me as against you. I am telling you all this, frankly and fully, to make you see howfutile any resistance would be. "

"But who--who is this Signor Petrozinni, that such powerful influencesshould be brought to bear in his behalf?" demanded the bewilderedwarden. 

"He is a man who can command a vast fortune--and Señor Alvarez is at thepoint of death. That, I think, makes it clear. Now, if you'll sit down, please!"

"Sit down?" bellowed the warden. 

Suddenly he was seized by a violent, maddening rage. He took one stepforward and raised the empty revolver to strike. The masked man movedslightly to one side and his clenched fist caught the warden on thepoint of the chin. The official went down without a sound and lay still, inert. A moment later the door leading into the corridor of the prisonopened, and Signor Petrozinni, accompanied by one of the guards, enteredthe warden's office. The masked man glanced around at them, and with amotion of his head indicated the door leading to the street. Theypassed through, closing the door behind them. 

For a little time the intruder stood staring down at the still body, then he went to the telephone and called police headquarters. 

"There has been a jail delivery at the prison, " he said in answer to the"hello" of the desk-sergeant at the other end of the wire. "Better sendsome of your men up to investigate. "

"Who is that?" came the answering question. 

The stranger replaced the receiver on the hook, stripped off his blackmask, dropped it on the floor beside the motionless warden, and wentout. It was Mr. Grimm!

XVIII

NOTICE TO LEAVE

At fifteen minutes of midnight when Miss Thorne, followed by SignorPetrozinni, entered the sitting-room of her apartments in the hotel andturned up the light they found Mr. Grimm already there. He rosecourteously. At sight of him Miss Thorne's face went deathly white, andthe escaped prisoner turned toward the door again. 

"I would advise that you stay, your Highness, " said Mr. Grimm coldly. Signor Petrozinni paused, amazed. "You will merely subject yourself tothe humiliation of arrest if you attempt to leave. The house is guardedby a dozen men. "

"Your Highness?" Miss Thorne repeated blankly. "You are assuming agreat deal, aren't you, Mr. Grimm?"

"I don't believe, " and Mr. Grimm's listless eyes were fixed on those ofthe escaped prisoner, "I don't believe that Prince Benedetto d'Abruzziwill deny his identity?"

There was one of those long tense silences when eye challenges eye, whenwit is pitted against wit, and mind is hauled around to a new, andsometimes unattractive, view of a situation. Miss Thorne stood silentwith rigid features, colorless as marble; but slowly a sneer settledabout the lips of Signor Petrozinni that was, and he sat down. 

[Illustration: A long tense silence when eye challenges eye. ]

"You seem to know everything, Mr. Grimm, " he taunted. 

"I _try_ to know everything, your Highness, " was the reply. Mr. Grimmwas still standing. "I know, for instance, that one week ago the plotwhich had your freedom for its purpose was born; I know the contents ofevery letter that passed between you and Miss Thorne here, notwithstanding the invisible ink; I know that four days ago severalthousand dollars was smuggled in to you concealed in a basket of fruit;I know, with that money, you bribed your way out, while Miss Thorne orone of her agents bribed the guard in front; I know that the escape wasplanned for to-night, and that the man who was delegated to take chargeof it is now locked in my office under guard. It may interest you toknow that it was I who took his place and made the escape possible. Iknow that much!"

"You--_you_--!" the prince burst out suddenly. "_You_ aided me toescape?"

Miss Thorne was staring, staring at them with her eyes widely distended, and her red lips slightly parted. 

"_Why_ did you assist him?" she demanded. 

"Details are tiresome, Miss Thorne, " replied Mr. Grimm with the utmostcourtesy. "There is one other thing I know--that the Latin compact willnot be signed in the United States. "

The prince's eyes met Miss Thorne's inquiringly, and she shook herhead. The sneer was still playing about his mouth. 

"Anything else of special interest that you know?" he queried. 

"Yes, of interest to both you and Miss Thorne. That is merely if theLatin compact is signed anywhere, the English-speaking countries of theworld might construe it as a _casus belli_ and strike soon enough, andhard enough, to put an end to it once for all. "

Again there was silence for a little while. Slowly the prince's eyeswere darkening, and a shadow flitted across Miss Thorne's face. Theprince rose impatiently. 

"Well, what is the meaning of all this? Are you going to take me back toprison?"

"No, " said Mr. Grimm. He glanced at his watch. "I will give each of youone-half hour to pack your belongings. We must catch a train at oneo'clock. "

"Leave the city?" gasped Miss Thorne. 

"Impossible!" exclaimed the prince. 

"One-half hour, " said Mr. Grimm coldly. 

"But--but it's out of the question, " expostulated Miss Thorne. 

"One-half hour, " repeated Mr. Grimm. He didn't dare to meet thosewonderful blue-gray eyes now. "A special car with private compartmentswill be attached to the regular train, and the only inconvenience to youwill be the fact that the three of us will be compelled to sit up allnight. Half a dozen other Secret Service men will be on the train withus. "

And then the prince's entire manner underwent a change. 

"Mr. Grimm, " he said earnestly, "it is absolutely necessary that Iremain in Washington for another week--remain here even if I am lockedup again--lock me up again if you like. I can't sign compacts inprison. "

"Twenty-five minutes, " replied Mr. Grimm quietly. 

"But here, " exclaimed the prince explosively, "I have credentials whichwill insure my protection in spite of your laws. "

"I know that, " said Mr. Grimm placidly. "Credentials of that nature cannot be presented at midnight, and you will not be here to-morrow topresent them. The fact that you have those credentials, your Highness, is one reason why you must leave Washington now, to-night. "

XIX

BY WIRELESS

They paused in the office, the three of them, and while Miss Thorne wasgiving some instructions as to her baggage the prince went over to thetelegraph booth and began to write a message on a blank. Mr. Grimmappeared at his elbow. 

"No, " he said. 

"Can't I send a telegram if I like?" demanded the prince sharply. 

"No, nor a note, nor a letter, nor may you speak to any one, " Mr. Grimminformed him quietly. 

"Why, it's an outrage!" flamed the prince. 

"It depends altogether on the view-point, your Highness, " said Mr. Grimmcourteously. "If you will pardon me I might suggest that it is needlessto attract attention by your present attitude. You may--I say you_may_--compel me to humiliate you. " The prince glared at him angrily. "Imean handcuff you, " Mr. Grimm added gratuitously. 

"Handcuff _me_?"

"I shouldn't hesitate, your Highness, if it was necessary. "

After a moment Miss Thorne signified her readiness, and they startedout. At the door Mr. Grimm stopped and turned back to the desk, as ifstruck by some sudden thought, leaving them together. 

"Oh, Miss Thorne left a message for some one, " Mr. Grimm was saying tothe clerk. "She's decided it is unnecessary. " He turned and glancedtoward her, and the clerk's eyes followed his. "Please give it to me. "

It was passed over without comment. It was a sealed envelope addressedto Mr. Charles Winthrop Rankin. Mr. Grimm glanced at the superscription, tore the envelope into bits and dropped it into a basket. A minutelater he was assisting Miss Thorne and the prince into an automobilethat was waiting in front. As the car moved away two other automobilesappeared from corners near-by and trailed along behind to the station. There a private compartment-car was in readiness for them. 

It was a long, dreary ride--a ride of utter silence save for the roarand clatter of the moving train. Mr. Grimm, vigilant, implacable, sat atease; Miss Thorne, resigned to the inevitable, whatever it might be, studied the calm, quiet face from beneath drooping lids; and the prince, sullen, scowling, nervously wriggled in his seat. Philadelphia waspassed, and Trenton, and then the dawn began to break through the night. It was quite light when they rolled into Jersey City. 

"I'm sorry for all the inconvenience I have caused, " Mr. Grimmapologized to Miss Thorne as he assisted her to alight. "You must beexhausted. "

"If it were only that!" she replied, with a slight smile. "And is ittoo early to ask where we are going?"

The prince turned quickly at the question. 

"We take the _Lusitania_ for Liverpool at ten o'clock, " said Mr. Grimmobligingly. "Meanwhile let's get some coffee and a bite to eat. "

"Are you going to make the trip with us?" asked the prince. 

Mr. Grimm shrugged his shoulders. 

Weary and spiritless they went aboard the boat, and a little while laterthey steamed out into the stream and threaded their way down the bay. Miss Thorne stood at the rail gazing back upon the city they wereleaving. Mr. Grimm stood beside her; the prince, still sullen, stillscowling, sat a dozen feet away. 

"This is a wonderful thing you have done, Mr. Grimm, " said Miss Thorneat last. 

"Thank you, " he said simply. "It was a destructive thing that youintended to do. Did you ever see a more marvelous thing than that?" andhe indicated the sky-line of New York. "It's the most marvelous bit ofmechanism in the world; the dynamo of the western hemisphere. You wouldhave destroyed it, because in the world-war that would have been thefirst point of attack. "

She raised her eyebrows, but was silent. 

