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| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 04:35:37 -0700 |
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| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 04:35:37 -0700 |
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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/10943-0.txt b/10943-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5ec3b4e --- /dev/null +++ b/10943-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5426 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 10943 *** + +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 city +of evasion, of conventionalities, sated with the commonplace pleasures +of life, listless, blasé even, and always exquisitely, albeit frigidly, +courteous; but beneath the still, suave surface strange currents play at +cross purposes, intrigue is endless, and the merciless war of diplomacy +goes on unceasingly. Occasionally, only occasionally, a bubble comes to +the surface, and when it bursts the echo goes crashing around the earth. +Sometimes a dynasty is shaken, a nation trembles, a ministry topples +over; but the ripple moves and all is placid again. No man may know all +that happens there, for then he would be diplomatic master of the +world. + +"There is plenty of red blood in Washington," remarked a jesting +legislative gray-beard, once upon a time, "but it's always frozen before +they put it in circulation. Diplomatic negotiations are conducted in the +drawing-room, but long before that the fight is fought down cellar. The +diplomatists meet at table and there isn't any broken crockery, but you +can always tell what the player thinks of the dealer by the way he draws +three cards. Everybody is after results; and lots of monarchs of Europe +sit up nights polishing their crowns waiting for word from Washington." + +So, this is Washington! And here at dinner are the diplomatic +representatives of all the nations. That is the British ambassador, that +stolid-faced, distinguished-looking, elderly man; and this is the French +ambassador, dapper, volatile, plus-correct; here Russia's highest +representative wags a huge, blond beard; and yonder is the phlegmatic +German ambassador. Scattered around the table, brilliant splotches of +color, are the uniformed envoys of the Orient--the smaller the country +the more brilliant the splotch. It is a state dinner, to be followed by +a state ball, and they are all present. + +The Italian ambassador, Count di Rosini, was trying to interpret a +French _bon mot_ into English for the benefit of the dainty, doll-like +wife of the Chinese minister--who was educated at Radcliffe--when a +servant leaned over him and laid a sealed envelope beside his plate. The +count glanced around at the servant, excused himself to Mrs. Quong Li +Wi, and opened the envelope. Inside was a single sheet of embassy note +paper, 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 it +in pencil: + +"Impossible to-night. Tell her to call at the embassy to-morrow morning +at half-past ten o'clock." + +He folded the note, handed it to the servant, and resumed his +conversation with Mrs. Wi. + +Half an hour later the same servant placed a second sealed envelope +beside his plate. Recognizing the superscription, the ambassador +impatiently shoved it aside, intending to disregard it. But irritated +curiosity finally triumphed, and he opened it. A white card on which was +written 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 a +woman, and just as unmistakably strange to him. He frowned a little as +he stared at it wonderingly, then idly turned the card over. There was +no name on the reverse side--only a crest. Evidently the count +recognized this, for his impassive face reflected surprise for an +instant, and this was followed by a keen, bewildered interest. Finally +he arose, made his apologies, and left the room. His automobile was at +the 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. "I +gave her your message, but she said she must see you and would write you +a 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 a +slightly puzzled expression on his face. Standing before a window, +gazing idly out into the light-spangled night, was a young woman, rather +tall and severely gowned in some rich, glistening stuff which fell away +sheerly from her splendid bare shoulders. She turned and he found +himself looking into a pair of clear, blue-gray eyes, frank enough and +yet in their very frankness possessing an alluring, indefinable +subtlety. He would not have called her pretty, yet her smile, slight as +it was, was singularly charming, and there radiated from her a +something--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 apologized +graciously. "It would at least have saved a little time. You have the +card?" + +He produced it silently, crest down, and handed it to her. She struck a +match, lighted the card, and it crumbled up in her gloved hand. The last +tiny scrap found refuge in a silver tray, where she watched it burn to +ashes, then she turned to the ambassador with a brilliant smile. He was +still 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 of +any consequence, but I should like very much to attend the ball +afterward. Can you arrange it for me?" + +"I don't know just how I would proceed, Madam," the ambassador objected +diffidently. "It would be rather unusual, difficult, I may say, and--" + +"But surely you can arrange it some way?" she interrupted demurely. "The +highest diplomatic representative of a great nation should not find it +difficult to arrange so simple a matter as--as this?" She was smiling. + +"Pardon me for suggesting it, Madam," the ambassador persisted +courteously, "but anything out of the usual attracts attention in +Washington. 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 to +herself." She laughed--a throaty, silvery note that was charming. "And +if you hesitate now, then to-morrow--why, to-morrow I am going to ask +that you open to me all this Washington world--this brilliant world of +diplomatic 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, and +certainly there was an uneasy feeling of rebellion at this attempt to +thrust him forward against all precedent. + +"Your requests are of so extraordinary a nature that--" he began in +courteous protestation. + +There was no trace of impatience in the woman's manner; she was still +smiling. + +"It is necessary that I attend the ball to-night," she explained, "you +may imagine how necessary when I say I sailed from Liverpool six days +ago, reaching New York at half-past three o'clock this afternoon; and at +half-past four I was on my way here. I have been here less than one +hour. I came from Liverpool especially that I might be present; and I +even dressed on the train so there would be no delay. Now do you see the +necessity of it?" + +Diplomatic procedure is along well-oiled grooves, and the diplomatist +who steps out of the rut for an instant happens upon strange and +unexpected obstacles. Knowing this, the ambassador still hesitated. The +woman apparently understood. + +"I had hoped that this would not be necessary," she remarked, and she +produced a small, sealed envelope. "Please read it." + +The ambassador received the envelope with uplifted brows, opened it and +read what was written on a folded sheet of paper. Some subtle working +of his brain brought a sudden change in the expression of his face. +There was wonder in it, and amazement, and more than these. Again he +bowed low. + +"I am at your service, Madam," he repeated. "I shall take pleasure in +making any arrangements that are necessary. Again, I beg your pardon." + +"And it will not be so very difficult, after all, will it?" she +inquired, and she smiled tauntingly. + +"It will not be at all difficult, Madam," the ambassador assured her +gravely. "I shall take steps at once to have an invitation issued to you +for to-night; and to-morrow I shall be pleased to proceed as you may +suggest." + +She nodded. He folded the note, replaced it in the envelope and returned +it to her with another deep bow. She drew her skirts about her and sat +down; he stood. + +"It will be necessary for your name to appear on the invitation," the +ambassador went on to explain. "If you will give me your name I'll have +my secretary--" + +"Oh, yes, my name," she interrupted gaily. "Why, Count, you embarrass +me. You know, really, I have no name. Isn't it awkward?" + +"I understand perfectly, Madam," responded the count. "I should have +said _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. "Please +excuse me a moment, and I'll give my secretary instructions how to +proceed. There will be a delay of a few minutes." + +He opened the door and went out. For a minute or more Miss Thorne sat +perfectly still, gazing at the blank wooden panels, then she rose and +went to the window again. In the distance, hazy in the soft night, the +dome of the capitol rose mistily; over to the right was the +congressional library, and out there where the lights sparkled lay +Pennsylvania Avenue, a thread of commerce. Miss Thorne saw it all, and +suddenly stretched out her arms with an all-enveloping gesture. She +stood so for a minute, then they fell beside her, and she was +motionless. + +Count di Rosini entered. + +"Everything is arranged, Miss Thorne," he announced. "Will you go with +me in my automobile, or do you prefer to go alone?" + +"I'll go alone, please," she answered after a moment. "I shall be there +about 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 another +man's business to peddle shoe-strings, so it was Mr. Campbell's business +to know things. He was a human card index, a governmental ready +reference posted to the minute and backed by all the tremendous +resources of a nation. From the little office in the Secret Service +Bureau, where he sat day after day, radiating threads connected with the +huge outer world, and enabled him to keep a firm hand on the diplomatic +and departmental pulse of Washington. Perhaps he came nearer knowing +everything that happened there than any other man living; and no man +realized more perfectly than he just how little of all of it he did +know. + +In person Mr. Campbell was not unlike a retired grocer who had shaken +the butter and eggs from his soul and settled back to enjoy a life of +placid idleness. He was a little beyond middle age, pleasant of face, +white of hair, and blessed with guileless blue eyes. His genius had no +sparkle to it; it consisted solely of detail and system and +indefatigability, coupled with a memory that was well nigh infallible. +His brain was as serene and orderly as a cash register; one almost +expected to hear it click. + +He sat at his desk intently studying a cable despatch which lay before +him. It was in the Secret Service code. Leaning over his shoulder was +Mr. Grimm--_the_ Mr. Grimm of the bureau. Mr. Grimm was an utterly +different type from his chief. He was younger, perhaps thirty-one or +two, physically well proportioned, a little above the average height, +with regular features and listless, purposeless eyes--a replica of a +hundred other young men who dawdle idly in the windows of their clubs +and watch the world hurry by. His manner was languid; his dress showed +fastidious care. + +Sentence by sentence the bewildering intricacies of the code gave way +before the placid understanding of Chief Campbell, and word by word, +from the chaos of it, a translation took intelligible form upon a sheet +of paper under his right hand. Mr. Grimm, looking on, exhibited only a +most perfunctory interest in the extraordinary message he was reading; +the listless eyes narrowed a little, that was all. It was a special +despatch from Lisbon dated that morning, and signed simply "Gault." +Completely translated it ran thus: + +"Secret offensive and defensive alliance of the Latin against the +English-speaking nations of the world is planned. Italy, France, Spain +and two South American republics will soon sign compact in Washington. +Proposition just made to Portugal, and may be accepted. Special envoys +now working in Mexico and Central and South America. Germany invited to +join, but refuses as yet, giving, however, tacit support; attitude of +Russia and Japan unknown to me. Prince Benedetto d'Abruzzi, believed to +be in Washington at present, has absolute power to sign for Italy, +France and Spain. Profound secrecy enjoined and preserved. I learned of +it 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 for +a long time, staring with steadfast, thoughtful eyes into the impassive +face of his subordinate. Mr. Grimm perched himself on the edge of the +desk and with his legs dangling read the despatch a second time, and a +third. + +"If," he observed slowly, "if any other man than Gault had sent that I +should have said he was crazy." + +"The peace of the world is in peril, Mr. Grimm," said Campbell +impressively, at last. "It had to come, of course, the United States and +England against a large part of Europe and all of Central and South +America. It had to come, and yet--!" + +He broke off abruptly, and picked up the receiver of his desk +telephone. + +"The White House, please," he requested curtly, and then, after a +moment: "Hello! Please ask the president if he will receive Mr. Campbell +immediately. Yes, Mr. Campbell of the Secret Service." There was a +pause. Mr. Grimm removed his immaculate person from the desk, and took a +chair. "Hello! In half an hour? So much!" + +The pages of the Almanac de Gotha fluttered through his fingers, and +finally he leaned forward and studied a paragraph of it closely. When he +raised his eyes again there was that in them which Mr. Grimm had never +seen 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 American +countries, taken separately, are inconsequential, and that is true, too, +of the Latin countries of Europe, except France, but taken in +combination, under one directing mind, the allied navies would be--would +be formidable, at least. Backed by the moral support of Germany, and +perhaps 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 into +the first step toward a world-war--a war of reprisal and conquest beside +which the other great wars of the world would seem trivial. For the fact +has at last come home to the nations of the world that ultimately the +English-speaking peoples will dominate it--dominate it, because they are +the practical peoples. They have given to the world all its great +practical inventions--the railroad, the steamship, electricity, the +telegraph and cable--all of them; they are the great civilizing forces, +rounding the world up to new moral understanding, for what England has +done in Africa and India we have done in a smaller way in the +Philippines and Cuba and Porto Rico; they are the great commercial +peoples, slowly but surely winning the market-places of the earth; +wherever the English or the American flag is planted there the English +tongue is being spoken, and there the peoples are being taught the +sanity of right living and square dealing. + +"It requires no great effort of the imagination, Mr. Grimm, to foresee +that day when the traditional power of Paris, and Berlin, and St. +Petersburg, and Madrid will be honey-combed by the steady encroachment +of our methods. This alliance would indicate that already that day has +been foreseen; that there is now a resentment which is about to find +expression in one great, desperate struggle for world supremacy. A few +hundred years ago Italy--or Rome--was stripped of her power; only +recently the United States dispelled the illusion that Spain was +anything but a shell; and France--! One can't help but wonder if the +power she boasts is not principally on paper. But if their forces are +combined? Do you see? It would be an enormous power to reckon with, with +a hundred bases of supplies right at our doors." + +He rose suddenly and walked over to the window, where he stood for a +moment, staring out with unseeing eyes. + +"Given a yard of canvas, Mr. Grimm," he went on finally, "a Spanish boy +will waste it, a French boy will paint a picture on it, an English boy +will built a sail-boat, and an American boy will erect a tent. That +fully illustrates the difference in the races." + +He abandoned the didactic tone, and returned to the material matter in +hand. Mr. Grimm passed him the despatch and he sat down again. + +"'Will soon sign compact in Washington,'" he read musingly. "Now I don't +know that the signing of that compact can be prevented, but the signing +of 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 a +task made, apparently, not the slightest impression on him. He languidly +drew on his gloves. + +"And meanwhile I shall take steps to ascertain the attitude of Russian +and 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 that +matter. Naturally, on such a mission, he would not come as a publicly +accredited agent, therefore, I imagine, he is to be sought under another +name." + +"Of course," Mr. Grimm acquiesced. + +"And he would avoid the big hotels." + +"Certainly." + +Mr. Campbell permitted his guileless blue eyes to linger inquiringly +upon those of the young man for half a minute. He caught himself +wondering, sometimes, at the perfection of the deliberate indifference +with which Mr. Grimm masked his emotions. In his admiration of this +quality he quite overlooked the remarkable mask of benevolence behind +which he himself hid. + +"And the name, D'Abruzzi," he remarked, after a time. "What does it mean +to 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 Gotha +and glanced at the open page. "Of course, the first thing to do is to +find him; the rest will be simple enough." He perused the page +carelessly. "I will begin work at once." + + + + +III + +THE LANGUAGE OF THE FAN + + +Mr. Grimm was chatting idly with Señorita Rodriguez, daughter of the +minister from Venezuela, the while he permitted his listless eyes to +wander aimlessly about the spacious ball-room of the German embassy, +ablaze with festooned lights, and brilliant with a multi-colored chaos +of uniforms. Gleaming pearl-white, translucent in the mass, were the +bare shoulders of women; and from far off came the plaintive whine of an +orchestra, a pulsing sense rather than a living sound, of music, pointed +here and there by the staccato cry of a flute. A zephyr, perfumed with +the clean, fresh odor of lilacs, stirred the draperies of the archway +which led into the conservatory and rustled the bending branches of +palms and ferns. + +For a scant instant Mr. Grimm's eyes rested on a young woman who sat a +dozen feet away, talking, in playful animation, with an undersecretary +of the British embassy--a young woman severely gowned in some glistening +stuff which fell away sheerly from her splendid bare shoulders. She +glanced up, as if in acknowledgment of his look, and her eyes met his. +Frank, blue-gray eyes they were, stirred to their depths now by +amusement. 