"Somehow, " he went on after a moment, "I could never associate a womanwith destructiveness, with wars and with violence. "

"That is an unjust way of saying it, " she interposed. And then, musingly: "Isn't it odd that you and I--standing here by the rail--have, in a way, held the destinies of the whole great earth in our hands? Andnow your remark makes me feel that you alone have stood for peace andthe general good, and I for destruction and evil. "

"I didn't mean that, " Mr. Grimm said quickly. "You have done your dutyas you saw it, and--"

"Failed!" she interrupted. 

"And I have done my duty as I saw it. "

"And won!" she added. She smiled a little sadly. "I think, perhaps youand I might have been excellent friends if it had not been for allthis. "

"I know we should have, " said Mr. Grimm, almost eagerly. "I wonder ifyou will ever forgive me for--for--?"

"Forgive you?" she repeated. "There is nothing to forgive. One must doone's duty. But I wish it could have been otherwise. "

The Statue of Liberty slid by, and Governor's Island and Fort Hamilton;then, in the distance, Sandy Hook light came into view. 

"I'm going to leave you here, " said Mr. Grimm, and for the first timethere was a tense, strained note in his voice. 

Miss Thorne's blue-gray eyes had grown mistily thoughtful; the wordsstartled her a little and she turned to face him. 

"It may be that you and I shall never meet again, " Mr. Grimm went on. 

"We _will_ meet again, " she said gravely. "When and where I don't know, but it will come. "

"And perhaps then we may be friends?" He was pleading now. 

"Why, we are friends now, aren't we?" she asked, and again the smilecurled her scarlet lips. "Surely we are friends, aren't we?"

"We are, " he declared positively. 

As they started forward a revenue cutter which had been hovering aboutSandy Hook put toward them, flying some signal at her masthead. Slowlythe great boat on which they stood crept along, then the clang of a bellin the engine-room brought her to a standstill, and the revenue cuttercame alongside. 

"I leave you here, " Mr. Grimm said again. "It's good-by. "

"Good-by, " she said softly. "Good-by, till we meet once more. "

She extended both hands impulsively and he stood for an instant staringinto the limpid gray eyes, then, turning, went below. From the revenuecutter he waved a hand at her as the great _Lusitania_, moving again, sped on her way. The prince joined Miss Thorne at the rail. The scowlwas still on his face. 

"And now what?" he demanded abruptly. "This man has treated us as if wewere a pair of children. "

"He's a wonderful man, " she replied. 

"That may be--but we have been fools to allow him to do all this. "

Miss Thorne turned flatly and faced him. 

"We are not beaten yet, " she said slowly. "If all things go well we--weare not beaten yet. "

The _Lusitania_ was rounding Montauk Point when the wireless brought herto half-speed with a curt message:

"Isabel Thorne and Pietro Petrozinni aboard _Lusitania_ wanted onwarrants charging conspiracy. Tug-boat will take them off, interceptingyou beyond Montauk Point. 

"CAMPBELL, Secret Service. "

"What does _that_ mean?" asked the prince, bewildered. 

"It means that the compact will be signed in Washington in spite of Mr. Grimm, " and there was the glitter of triumph in her eyes. "With the aidof one of the maids in the depot at Jersey City I managed to get atelegram of explanation and instruction to De Foe in New York, and thisis the result. He signed Mr. Campbell's name, I suppose, to give weightto the message. "

An hour later a tug-boat came alongside, and they went aboard. 

XX

THE LIGHT IN THE DOME

From where he sat, in a tiny alcove which jutted out and encroached uponthe line of the sidewalk, Mr. Grimm looked down on Pennsylvania Avenue, the central thread of Washington, ever changing, always brilliant, splashed at regular intervals with light from high-flung electric arcs. The early theater crowd was in the street, well dressed, well fed, careless for the moment of all things save physical comfort andamusement; automobiles, carriages, cabs, cars flowed past endlessly; andyet Mr. Grimm saw naught of it. In the distance, at one end of theavenue the dome of the capitol cleft the shadows of night, and a singlelight sparkled at its apex; in the other direction, at the left of thetreasury building which abruptly blocks the wide thoroughfare, were theshimmering windows of the White House. 

Motionless, moody, thoughtful, Mr. Grimm sat staring, staring straightahead, comprehending none of these things which lay before him as in apanorama. Instead, his memory was conjuring up a pair of subtle, blue-gray eyes, now pleading, now coquettish, now frankly defiant; twoslim, white, wonderful hands; the echo of a pleasant, throaty laugh; asplendid, elusive, radiant-haired phantom. Truly, a woman of mystery!Who was this Isabel Thorne who, for months past, had been thestorm-center and directing mind of a vast international intrigue whichthreatened the world with war? Who, this remarkable young woman who withease and assurance commanded ambassadors and played nations as pawns?

Now that she was safely out of the country Mr. Grimm had leisure tospeculate. Upon him had devolved the duty of blocking her plans, and hehad done so--merciless alike of his own feeling and of hers. Hesitationor evasion had never occurred to him. It was a thing to be done, and hedid it. He wondered if she had understood, there at the last beside therail? He wondered if she knew the struggle it had cost him deliberatelyto send her out of his life? Or had even surmised that her expulsionfrom the country, by his direct act, was wholly lacking in theexaltation of triumph to him; that it struck deeper than that, below thelistless, official exterior, into his personal happiness? And wondering, he knew that she _did_ understand. 

A silent shod waiter came and placed the coffee things at his elbow. Hedidn't heed. The waiter poured a demi-tasse, and inquiringly lifted alump of sugar in the silver tongs. Still Mr. Grimm didn't heed. At lastthe waiter deposited the sugar on the edge of the fragile saucer, andmoved away as silently as he had come. A newspaper which Mr. Grimm hadplaced on the end of the table when he sat down, rattled a little as abreeze from the open window caught it, then the top sheet slid off andfell to the floor. Mr. Grimm was still staring out the window. 

Slowly the room behind him was thinning of its crowd as thetheater-bound diners went out in twos and threes. The last of thesedisappeared finally, and save for Mr. Grimm there were not more than adozen persons left in the place. Thus for a few minutes, and then theswinging doors leading from the street clicked, and a gentleman entered. He glanced around, as if seeking a seat near a window, then moved alongin Mr. Grimm's direction, between the rows of tables. His gaze lingeredon Mr. Grimm for an instant, and when he came opposite he stooped andpicked up the fallen newspaper sheet. 

"Your paper?" he inquired courteously. 

Mr. Grimm was still gazing dreamily out of the window. 

"I beg pardon, " insisted the new-comer pleasantly. He folded the paperonce and replaced it on the table. One hand lingered for just thefraction of a moment above Mr. Grimm's coffee-cup. 

Aroused by the remark, Mr. Grimm glanced around. 

"Oh, thank you, " he apologized hastily. "I didn't hear you at first. Thank you. "

The new-comer nodded, smiled and passed on, taking a seat two or threetables down. 

Apparently this trifling courtesy had broken the spell of reverie, forMr. Grimm squared around to the table again, drew his coffee-cup towardhim, and dropped in the single lump of sugar. He idly stirred it for amoment, as his eyes turned again toward the open window, then he liftedthe tiny cup and emptied it. 

Again he sat motionless for a long time, and thrice the new-comer, onlya few feet away, glanced at him narrowly. And now, it seemed, a peculiardrowsiness was overtaking Mr. Grimm. Once he caught himself nodding andraised his head with a jerk. Then he noticed that the arc lights in thestreet were wobbling curiously, and he fell to wondering why thatsingle flame sparkled at the apex of the capitol dome. Things around himgrew hazy, vague, unreal, and then, as if realizing that something wasthe matter with him, he came to his feet. 

He took one step forward into the space between the tables, reeled, attempted to steady himself by holding on to a chair, then everythinggrew black about him, and he pitched forward on the floor. His face wasdead white; his fingers moved a little, nervously, weakly, then theywere still. 

Several people rose at the sound of the falling body, and the new-comerhurried forward. His coat sleeve caught the empty demi-tasse, as hestooped, and swept it to the floor, where it was shattered. The headwaiter and another came, pell-mell, and those diners who had risen camemore slowly. 

"What's the matter?" asked the head waiter anxiously. 

Already the new-comer was supporting Mr. Grimm on his knee, andflicking water in his face. 

"Nothing serious, I fancy, " he answered shortly. "He's subject to theselittle attacks. "

"What are they? Who is he?"

The stranger tore at Mr. Grimm's collar until it came loose, then hefell to chafing the still hands. 

"He is a Mr. Grimm, a government employee--I know him, " he answeredagain. "I imagine it's nothing more serious than indigestion. "

A little knot had gathered about them, with offers of assistance. 

"Waiter, hadn't you better send for a physician?" some one suggested. 

"I'm a physician, " the stranger put in impatiently. "Have some one calla cab, and I'll see that he's taken home. It happens that we live in thesame apartment house, just a few blocks from here. "

Obedient to the crisply-spoken directions, a cab was called, and fiveminutes later Mr. Grimm, still insensible, was lifted into it. Thestranger took a seat beside him, the cabby touched his horse with awhip, and the vehicle fell into the endless, moving line. 