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--with +Miss Thorne it is her eyes." + +"Miss Thorne?" Mr. Grimm repeated. + +"Haven't you met her?" the señorita went on. "Miss Isabel Thorne? She +only arrived a few days ago--the night of the state ball. She's my +guest at the legation. When an opportunity comes I shall present you to +her." + +She ran on, about other things, with only an occasional remark from Mr. +Grimm, who was thoughtfully nursing his knee. Somewhere through the +chatter and effervescent gaiety, mingling with the sound of the pulsing +music, he had a singular impression of a rhythmical beat, an indistinct +tattoo, noticeable, perhaps, only because of its monotony. After a +moment he shot a quick glance at Miss Thorne and understood; it was the +tapping 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 with +a long stare into the señorita's pretty face. Behind the careless ease +of 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 the +señorita banteringly. + +For an instant Mr. Grimm continued to stare, and then his listless eyes +swept the ball-room, pausing involuntarily at the scarlet splendor of +the minister from Turkey. + +"I beg your pardon," he apologized contritely. There was a pause. "The +minister from Turkey looks like a barn on fire, doesn't he?" + +Señorita Rodriguez laughed, and Mr. Grimm glanced idly toward Miss +Thorne. She was still talking, her face alive with interest; and the fan +was 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 faces +swathed," Mr. Grimm suggested indolently. "Haroun el Raschid there would +agree with me on that point, I have no doubt. What a shock he would get +if 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 the +Morse 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 into +the uniforms of its diplomatists? The British ambassador, you will +observe, is clothed sanely and modestly, as befits the representative of +a great nation; but coming on down by way of Spain and Italy, they get +more gorgeous. However, I dare say as stout a heart beats beneath a +sky-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 a +violent 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's +voice apologetically. "Do you ladies feel it? No? Well, if you'll excuse +me--?" + +Mr. Grimm glanced back languidly. The speaker was Charles Winthrop +Rankin, a brilliant young American lawyer who was attached to the German +embassy in an advisory capacity. Among other things he was a Heidelberg +man, having spent some dozen years of his life in Germany, where he +established 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 fan +tapped 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 some +remark 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 roved +aimlessly 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 a +wrinkle, nor the tiniest indication of perplexity in his face. Instead +he began talking of Raphael's cherubs, the remark being called into life +by the high complexion of a young man who was passing. Miss Thorne +glanced at him once keenly, her splendid eyes fairly aglow, and the fan +rattled 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, a +difficulty utterly belied by the quizzical lines about his mouth. As he +caught 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--g +5--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 of +the 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 back +I'll reward you by presenting you to Miss Thorne. You'll find her +charming; and Mr. Cadwallader has monopolized her long enough." + +Mr. Grimm bowed and left her. He had barely disappeared when Mr. Rankin +lounged along in front of Miss Thorne. He glanced at her, paused and +greeted her effusively. + +"Why, Miss Thorne!" he exclaimed. "I'm delighted to see you here. I +understood you would not be present, and--" + +Their hands met in a friendly clasp as she rose and moved away, with a +nod 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 the +little 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 to +decipher it." + +She gathered up her trailing skirts over one arm, and together they +glided 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 the +chief's face was disturbed by the slightest questioning uplift of his +brows as he dropped into a seat opposite Mr. Grimm, and lighted a cigar. +Mr. Grimm raised his hand, and a servant who stood near, approached +them. + +"An ice--here," Mr. Grimm directed tersely. + +The servant bowed and disappeared, and Mr. Grimm hastily scribbled +something 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 be +unintelligible," Mr. Grimm explained. "I have reason to believe it is +in 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 Continental +code." 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 door +to take the ice which the servant was bringing in. The seat where he had +left Señorita Rodriguez was vacant; so was the chair where Miss Thorne +had been. He glanced about inquiringly, and a servant who stood stolidly +near the conservatory door approached him. + +"Pardon, sir, but the lady who was sitting here," and he indicated the +chair where Miss Thorne had been sitting, "fainted while dancing, and +the 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, with +red 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, vibrant +cra-a-sh! of a revolver, somewhere off to his left. The president! That +was his first thought. One glance across the room to where the chief +executive stood, in conversation with two other gentlemen, reassured +him. The choleric blue eyes of the president had opened a little at the +sound, then he calmly resumed the conversation. Mr. Grimm impulsively +started toward the little group, but already a cordon was being drawn +there--a cordon of quiet-faced, keen-eyed men, unobstrusively forcing +their 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 in +which white-faced women clung to the arms of their escorts, and the +brilliant galaxy of colors halted. Then, after a moment, there came +clearly through the stillness, the excited, guttural command of the +German ambassador. + +"Keep on blaying, you tam fools! Keep on blaying!" + +The orchestra started again tremulously. Mr. Grimm nodded a silent +approval of the ambassador's command, then turned away toward his left, +in the direction of the shot. After the first dismay, there was a +general movement of the crowd in that direction, a movement which was +checked by Mr. Campbell's appearance upon a chair, with a smile on his +bland face. + +"No harm done," he called. "One of the officers present dropped his +revolver, and it was accidently discharged. No harm done." + +There was a moment's excited chatter, deep-drawn breaths of relief, the +orchestra swung again into the interrupted rhythm, and the dancers moved +on. Mr. Grimm went straight to his chief, who had stepped down from the +chair. Two other Secret Service men stood behind him, blocking the +doorway 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-room +until they came to another door opening into the hall. Chief Campbell +pushed 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 way +down 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 together +they bent over the wounded man. The bullet had entered the torso just +below the ribs on the left side. + +"It's a clean wound," the physician was explaining. "The bullet passed +through. 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 reach +the inside breast pocket of his coat. Mr. Grimm obligingly thrust his +hand into the pocket and drew out its contents, the while Señor Alvarez +struggled frantically. + +"Just a moment," Mr. Grimm advised quietly. "I'm only going to let you +see if it is here. Is it?" + +He held the papers, one by one, in front of the wounded man, and each +time a shake of the head was his answer. At the last Señor Alvarez +closed 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 into +the hall. He met a maid-servant at the door, coming in. Her face was +blanched, 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, Chief +Campbell and the others. Then he caught the maid sharply by the arm and +shook 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 did +she run?" The maid stared at him with mouth agape. "Begin at the +beginning." + +"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't +know--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 indicated +the rear of the house. "Then I came to the door and looked out to see +who it was, and what was the matter, sir. I was standing there when a +man--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 excited +I couldn't open it right away, sir, and--and when I did I came here to +see 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 the +ball-room, sir, just a few minutes ago." + +Whatever emotion may have been aroused within Mr. Grimm it certainly +found no expression in his face. When he spoke again his voice was quite +calm. + +"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 one +called her name." + +Mr. Grimm took the girl, still a-quiver with excitement, and led her +along the hall to where Gray stood. + +"Take this girl in charge, Gray," he directed. "Lock her up, if +necessary. Don't permit her to say one word to anybody--_anybody_ you +understand, except the chief." + +Mr. Grimm left them there. He passed along the hall, glancing in each +room as he went, until he came to a short flight of stairs leading +toward the kitchen. He went on down silently. The lights were burning, +but the place was still, deserted. All the servants who belonged there +were evidently, for the moment, transferred to other posts. He passed on +through the kitchen and out the back door into the street. + +A little distance away, leaning against a lamp-post, a man was +standing. He might have been waiting for a car. Mr. Grimm approached +him. + +"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 an +automobile at the corner. I imagine this is hers," and he extended a +handkerchief, a dainty, perfumed trifle of lace. "I picked it up +immediately after she passed." + +Mr. Grimm took the handkerchief and examined it under the light. For a +time he was thoughtful, with lowered eyes, which, finally raised, met +those of the stranger with a scrutinizing stare. + +"Why," asked Mr. Grimm slowly and distinctly, "why did you slam the door +in 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 repeated +slowly. + +The stranger stared in utter amazement--an amazement so frank, so +unacted, 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, spidery +lines of perplexity, and the guileless blue eyes were vacant as he +stared 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 lucky +enough to find one immediately she came out. She did not return to the +embassy 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 fact +that she is suspected, unless perhaps the man who slammed the door--" +He paused. "Anyway, she will not attempt to leave Washington; I am +confident of that. Again, it didn't seem wise to me to employ the +ordinary crude police methods in the case--that is, go to the Venezuelan +legation and kick up a row." + +For a long time Campbell was silent; the perplexed lines still furrowed +his benevolent forehead. + +"The president is very anxious that we get to facts in this reported +Latin alliance as soon as possible," he said at last, irrelevantly. "He +mentioned the matter last night, and he has been keeping in constant +communication with Gault, in Lisbon, who, however, has not been able to +add materially to the original despatch. Under all the circumstances +don't you think it would be best for me to relieve you of the +investigation of this shooting affair so that you can concentrate on +this 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 while +gazing 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 and +glanced at it. "She arrived in Washington two weeks and two days ago +from New York, off the _Lusitania_, from Liverpool. She brought some +sort of an introduction to Count di Rosini, the Italian ambassador, and +he obtained for her a special invitation to the state ball, which was +held that night. Until four days ago she was a guest at the Italian +embassy, but now, as you know, is a guest at the Venezuelan legation. +Since her arrival here she has been prominently pushed forward into +society; she has gone everywhere, and been received everywhere in the +diplomatic set. We have no knowledge of her beyond this." + +There was a question in Mr. Grimm's listless eyes as they met those of +his chief. The same line of thought was running in both their minds, +born, perhaps, of the association of ideas--Italy as one of three great +nations known to be in the Latin compact; Prince Benedetto d'Abruzzi, of +Italy, the secret envoy of three countries; the sudden appearance of +Miss Thorne at the Italian embassy. And in the mind of the younger man +there was more than this--a definite knowledge of a message cunningly +transmitted to Mr. Rankin, of the German embassy, by Miss Thorne there +in the ball-room. + +"Can you imagine--" he asked slowly, "can you imagine a person who would +be of more value to the Latin governments in Washington right at this +stage 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 the +investigation of the shooting affair to another man," said Mr. Grimm +emphatically, reverting to his chief's question. "I think, on the +contrary, 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 of +paper. + +"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 repeated +musingly. "If I _do_ arrest her immediately I may cut off a clue which +will lead to the other affair. I don't know," he concluded. + +"Use your own judgment, and bear in mind that a man--_a man_ slammed +the door in the maid's face." + +"I shall not forget him," Mr. Grimm answered. "Now I'm going over to +talk to Count di Rosini for a while." + +The young man went out, thoughtfully tugging at his gloves. The Italian +ambassador received him with an inquiring uplift of his dark brows. + +"I came to make some inquiries in regard to Miss Thorne--Miss Isabel +Thorne," 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 in +Washington?" + +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 all +three?" Mr. Grimm continued. + +There was silence for a long time. + +"I don't see the trend of your questioning," said the ambassador +finally. "Miss Thorne is worthy of my protection in every way." + +"Let's suppose a case," suggested Mr. Grimm blandly. "Suppose Miss +Thorne had--had, let us say, shot a man, and he was about to die, would +you feel justified in withdrawing that--that protection, as you call +it?" + +"Such a thing is preposterous!" exclaimed the ambassador. "The utter +absurdity of such a charge would impel me to offer her every +assistance." + +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 Miss +Thorne shot?" + +"No one, particularly," Mr. Grimm assured him easily. "Just suppose +that 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 on +his little finger. The searching eyes of the ambassador found his face +blankly inscrutable. + +"Diplomatic representatives in Washington have certain obligations to +this government," the young man reminded him. "We--that is, the +government of the United States--undertake to guarantee the personal +safety of every accredited representative; in return for that +protection we must insist upon the name and identity of a dangerous +person who may be known to any foreign representative. Understand, +please, I'm not asserting that Miss Thorne is a dangerous person. You +are sponsor for her here. Is she, in every way, worthy of your +protection?" + +"Yes," said the ambassador flatly. + +"I can take it, then, that the introduction she brought to you is from a +person 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-gray +eyes, in sharp contrast to the glow of radiant health in her cheeks, as +she stepped from an automobile in front of the Venezuelan legation, and +ran lightly up the steps. A liveried servant opened the door. + +"A gentleman is waiting for you, Madam," he announced. "His card is here +on 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 small +drawing-rooms opening on a garden in the rear, pushed aside the +portières, 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 frank +courtesy. "I am afraid you were expecting some one else; I handed my +card to the footman." + +For an instant the blue-gray eyes opened wide in astonishment, and then +some quick, subtle change swept over Miss Thorne's face. She smiled +graciously and motioned him to a seat. + +"This is quite a different meeting from the one Señorita Rodriguez had +planned, isn't it?" she asked. + +There was a taunting curve on her scarlet lips; the shadow passed from +her eyes; her slim, white hands lay idle in her lap. Mr. Grimm regarded +her reflectively. There was a determination of steel back of this +charming exterior; there was an indomitable will, a keen brain, and all +of a woman's intuition to reckon with. She was silent, with a +questioning upward slant of her arched brows. + +"I am not mistaken in assuming that you are a secret agent of the +Italian government, am I?" he queried finally. + +"No," she responded readily. + +"In that event I may speak with perfect frankness?" he went on. "It +would be as useless as it would be absurd to approach the matter in any +other 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 of +countenance, but involuntarily she caught her breath. It might have +been 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 you +not, shoot him?" + +"No, of course I didn't shoot him," was the reply. If there was any +emotion 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 his +listless eyes rested on her face. "I will be absolutely frank, as I feel +sure you would be under the same circumstances." He paused a moment; she +nodded. "Well, immediately after the shooting you ran along the hallway +with 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 is +not conjecture; it is susceptible of proof by eye witnesses." + +Miss Thorne rose suddenly with a queer, helpless little gesture of her +arms, and walked to the window. She stood there for a long time with her +hands 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 the +person who actually did the shooting," he explained. "If you adhere to +it you compel me to regard you as an accomplice." His questioning took a +different 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 lying +there 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 hallway +and escape by way of the kitchen? If you did not do the shooting, why +the necessity of escape, carrying the revolver?" + +There was that in the blue-gray eyes which brought Mr. Grimm to his +feet. 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, that +you, 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 or +woman, who fired the shot. I will assume, for the moment, that this is +correct. Where is the revolver?" + +From the adjoining room there came a slight noise, a faint breath of +sound; or it might have been only an echo of silence. Their eyes were +fixed each upon the others unwaveringly, with not a flicker to indicate +that either had heard. After a moment Miss Thorne returned to her chair +and sat down. + +"It's rather a singular situation, isn't it, Mr. Grimm?" she inquired +irrelevantly. "You, Mr. Grimm of the Secret Service of the United +States; I, Isabel Thorne, a secret agent of Italy together here, one +accusing 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 with +you and--" + +"If you had been any one else but _you_ I should have placed you under +arrest 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 the +revolver because I knew who had fired the shot. Believe me when I tell +you that that person did not act with my knowledge or consent. You do +believe 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 my +misfortune. It will in no way alter my determination to keep silent. If +I 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 after +he was shot?" Mr. Grimm queried. + +"I don't know," she replied frankly. + +"As I understand it, then, the motive for the shooting was to obtain +possession of that paper? For your government?" + +"The individual who shot Señor Alvarez _did_ obtain the paper, yes. And +now, please, am I to be arrested?" + +"And just what was the purpose, may I inquire, of the message you +telegraphed with your fan in the ball-room?" + +"You read that?" exclaimed Miss Thorne in mock astonishment. "You read +that?" + +"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 known +nervousness. 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 draperies +parted. 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. After +a moment his glance shifted to the blazing eyes of the man who held +it--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 barrel +end.] + +"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 interrupted +quietly. "Is this the one?" + +He raised his hand quite casually, and his fingers closed like steel +around the weapon. Behind his back Miss Thorne made some quick emphatic +gesture, and the new-comer released the revolver. + +"I shall ask you, please, to free Miss Thorne," he requested +courteously. "I shot Señor Alvarez. I, too, am a secret agent of the +Italian government, willing and able to defend myself. Miss Thorne has +told you the truth; she had nothing whatever to do with it. She took the +weapon and escaped because it was mine. Here is the paper that was taken +from 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 my +compliments." + +After a moment Mr. Grimm's hand fell away from Miss Thorne's arm, and +he 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 all +responsibility." + +A few minutes later Mr. Grimm and his prisoner passed out of the +legation side by side, and strolled down the street together, in +amicable conversation. Half an hour later Señor Alvarez identified +Pietro Petrozinni as the man who shot him; and the maid servant +expressed 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 chief +reminded 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. Grimm +interrupted. And then, after a moment: "Have we received any further +reports 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 becomes +plain sailing. We know she _is_ a secret agent--I expected a denial, but +she was quite frank about it. And I had no intention whatever of placing +her under arrest. I knew some one was in the adjoining room because of a +slight noise in there, and I knew she knew it. She raised her voice a +little, obviously for the benefit of whoever was there. From that point +everything I said and did was to compel that person, whoever it was, to +show 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, "was +that the person in there was the man who shot Señor Alvarez. Frankly I +had half an idea that--that it might be the prince in person." Suddenly +his mood changed: "And now our lady of mystery may come and go as she +likes because I know, even if a dozen of our men have ransacked +Washington in vain for the prince, she will inevitably lead us to him. +And that reminds me: I should like to borrow Blair, and Hastings, and +Johnson. Please plant them so they may keep constant watch on Miss +Thorne. Let them report to you, and, wherever I am, I will reach you +over the 'phone." + +"By the way, what was in that sealed packet that was taken from Señor +Alvarez?" 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 of +the other, then Mr. Grimm entered his private office where he sat for an +hour with his immaculate boots on his desk, thinking. A world-war--he +had been thrust forward by his government to prevent it--subtle +blue-gray eyes--his Highness, Prince Benedetto d'Abruzzi--a haunting +smile and scarlet lips. + +At about the moment he rose to go out, Miss Thorne, closely veiled, left +the Venezuelan legation and walked rapidly down the street to a corner, +where, without a word, she entered a waiting automobile. The wheels spun +and the car leaped forward. For a mile or more it wound aimlessly in and +out, occasionally bisecting its own path; finally Miss Thorne leaned +forward and touched the chauffeur on the arm. + +"Now!" she said. + +The car straightened out into a street of stately residences and +scuttled along until the placid bosom of the Potomac came into view; +beside that for a few minutes, then over the bridge to the Virginia +side, in the dilapidated little city of Alexandria. The car did not +slacken its speed, but wound in and out through dingy streets, past +tumble-down negro huts, for half an hour before it came to a standstill +in 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 into +the car silently. Again it moved forward, on to the end of the dingy +street, and finally into the open country. Three, four, five miles, +perhaps, out the old Baltimore Road, and again the car stopped, this +time in front of an ancient colonial farm-house. + +Outwardly the place seemed to be deserted. The blinds, battered and +stripped of paint by wind and rain, were all closed, and one corner of +the 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 of +the house, rising from an old barn, a thin pole with a cup-like +attachment at the apex, thrust its point into the open above the dense, +odorous pines. It appeared to be a wireless mast. Miss Thorne passed +around the house, and entered the barn. + +A man came forward and kissed her--a thin, little man of indeterminate +age--drying his hands on a piece of cotton waste. His face was pale with +the pallor of one who knows little outdoor life, his eyes deep-set and +a-glitter with some feverish inward fire, and the thin lips were pressed +together in a sharp line. Behind him was a long bench on which were +scattered tools of various sorts, fantastically shaped chemical +apparatus, two or three electric batteries of odd sizes, and ranged +along one end of it, in a row, were a score or more metal spheroids, a +shade larger than a one-pound shell. From somewhere in the rear came the +clatter of a small gasoline engine, and still farther away was an +electric 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 will +be, 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 will +come, and with it the dominion of the world again by our country. How +will I know when the date is fixed? It would not be well to write me +here." + +My lady of mystery stroked the slender, nervous hand caressingly, and a +great affection shone in the blue-gray eyes. + +"At eight o'clock on the night of the test," she explained, still +speaking Italian, "a single light will appear at the apex of the capitol +dome in Washington. That is the signal agreed upon; it can be seen by +all 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 went +on. + +"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 without +difficulty." + +"And all your plans are working out well?" + +"Yes. And yours?" + +"I don't think there is any question but that both England and the +United States will buy. Do you know what it means? Do you know what it +means?" He was silent a moment, his hands working nervously. Then, with +an effort: "And his Highness?" + +"His Highness is safe." The subtle eyes grew misty, thoughtful for a +moment, 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 locked +in the safe at the legation; I will know what it is within forty-eight +hours." She was silent a little. "Our difficulty now, our greatest +difficulty, is the hostility of the French ambassador to the compact. +His government has not yet notified him of the presence of Prince +d'Abruzzi; he does not believe in the feasibility of the plan, and we +have to--to proceed to extremes to prevent him working against us." + +"But they _must_ see the incalculable advantages to follow upon such a +compact, with the vast power that will be given to them over the whole +earth 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 are +you? Are you well? Are you comfortable? It's such a dreary old place +here." + +"I suppose so," he replied, and he met the solicitous blue-gray eyes for +an instant. "Yes, I am quite comfortable," he added. "I have no time to +be 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 the +long table and curiously lifted one of the spheroids. It was a sinister +looking thing, nickeled, glittering. At one end of it was a delicate, +vibratory apparatus, not unlike the transmitter of a telephone, and the +other end was threaded, as if the spheroid was made as an attachment to +some other device. + +"With that we control the world!" exclaimed the man triumphantly. "And +it's mine, Rosa, mine!" + +"It's wonderful!" she mused softly. "Wonderful! And now I must go. I may +not see you again until after the test, because I shall be watched and +followed wherever I go. If I get an opportunity I shall reach you by +telephone, but not even that unless it is necessary. There is always +danger, always danger!" she repeated thoughtfully. She was thinking of +Mr. Grimm. + +"I understand," said the man simply. + +"And look out for the signal--the light in the apex of the capitol +dome," 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'clock +by your chronometer?" + +"At three o'clock," he repeated. + +For a moment they stood with their arms around each other, then tenderly +his visitor kissed him, and went out. He remained looking after her +vacantly until the chug-chug of her automobile, as it moved off down the +road, was lost in the distance, then turned again to the long +work-table. + + + + +VIII + +MISS THORNE AND NOT MISS THORNE + + +From a pleasant, wide-open bay-window of her apartments on the second +floor, Miss Thorne looked out upon the avenue with inscrutable eyes. +Behind the closely drawn shutters of another bay-window, farther down +the avenue, on the corner, she knew a man named Hastings was hiding; she +knew that for an hour or more he had been watching her as she wrote. In +the other direction, in a house near the corner, another man named Blair +was similarly ensconced, and he, too, had been watching as she wrote. +There should be a third man, Johnson. Miss Thorne curiously studied the +face of each passer-by, seeking therein something to remember. + +She sat at the little mahogany desk and a note with the ink yet wet +upon it lay face up before her. It was addressed to Signor Pietro +Petrozinni in the district prison, and read: + +"My Dear Friend: + +"I have been waiting to write you with the hope that I could report +Señor Alvarez out of danger, but his condition, I regret to say, remains +unchanged. Shall I send an attorney to you? Would you like a book of any +kind? Or some delicacy sent in from a restaurant? Can I be of any +service 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, folded +it, placed it in an envelope and sealed it. A maid came in answer to her +ring, and there at the window, under the watchful eyes of Blair and +Hastings--and, perhaps, Johnson--she handed the note to the maid with +instructions to mail it immediately. Two minutes later she saw the maid +go out along the avenue to a post-box on the corner. + +Then she drew back into the shadow of the room, slipped on a +dark-colored wrap, and, standing away from the window, safe beyond the +reach of prying eyes, waited patiently for the postman. He appeared +about five o'clock and simultaneously another man turned the corner near +the post-box and spoke to him. Then, together, they disappeared from +view 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 carefully +watched." + +A few minutes later she dropped into the seat at the desk again. The +dark wrap had been thrown aside and Hastings and Blair from their +hiding-places could see her distinctly. After a while they saw her rise +quickly, as an automobile turned into the avenue, and lean toward the +window eagerly looking out. The car came to a standstill in front of the +legation, and Mr. Cadwallader, an under-secretary of the British +embassy, who was alone in the car, raised his cap. She nodded and +smiled, then disappeared in the shadows of the room again. + +Mr. Cadwallader went to the door, spoke to the servant there, then +returned and busied himself about the car. Hastings and Blair watched +intently both the door and the window for a long time; finally a closely +veiled and muffled figure appeared at the bay-window, and waved a gloved +hand at Mr. Cadwallader, who again lifted his cap. A minute later the +veiled woman came out of the front door, shook hands with Mr. +Cadwallader, and got in the car. He also climbed in, and the car moved +slowly away. + +Simultaneously the front door of the house on the corner, where Hastings +had been hiding, and the front door of the house near the corner, where +Blair had been hiding, opened and two heads peered out. As the car +approached Hastings' hiding-place he withdrew into the hallway; but +Blair came out and hurried past the legation in the direction of the +rapidly 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 the +corner, out through