XXI

A SLIP OF PAPER

When the light of returning consciousness finally pierced the blacklethargy that enshrouded him, Mr. Grimm's mind was a chaos of vagrant, absurd fantasies; then slowly, slowly, realization struggled back to itsown, and he came to know things. First was the knowledge that he waslying flat on his back, on a couch, it seemed; then, that he was in thedark--an utter, abject darkness. And finally came an overwhelming senseof silence. 

For a while he lay motionless, with not even the movement of an eye-lashto indicate consciousness, wrapped in a delicious languor. Graduallythis passed and the feeble flutter of his heart grew into a steady, rhythmic beat. The keen brain was awakening; he was beginning toremember. What had happened? He knew only that in some manner a drug hadbeen administered to him, a bitter dose tasting of opium; thatspeechlessly, he had fought against it, that he had risen from the tablein the restaurant, and that he had fallen. All the rest was blank. 

With eyes still closed, and nerveless hands inert at his sides helistened, the while he turned the situation over in speculative mood. The waiter had administered the drug, of course, unless--unless it hadbeen the courteous stranger who had replaced the newspaper on the table!That thought opened new fields of conjecture. Mr. Grimm had norecollection of ever having seen him before; and he had paid only theenforced attention of politeness to him. And why had the drug beenadministered? Vaguely, incoherently, Mr. Grimm imagined that in some wayit had to do with the great international plot of war in which MissThorne was so delicate and vital an instrument. 

Where was he? Conjecture stopped there. Evidently he was where thecourteous gentleman in the restaurant wanted him to be. A prisoner?Probably. In danger? Long, careful attention to detail work in theSecret Service had convinced Mr. Grimm that he was always in danger. That was one reason--and the best--why he had lain motionless, withoutso much as lifting a finger, since that first glimmer of consciousnesshad entered his brain. He was probably under scrutiny, even in thedarkness, and for the present it was desirable to accommodate any chancewatcher by remaining apparently unconscious. 

And so for a long time he lay, listening. Was there another person inthe room? Mr. Grimm's ears were keenly alive for the inadvertentshuffling of a foot; or the sound of breathing. Nothing. Even the nightroar of the city was missing; the silence was oppressive. At last heopened his eyes. A pall of gloom encompassed him--a pall without onerift of light. His fingers, moving slowly, explored the limits of thecouch whereon he lay. 

Confident, at last, that wherever he was, he was unwatched, Mr. Grimmwas on the point of concluding that further inaction was useless, whenhis straining ears caught the faint grating of metal againstmetal--perhaps the insertion of a key in the lock. His hands grew still;his eyes closed. And after a moment a door creaked slightly on itshinges, and a breath of cool air informed Mr. Grimm that that open door, wherever it was, led to the outside, and freedom. 

There was another faint creaking as the door was shut. Mr. Grimm'snerveless hands closed involuntarily, and his lips were set togethertightly. Was it to be a knife thrust in the dark? If not--then what? Heexpected the flare of a match; instead there was a soft tread, and therustle of skirts. A woman! Mr. Grimm's caution was all but forgotten inhis surprise. As the steps drew nearer his clenched fingers loosened; hewaited. 

Two hands stretched forward in the dark, touched himsimultaneously--one on the face, one on the breast. A singular thrillshot through him, but there was not the flicker of an eye or thetwitching of a finger. The woman--it _was_ a woman--seemed now to bebending over him, then he heard her drop on her knees beside him, andshe pressed an inquiring ear to his left side. It was the heart test. 

"Thank God!" she breathed softly. 

It was only by a masterful effort that Mr. Grimm held himself limp andinert, for a strange fragrance was enveloping him--a fragrance he wellknew. 

The hands were fumbling at his breast again, and there was the sharpcrackle of paper. At first he didn't understand, then he knew that thewoman had pinned a paper to the lapel of his coat. Finally shestraightened up, and took two steps away from him, after which came apause. His keenly attuned ears caught her faint breathing, then therustle of her skirts as she turned back. She was leaning over himagain--her lips touched his forehead, barely; again there was a quickrustling of skirts, the door creaked, and--silence, deep, oppressive, overwhelming silence. 

Isabel! Was he dreaming? And then he ceased wondering and fell toremembering her kiss--light as air--and the softly spoken "Thank God!"She did care, then! She _had_ understood, that day!

The kiss of a woman beloved is a splendid heart tonic. Mr. Grimmstraightened up suddenly on the couch, himself again. He touched theslip of paper which she had pinned to his coat to make sure it was notall a dream, after which he recalled the fact that while he had heardthe door creak before she went out he had not heard it creak afterward. Therefore, the door was open. She had left it open. Purposely? That wasbeside the question at the moment. 

And why--how--was she in Washington? Pondering that question, Mr. Grimm's excellent teeth clicked sharply together and he rose. He knewthe answer. The compact was to be signed--the alliance which would arraythe civilized world in arms. He had failed to block that, as he thought. If Miss Thorne had returned, then Prince Benedetto d'Abruzzi, who heldabsolute power to sign the compact for Italy, France and Spain, had alsoreturned. 

Stealthily, feeling his way as he went, Mr. Grimm moved toward the doorleading to freedom, guided by the fresh draft of air. He reached thedoor--it was standing open--and a moment later stepped out into thestar-lit night. It was open country here, with a thread of white roadjust ahead, and farther along a fringe of shrubbery. Mr. Grimm reachedthe road. Far down it, a pin point in the night, a light flickeredthrough interlacing branches. The tail lamp of an automobile, of course!

Mr. Grimm left the road and skirted a sparse hedge in the direction ofthe light. After a moment he heard the engine of an automobile, and sawa woman--barely discernible--step into the car. As it started forward hestaked everything on one bold move, and won, his reward being a narrowsitting space in the rear of the car, hidden from its occupants by thetonneau. One mile, two miles, three miles they charged through thenight, and still he clung on. At last there came relief. 

"That's the place, where the lights are--just ahead. "

There was no mistaking that voice raised above the clamor of the engine. The car slackened speed, and Mr. Grimm dropped off and darted behindsome convenient bushes. And the first thing he did there was to light amatch, and read what was written on the slip of paper pinned to hiscoat. It was, simply:

"My Dear Mr. Grimm:

"By the time you read this the compact will have been signed, and yourefforts to prevent it, splendid as they were, futile. It is a tribute toyou that it was unanimously agreed that you must be accounted for atthe time of the signing, hence the drugging in the restaurant; it wasonly an act of kindness that I should come here to see that all was wellwith you, and leave the door open behind me. 

"Believe me when I say that you are one man in whom I have never beendisappointed. Accept this as my farewell, for now I assume again thename and position rightfully mine. And know, too, that I shall alwayscherish the belief that you will remember me as

"Your friend, "ISABEL THORNE. 

"P. S. The prince and I left the steamer at Montauk Point, on atug-boat. "

Mr. Grimm kissed the note twice, then burned it. 

XXII

THE COMPACT

A room, low-ceilinged, dim, gloomy, sinister as an inquisition chamber;a single large table in the center, holding a kerosene lamp, writingmaterials and a metal spheroid a shade larger than a one-pound shell;and around it a semicircle of silent, masked and cowled figures. Therewere twelve of them, eleven men and a woman. In the shadows, which grewdenser at the far end of the room, was a squat, globular object, amassive, smooth-sided, black, threatening thing of iron. 

One of the men glanced at his watch--it was just two o'clock--then roseand took a position beside the table, facing the semicircle. He placedthe timepiece on the table in front of him. 

"Gentlemen, " he said, and there was the faintest trace of a foreignaccent, "I shall speak English because I know that whatever yournationality all of you are familiar with that tongue. And now an apologyfor the theatric aspect of all this--the masks, the time and place ofmeeting, and the rest of it. " He paused a moment. "There is only oneperson living who knows the name and position of all of you, " and by asweep of his hand he indicated the motionless figure of the woman. "Itwas by her decision that masks are worn, for, while we all know thedetails of the Latin compact, there is a bare chance that some one willnot sign, and it is not desirable that the identity of that person beknown to all of us. The reason for the selection of this time and placeis obvious, for an inkling of the proposed signing has reached theSecret Service. I will add the United States was chosen as thebirthplace of this new epoch in history for several reasons, one beingthe proximity to Central and South America; and another the inadequatepolice system which enables greater freedom of action. "

He stopped and drew from his pocket a folded parchment. He tapped thetips of his fingers with it from time to time as he talked. 

"The Latin compact, gentlemen, is not the dream, of a night, nor of adecade. As long as fifty years ago it was suggested, and whateverdifferences the Latin countries of the world have had among themselves, they have always realized that ultimately they must stand togetheragainst--against the other nations of the world. This idea germinatedinto action three years ago, and since that time agents have covered theworld in its interest. This meeting is the fruition of all that work, and this, " he held the parchment aloft, "is the instrument that willunite us. Never has a diplomatic secret been kept as this has been kept;never has a greater reprisal been planned. It means, gentlemen, thedomination of the world--socially, spiritually, commercially andartistically; it means that England and the United States, whose sphereof influence has extended around the globe, will be beaten back, thatthe flag of the Latin countries will wave again over lost possessions. It means all of that, and more. "

His voice had risen as he talked until it had grown vibrant withenthusiasm; and his hands pointed his remarks with quick, sharpgestures. 