Alexandria, and along the old Baltimore Road into +the city of Baltimore," he explained. "It was dark by the time we +reached Alexandria, but we stuck to the car ahead, running without +lights until we came in sight of Druid Hill Park, and then we had to +show lights or be held up. We covered those forty miles going in less +than two hours. + +"After the car passed Druid Hill it slowed up a little, and ran off the +turnpike into North Avenue, then into North Charles Street, and slowly +along that as if they were looking for a number. At last it stopped and +Miss Thorne got out and entered a house. She was gone for more than half +an hour, leaving Mr. Cadwallader with the car. While she was gone I made +some inquiries and learned that the house was occupied by a Mr. Thomas +Q. Griswold. I don't know anything else about him; Blair may have +learned something. + +"Now comes the curious part of it," and Hastings looked a little +sheepish. "When Miss Thorne came out of the house she was not Miss +Thorne at all--_she was Señorita Inez Rodriguez_, daughter of the +Venezuelan minister. She wore the same clothing Miss Thorne had worn +going, but her veil was lifted. Veiled and all muffled up one would have +taken oath it was the same woman. She and Cadwallader are back in +Washington now, or are coming. That's all, except Blair is still in +Baltimore, awaiting orders. I caught the train from the Charles Street +station and came back. Johnson, you know--" + +"Yes, I've seen Johnson," interrupted Campbell. "Are you absolutely +positive that the woman you saw get into the automobile with Mr. +Cadwallader was Miss Thorne?" + +"Absolutely," replied Hastings without hesitation. "I saw her in her +own room with her wraps on, then saw her come down and get into the +car." + +"That's all," said the chief. "Good night." For an hour or more he sat +in a great, comfortable chair in the smoking-room of his own home, the +guileless blue eyes vacant, staring, and spidery lines in the benevolent +forehead. + + * * * * * + +On the morning of the second day following, Señor Rodriguez, the +minister from Venezuela, reported to the Secret Service Bureau the +disappearance of fifty thousand dollars in gold from a safe in his +private office at the legation. + + + + +IX + +FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS + + +Mr. Campbell was talking. + +"For several months past," he said, "the International Investment +Company, through its representative, Mr. Cressy, has been secretly +negotiating with Señor Rodriguez for certain asphalt properties in +Venezuela. Three days ago these negotiations were successfully +concluded, and yesterday afternoon Mr. Cressy, in secret, paid to Señor +Rodriguez, fifty thousand dollars in American gold, the first of four +payments of similar sums. This gold was to have been shipped to +Philadelphia 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 not +have been known to more than half a dozen persons, as the negotiations +throughout have been in strict secrecy," and Mr. Campbell smiled +benignly. "So much! Now, Señor Rodriguez has just telephoned asking that +I send a man to the legation at once. The gold was kept there over +night; or perhaps I should say that the señor intended to keep it there +over night." Mr. Campbell stared at Mr. Grimm for a moment, then: "Miss +Thorne, you know, is a guest at the legation, that is why I am referring +the 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 forth +and 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 would +weigh nearly two hundred pounds, wouldn't it?" + +Señor Rodriguez stared at him blankly. + +"_Si, Señor_," he agreed absently. And then, in English: "Yes, I should +imagine 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, apparently +bewildered, walked forth and back across the room again. Finally he sat +down. + +"All of it," he admitted. "I can't understand it. No one, not a soul in +this house, except myself, knew it was here." + +"In addition to this weight of, say two hundred pounds, fifty thousand +dollars would make considerable bulk," mused Mr. Grimm. "Very well! +Therefore it would appear that the person, or persons, who got it must +have gone away from here heavily laden?" + +Señor Rodriguez nodded. + +"And now, Señor," Mr. Grimm continued, "if you will kindly state the +circumstances immediately preceding and following the theft?" + +A slight frown which had been growing upon the smooth brow of the +diplomatist was instantly dissipated. + +"The money--fifty thousand dollars in gold coin--was paid to me +yesterday afternoon about four o'clock," he began slowly, in +explanation. + +"By Mr. Cressy of the International Investment Company," supplemented +Mr. 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 nine +o'clock while I, personally, counted it. As I counted it I placed it in +canvas bags and when he had gone I took these bags from this room into +that," he indicated a closed door to his right, "and personally stowed +them 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 the +money was gone--every dollar of it." + +"Safe blown?" inquired Mr. Grimm. + +"No, Señor!" exclaimed the diplomatist with sudden violence. "No, the +safe was not blown! It was _closed and locked_, exactly as I had left +it!" + +Mr. Grimm was idly twisting the seal ring on his little finger. + +"Just as I left it!" Señor Rodriguez repeated excitedly. "Last night +after 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 had +stopped precisely at number forty-five. This morning, when I unlocked +the safe--and, of course, I didn't know then that the money had been +taken--the pointer was still at number forty-five." + +He paused with one hand in the air; Mr. Grimm continued to twist the +seal 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 had +not put the money into the safe at all!" + +"Did you?" inquired Mr. Grimm amiably. + +"Did I?" blazed Señor Rodriguez. "Why, Señor--! I did!" he concluded +meekly. + +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 that +combination except myself," Señor Rodriguez insisted. + +"Your secretary--a servant--some member of your family might have seen +you unlock the safe some time, and thus learned the combination?" + +Señor Rodriguez did not quite know whether to be annoyed at Mr. Grimm's +persistence, or to admire the tenacity with which he held to this one +point. + +"You must understand, Señor Grimm, that many state documents are kept +in the safe," he said finally, "therefore it is not advisable that any +one should know the combination. I have made it an absolute rule, as did +my predecessors here, never to unlock the safe in the presence of +another person." + +"State documents!" Mr. Grimm's lips silently repeated the words. Then +aloud: "Perhaps there's a record of the combination somewhere? If you +had died suddenly, for instance, how would the safe have been opened?" + +"There would have been only one way, Señor--blow it open. There is no +record." + +"Well, if we accept all that as true," observed Mr. Grimm musingly, "it +would 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 money +was taken out of the safe without it being unlocked. This last would +have been a miracle, and this is not the day of miracles, therefore--!" + +Mr. Grimm's well modulated voice trailed off into silence. Señor +Rodriguez came to his feet with a blaze of anger in his eyes; Mr. Grimm +was watching him curiously. + +"I understand then, Señor," said the minister deliberately, "that you +believe that I--!" + +"I believe that you have told the truth," interrupted Mr. Grimm +placidly, "that is the truth so far as you know it. But you have stated +one thing in error. Somebody besides yourself _does_ know the +combination. Whether they knew it or not at this time yesterday I can't +say, but somebody knows it now." + +Señor Rodriguez drew a deep breath of relief. The implied accusation had +been 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 the +trouble to explain, "who could unlock any safe--that is, any safe of the +kind used at that time--twelve or fourteen years ago. So you see. I +doubt if he would be so successful with the new models, with all their +improvements, 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, a +Miss Thorne--Miss Isabel Thorne," the señor informed him. "Also four +servants--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 a +timid knock from the hall. He glanced at Mr. Grimm, who nodded, then he +called: + +"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 white +neck. At sight of Mr. Grimm the blue-gray eyes opened as if in +surprise, and she paused irresolutely. + +"I beg your pardon, Señor," she said, addressing the diplomatist. "I did +not know you were engaged. And Mr. Grimm!" She extended a slim, white +hand, and the young man bowed low over it. "We are old friends," she +explained, smilingly, to the minister. Then: "I think I must have +dropped my handkerchief when I was in here yesterday with Inez. Perhaps +you found it?" + +"_Si, Señorita_," replied Señor Rodriguez gallantly. "It is on my desk +in here. Just a moment." + +He opened the door and passed into the adjoining room. Mr. Grimm's eyes +met those of Miss Isabel Thorne, and there was no listlessness in them +now, 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 for +her. + +"_Monsieur Grimm, au revoir_!" She dropped a little curtsey, and still +smiling, went out. + +"She is charming, Señor," the diplomatist assured him enthusiastically, +albeit irrelevantly. "Such vivacity, such personality, such--such--she +is charming." + +"The safe, please," Mr. Grimm reminded him. + + + + +X + +A SAFE OPENING + + +Together they entered the adjoining room, which was small compared to +the one they had just left. Señor Rodriguez used it as a private office. +His desk was on their right between two windows overlooking the same +pleasant little garden which was visible from the suite of tiny +drawing-rooms farther along. The safe, a formidable looking receptacle +of black enameled steel, stood at their left, closed and locked. The +remaining 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. Grimm +inquired. + +"Not a soul, Señor," was the reply. + +Mr. Grimm went over and examined the windows. They were both locked +inside; and there were no marks of any sort on the sills. + +"They are just as I left them last night," explained Señor Rodriguez. "I +have not touched them to-day." + +"And there's only one door," mused Mr. Grimm, meaning that by which they +had entered. "So it would appear that whoever was here last night +entered through that room. Very well." + +He walked around the room once, opening and shutting the doors of the +cabinets as he passed, and finally paused in front of the safe. A brief +examination of the nickeled dial and handle and of the enameled edges of +the heavy door satisfied him that no force had been employed--the safe +had merely been unlocked. Whereupon he sat himself down, cross-legged on +the 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 pressed +closely against the polished door, turned the dial slowly back. Señor +Rodriguez stood looking on helplessly, but none the less intently. The +pointer read ten, then nine, eight, seven, five. Mr. Grimm gazed at it +thoughtfully, after which he did it all over again, placidly and without +haste. + +"Now, we'll look inside, please," he requested, rising. + +Señor Rodriguez unlocked the safe the while Mr. Grimm respectfully +turned his eyes away, then pulled the door wide open. The books had been +piled one on top of another and thrust into various pigeonholes at the +top. Mr. Grimm understood that this disorder was the result of making +room 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 remarked +after a moment. + +"_Si, Señor_," the diplomatist agreed. "Evidently the robbers were not +content with only fifty thousand dollars in gold--they imagined that +something 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 some +important 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 all +unsealed save the last. When he reached for that, Señor Rodriguez made a +quick, involuntary motion toward it with his hand. + +"This one's sealed," commented Mr. Grimm. "It doesn't happen that you +opened it and sealed it again?" + +Señor Rodriguez stood staring at him blankly for a moment, then some +sudden 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 splotches +of wax upon it, each impressed with the legation seal; the envelope was +without marks otherwise. He turned and twisted it aimlessly, and peered +curiously at the various seals, after which he handed it to the frankly +impatient diplomatist. + +Señor Rodriguez opened it, with nervous, twitching fingers. Mr. Grimm +had turned toward the safe again, but he heard the crackle of parchment +as some document was drawn out of the envelope, and then came a deep +sigh of relief. Having satisfied his sudden fears for the safety of the +paper, whatever it was, the señor placed it in another envelope and +sealed it again with elaborate care. Mr. Grimm dropped into the swivel +chair at the desk. + +"Señor," he inquired pleasantly, "your daughter and Miss Thorne were in +this 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's +handkerchief?" He paused and regarded Mr. Grimm keenly. "Señor, what am +I to understand from that question?" + +"It was plain enough," replied Mr. Grimm. "Where did you find that +handkerchief?" 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 spot +a little to the left of the safe. + +"And _when_ did you find it? Yesterday afternoon? Last night? This +morning?" + +"This morning," and without any apparent reason the diplomatist's face +turned 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 absolutely +impersonal; his eyes, grown listless again, were turned straight into +the other's face. + +"If that handkerchief had been there last night, Señor," he resumed +quietly, "wouldn't you have noticed it when you placed the gold in the +safe?" + +Señor Rodriguez stared at him a long time. + +"I don't know," he said, at last. He dropped back into a chair with his +face in his hands. "Señor," he burst out suddenly, impetuously, after a +moment, "if the gold is not recovered I am ruined. You understand that +better than I can tell you. It's the kind of thing that could not be +explained to my government." He rose suddenly and faced the impassive +young man, with merciless determination in his face. "You must find the +gold, 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 to +Miss Thorne, and to send to me here your secretary, Señor Diaz, and your +servants, 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 locking +the door, then went out. A moment later Señor Diaz appeared. He remained +with Mr. Grimm for just eight minutes. Señor Rodriguez entered again as +his 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; the +second--the butler--was there five minutes; one of the women was not +questioned at all; the other remained ten minutes. Mr. Grimm followed +her 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 has +even an intimation of the affair--please keep the matter absolutely to +yourself 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 the +diplomatist's private office, sat down in front of the locked safe +again, and set the dial at thirty-six. Señor Rodriguez looked on, +astonished, as Mr. Grimm pressed the soft rubber sounder of a +stethoscope against the safe door and began turning the dial back toward +ten, 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. "And +now, 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, of +scarlet in her hair--a single red rose--Miss Thorne came into the +drawing-room where Mr. Grimm sat waiting. There was curiosity in her +manner, thinly veiled, but the haunting smile still lingered about her +lips. Mr. Grimm bowed low, and placed a chair for her, after which he +stood for a time staring down at one slim, white hand at rest on the arm +of the seat. At last, he, too, sat down. + +"I believe," he said slowly, without preliminaries, "this is your +handkerchief?" + +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 positively +identifies 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 dollars +in gold were stolen from his safe." + +There was not the slightest change of expression in her face; the +blue-gray eyes were still inquiring in their gaze, the white hands still +at rest, the scarlet lips still curled slightly, an echo of a smile. + +"No force was used in opening the safe," Mr. Grimm resumed. "It was +unlocked. It's an old model and I have demonstrated how it could have +been opened either with the assistance of a stethoscope, which catches +the 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. Grimm +courteously. "No reason appears why you should have taken it. But I'm +not seeking reasons, nor am I seeking disagreeable publicity--only the +money." + +"It seems to me you attach undue importance to the handkerchief," she +objected. + +"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 is +the difficulty of entrance, the weight of the gold, the ingenious method +of opening the safe, and the assumption that not more than six persons +knew the money was in the safe; while a person in the house _might_ have +learned it in any of a dozen ways. And, in addition, is the fact that +the handkerchief is odd, therefore noticeable. A lace expert assures me +there's probably not another like it in the world." + +He stopped. Miss Thorne's eyes sparkled and a smile seemed to be tugging +at the corners of her mouth. She spread out the handkerchief on her +knees. + +"You could identify this again, of course?" she queried. + +"Yes." + +She thoughtfully crumpled up the bit of lace in both hands, then opened +them. 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 restored +to me at dinner, after I lost one in the señor's office, might have been +either of these, or one of ten other duplicates in my room, all given to +me 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 shall +insist upon the return of the money, and if it is not forthcoming I dare +say Count di Rosini, the Italian ambassador, would be pleased to give +his personal check rather than have the matter become public." She +started to interrupt; he went on. "In any event you will be requested to +leave 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, and +there 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 am +convinced, and Count di Rosini has practically assured me that--" + +"It's unjust!" she interrupted passionately. "It's--it's--you have +proved 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?" she +demanded finally. "And if I _do_ convince you--?" + +"I should be delighted to believe that I have made a mistake," Mr. Grimm +assured 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 for +adjustment," 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 Pennsylvania +Avenue and Fourteenth Street to-night at one." + +He was there; the carriage was on time; and my lady of mystery was +inside. 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," she +queried solicitously, "would it be necessary for you to know who was +the--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, although +it holds itself in readiness to do so. I dare say in this case there +would be no arrest or prosecution, because of--of reasons which appear +to be good." + +"There wouldn't?" and there was a note of eagerness in her voice. "The +identity of the guilty person would never appear?" + +"It would become a matter of record in our office, but beyond that I +think 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 remarkable +position. You seemed convinced of my guilt, and, if you'll pardon me, +without reason; then you made it compulsory upon me to establish my +innocence. The only way for me to do that was to find the guilty one. I +have 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 an +honorable rather than a lucrative one; he has no fortune. This girl +moves in a certain set devoted to bridge, and stakes are high. She +played and won, and played and won, and on and on, until her winnings +were about eight thousand dollars. Then luck turned. She began to lose. +Her money went, but she continued to play desperately. Finally some old +family jewels were pawned without her father's knowledge, and ultimately +they were lost. One day she awoke to the fact that she owed some nine or +ten thousand dollars in bridge debts. They were pressing and there was +no way to meet them. This meant exposure and utter ruin, and women do +strange things, Mr. Grimm, to postpone such an ending to social +aspirations. I know this much is true, for she related it all to me +herself. + +"At last, in some way--a misplaced letter, perhaps, or a word +overheard--she learned that fifty thousand dollars would be in the +legation safe overnight, and evidently she learned the precise night." +She paused a moment. "Here is the address of a man in Baltimore, Thomas +Q. Griswold," and she passed a card to Mr. Grimm, who sat motionless, +listening. "About four years ago the combination on the legation safe +was changed. This man was sent here to make the change, therefore some +one besides Señor Rodriguez _does_ know the combination. I have +communicated with this man to-day, for I saw the possibility of just +such a thing as this instead of your stethoscope. By a trick and a +forged 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 at +sight of it all--do you see what must have been the temptation then? We +get out here." + +There were many unanswered questions in Mr. Grimm's mind. He repressed +them for the time, stepped out and assisted Miss Thorne to alight. The +carriage had turned out of Pennsylvania Avenue, and at the moment he +didn't quite place himself. A narrow passageway opened before +them--evidently the rear entrance to a house possibly in the next +street. Miss Thorne led the way unhesitatingly, cautiously unlocked the +door, and together they entered a hall. Then there was a short flight of +stairs, and they stepped into a room, one of a suite. She closed the +door and turned on the lights. + +"The bags of gold are in the next room," she said with the utmost +composure. + +Mr. Grimm dragged them out of a dark closet, opened one--there were +ten--and allowed the coins to dribble through his fingers. Finally he +turned and stared at Miss Thorne, who, pallid and weary, stood looking +on. + +"Where are we?" he asked. "What house is this?" + +"The Venezuelan legation," she answered. "We are standing less than +forty 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 the +pleading eyes; and a certain tense expression about his lips passed. For +an instant her hand trembled on his arm, and he caught the fragrance of +her hair. + +"Where is she now?" he asked. + +"Playing bridge," replied Miss Thorne, with a sad little smile. "It is +always so--at least twice a week, and she rarely returns before two or +half-past." She extended both hands impetuously, entreatingly. "Please +be generous, Mr. Grimm. You have the gold; don't destroy her." + +Señor Rodriguez, the minister from Venezuela, found the gold in his safe +on the following morning, with a brief note from Mr. Grimm, in which +there was no explanation of how or where it had been found.... And two +hours later Monsieur Boisségur, ambassador from France to the United +States, disappeared from the embassy, vanished! + + + + +XII + +THE VANISHING DIPLOMATIST + + +It was three days after the ambassador's disappearance that Monsieur +Rigolot, secretary of the French embassy and temporary +_chargé-d'affaires_, reported the matter to Chief Campbell in the Secret +Service Bureau, adding thereto a detailed statement of several singular +incidents following close upon it. He told it in order, concisely and to +the point, while Grimm and his chief listened. + +"Monsieur Boisségur, the ambassador, you understand, is a man whose +habits are remarkably regular," he began. "He has made it a rule to be +at his desk every morning at ten o'clock, and between that time and one +o'clock he dictates his correspondence, and clears up whatever routine +work there is before him. I have known him for many years, and have +been secretary of the embassy under him in Germany and Japan and this +country. I have never known him to vary this general order of work +unless because of illness, or necessary absence. + +"Well, Monsieur, last Tuesday--this is Friday--the ambassador was at his +desk as usual. He dictated a dozen or more letters, and had begun +another--a private letter to his sister in Paris. He was well along in +this letter when, without any apparent reason, he rose from his desk and +left the room, closing the door behind him. His stenographer's +impression was that some detail of business had occurred to him, and he +had gone into the general office farther down the hall to attend to it. +I may say, Monsieur, that this impression seemed strengthened by the +fact that he left a fresh cigarette burning in his ash tray, and his pen +was behind his ear. It was all as if he had merely stepped out, +intending to return immediately--the sort of thing, Monsieur, that any +man might have done. + +"It so happened that when he went out he left a sentence of his letter +incomplete. I tell you this to show that the impulse to go must have +been a sudden one, yet there was nothing in his manner, so his +stenographer says, to indicate excitement, or any other than his usual +frame of mind. It was about five minutes of twelve o'clock--high +noon--when he went out. When he didn't return immediately the +stenographer began transcribing the letters. At one o'clock Monsieur +Boisségur 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 regain +control of himself. Incidentally he wondered if Mr. Grimm was taking the +slightest interest in what he was saying. Certainly there was nothing in +his impassive face to indicate it. + +"Understand, Monsieur," the secretary continued, after a moment, "that I +knew nothing whatever of all this until late that afternoon--that is, +Tuesday afternoon about five o'clock. I was engaged all day upon some +important work in my own office, and had had no occasion to see Monsieur +Boisségur since a word or so when he came in at ten o'clock. My +attention was called to the affair finally by his stenographer, Monsieur +Netterville, who came to me for instructions. He had finished the +letters and the ambassador had not returned to sign them. At this point +I began an investigation, Monsieur, and the further I went the more +uneasy I grew. + +"Now, Monsieur, there are only two entrances to the embassy--the front +door, where a servant is in constant attendance from nine in the morning +until ten at night, and the rear door, which can only be reached through +the kitchen. Neither of the two men who had been stationed at the front +door had seen the ambassador since breakfast, therefore he could not +have gone out that way. _Comprenez_? It seemed ridiculous, Monsieur, but +then I went to the kitchen. The _chef_ had been there all day, and he +had not seen the ambassador at all. I inquired further. No one in the +embassy, not a clerk, nor a servant, nor a member of the ambassador's +family 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, "the +ambassador of France had disappeared, gone, vanished! We searched the +house from the cellar to the servants' quarters, even the roof, but +there was no trace of him. The hat he usually wore was in the hall, and +all his other hats were accounted for. You may remember, Monsieur, that +Tuesday was cold, but all his top-coats were found in their proper +places. So it seems, Monsieur," and repression ended in a burst of +excitement, "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 the +benevolent face of the chief and the expressionless countenance of Mr. +Grimm. + +"_If_ he left the embassy?" Mr. Grimm repeated. "If your search of the +house 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 I +understand it, Monsieur, no one except you and the stenographer saw the +ambassador after ten o'clock in the morning?" + +"_Oui, Monsieur. C'est--_" Monsieur Rigolot began excitedly. "I beg +pardon. I believe that is correct." + +"You saw him about ten, you say; therefore no one except the +stenographer 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 have +the words of the servants at the door and of the stenographer that there +were no callers, and the statement of the stenographer that there were +no telephone calls or telegrams. There were only four letters for him +personally. 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 the +disappearance. + +"The letters Monsieur Boisségur had dictated were laid on his desk by +the stenographer," Monsieur Rigolot rushed on volubly, excitedly. "In +the anxiety and uneasiness following the disappearance they were allowed +to remain there overnight. On Wednesday morning, Monsieur"--and he +hesitated impressively--"_those letters bore his signature in his own +handwriting_!" + +Mr. Grimm turned his listless eyes full upon Monsieur Rigolot's +perturbed face for one scant instant. + +"No doubt of it being his signature?" he queried. + +"_Non, Monsieur, non!_" the secretary exclaimed emphatically. "_Vous +avez_--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 at +copies 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. Grimm +nodded, and Monsieur Rigolot resumed: + +"And Wednesday night, Monsieur, another strange thing happened. Monsieur +Boisségur smokes many cigarettes, of a kind made especially for him in +France, and shipped to him here. He keeps them in a case on his +dressing-table. On Thursday morning his valet reported to me that _this +case of cigarettes had disappeared_!" + +"Of course," observed Mr. Grimm, "Monsieur Boisségur has a latch-key to +the 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 on +his finger. Mr. Campbell turned around and moved a paper weight one inch +to the left, where it belonged, while Monsieur Rigolot, disappointed at +their amazing apathy, squirmed uneasily in his chair. + +"It would appear, then," Mr. Grimm remarked musingly, "that after his +mysterious disappearance the ambassador has either twice returned to his +house at night, or else sent some one there, first to bring the letters +to him for signature, and later to get his cigarettes?" + +"_Certainement, Monsieur_--I mean, that seems to be true. But where is +he? Why should he not come back? What does it mean? Madame Boisségur is +frantic, prostrated! She wanted me to go to the police, but I did not +think it wise that it should become public, so I came here." + +"Very well," commented Mr. Grimm. "Let it rest as it is. Meanwhile you +may reassure madame. Point out to her that if Monsieur Boisségur signed +the letters Tuesday night he was, at least, alive; and if he came or +sent for the cigarettes Wednesday night, he was still alive. I shall +call at the embassy this afternoon. No, it isn't advisable to go with +you 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 the +revolvers that may be in the house and take charge of them yourself. If +any one, by chance, heard a burglar prowling around there to-night he +might shoot, and in that event either kill Monsieur Boisségur or--or +me!" + +When the secretary had gone Mr. Campbell idly drummed on his desk as he +studied 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 capitals +may aid you in dispelling that mystery," Campbell suggested, and Mr. +Grimm turned to them eagerly. "Meanwhile our royal visitor, Prince +Benedetto 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 find +him--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-drawn +velvet hangings and laid a faintly illumined path across the +ambassador's desk; the heavy leather chairs were mere impalpable +splotches in the shadows; the cut-glass knobs of a mahogany cabinet +caught the glint of light and reflected it dimly. Outside was the vague, +indefinable night drone of a city asleep, unbroken by any sound that was +distinguishable, 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 on +the seat, thoughtfully nursing his knees. If his attitude indicated +anything except sheer comfort, it was that he was listening. He had been +there for two hours, wide-awake, and absolutely motionless. Five, ten, +fifteen minutes more passed, and then Mr. Grimm heard the grind and whir +of an automobile a block or so away, coming toward the embassy. Now it +was in front. + +"Honk! Hon-on-onk!" it called plaintively. "Hon-on-onk! Honk!" + +The signal! At last! The automobile went rushing on, full tilt, while +Mr. Grimm removed his feet from the seat and dropped them noiselessly to +the floor. Thus, with his hands on his knees, and listening, listening +with every faculty strained, he sat motionless, peering toward the open +door that led into the hall. The car was gone now, the sound of it was +swallowed up in the distance, still he sat there. It was obviously some +noise in the house for which he was waiting. + +Minute after minute passed, and still nothing. There was not even the +whisper 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, the +electric lights in the room blazed up brilliantly. The glare dazzled Mr. +Grimm with its blinding flood, but he didn't move. Then softly, almost +in 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--there +was not another quite like it in the wide, wide world--and though he was +still 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 were +curled the least bit, as if she might have been smiling, and her +wonderful eyes reflected a glint of--of--was it amusement? The folds of +her evening dress fell away from her, and one bare, white arm was +extended, as her hand still rested on the switch. + +"And you didn't hear me?" still in the half whisper. "I didn't think you +would. Now I'm going to put out the lights for an instant, while you +pull 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 in +turn. Then the lights blazed brilliantly again. + +"Just for a moment," Miss Thorne explained to him quietly, and she +handed him a sheet of paper. "I want you to read this--read it +carefully--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 his +impassive face. At length he looked up indolently, listlessly, and the +switch snapped. She crossed the room and sat down; Mr. Grimm sat beside +her. + +"I think," Miss Thorne suggested tentatively, "that that accounts +perfectly for Monsieur Boisségur's disappearance." + +"It gives one explanation, at least," Mr. Grimm assented musingly. +"Kidnapped--held prisoner--fifty thousand dollars demanded for his +safety and release." A pause. "And to whom, may I ask, was this demand +addressed?" + +"To Madame