"All this, " he went on, "was never possible until three years ago, whenthe navies of the world were given over into the hands of one nation--mycountry. Five years ago a fellow-countryman of mine happened to bepresent at an electrical exhibition in New York City, and there hewitnessed an interesting experiment--practical demonstration of the factthat a submarine mine may be exploded by the use of the Marconi wirelesssystem. He was a practical electrician himself, and the idea lingered inhis mind. For two years he experimented, and finally this resulted. " Hepicked up the metal spheroid and held it out for their inspection. "Asit stands it is absolutely perfect and gives a world's supremacy to theLatin countries because it places all the navies of the world at ourmercy. It is a variation of the well-known percussion cap or fuse bywhich mines and torpedoes are exploded. 

"The theory of it is simple, as are the theories of all greatinventions; the secret of its construction is known only to itsinventor--a man of whom you never heard. It is merely that the mechanismof the cap is so delicate that the Marconi wireless waves--and _only_those--will fire the cap. In other words, this cap is tuned, if I mayuse the word, to a certain number of vibrations and half-vibrations; awireless instrument of high power, with a modifying addition which theinventor has added, has only to be set in motion to discharge it at anydistance up to twenty-five miles. High power wireless waves recognize noobstacle, so the explosion of a submarine mine is as easily broughtabout as would be the explosion of a mine on dry land. You will readilysee its value as a protective agency for our seaports. "

He replaced the spheroid on the table. 

"But its chief value is not in that, " he resumed. "Its chief value tothe Latin compact, gentlemen, is that the United States and England arenow concluding negotiations, unknown to each other, by which _they_ willprotect _their_ seaports by means of mines primed with this cap. Thetuning of the caps which we will use is known only to us; _the tuning ofthe caps which they will use is also known to us_! The addition to thewireless apparatus which they will use is such that they _can not_, evenby accident, explode a mine guarding our seaports; but, on the otherhand, the addition to the wireless apparatus which _we_ will use permitsof the extreme high charge which will explode their mines. To make itclearer, we could send a navy against such a city as New York orLiverpool, and explode every mine in front of us as we went; andmeanwhile our mines are impervious. 

"Another word, and I have finished. Five gentlemen, whom I imagine arepresent now, have witnessed a test of this cap, by direct command oftheir home governments. For the benefit of the others of you a simpletest has been arranged for to-night. This cap on the table is charged;its inventor is at his wireless instrument, fifteen miles away. At threeo'clock he will turn on the current that will explode it. " Four of theeleven men looked at their watches. "It is now seventeen minutes pasttwo. I am instructed, for the purposes of the test, to place this capanywhere you may select--in this house or outside of it, in a box, sealed, or under water. The purpose is merely to demonstrate itsefficacy; to prove to your complete satisfaction that it can be explodedunder practically any conditions. "

His entire manner underwent a change; he drew a chair up to the table, and stood for an instant with his hand resting on the back. 

"The compact is written in three languages--English, French andItalian. I shall ask you to sign, after reading either or all, preciselyas the directions you have received from your home government instruct. On behalf of the three greatest Latin countries, as special envoy ofeach, I will sign first. "

He dropped into the chair, signed each of the three parchment pagesthree times, then rose and offered the pen to the cowled figure at oneend of the semicircle. The man came forward, read the Englishtranscript, studied the three signatures already there with a certainair of surprise, then signed. The second man signed, the third man, andthe fourth. 

The fifth had just risen to go forward when the door opened silently andMr. Grimm entered. Without a glance either to right or left, he wentstraight toward the table, and extended a hand to take the compact. 

For an instant there had come amazement, a dumb astonishment, at theintrusion. It passed, and the hand of the man who had done the talkingdarted out, seized the compact, and held it behind him. 

"If you will be good enough to give that to me, your Highness, "suggested Mr. Grimm quietly. 

For half a minute the masked man stared straight into the listless eyesof the intruder, and then:

"Mr. Grimm, you are in very grave danger. "

"That is beside the question, " was the reply. "Be good enough to give methat document. "

He backed away as he spoke, kicked the door closed with one heel, thenleaned against it, facing them. 

"Or better yet, " he went on after a moment, "burn it. There is a lamp infront of you. " He paused for an answer. "It would be absurd of me toattempt to take it by force, " he added. 

XXIII

THE PERCUSSION CAP

There was a long, tense silence. The cowled figures had risen ominously;Miss Thorne paled behind her mask, and her fingers gripped her palmsfiercely, still she sat motionless. Prince d'Abruzzi broke the silence. He seemed perfectly calm and self-possessed. 

"How did you get in?" he demanded. 

"Throttled your guard at the front door, took him down cellar and lockedhim in the coal-bin, " replied Mr. Grimm tersely. "I am waiting for youto burn it. "

"And how did you escape from--from the other place?"

Mr. Grimm shrugged his shoulders. 

"The lamp is in front of you, " he said. 

"And find your way here?" the prince pursued. 

Again Mr. Grimm shrugged his shoulders. For an instant longer the princegazed straight into his inscrutable face, then turned accusing eyes onthe masked figures about him. 

"Is there a traitor?" he demanded suddenly. His gaze settled on MissThorne and lingered there. 

"I can relieve your mind on that point--there is not, " Mr. Grimm assuredhim. "Just a final word, your Highness, if you will permit me. I haveheard everything that has been said here for the last fifteen minutes. The details of your percussion cap are interesting. I shall lay thembefore my government and my government may take it upon itself to laythem before the British government. You yourself said a few minutes agothat this compact was not possible before this cap was invented andperfected. It isn't possible the minute my government is warned againstits use. That will be my first duty. "

"You are giving some very excellent reasons, Mr. Grimm, " was thedeliberate reply, "why you should not be permitted to leave this roomalive. "

"Further, " Mr. Grimm resumed in the same tone, "I have been ordered toprevent the signing of that compact, at least in this country. It seemsthat I am barely in time. If it is signed--and it will be useless now onyour own statement unless you murder me--every man who signs it willhave to reckon with the highest power of this country. Will you destroyit? I don't want to know what countries already stand committed by thesignatures there. "

"I will not, " was the steady response. And then, after a little: "Mr. Grimm, the inventor of this little cap, insignificant as it seems, willreceive millions for it. Your silence would be worth--just how much?"

Mr. Grimm's face turned red, then white again. 

"Which would you prefer? An independence by virtue of a great fortune, or--or the other thing?"

Suddenly Miss Thorne tore the mask from her face and came forward. Hercheeks were scarlet, and anger flamed in the blue-gray eyes. 

"Mr. Grimm has no price--I happen to know that, " she declared hotly. "Neither money nor a consideration for his own personal safety will makehim turn traitor. " She stared coldly into the prince's eyes. "And we arenot assassins here, " she added. 

"Miss Thorne has stated the matter fairly, I believe, your Highness, "and Mr. Grimm permitted his eyes to linger a moment on the flushed faceof this woman who, in a way, was defending him. "But there is only onething to do, Miss Thorne. " He was talking to her now. "There is nomiddle course. It is a problem that has only one possible answer--thedestruction of that document, and the departure of you, and you, yourHighness, for Italy under my personal care all the way. I imagined thismatter had ended that day on the steamer; it _will_ end here, now, to-night. "

The prince glanced again at his watch, then thoughtfully weighed thepercussion cap in his hand, after which, with a curious laugh, he walkedover to the squat iron globe in an opposite corner of the room. He bentover it half a minute, then straightened up. 

"That cap, Mr. Grimm, has one disadvantage, " he remarked casually. "Whenit is attached to a mine or torpedo it can not be disconnected withoutfiring it. It is attached. " He turned to the others. "It is needless todiscuss the matter further just now. If you will follow me? We willleave Mr. Grimm here. "

With a strange little cry, neither anger nor anguish, yet oddlypartaking of the quality of each, Isabel went quickly to the prince. 

"How dare you do such a thing?" she demanded fiercely. "It is murder. "

"This is not a time, Miss Thorne, for your interference, " replied theprince coldly. "It has all passed beyond the point where the feelingsof any one person, even the feelings of the woman who has engineered thecompact, can be considered. A single life can not be permitted to standin the way of the consummation of this world project. Mr. Grimm alivemeans the compact would be useless, if not impossible; Mr. Grimm deadmeans the fruition of all our plans and hopes. You have done your dutyand you have done it well; but now your authority ends, and I, thespecial envoy of--"

"Just a moment, please, " Mr. Grimm interrupted courteously. "As Iunderstand it, your Highness, the mine there in the corner is charged?"

"Yes. It just happened to be here for purposes of experiment. "

"The cap is attached?"

"Quite right. " The prince laughed. 

"And at three o'clock, by your watch, the mine will be fired by awireless operator fifteen miles from here?"

"Something like that; yes, very much like that, " assented the prince. 