Boisségur," replied Miss Thorne. "I have the envelope in +which it came. It was mailed at the general post-office at half-past one +o'clock this afternoon, so the canceling stamp shows, and the envelope +was addressed, as the letter was written, on a typewriter." + +"And how," inquired Mr. Grimm, after a long pause, "how did it come into +your possession?" He waited a little. "Why didn't Monsieur Rigolot +report this development to me this afternoon when I was here?" + +"Monsieur Rigolot did not inform you of it because he didn't know of it +himself," she replied, answering the last question first. "It came into +my possession directly from the hands of Madame Boisségur--she gave it +to me." + +"Why?" + +Mr. Grimm was peering through the inscrutable darkness, straight into +her face--a white daub in the gloom, shapeless, indistinct. + +"I have known Madame Boisségur for half a dozen years," Miss Thorne +continued, in explanation. "We have been friends that long. I met her +first in Tokio, later in Berlin, and within a few weeks, here in +Washington. You see I have traveled in the time I have been an agent for +my government. Well, Madame Boisségur received this letter about +half-past four o'clock this afternoon; and about half-past five she sent +for me and placed it in my hands, together with all the singular details +following upon the ambassador's disappearance. So, it would seem that +you 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 see +for myself if the--the person who twice came here at night--once for the +ambassador'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 house +a few minutes ago," she interrupted. "The automobile horn outside was a +signal, 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 queried +instead. "Weren't you afraid I might shoot?" + +"No." + +There was a long silence. Mr. Grimm still sat with his elbows on his +knees, staring, staring at the vague white splotch which was Miss +Thorne's face and bare neck. One of her white arms hung at her side like +a 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 we +have 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 by +side toward a conclusion. I am wondering now if this singular affair +will take a similar course." + +He paused. Miss Thorne started to speak, but he silenced her with a +slight gesture of his hand. + +"It is only fair to you to say that we--that is, the Secret +Service--have learned many things about you," he resumed in the same +casual tone. "We have, through our foreign agents, traced you step by +step from Rome to Washington. We know that you are, in a way, a +representative of a sovereign of Europe; we know that you were on a +secret mission to the Spanish court, perhaps for this sovereign, and +remained in Madrid for a month; we know that from there you went to +Paris, also on a secret mission--perhaps the same--and remained there +for three weeks; we know that you met diplomatic agents of those +governments later in London. We know all this; we know the manner of +your coming to this country; of your coming to Washington. But we don't +know _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_ know +that in Spain you were Señora Cassavant, in Paris Mademoiselle +d'Aubinon, in London Miss Jane Kellog, and here Miss Isabel Thorne. We +realize that exigencies arise in your calling, and mine, which make +changes of name desirable, necessary even, and there is no criticism of +that. Now as the representative of your government--rather _a_ +government--you have a right to be here, although unaccredited; you have +a right to remain here as long as your acts are consistent with our +laws; you have a right to your secrets as long as they do not, directly +or indirectly, threaten the welfare of this country. Now, why are you +here?" + +He received no answer; he expected none. After a moment he went on: + +"Admitting that you are a secret agent of Italy, admitting everything +that you claim to be, you haven't convinced me that you are not the +person who came here for the letters and cigarettes. You have said +nothing to prove to my satisfaction that you are not the individual I +was 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 merely +that you haven't convinced me. There's nothing inconsistent in the fact +that you are what you say you are, and that in spite of that, you came +to-night for--" + +He was interrupted by a laugh, a throaty, silvery note that he +remembered well. His idle hands closed spasmodically, only to be +instantly relaxed. + +"Suppose, Mr. Grimm, I should tell you that immediately after Madame +Boisségur placed the matter in my hands this afternoon I went straight +to 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 on +being informed that you were out--remember I knew you were on the case +from Madame Boisségur--would that indicate anything except that I wanted +to 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 you +will find at your office, will show that. And when I left your office I +went to the hotel where you live, with the same purpose. You were not +there, and I left a card for you. And _that_ is a statement of fact. It +was not difficult, owing to the extraordinary circumstances, to imagine +that you would be here to-night--just as you are--and I came here. My +purpose, 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, at +my suggestion, left the French window in the hall there unfastened, and +I 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 owe +you an apology, Miss Thorne--another one. The circumstances now, as +they were at our previous meetings, are so unusual that--is it necessary +to go on?" There was a certain growing deference in his tone. "I wonder +if you account for Monsieur Boisségur's disappearance as I do?" he +inquired. + +"I dare say," and Miss Thorne leaned toward him with sudden eagerness in +her manner and voice. "Your theory is--?" she questioned. + +"If we believe the servants we know that Monsieur Boisségur did not go +out either by the front door or rear," Mr. Grimm explained. "That being +true the French window by which you entered seems to have been the way." + +"Yes, yes," Miss Thorne interpolated. "And the circumstances attending +the 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 situation +here as I have," responded Mr. Grimm. "For instance, sitting at his desk +there"--and he turned to indicate it--"he could readily see out the +windows overlooking the street. There is only a narrow strip of lawn +between 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 his +attention--some one he knew--it is not at all unlikely that he rose, for +no apparent reason, as he did do, passed along the hall--" + +"And through the French window, across the lawn to the carriage, and not +a person in the house would have seen him go out? Precisely! There seems +no doubt that was the way," she mused. "And, of course, he must have +entered the carriage of his own free will?" + +"In other words, on some pretext or other, he was lured in, then made +prisoner, and--!" + +He paused suddenly and his hand met Miss Thorne's warningly. The silence +of the night was broken by the violent clatter of footsteps, apparently +approaching the embassy. The noise was unmistakable--some one was +running. + +"The window!" Miss Thorne whispered. + +She rose quickly and started to cross the room, to look out; Mr. Grimm +sat motionless, listening. An instant later and there came a tremendous +crash of glass--the French window in the hallway by the sound--then +rapid footsteps, still running, along the hall. Mr. Grimm moved toward +the door unruffled, perfectly self-possessed; there was only a narrowing +of his eyes at the abruptness and clatter of it all. And then the +electric lights in the hall flashed up. + +Before Mr. Grimm stood a man, framed by the doorway, staring unseeingly +into the darkened room. His face was haggard and white as death; his +mouth agape as if from exertion, and the lips bloodless; his eyes were +widely distended as if from fright--clothing disarranged, collar +unfastened 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 enframed +figure when, without any apparent reason, the ambassador turned and ran +along the hall; and at that instant the lights went out again. For one +moment Grimm stood still, dazed and blinded by the sudden blackness, and +again 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 out +into the hall, feeling with both his hands along the wall. A few feet +away, in the direction the ambassador had gone, there seemed to be a +violent struggle in progress--there was the scuffling of feet, and +quick-drawn breaths as muscle strained against muscle. The lights! If he +could only find the switch! Then, as his hands moved along the wall, +they came in contact with another hand--a hand pressed firmly against +the plastering, barring his progress. A light blow in the face caused +him to step back quickly. + +The scuffling sound suddenly resolved itself into moving footsteps, and +the front door opened and closed with a bang. Mr. Grimm's listless eyes +snapped, and his white teeth came together sharply as he started toward +the front door. But fate seemed to be against him still. He stumbled +over a chair, and his own impetus forward sent him sprawling; his head +struck the wall with a resounding whack; and then, over the house, came +utter silence. From outside he heard the clatter of a cab. Finally that +died away in the distance. + +"Miss Thorne?" he inquired quietly. + +"I'm here," she answered in a despairing voice. "But I can't find the +switch." + +"Are you hurt?" + +"No." + +And then she found the switch; the lights flared up. Mr. Grimm was +sitting thoughtfully on the floor. + +"That simplifies the matter considerably," he observed complacently, as +he rose. "The men who signaled to me when you entered the embassy will +never let that cab get out of their sight." + +Miss Thorne stood leaning forward a little, eagerly gazing at him with +those wonderful blue-gray eyes, and an expression of--of--perhaps it was +admiration 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 an +inquisitive head timidly around the corner of the stairs. The crash of +glass had aroused him. + +"What happened?" he asked breathlessly. + +"We don't know just yet," replied Mr. Grimm. "If the noise aroused any +one else please assure them that there's nothing the matter. And you +might inform Madame Boisségur that the ambassador will return home +to-morrow. Good night!" + +At his hotel, when he reached there, Mr. Grimm found Miss Thorne's +card--and he drew a long breath; at his office he found another of her +cards, and he drew another long breath. He did like corroborative +details, did Mr. Grimm, and, of course, this--! On the following day +Miss Thorne accompanied him to Alexandria, and they were driven in a +closed carriage out toward the western edge of the city. Finally the +carriage stopped at a signal from Mr. Grimm, and he assisted Miss Thorne +out, after which he turned and spoke to some one remaining inside--a +man. + +"The house is two blocks west, along that street there," he explained, +and he indicated an intersecting thoroughfare just ahead. "It is number +ninety-seven. Five minutes after we enter you will drive up in front of +the door and wait. If we don't return in fifteen minutes--come in after +us!" + +"Do you anticipate danger?" Miss Thorne queried quickly. + +"If I had anticipated danger," replied Mr. Grimm, "I should not have +permitted you to come with me." + +They entered the house--number ninety-seven--with a key which Mr. Grimm +produced, and a minute or so later walked into a room where three men +were sitting. One of them was of a coarse, repulsive type, large and +heavy; another rather dapper, of superficial polish, evidently a +foreigner, 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 the +heavy face--drew a revolver. Mr. Grimm faced him placidly. + +"Do you know what would happen to you if you killed me?" he inquired +pleasantly. "You wouldn't live three minutes. Do you imagine I came in +here blindly? There are a dozen men guarding the entrances to the +house--a pistol shot would bring them in. Put down the gun!" + +Eyes challenged eyes for one long tense instant, and the man carefully +laid the weapon on the table. Mr. Grimm strolled over and picked it up, +after which he glanced inquiringly at the other man--the ambassador's +second guard. + +"And you are the gentleman, I dare say, who made the necessary trips to +the ambassador's house, probably using his latch-key?" he remarked +interrogatively. "First for the letters to be signed, and again for the +cigarettes?" + +There was no answer and Mr. Grimm turned questioningly to Monsieur +Boisségur, silent, white of face, motionless. + +"Yes, Monsieur," the ambassador burst out suddenly. His eyes were fixed +unwaveringly on Miss Thorne. + +"And your escape, Monsieur?" continued Mr. Grimm. + +"I did escape, Monsieur, last night," the ambassador explained, "but +they knew it immediately--they pursued me into my own house, these two +and another--and dragged me back here! _Mon Dieu, Monsieur, c'est--!_" + +"That's all that's necessary," remarked Mr. Grimm. "You are free to go +now." + +"But there are others," Monsieur Boisségur interposed desperately, "two +more somewhere below, and they will not allow--they will attack--!" + +Mr. Grimm's listless eyes narrowed slightly and he turned to Miss +Thorne. She was a little white, but he saw enough in her face to satisfy +him. + +"I shall escort Monsieur Boisségur to his carriage, Miss Thorne," he +said calmly. "These men will remain here until I return. Take the +revolver. If either of them so much as wags his head--_shoot_! You are +not--not afraid?" + +"No." She smiled faintly. "I am not afraid." + +Mr. Grimm and the ambassador went down the stairs, and out the front +door. Mr. Grimm was just turning to reenter the house when from above +came a muffled, venomous cra-as-ash!--a shot! He took the steps going +up, 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 stood +open; and the clatter of footsteps echoed through the house. + +"One of them leaped at me and I fired," she gasped in explanation. "He +struck me, but I'm--I'm not hurt." + +She stooped quickly, picked up the revolver and made as if to follow the +dying 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 should +never have consented to allow you--" + +"I understand," she interrupted, and for one instant her outstretched +hand 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 their +coffee and cigars, Miss Thorne paused at the door and the blue-gray eyes +flashed some subtle message to the French ambassador who, after an +instant, nodded comprehendingly, then resumed his conversation. As he +left the room a few minutes later he noticed that Mr. Grimm had joined a +group of automaniacs of which Mr. Cadwallader was the enthusiastic +center. 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 beside +her. 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 to +the 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 were +sparkling as if something amusing had been said. "One of my agents +stopped 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 in +Washington at this moment," she replied positively. The smile on her +lips and the tone of her voice were strangely at variance. "From the +beginning I let you understand that ultimately you would receive your +instructions from Paris; now I know they will reach you by cable +to-morrow. Within a week the compact will be signed. Whether you approve +of it or not it will be signed for your country by a special envoy whose +authority is greater than yours--his Highness, the Prince Benedetto +d'Abruzzi." + +"Has he reached Washington?" + +"He is in Washington. He has been here for some time, incognito." She +was 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 been +comfortably kept out in Alexandria where Mr. Grimm and I found you. +Please remember, Monsieur, that we will accomplish what we set out to +do. Nothing can stop us--nothing." + +At just about the same moment the name of Prince d'Abruzzi had been used +in the dining-room, but in a different connection. Mr. Cadwallader was +reciting some incident of an automobile trip in Italy when he had been +connected 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 of +thing. He was one scion of royalty who didn't mind soiling his hands by +diving in under a car and fixing it himself. At that time he was +inclined to be wild--that was eight or nine years ago--but they say now +he has settled down to work, and is one of the real diplomatic powers of +Italy. 