"Thank you. I merely wanted to understand it. " Mr. Grimm pulled a chairup against the door and sat down, crossing his legs. On his knees restedthe barrel of a revolver, glittering, fascinating, in the semi-darkness. "Now, gentlemen, " and he glanced at his watch, "it's twenty-one minutesof three o'clock. At three that mine will explode. We will all be in theroom when it happens, unless his Highness sees fit to destroy thecompact. "

Eyes sought eyes, and the prince removed his mask with a sudden gesture. His face was bloodless. 

"If any man, " and Mr. Grimm gave Miss Thorne a quick glance, "I shouldsay, _any person_, attempts to leave this room I _know_ he will die; andthere's a bare chance that the percussion cap will fail to work. I canaccount for six of you, if there is a rush. "

"But, man, if that mine explodes we shall all be killed--blown topieces!" burst from one of the cowled figures. 

"If the percussion cap works, " supplemented Mr. Grimm. 

Mingled emotions struggled in the flushed face of Isabel as she studiedMr. Grimm's impassive countenance. 

"I have never disappointed you yet, Miss Thorne, " he remarked as if itwere an explanation. "I shall not now. "

She turned to the prince. 

"Your Highness, I think it needless to argue further, " she said. "Wehave no choice in the matter; there is only one course--destroy thecompact. "

"No!" was the curt answer. 

"I believe I know Mr. Grimm better than you do, " she argued. "You thinkhe will weaken; I know he will not. I am not arguing for him, nor formyself; I am arguing against the frightful loss that will come here inthis room if the compact is not destroyed. "

[Illustration: "You think he will weaken; I know he will not. "]

"It's absurd to let one man stand in the way, " declared the princeangrily. 

"It might not be an impertinent question, your Highness, " commented Mr. Grimm, "for me to ask how you are going to _prevent_ one man standing inthe way?"

A quick change came over Miss Thorne's face. The eyes hardened, the lipswere set, and lines Mr. Grimm had never seen appeared about the mouth. Here, in a flash, the cloak of dissimulation was cast aside, and thewoman stood forth, this keen, brilliant, determined woman who didthings. 

"The compact will be destroyed, " she said. 

"No, " declared the prince. 

"It _must_ be destroyed. "

"_Must? Must?_ Do you say _must to me?_"

"Yes, _must_, " she repeated steadily. 

"And by what authority, please, do--"

"By that authority!" She drew a tiny, filigreed gold box from her bosomand cast it upon the table; the prince stared at it. "In the name ofyour sovereign--_must_!" she said again. 

The prince turned away and began pacing, back and forth across the roomwith the parchment crumpled in his hand. For a minute or more Isabelstood watching him. 

"Thirteen minutes!" Mr. Grimm announced coldly. 

And now broke out an excited chatter, a babel of French, English, Italian, Spanish; those masked and cowled ones who had held silence forso long all began talking at once. One of them snatched at the crumpledcompact in the prince's hand, while all crowded around him arguing. Mr. Grimm sat perfectly still with the revolver barrel resting on his knees. 

"Eleven minutes!" he announced again. 

Suddenly the prince turned violently on Miss Thorne with rage-distortedface. 

"Do you know what it means to you if I do as you say?" he demandedsavagely. "It means you will be branded as traitor, that your name, your property--"

"If you will pardon me, your Highness, " she interrupted, "the power thatI have used was given to me to use; I have used it. It is a matter to besettled between me and my government, and as far as it affects my personis of no consequence now. You will destroy the compact. "

"Nine minutes!" said Mr. Grimm monotonously. 

Again the babel broke out. 

"Do we understand that you want to see the compact?" one of the cowledmen asked suddenly of Mr. Grimm as he turned. 

"No, I don't want to see it. I'd prefer not to see it. "

With hatred blazing in his eyes the prince made his way toward the lamp, holding a parchment toward the blaze. 

"There's nothing else to be done, " he exclaimed savagely. 

"Just a moment, please, " Mr. Grimm interposed quickly. "Miss Thorne, isthat the compact?"

She glanced at it, nodded her head, and then the flame caught thefringed edge of paper. It crackled, flashed, flamed, and at last, athing of ashes, was scattered on the floor. Mr. Grimm rose. 

"That is all, gentlemen, " he announced courteously. "You are free to go. You, your Highness, and Miss Thorne, will accompany me. "

He held open the door and there was almost a scramble to get out. Theprince and Miss Thorne waited until the last. 

"And, Miss Thorne, if you will give us a lift in your car?" Mr. Grimmsuggested. "It is now four minutes of three. "

The automobile came in answer to a signal and the three in silenceentered it. The car trembled and had just begun to move when Mr. Grimmremembered something, and leaped out. 

"Wait for me!" he called. "There's a man locked in the coal-bin!"

He disappeared into the house, and Miss Thorne, with a gasp of horrorsank back in her seat with face like chalk. The prince glanced uneasilyat his watch, then spoke curtly to the chauffeur. 

"Run the car up out of danger; there'll be an explosion there in amoment. "

They had gone perhaps a hundred feet when the building they had justleft seemed to be lifted bodily from the ground by a great spurt offlame which tore through its center, then collapsed like a thing ofcards. The prince, unmoved, glanced around at Miss Thorne; she lay in adead faint beside him. 

"Go ahead, " he commanded. "Baltimore. "

XXIV

THE PERSONAL EQUATION

Mr. Campbell ceased talking and the deep earnestness that had settled onhis face passed, leaving instead the blank, inscrutable mask ofbenevolence behind which his clock-like genius was habitually hidden. The choleric blue eyes of the president of the United States shiftedinquiringly to the thoughtful countenance of the secretary of state athis right, thence along the table around which the official family wasgathered. It was a special meeting of the cabinet called at thesuggestion of Chief Campbell, and for more than an hour he had done thetalking. There had been no interruption. 

"So much!" he concluded, at last. "If there is any point I have not madeclear Mr. Grimm is here to explain it in person. "

Mr. Grimm rose at the mention of his name and stood with his handsclasped behind his back. His eyes met those of the chief executivelistlessly. 

"We understand, Mr. Grimm, " the president began, and he paused for aninstant to regard the tall, clean-cut young man with a certainadmiration, "we understand that there does not actually exist such athing as a Latin compact against the English-speaking peoples?"

"On paper, no, " was the reply. 

"You personally prevented the signing of the compact?"

"I personally caused the destruction of the compact after severalsignatures had been attached, " Mr. Grimm amended. "Throughout I haveacted under the direction of Mr. Campbell, of course. "

"You were in very grave personal danger?" the president went on. 

"It was of no consequence, " said Mr. Grimm simply. 

The president glanced at Mr. Campbell and the chief shrugged hisshoulders. 

"You are certain, Mr. Grimm, " and the president spoke with greatdeliberation, "you are certain that the representatives of the Latincountries have not met since and signed the compact?"

"I am not certain--no, " replied Mr. Grimm promptly. "I am certain, however, that the backbone of the alliance was broken--its only excusefor existence destroyed--when they permitted me to learn of the wirelesspercussion cap which would have placed the navies of the world at theirmercy. Believe me, gentlemen, if they had kept their secret it wouldhave given them dominion of the earth. They made one mistake, " he addedin a most matter-of-fact tone. "They should have killed me; it was theironly chance. "

The president seemed a little startled at the suggestion. 

"That would have been murder, " he remarked. 

"True, " Mr. Grimm acquiesced, "but it seems an absurd thing that theyshould have permitted the life of one man to stand between them and theworld power for which they had so long planned and schemed. HisHighness, Prince Benedetto d'Abruzzi believed as I do, and so expressedhimself. " He paused a moment; there was a hint of surprise in hismanner. "I expected to be killed, of course. It seemed to me the onlything that could happen. "

"They must have known of the far-reaching consequences which wouldfollow upon your escape, Mr. Grimm. Why _didn't_ they kill you?"

Mr. Grimm made a little gesture with both hands and was silent. 

"May they not yet attempt it?" the president insisted. 

"It's too late now, " Mr. Grimm explained. "They had everything to gainby killing me there as I stood in the room where I had interrupted thesigning of the compact, because that would have been before I had placedthe facts in the hands of my government. I was the only person outsideof their circle who knew all of them. Only the basest motive couldinspire them to attempt my life now. "

There was a pause. The secretary of state glanced from Mr. Grimm to Mr. Campbell with a question in his deep-set eyes. 

"Do I understand that you placed a Miss Thorne and the princeunder--that is, you detained them?" he queried. "If so, where are theynow?"

"I don't know, " was the reply. "Just before the explosion the three ofus entered an automobile together, and then as we were starting away Iremembered something which made it necessary for me to reenter thehouse. When I came out again, just a few seconds before the explosion, the prince and Miss Thorne had gone. "

The secretary's lips curled down in disapproval. 

"Wasn't it rather unusual, to put it mildly, to leave your prisoners totheir own devices that way?" he asked. 

"Well, yes, " Mr. Grimm admitted. "But the circumstances were unusual. When I entered the house I had locked a man in the cellar. I had to goback to save his life, otherwise--"

"Oh, the guard at the door, you mean?" came the interruption. "Who wasit?"

Mr. Grimm glanced at his chief, who nodded. 

"It was Mr. Charles Winthrop Rankin of the German embassy, " said theyoung man. 