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-bloods +and all that sort of thing one can find knocking about in Italy and +Germany and Spain. One never hears of half of them. I never had heard +of the Prince d'Abruzzi until I went to Italy, and I've heard jolly well +little of him since, except indirectly." + +Mr. Cadwallader lapsed into silence as he sat staring at a large group +photograph which was framed on a wall of the dining-room. + +"Isn't that the royal family of Italy?" he asked. He rose and went over +to it. "By Jove, it is, and here is the prince in the group. The picture +was taken, I should say, about the time I knew him." + +Mr. Grimm strolled over idly and stood for a long time staring at the +photograph. + +"He can drive a motor, you know," said Mr. Cadwallader admiringly. "And +Italy is the place to drive them. They forgot to make any speed laws +over there, and if a chap gets in your way and you knock him silly they +arrest him for obstructing traffic, you know. Over here if a chap really +starts 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 new +motor, you know, and I've never been able to see how fast it is. The +other evening I ran up to Baltimore with it in an hour and thirty-seven +minutes from Alexandria to Druid Hill Park, and that's better than forty +miles. I never did let the motor out, you know, because we ran in the +dark 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 with +me. Charming girl, what?" + +A little while later Mr. Grimm sauntered out into the drawing-room and +made his way toward Miss Thorne and the French ambassador. Monsieur +Boisségur rose, and offered his hand cordially. + +"I hope, Monsieur," said Mr. Grimm, "that you are no worse off for +your--your unpleasant experience?" + +"Not at all, thanks to you," was the reply. "I have just thanked Miss +Thorne 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 dropped +into 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 conspicuous +because of the constant espionage of your Mr. Blair and your Mr. Johnson +and your Mr. Hastings," she explained, still laughing. "So I have moved +to 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. "You +see it's necessary to--" + +"No explanation," Miss Thorne interrupted. "I understand." + +"I'm glad you do," he replied seriously. "How long do you intend to +remain 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, to +make the four. Come. I hate to take her away, Mr. Grimm." + +Mr. Grimm and Miss Thorne rose together. For an instant her slim white +hand rested on Mr. Grimm's sleeve and she stared into his eyes +understandingly 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 as +an unaccredited agent of the Italian government, and the self-confessed +assailant of Señor Alvarez of the Mexican legation, had been taking his +ease in a cell. He had been formally arraigned and committed without +bail to await the result of the bullet wound which had been inflicted +upon the diplomatist from Mexico at the German Embassy Ball, and, since +then, undisturbed and apparently careless of the outcome, he had spent +his time in reading and smoking. He had answered questions with only a +curt yes or no when he deigned to answer them at all; and there had been +no callers or inquiries for him. He had abruptly declined a suggestion +of counsel. + +Twice each day, morning and night, he had asked a question of the +jailer 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 shadow +of uneasiness or concern on his face. + +Occasionally there came a courteous little note from Miss Thorne, which +he read without emotion, afterward casting them aside or tearing them +up. He never answered them. And then one day there came another note +which, for no apparent reason, seemed to stir him from his lethargy. +Outwardly it was like all the others, but when Signor Petrozinni scanned +the sheet his eyes lighted strangely, and he stood staring down at it as +though to hide a sudden change of expression in his face. His gaze was +concentrated on two small splotches of ink where, it seemed, the pen +had scratched as Miss Thorne signed her name. + +The guard stood at the barred door for a moment, then started to turn +away. The prisoner stopped him with a quick gesture. + +"Oh, Guard, may I have a glass of milk, please?" he asked. "No ice. I +prefer it tepid." + +He thrust a small coin between the bars; the guard accepted it and +passed on. Then, still standing at the door, the prisoner read the note +again: + +"MY DEAR FRIEND: + +"I understand, from an indirect source, that there has been a marked +improvement in Señor Alvarez's condition, and I am hastening to send you +the good news. There is every hope that within a short while, if he +continues to improve, we can arrange a bail bond, and you will be free +until the time of trial anyway. + +"Might it not be well for you to consult an attorney at once? Drop me a +line to let me know you received this. + +"Sincerely, + +"ISABEL THORNE." + +Finally the prisoner tossed the note on a tiny table in a corner of his +cell, and resumed his reading. After a time the guard returned with the +milk. + +"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 the +signor and he smiled a little. "Believe me, I would prefer to get them +for 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 twice +and permitted the light to die. After a little there came again the +clatter of the guard's feet on the cement pavement, and the writing +materials were thrust through the bars. + +"Thank you," said the prisoner. + +The guard went on, with a nod, and a moment later the signor heard the +clangor 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 a +long time, then rose and noiselessly approached the cell door. Again he +listened intently, after which he resumed his seat. He tossed away the +cigarette he had and lighted a fresh one, afterward holding the note +over the flame of the match. Here and there, where the paper charred in +the heat, a letter or word stood out from the bare whiteness of the +paper, and finally, a message complete appeared between the innocuous +ink-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? Would +advise former, as the other might take months, and meeting to sign +treaty 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 scrap +dropped on the floor, burned out, and he crushed the ashes under his +heel. Then he began to write: + +"My Dear Miss Thorne: + +"Many thanks for your courteous little note. I am delighted to know of +the improvement in Señor Alvarez's condition. I had hoped that my +impulsive act in shooting him would not end in a tragedy. Please keep me +informed of any further change in his condition. As yet I do not see the +necessity of consulting an attorney, but later I may be compelled to do +so. + +"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 empty +glass of milk. The fluid clung to the steel nib thinly; he went on +writing with it, between the lines of ink: + +"I am in no danger. I hold credentials to United States, which, when +presented, will make me responsible only to the Italian government as +special envoy, according to international law. Arrange escape for one +week from to-night; use any money necessary. Make careful arrangements +for the test and signing of compact for two nights after." + +Again the prisoner cleaned the steel nib, after which he put it back in +the bottle of ink, leaving it there. He waved the sheet of paper back +and forth to dry it, and at last scrutinized it minutely, standing under +the light from the high-up window of his cell. Letter by letter the milk +evaporated, leaving the sheet perfectly clean and white except for the +ink-written message. This sheet he folded, placed in an envelope, and +addressed. + +Later the guard passed along the corridor, and Signor Petrozinni thrust +the letter out to him. + +"Be good enough to post that, please," he requested. "It isn't sealed. I +don't know if your prison rules require you to read the letters that go +out. 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 down +again, and sipped his milk meditatively. + +One hour later Mr. Grimm, accompanied by Johnson, came out of a +photographer's dark room in Pennsylvania Avenue with a developed +negative which he set on a rack to dry. At the end of another hour he +was sitting at his desk studying, under a magnifying glass, a finished +print of the negative. Word by word he was writing on a slip of paper +what his magnifying glass gave him and so, curiously enough, it came to +pass that Miss Thorne and Chief Campbell of the Secret Service were +reading the hidden, milk-written message at almost the identical moment. + +"Johnson got Petrozinni's letter from the postman," Mr. Grimm was +explaining. "I opened it, photographed it, sealed it again and remailed +it. There was not more than half an hour's delay; and Miss Thorne can +not possibly know of it." He paused a moment. "It's an odd thing that +writing such as that is absolutely invisible to the naked eye, and yet +when photographed becomes decipherable in the negative." + +"What do you make of it?" Mr. Campbell asked. The guileless blue eyes +were 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 government +must respect them, even if Señor Alvarez dies, and leave it to his own +government to punish him. If we were officially aware that he has such +credentials I doubt if we would have the right to keep him confined; we +would merely have to hand him over to the Italian embassy and demand his +punishment. And, of course, all that makes him more dangerous than +ever." + +"Yes, I know that," said the chief a little impatiently. "But who is +this 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 found +him." + +Mr. Campbell's clock-like brain ticked over the situation in detail. + +"It's like this," Mr. Grimm elucidated. "He has credentials which he +knows will free him if he is forced to present them, but I imagine they +were given to him more for protection in an emergency like this than for +introducing him to our government. As the matter stands he can't afford +to discover himself by using those credentials, and yet, if the Latin +compact is signed, he must be free. Remember, too, that he is accredited +from three countries--Italy, France and Spain." He was silent for a +moment. "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. Campbell +slowly. "The special envoy of three great powers held for attempted--!" + +"Officially we are not aware of his purpose, or his identity," Mr. Grimm +reminded him. "If he escaped it would clarify the situation +tremendously." + +"If he escaped!" repeated Mr. Campbell musingly. + +"But, of course, the compact would not be signed, at least in this +country," Mr. Grimm went on tentatively. + +Mr. Campbell gazed straight into the listless eyes of the young man for +a 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 there +in 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 at +his desk, poring over a report. Once he glanced up at the clock--it was +five 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 the +first sharp stroke of the hour; and at just that moment the door from +the street opened and a man entered. He was rather tall and slender, and +a sinister black mask hid his face from the quickly raised eyes of the +warden. For a bare fraction of a second the two men stared at each +other, then, instinctively, the warden's right hand moved toward the +open drawer of his desk where a revolver lay, and his left toward +several 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 a +pleasant voice. "I have come to demand his release." + +The warden's right hand was raised above the desk top, and the revolver +in it clicked warningly. + +"You have come to demand his release, eh?" he queried. He still sat +motionless, with his eyes fixed on the black mask. "How did you pass the +outside guard?" + +"He was bribed," was the ready response. "Now, Warden," the masked +intruder continued pacifically, "it would be much more pleasant all +around and there would be less personal danger in it for both of us if +you would release Signor Petrozinni without question. I may add that no +bribe was offered to you because your integrity was beyond question." + +"Thank you," said the warden grimly, "and it shall remain so as long as +I 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 had +been drawn! His teeth closed with a snap at the treachery of it, and +with his left hand he pulled back one of the levers--that which should +arouse the jailers, turnkeys and guards. Instead of the insistent +clangor 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 the +palms of his hands. He still held the revolver as he advanced upon the +masked man threateningly. + +"Not too close, now," warned the intruder, with a sudden hardening of +his 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 to +injure you, still less do I intend that you shall injure me; and it +would be needless for either of us to make a personal matter of it. I +want your prisoner, Signor Petrozinni--you will release him at once! +That's all!" + +The warden paused, dazed, incredulous before the audacity of it, while +he studied two calm eyes which peered at him through the slits of the +mask. + +"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 for +you to give an alarm," the stranger went on. "The very men on whom you +most depended have been bought, and even if they were within sound of +your voice now they wouldn't respond. One of your assistants who has +been here for years unloaded the revolver in the desk there, and less +than an hour ago cut the prison alarm wire. I, personally, cut the +police alarm outside the building. So you see!" + +As yet there was no weapon in sight, save the unloaded revolver in the +warden's hand; at no time had the stranger's voice been raised. His tone +was a perfectly normal one. + +"Besides yourself there are only five other men employed here who are +now awake," the masked man continued. "These are four inner guards and +the outer guard. They have all been bought--the turnkeys at five +thousand dollars each, and the outer guard at seven thousand. The +receipt of all of this money is conditional upon the release of Signor +Petrozinni, 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 how +futile any resistance would be." + +"But who--who is this Signor Petrozinni, that such powerful influences +should be brought to bear in his behalf?" demanded the bewildered +warden. + +"He is a man who can command a vast fortune--and Señor Alvarez is at the +point 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 step +forward and raised the empty revolver to strike. The masked man moved +slightly to one side and his clenched fist caught the warden on the +point 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 prison +opened, and Signor Petrozinni, accompanied by one of the guards, entered +the warden's office. The masked man glanced around at them, and with a +motion of his head indicated the door leading to the street. They +passed 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 send +some of your men up to investigate." + +"Who is that?" came the answering question. + +The stranger replaced the receiver on the hook, stripped off his black +mask, dropped it on the floor beside the motionless warden, and went +out. It was Mr. Grimm! + + + + +XVIII + +NOTICE TO LEAVE + + +At fifteen minutes of midnight when Miss Thorne, followed by Signor +Petrozinni, entered the sitting-room of her apartments in the hotel and +turned up the light they found Mr. Grimm already there. He rose +courteously. At sight of him Miss Thorne's face went deathly white, and +the 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 to +the humiliation of arrest if you attempt to leave. The house is guarded +by a dozen men." + +"Your Highness?" Miss Thorne repeated blankly. "You are assuming a +great deal, aren't you, Mr. Grimm?" + +"I don't believe," and Mr. Grimm's listless eyes were fixed on those of +the escaped prisoner, "I don't believe that Prince Benedetto d'Abruzzi +will deny his identity?" + +There was one of those long tense silences when eye challenges eye, when +wit is pitted against wit, and mind is hauled around to a new, and +sometimes unattractive, view of a situation. Miss Thorne stood silent +with rigid features, colorless as marble; but slowly a sneer settled +about 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. Grimm +was still standing. "I know, for instance, that one week ago the plot +which had your freedom for its purpose was born; I know the contents of +every letter that passed between you and Miss Thorne here, +notwithstanding the invisible ink; I know that four days ago several +thousand 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 or +one of her agents bribed the guard in front; I know that the escape was +planned for to-night, and that the man who was delegated to take charge +of it is now locked in my office under guard. It may interest you to +know that it was I who took his place and made the escape possible. I +know that much!" + +"You--_you_--!" the prince burst out suddenly. "_You_ aided me to +escape?" + +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 utmost +courtesy. "There is one other thing I know--that the Latin compact will +not be signed in the United States." + +The prince's eyes met Miss Thorne's inquiringly, and she shook her +head. 