"Mr. Rankin of the German embassy was on guard at the door?" demandedthe president quickly. 

"Yes. We got out safely. "

"And that means that Germany was--!"

The president paused and startled glances passed around the table. Aftera moment of deep abstraction the secretary went on:

"So Miss Thorne and the prince escaped. Are they still in this country?"

"That I don't know, " replied Mr. Grimm. He stood silent a moment, staring at the president. Some subtle change crept into the listlesseyes, and his lips were set. "Perhaps I had better explain here that thepersonal equation enters largely into an affair of this kind, " he saidat last, slowly. "It happens that it entered into this. Unless I amordered to pursue the matter further I think it would be best for allconcerned to accept the fact of Miss Thorne's escape, and--" He stopped. 

There was a long, thoughtful silence. Every man in the room was studyingMr. Grimm's impassive face. 

"Personal equation, " mused the president. "Just how, Mr. Grimm, does thepersonal equation enter into the affair?"

The young man's lips closed tightly, and then:

"There are some people, Mr. President, whom we meet frankly as enemies, and we deal with them accordingly; and there are others who oppose usand yet are not enemies. It is merely that our paths of duty cross. Wemay have the greatest respect for them and they for us, but purposes areunalterably different. In other words there is a personal enmity and apolitical enmity. You, for instance, might be a close personal friend ofthe man whom you defeated for president. There might"--he stoppedsuddenly. 

"Go on, " urged the president. 

"I think every man meets once in his life an individual with whom hewould like to reckon personally, " the young man continued. "Thatreckoning may not be a severe one; it may be less severe than the lawwould provide; but it would be a personal reckoning. There is oneindividual in this affair with whom I should like to reckon, hence thepersonal equation enters very largely into the case. "

For a little while the silence of the room was unbroken, save for thesteady tick-tock of a great clock in one corner. Mr. Grimm's eyes werefixed unwaveringly upon those of the chief executive. At last thesecretary of war crumpled a sheet of paper impatiently and hitched hischair up to the table. 

"Coming down to the facts it's like this, isn't it?" he demandedbriskly. "The Latin countries, by an invention of their own which theUnited States and England were to be duped into purchasing, would havehad power to explode every submarine mine before attacking a port? Verywell. This thing, of course, would have given them the freedom of theseas as long as we were unable to explode their submarines as they wereable to explode ours. And this is the condition which made the Latincompact possible, isn't it?"

He looked straight at Mr. Grimm, who nodded. 

"Therefore, " he went on, "if the Latin compact is not a reality onpaper; if the United States and England do not purchase this--thiswireless percussion cap, we are right back where we were before it allhappened, aren't we? Every possible danger from that direction haspassed, hasn't it? The world-war of which we have been talking isrendered impossible, isn't it?"

"That's a question, " answered Mr. Grimm. "If you will pardon me forsuggesting it, I would venture to say that as long as there is aninvention of that importance in the hands of nations whom we now knowhave been conspiring against us for fifty years, there is always danger. It seems to me, if you will pardon me again, that for the sake of peacewe must either get complete control of that invention or else understandit so well that there can be no further danger. And again, please let mecall your attention to the fact that the brain which brought this thinginto existence is still to be reckoned with. There may, some day, come atime when our submarines may be exploded at will regardless of thispercussion cap. "

The secretary of war turned flatly upon Chief Campbell. 

"This woman who is mixed up in this affair?" he demanded. "This MissThorne. Who is she?"

"Who is she?" repeated the chief. "She's a secret agent of Italy, one ofthe most brilliant, perhaps, that has ever operated in this or any othercountry. She is the pivot around which the intrigue moved. We know herby a dozen names; any one of them may be correct. "

The brows of the secretary of war were drawn down in thought as heturned to the president. 

"Mr. Grimm was speaking of the personal equation, " he remarkedpointedly. "I think perhaps his meaning is clear when we know there is awoman in the case. We know that Mr. Grimm has done his duty to the lastinch in this matter; we know that alone and unaided, practically, he hasdone a thing that no living man of his relative position has ever donebefore--prevented a world-war. But there is further danger--he himselfhas called our attention to it--therefore, I would suggest that Mr. Grimm be relieved of further duty in this particular case. This is not amoment when the peace of the world may be imperiled by personal feelingsof--of kindliness for an individual. "

Mr. Grimm received the blow without a tremor. His hands were still idlyclasped behind his back; the eyes fastened upon the president's facewere still listless; the mouth absolutely without expression. 

"As Mr. Grimm has pointed out, " the secretary went on, "we have beennegotiating for this wireless percussion cap. I have somewhere in myoffice the name and address of the individual with whom thesenegotiations have been conducted. Through that it is possible to reachthe inventor, and then--! I suggest that we vote our thanks to Mr. Grimmand relieve him of this particular case. "

The choleric eyes of the president softened a little, and grew grave asthey studied the impassive face of the young man. 

"It's a strange situation, Mr. Grimm, " he said evenly. "What do you sayto withdrawing?"

"I am at your orders, Mr. President, " was the reply. 

"No one knows better what you have done than the gentlemen here at thistable, " the president went on slowly. "No one questions that you havedone more than any other man could have done under the circumstances. Weunderstand, I think, that indirectly you are asking immunity for anindividual. I don't happen to know the liability of that individualunder our law, but we can't make any mistake now, Mr. Grimm, and so--andso--" He stopped and was silent. 

"I had hoped, Mr. President, that what I have done so far--and I don'tunderestimate it--would have, at least, earned for me the privilege ofremaining in this case until its conclusion, " said Mr. Grimm steadily. "If it is to be otherwise, of course I am at--"

"History tells us, Mr. Grimm, " interrupted the president irrelevantly, "that the frou-frou of a woman's skirt has changed the map of the world. Do you believe, " he went on suddenly, "that a man can mete out justicefairly, severely if necessary, to one for whom he has a personalregard?"

"I do, sir. "

"Perhaps even to one--to a woman whom he might love?"

"I do, sir. "

The president rose. 

"Please wait in the anteroom for a few minutes, " he directed. 

Mr. Grimm bowed himself out. At the end of half an hour he was againsummoned into the cabinet chamber. The president met him withoutstretched hand. There was more than mere perfunctory thanks inthis--there was the understanding of man and man. 

"You will proceed with the case to the end, Mr. Grimm, " he instructedabruptly. "If you need assistance ask for it; if not, proceed alone. You will rely upon your own judgment entirely. If there arecircumstances which make it inadvisable to move against an individual bylegal process, even if that individual is amenable to our laws, you arenot constrained so to do if your judgment is against it. There is onestipulation: You will either secure the complete rights of the wirelesspercussion cap to this government or learn the secret of the inventionso that at no future time can we be endangered by it. "

"Thank you, " said Mr. Grimm quietly. "I understand. "

"I may add that it is a matter of deep regret to me, " and the presidentbrought one vigorous hand down on the young man's shoulder, "that ourgovernment has so few men of your type in its service. Good day. "

XXV

WE TWO

Mr. Grimm turned from Pennsylvania Avenue into a cross street, walkedalong half a block or so, climbed a short flight of stairs and enteredan office. 

"Is Mr. Howard in?" he queried of a boy in attendance. 

"Name, please. "

Mr. Grimm handed over a sealed envelope which bore the official imprintof the Department of War in the upper left hand corner; and the boydisappeared into a room beyond. A moment later he emerged and held openthe door for Mr. Grimm. A gentleman--Mr. Howard--rose from his seat andstared at him as he entered. 

"This note, Mr. Grimm, is surprising, " he remarked. 

"It is only a request from the secretary of war that I be permitted tomeet the inventor of the wireless percussion cap, " Mr. Grimm explainedcarelessly. "The negotiations have reached a point where the WarDepartment must have one or two questions answered directly by theinventor. Simple enough, you see. "

"But it has been understood, and I have personally impressed it upon thesecretary of war that such a meeting is impossible, " objected Mr. Howard. "All negotiations have been conducted through me, and I have, asattorney for the inventor, the right to answer any question that mayproperly be answered. This now is a request for a personal interviewwith the inventor. "

"The necessity for such an interview has risen unexpectedly, because ofa pressing need of either closing the deal or allowing it to drop, " Mr. Grimm stated. "I may add that the success of the deal depends entirelyon this interview. "

Mr. Howard was leaning forward in his chair with wrinkled brow intentlystudying the calm face of the young man. Innocent himself of all theintrigue and international chicanery back of the affair, representingonly an individual in these secret negotiations, he saw in thestatement, as Mr. Grimm intended that he should, the possible climax ofa great business contract. His greed was aroused; it might mean hundredsof thousands of dollars to him. 

"Do you think the deal can be made?" he asked at last. 

"I have no doubt there will be some sort of a deal, " replied Mr. Grimm. "As I say, however, it is absolutely dependent on an interview betweenthe inventor and myself at once--this afternoon. "

Mr. Howard thoughtfully drummed on his desk for a little while. From thefirst, save in so far as the patent rights were concerned, he had seenno reasons for the obligations of utter secrecy which had been enforcedupon him. Perhaps, if he laid it before the inventor in this new light, with the deal practically closed, the interview would be possible!

"I have no choice in the matter, Mr. Grimm, " he said at last. "I shallhave to put it to my client, of course. Can you give me, say, half anhour to communicate with him?"

"Certainly, " and Mr. Grimm rose obligingly. "Shall I wait outside hereor call again?"

"You may wait if you don't mind, " said Mr. Howard. "I'll be able to letyou know in a few minutes, I hope. "

Mr. Grimm bowed and passed out. At the end of twenty-five minutes thedoor of Mr. Howard's private office opened and he appeared. His face wasviolently red, evidently from anger, and perspiration stood on hisforehead. 

"I can't do anything with him, " he declared savagely. "He says simplythat negotiations must be conducted through me or not at all. "

Mr. Grimm had risen; he bowed courteously. 

"Very well, " he said placidly. "You understand, of course, as the notesays, that this refusal of his terminates the negotiations, so--"

"But just a moment--" interposed Mr. Howard quickly. 

"Good day, " said Mr. Grimm. 

The door opened and closed; he was gone. Three minutes later he steppedinto a telephone booth at a near-by corner and took down the receiver. 

"Hello, central!" he called, and then: "This is Mr. Grimm of the SecretService. What number was Mr. Howard talking to?"

"Eleven double-nought six, Alexandria, " was the reply. 

"Where is the connection? In whose name?"

"The connection is five miles out from Alexandria in a farm-house on theold Baltimore Road, " came the crisp, business-like answer. "The name isMurdock Williams. "

"Thank you, " said Mr. Grimm. "Good-by. "

A moment later he was standing by the curb waiting for a car, whenHoward, still angry, and with an expression of deep chagrin on hisface, came bustling up. 

"If you can give me until to-morrow afternoon, then--" he began. 

Mr. Grimm glanced around at him, and with a slight motion of his headsummoned two men who had been chatting near-by. One of them was Blair, and the other Hastings. 

"Take this man in charge, " he directed. "Hold him in solitaryconfinement until you hear from me. Don't talk to him, don't let any oneelse talk to him, and don't let him talk. If any person speaks to himbefore he is locked up, take that person in charge also. He is guilty ofno crime, but a single word from him now will endanger my life. "

That was all. It was said and done so quickly that Howard, dazed, confused and utterly unable to account for anything, was led awaywithout a protest. Mr. Grimm, musing gently on the stupidity of mankindin general and the ease with which it is possible to lead even a cleverindividual into a trap, if the bait appeals to greed, took a car andwent up town. 

Some three hours later he walked briskly along a narrow path strewn withpine needles, which led tortuously up to an old colonial farmhouse. Outwardly the place seemed to be deserted. The blinds, battered andstripped of paint by wind and rain, were all closed and one corner ofthe small veranda had crumbled away from age and neglect. In the rear ofthe house, rising from an old barn, a thin pole with a cup-likeattachment at the apex, thrust its point into the open above the dense, odorous pines. Mr. Grimm noted these things as he came along. 

He stepped up quietly on the veranda and had just extended one hand torap on the door when it was opened from within, and Miss Thorne stoodbefore him. He was not surprised; intuition had told him he would meether again, perhaps here in hiding. A sudden quick tenderness lighted thelistless eyes. For an instant she stood staring, her face pallid againstthe gloom of the hallway beyond, and she drew a long breath of relief, as she pressed one hand to her breast. The blue-gray eyes were veiled bydrooping lids, then she recovered herself and they opened into his. Inthem he saw anxiety, apprehension, fear even. 

"Miss Thorne!" he greeted, and he bowed low over the white hand whichshe impulsively thrust toward him. 

"I--I knew some one was coming, " she stammered in a half whisper. "Ididn't know it was you; I hadn't known definitely until this instantthat you were safe from the explosion. I am glad--glad, you understand;glad that you were not--" She stopped and fought back her emotions, thenwent on: "But you must not come in; you must go away at once. Your--yourlife is in danger here. "

"_How_ did you know I was coming?" inquired Mr. Grimm. 

"From the moment Mr. Howard telephoned, " she replied, still hastily, still in the mysterious half whisper. "I knew that it could only besome one from your bureau, and I hoped that it was you. I saw how youforced him to call us up here, and that was all you needed. It wassimple, of course, to trace the telephone call. " Both of her handsclosed over one of his desperately. "Now, go, please. The Latin compactis at an end; you merely invite death here. Now, go!"

Her eyes were searching the listless face with entreaty in them; theslender fingers were fiercely gripping one of Mr. Grimm's nervelesshands. For an instant some strange, softening light flickered in theyoung man's eyes, then it passed. 

"I have no choice, Miss Thorne, " he said gravely at last. "I am honorbound by my government to do one of two things. If I fail in the firstof those--the greater--it can only be because--"

He stopped; hope flamed up in her eyes and she leaned forward eagerlystudying the impassive face. 

"Because--?" she repeated. 

"It can only be because I am killed, " he added quietly. Suddenly hiswhole manner changed. "I should like to see the--the inventor?"

"But don't you see--don't you see you _will_ be killed if--?" she begantensely. 

"May I see the inventor, please?" Mr. Grimm interrupted. 

For a little time she stood, white and rigid, staring at him. Then herlids fluttered down wearily, as if to veil some crushing agony withinher, and she stepped aside. Mr. Grimm entered and the door closednoiselessly behind him. After a moment her hand rested lightly on hisarm, and he was led into a room to his left. This door, too, she closed, immediately turning to face him. 

"We may talk here a few minutes without interruption, " she said in a lowtone. Her voice was quite calm now. "If you will be--?"

"Please understand, Miss Thorne, " he interposed mercilessly, "that Imust see the inventor, whoever he is. What assurance have I that thisis not some ruse to permit him to escape?"

"You have my word of honor, " she said quite simply. 

"Please go on. " He sat down. 

"You will see him too soon, I fear, " she continued slowly. "If you hadnot come to him he would have gone to you. " She swayed a little andpressed one hand to her eyes. "I would to God it were in my power toprevent that meeting!" she exclaimed desperately. Then, with an effort:"There are some things I want to explain to you. It may be that you willbe willing to go then of your own free will. If I lay bare to you everystep I have taken since I have been in Washington; if I make clear toyou every obscure point in this hideous intrigue; if I confess to youthat the Latin compact has been given up for all time, won't that beenough? Won't you go then?"

Mr. Grimm's teeth closed with a snap. 

"I don't want that--from you, " he declared. 

"But if I should tell it all to you?" she pleaded. 

"I won't listen, Miss Thorne. You once paid me the compliment of sayingthat I was one man you knew in whom you had never been disappointed. "The listless eyes were blazing into her own now. "_I_ have never beendisappointed in you. I will not permit you to disappoint me now. Thesecrets of your government are mine if I can get them--but I won't allowyou to tell them to me. "

"My government!" Miss Thorne repeated, and her lips curled sadly. "I--Ihave no government. I have been cast off by that government, stripped ofmy rank, and branded as a traitor!"

"Traitor!" Mr. Grimm's lips formed the word silently. 

"I failed, don't you see?" she rushed on. "Ignominy is the reward offailure. Prince d'Abruzzi went on to New York that night, cabled a fullaccount of the destruction of the compact to my government, and sailedhome on the following day. I was the responsible one, and now it allcomes back on me. " For a moment she was silent. "It's so singular, Mr. Grimm. The fight from the first was between us--we two; and you won. "

XXVI

IN WHICH THEY BOTH WIN

Mr. Grimm dropped into a chair with his teeth clenched, and his facelike chalk. For a minute or more he sat there turning it all over in hismind. Truly the triumph had been robbed of its splendor when the blowfell here--here upon a woman he loved. 

"There's no shame in the confession of one who is fairly beaten, " Isabelwent on softly, after a little. "There are many things that you don'tunderstand. I came to Washington with an authority from my sovereignhigher even than that vested in the ambassador; I came _as_ I did andcompelled Count di Rosini to obtain an invitation to the state ball forme in order that I might meet a representative of Russia there thatnight and receive an answer as to whether or not they would join thecompact. I received that answer; its substance is of no consequence now. 

"And you remember where I first met you? It was while you wereinvestigating the shooting of Señor Alvarez in the German embassy. Thatshooting, as you know, was done by Prince d'Abruzzi, so almost from thebeginning my plans went wrong because of the assumption of authority bythe prince. The paper he took from Señor Alvarez after the shooting wassupposed to bear vitally upon Mexico's attitude toward our plan, but, asit developed, it was about another matter entirely. "

"Yes, I know, " said Mr. Grimm. 

"The event of that night which you did _not_ learn was that Germanyagreed to join the compact upon conditions. Mr. Rankin, who was attachedto the German embassy in an advisory capacity, delivered the answer tome, and I pretended to faint in order that I might reasonably avoidyou. "

"I surmised that much, " remarked Mr. Grimm. 

"The telegraphing I did with my fan was as much to distract yourattention as anything else, and at the same time to identify myself toMr. Rankin, whom I had never met. You knew him, of course; I didn't. "

She was silent a while as her eyes steadily met those of Mr. Grimm. Finally she went on:

"When next I met you it was in the Venezuelan legation; you wereinvestigating the theft of the fifty thousand dollars in gold from thesafe. I thrust myself into that case, because I was afraid of you; andmercilessly destroyed a woman's name in your eyes to further my plans. Imade you believe that Señorita Rodriguez stole that fifty thousanddollars, and I returned it to you, presumably, while we stood in herroom that night. Only it was not her room--it was _mine!_ _I_ stole thefifty thousand dollars! All the details, even to her trip to see Mr. Griswold in Baltimore in company with Mr. Cadwallader, had beencarefully worked out; and she _did_ bring me the combination of the safefrom Mr. Griswold on the strength of a forged letter. But she didn'tknow it. There was no theft, of course. I had no intention of keepingthe money. It was necessary to take it to distract attention from thething I _did_ do--break a lock inside the safe to get a sealed packetthat contained Venezuela's answer to our plan. I sealed that packetagain, and there was never a suspicion that it had been opened. "

"Only a suspicion, " Mr. Grimm corrected. 

"Then came the abduction of Monsieur Boisségur, the French ambassador. Iplunged into that case as I did in the other because I was afraid of youand had to know just how much you knew. It was explained to you as anattempt at extortion with details which I carefully supplied. As amatter of fact, Monsieur Boisségur opposed our plans, even endangeredthem; and it was not advisable to have him recalled or even permit himto resign at the moment. So we abducted him, intending to hold himuntil direct orders could reach him from Paris. Understand, please, thatall these things were made possible by the aid and cooperation ofdozens, scores, of agents who were under my orders; every person whoappeared in that abduction was working at my direction. The ambassador'sunexpected escape disarranged our plans; but he was taken out of theembassy by force the second time under your very eyes. The darknesswhich made this possible was due to the fact that while you were lookingfor the switch, and I was apparently aiding, I was holding my hand overit all the time to keep you from turning on the light. You rememberthat?"

Mr. Grimm nodded. 

"All the rest of it you know, " she concluded wearily. "You compelled meto leave the Venezuelan legation by your espionage, but in the crowdedhotel to which I moved I had little difficulty avoiding your Mr. Hastings, your Mr. Blair and your Mr. Johnson, so I came and wentfreely without your knowledge. The escape of the prince from prison youarranged, so you understand all of that, as well as the meeting andattempted signing of the compact, and the rapid recovery of SeñorAlvarez. And, after all, it was my fault that our plans failed, becauseif I had not been--been uneasy as to your condition and had not made themistake of going to the deserted little house where you were a prisoner, the plans would have succeeded, the compact been signed. "

"I'm beginning to understand, " said Mr. Grimm gravely, and a wistful, tender look crept into his eyes. "If it had not been for that actof--consideration and kindness to me--"

"We would have succeeded in spite of you, " explained Isabel. "We wereafraid of you, Mr. Grimm. It was a compliment to you that we consideredit necessary to account for your whereabouts at the time of the signingof the compact. "

"And if you had succeeded, " remarked Mr. Grimm, "the whole civilizedworld would have come to war. "

"I never permitted myself to think of it that way, " she replied frankly. "There is something splendid to me in a battle of brains; there isexaltation, stimulation, excitement in it. It has always possessed thegreatest fascination for me. I have always won, you know, until now. Ifailed! And my reward is 'Traitor!'"

"Just a word of assurance now, " she went on after a moment. "The Latincompact has been definitely given up; the plan has been dismissed, thanks to you; the peace of the world is unbroken. And who am I? I knowyou have wondered; I know your agents have scoured the world to findout. I am the daughter of a former Italian ambassador to the Court ofSt. James. My mother was an English woman. I was born and received myearly education in England, hence my perfect knowledge of that tongue. In Rome I am, or have been, alas, the Countess Rosa d'Orsetti; now I aman exile with a price on my head. That is all, except for several yearsI was a trusted agent of my government, and a friend of my queen. "

She rose and extended both hands graciously. Mr. Grimm seized theslender white fingers and stood with eyes fixed upon hers. Slowly aflush crept into her pallid cheeks, and she bowed her head. 

"Wonderful woman!" he said softly. 

"I shall ask a favor of you now, " she went on gently. "Let all this thatyou have learned take the place of whatever you expected to learn, andgo. Believe me, there can only be one result if you meet--if you meetthe inventor of the wireless cap upon which so much was staked, and somuch lost. " She shuddered a little, then raised the blue-gray eyesbeseechingly to his face. "Please go. "

Go! The word straightened Mr. Grimm in his tracks and he allowed herhands to fall limply. Suddenly his face grew hard. In the ecstasy ofadoration he had momentarily forgotten his purpose here. His eyes losttheir ardor; his nerveless hands dropped beside him. 

"No, " he said. 

"You must--you must, " she urged gently. "I know what it means to you. You feel it your duty to unravel the secret of the percussion cap? Youcan't; no man can. No one knows the inventor more intimately than I, andeven I couldn't get it from him. There are no plans for it in existence, and even if there were he would no more sell them than you would haveaccepted a fortune at the hands of Prince d'Abruzzi to remain silent. The compact has failed; you did that. The agents have scattered--gone toother duties. That is enough. "

"No, " said Mr. Grimm. There was a strange fear tearing at hisheart, --"No one knows the inventor more intimately than I. " "No, " hesaid again. "I won from my government a promise to be made good upon acondition--I must fulfil that condition. "

"But there is nothing, promotion, honor, reward, that would compensateyou for the loss of your life, " she entreated. "There is still time. "She was pleading now, with her slim white hands resting on hisshoulders, and the blue-gray eyes fixed upon his face. 

"It's more than all that, " he said. "That condition is you--yoursafety. "

"For me?" she repeated. "For me? Then, won't you go for--for my sake?"

"No. "

"Won't you go if you know you will be killed, " and suddenly her faceturned scarlet, "and that your life is dear to me?"

"No. "

Isabel dropped upon her knees before him. 

"This inventor--this man whom you insist on seeing is half insane withdisappointment and anger, " she rushed on desperately. "Remember that avast fortune, honor, fame were at his finger tips when you--you placedthem beyond his reach by the destruction of the compact. He has sworn tokill you. "

"I can't go!"

"If you _know_ that when you meet one of you will die?"

"No. " The answer came fiercely, through clenched teeth. Mr. Grimmdisengaged his right hand and drew his revolver; the barrel clickedunder his fingers as it spun. 

"If I tell you that of the two human beings in this world whom I lovethis man is one?"

"No. "

A shuffling step sounded in the hallway just outside. Mr. Grimm steppedback from the kneeling figure, and turned to face the door with hisrevolver ready. 

"Great God!" It was a scream of agony. "He is my brother! Don't yousee?"

She came to her feet and went staggering across to the door. The keyclicked in the lock. 

"Your brother!" exclaimed Mr. Grimm. 

"He wouldn't listen to me--_you_ wouldn't listen to me, and now--and_now_! God have mercy!"

There was a sharp rattling, a clamor at the door, and Isabel turned toMr. Grimm mutely, with arms outstretched. The revolver barrel clickedunder his hand, then, after a moment, he replaced the weapon in hispocket. 

"Please open the door, " he requested quietly. 

"He'll kill you!" she screamed. 

Exhausted, helpless, she leaned against a chair with her face in herhands. Mr. Grimm went to her suddenly, tore the hands from her face, andmet the tear-stained eyes. 

"I love you, " he said. "I want you to know that!"

"And I love you--that's why it matters so. "

Leaving her there, Mr. Grimm strode straight to the door and threw itopen. He saw only the outline of a thin little man of indeterminate age, then came a blinding flash under his eyes, and he leaped forward. Therewas a short, sharp struggle, and both went down. The revolver! He mustget that! He reached for it with the one idea of disarming this madman. The muzzle was thrust toward him, he threw up his arm to protect hishead, and then came a second flash. Instantly he felt the figure in hisarms grow limp; and after a moment he rose. The face of the man on thefloor was pearly gray; and a thin, scarlet thread flowed from histemple. 

[Illustration: In a stride Mr. Grimm was beside her. ]

He turned toward Isabel. She lay near the chair, a little crumpled heap. In a stride he was beside her, and had lifted her head to his knee. Theblue-gray eyes opened into his once, then they closed. She had fainted. The first bullet had pierced her arm; it was only a flesh wound. Helifted her gently and placed her on a couch, after which he disappearedinto another room. In a little while there came the cheerful ting-a-lingof a telephone bell. 

"Is this the county constable's office?" he inquired. "Well, there'sbeen a little shooting accident at the Murdock Williams' place, fivemiles out from Alexandria on the old Baltimore Road. Please send some ofyour men over to take charge. Two hours from now call up Mr. Grimm atSecret Service headquarters in Washington and he will explain. Good-by. "

And a few minutes later Mr. Grimm walked along the road toward anautomobile a hundred yards away, bearing Miss Thorne in his arms. Thechauffeur cranked the machine and climbed to his seat. 

"Washington!" directed Mr. Grimm. "Never mind the speed laws. "

THE END