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 the +Latin compact is signed anywhere, the English-speaking countries of the +world might construe it as a _casus belli_ and strike soon enough, and +hard enough, to put an end to it once for all." + +Again there was silence for a little while. Slowly the prince's eyes +were darkening, and a shadow flitted across Miss Thorne's face. The +prince rose impatiently. + +"Well, what is the meaning of all this? Are you going to take me back to +prison?" + +"No," said Mr. Grimm. He glanced at his watch. "I will give each of you +one-half hour to pack your belongings. We must catch a train at one +o'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 those +wonderful blue-gray eyes now. "A special car with private compartments +will be attached to the regular train, and the only inconvenience to you +will be the fact that the three of us will be compelled to sit up all +night. Half a dozen other Secret Service men will be on the train with +us." + +And then the prince's entire manner underwent a change. + +"Mr. Grimm," he said earnestly, "it is absolutely necessary that I +remain in Washington for another week--remain here even if I am locked +up again--lock me up again if you like. I can't sign compacts in +prison." + +"Twenty-five minutes," replied Mr. Grimm quietly. + +"But here," exclaimed the prince explosively, "I have credentials which +will insure my protection in spite of your laws." + +"I know that," said Mr. Grimm placidly. "Credentials of that nature can +not be presented at midnight, and you will not be here to-morrow to +present 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 was +giving some instructions as to her baggage the prince went over to the +telegraph booth and began to write a message on a blank. Mr. Grimm +appeared 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. Grimm +informed him quietly. + +"Why, it's an outrage!" flamed the prince. + +"It depends altogether on the view-point, your Highness," said Mr. Grimm +courteously. "If you will pardon me I might suggest that it is needless +to attract attention by your present attitude. You may--I say you +_may_--compel me to humiliate you." The prince glared at him angrily. "I +mean 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 started +out. At the door Mr. Grimm stopped and turned back to the desk, as if +struck by some sudden thought, leaving them together. + +"Oh, Miss Thorne left a message for some one," Mr. Grimm was saying to +the clerk. "She's decided it is unnecessary." He turned and glanced +toward her, and the clerk's eyes followed his. "Please give it to me." + +It was passed over without comment. It was a sealed envelope addressed +to Mr. Charles Winthrop Rankin. Mr. Grimm glanced at the superscription, +tore the envelope into bits and dropped it into a basket. A minute +later he was assisting Miss Thorne and the prince into an automobile +that was waiting in front. As the car moved away two other automobiles +appeared 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 roar +and clatter of the moving train. Mr. Grimm, vigilant, implacable, sat at +ease; 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 was +passed, 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. Grimm +apologized to Miss Thorne as he assisted her to alight. "You must be +exhausted." + +"If it were only that!" she replied, with a slight smile. "And is it +too 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. Grimm +obligingly. "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 later +they steamed out into the stream and threaded their way down the bay. +Miss Thorne stood at the rail gazing back upon the city they were +leaving. Mr. Grimm stood beside her; the prince, still sullen, still +scowling, sat a dozen feet away. + +"This is a wonderful thing you have done, Mr. Grimm," said Miss Thorne +at last. + +"Thank you," he said simply. "It was a destructive thing that you +intended to do. Did you ever see a more marvelous thing than that?" and +he indicated the sky-line of New York. "It's the most marvelous bit of +mechanism in the world; the dynamo of the western hemisphere. You would +have destroyed it, because in the world-war that would have been the +first point of attack." + +She raised her eyebrows, but was silent. + +"Somehow," he went on after a moment, "I could never associate a woman +with 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? And +now your remark makes me feel that you alone have stood for peace and +the general good, and I for destruction and evil." + +"I didn't mean that," Mr. Grimm said quickly. "You have done your duty +as 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 you +and I might have been excellent friends if it had not been for all +this." + +"I know we should have," said Mr. Grimm, almost eagerly. "I wonder if +you will ever forgive me for--for--?" + +"Forgive you?" she repeated. "There is nothing to forgive. One must do +one'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 time +there was a tense, strained note in his voice. + +Miss Thorne's blue-gray eyes had grown mistily thoughtful; the words +startled 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 smile +curled 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 about +Sandy Hook put toward them, flying some signal at her masthead. Slowly +the great boat on which they stood crept along, then the clang of a bell +in the engine-room brought her to a standstill, and the revenue cutter +came 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 staring +into the limpid gray eyes, then, turning, went below. From the revenue +cutter 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 scowl +was still on his face. + +"And now what?" he demanded abruptly. "This man has treated us as if we +were 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--we +are not beaten yet." + +The _Lusitania_ was rounding Montauk Point when the wireless brought her +to half-speed with a curt message: + +"Isabel Thorne and Pietro Petrozinni aboard _Lusitania_ wanted on +warrants charging conspiracy. Tug-boat will take them off, intercepting +you 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 aid +of one of the maids in the depot at Jersey City I managed to get a +telegram of explanation and instruction to De Foe in New York, and this +is the result. He signed Mr. Campbell's name, I suppose, to give weight +to 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 upon +the 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 and +amusement; automobiles, carriages, cabs, cars flowed past endlessly; and +yet Mr. Grimm saw naught of it. In the distance, at one end of the +avenue the dome of the capitol cleft the shadows of night, and a single +light sparkled at its apex; in the other direction, at the left of the +treasury building which abruptly blocks the wide thoroughfare, were the +shimmering windows of the White House. + +Motionless, moody, thoughtful, Mr. Grimm sat staring, staring straight +ahead, comprehending none of these things which lay before him as in a +panorama. Instead, his memory was conjuring up a pair of subtle, +blue-gray eyes, now pleading, now coquettish, now frankly defiant; two +slim, white, wonderful hands; the echo of a pleasant, throaty laugh; a +splendid, elusive, radiant-haired phantom. Truly, a woman of mystery! +Who was this Isabel Thorne who, for months past, had been the +storm-center and directing mind of a vast international intrigue which +threatened the world with war? Who, this remarkable young woman who with +ease and assurance commanded ambassadors and played nations as pawns? + +Now that she was safely out of the country Mr. Grimm had leisure to +speculate. Upon him had devolved the duty of blocking her plans, and he +had done so--merciless alike of his own feeling and of hers. Hesitation +or evasion had never occurred to him. It was a thing to be done, and he +did it. He wondered if she had understood, there at the last beside the +rail? He wondered if she knew the struggle it had cost him deliberately +to send her out of his life? Or had even surmised that her expulsion +from the country, by his direct act, was wholly lacking in the +exaltation of triumph to him; that it struck deeper than that, below the +listless, 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. He +didn't heed. The waiter poured a demi-tasse, and inquiringly lifted a +lump of sugar in the silver tongs. Still Mr. Grimm didn't heed. At last +the waiter deposited the sugar on the edge of the fragile saucer, and +moved away as silently as he had come. A newspaper which Mr. Grimm had +placed on the end of the table when he sat down, rattled a little as a +breeze from the open window caught it, then the top sheet slid off and +fell to the floor. Mr. Grimm was still staring out the window. + +Slowly the room behind him was thinning of its crowd as the +theater-bound diners went out in twos and threes. The last of these +disappeared finally, and save for Mr. Grimm there were not more than a +dozen persons left in the place. Thus for a few minutes, and then the +swinging doors leading from the street clicked, and a gentleman entered. +He glanced around, as if seeking a seat near a window, then moved along +in Mr. Grimm's direction, between the rows of tables. His gaze lingered +on Mr. Grimm for an instant, and when he came opposite he stooped and +picked 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 paper +once and replaced it on the table. One hand lingered for just the +fraction 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 three +tables down. + +Apparently this trifling courtesy had broken the spell of reverie, for +Mr. Grimm squared around to the table again, drew his coffee-cup toward +him, and dropped in the single lump of sugar. He idly stirred it for a +moment, as his eyes turned again toward the open window, then he lifted +the tiny cup and emptied it. + +Again he sat motionless for a long time, and thrice the new-comer, only +a few feet away, glanced at him narrowly. And now, it seemed, a peculiar +drowsiness was overtaking Mr. Grimm. Once he caught himself nodding and +raised his head with a jerk. Then he noticed that the arc lights in the +street were wobbling curiously, and he fell to wondering why that +single flame sparkled at the apex of the capitol dome. Things around him +grew hazy, vague, unreal, and then, as if realizing that something was +the 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 everything +grew black about him, and he pitched forward on the floor. His face was +dead white; his fingers moved a little, nervously, weakly, then they +were still. + +Several people rose at the sound of the falling body, and the new-comer +hurried forward. His coat sleeve caught the empty demi-tasse, as he +stooped, and swept it to the floor, where it was shattered. The head +waiter and another came, pell-mell, and those diners who had risen came +more slowly. + +"What's the matter?" asked the head waiter anxiously. + +Already the new-comer was supporting Mr. Grimm on his knee, and +flicking water in his face. + +"Nothing serious, I fancy," he answered shortly. "He's subject to these +little attacks." + +"What are they? Who is he?" + +The stranger tore at Mr. Grimm's collar until it came loose, then he +fell to chafing the still hands. + +"He is a Mr. Grimm, a government employee--I know him," he answered +again. "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 call +a cab, and I'll see that he's taken home. It happens that we live in the +same apartment house, just a few blocks from here." + +Obedient to the crisply-spoken directions, a cab was called, and five +minutes later Mr. Grimm, still insensible, was lifted into it. The +stranger took a seat beside him, the cabby touched his horse with a +whip, and the vehicle fell into the endless, moving line. + + + + +XXI + +A SLIP OF PAPER + + +When the light of returning consciousness finally pierced the black +lethargy that enshrouded him, Mr. Grimm's mind was a chaos of vagrant, +absurd fantasies; then slowly, slowly, realization struggled back to its +own, and he came to know things. First was the knowledge that he was +lying flat on his back, on a couch, it seemed; then, that he was in the +dark--an utter, abject darkness. And finally came an overwhelming sense +of silence. + +For a while he lay motionless, with not even the movement of an eye-lash +to indicate consciousness, wrapped in a delicious languor. Gradually +this passed and the feeble flutter of his heart grew into a steady, +rhythmic beat. The keen brain was awakening; he was beginning to +remember. What had happened? He knew only that in some manner a drug had +been administered to him, a bitter dose tasting of opium; that +speechlessly, he had fought against it, that he had risen from the table +in the restaurant, and that he had fallen. All the rest was blank. + +With eyes still closed, and nerveless hands inert at his sides he +listened, the while he turned the situation over in speculative mood. +The waiter had administered the drug, of course, unless--unless it had +been the courteous stranger who had replaced the newspaper on the table! +That thought opened new fields of conjecture. Mr. Grimm had no +recollection of ever having seen him before; and he had paid only the +enforced attention of politeness to him. And why had the drug been +administered? Vaguely, incoherently, Mr. Grimm imagined that in some way +it had to do with the great international plot of war in which Miss +Thorne was so delicate and vital an instrument. + +Where was he? Conjecture stopped there. Evidently he was where the +courteous gentleman in the restaurant wanted him to be. A prisoner? +Probably. In danger? Long, careful attention to detail work in the +Secret Service had convinced Mr. Grimm that he was always in danger. +That was one reason--and the best--why he had lain motionless, without +so much as lifting a finger, since that first glimmer of consciousness +had entered his brain. He was probably under scrutiny, even in the +darkness, and for the present it was desirable to accommodate any chance +watcher by remaining apparently unconscious. + +And so for a long time he lay, listening. Was there another person in +the room? Mr. Grimm's ears were keenly alive for the inadvertent +shuffling of a foot; or the sound of breathing. Nothing. Even the night +roar of the city was missing; the silence was oppressive. At last he +opened his eyes. A pall of gloom encompassed him--a pall without one +rift of light. His fingers, moving slowly, explored the limits of the +couch whereon he lay. + +Confident, at last, that wherever he was, he was unwatched, Mr. Grimm +was on the point of concluding that further inaction was useless, when +his straining ears caught the faint grating of metal against +metal--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 its +hinges, 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's +nerveless hands closed involuntarily, and his lips were set together +tightly. Was it to be a knife thrust in the dark? If not--then what? He +expected the flare of a match; instead there was a soft tread, and the +rustle of skirts. A woman! Mr. Grimm's caution was all but forgotten in +his surprise. As the steps drew nearer his clenched fingers loosened; he +waited. + +Two hands stretched forward in the dark, touched him +simultaneously--one on the face, one on the breast. A singular thrill +shot through him, but there was not the flicker of an eye or the +twitching of a finger. The woman--it _was_ a woman--seemed now to be +bending over him, then he heard her drop on her knees beside him, and +she 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 and +inert, for a strange fragrance was enveloping him--a fragrance he well +knew. + +The hands were fumbling at his breast again, and there was the sharp +crackle of paper. At first he didn't understand, then he knew that the +woman had pinned a paper to the lapel of his coat. Finally she +straightened up, and took two steps away from him, after which came a +pause. His keenly attuned ears caught her faint breathing, then the +rustle of her skirts as she turned back. She was leaning over him +again--her lips touched his forehead, barely; again there was a quick +rustling of skirts, the door creaked, and--silence, deep, oppressive, +overwhelming silence. + +Isabel! Was he dreaming? And then he ceased wondering and fell to +remembering 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. Grimm +straightened up suddenly on the couch, himself again. He touched the +slip of paper which she had pinned to his coat to make sure it was not +all a dream, after which he recalled the fact that while he had heard +the 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 was +beside 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 knew +the answer. The compact was to be signed--the alliance which would array +the civilized world in arms. He had failed to block that, as he thought. +If Miss Thorne had returned, then Prince Benedetto d'Abruzzi, who held +absolute power to sign the compact for Italy, France and Spain, had also +returned. + +Stealthily, feeling his way as he went, Mr. Grimm moved toward the door +leading to freedom, guided by the fresh draft of air. He reached the +door--it was standing open--and a moment later stepped out into the +star-lit night. It was open country here, with a thread of white road +just ahead, and farther along a fringe of shrubbery. Mr. Grimm reached +the road. Far down it, a pin point in the night, a light flickered +through interlacing branches. The tail lamp of an automobile, of course! + +Mr. Grimm left the road and skirted a sparse hedge in the direction of +the light. After a moment he heard the engine of an automobile, and saw +a woman--barely discernible--step into the car. As it started forward he +staked everything on one bold move, and won, his reward being a narrow +sitting space in the rear of the car, hidden from its occupants by the +tonneau. One mile, two miles, three miles they charged through the +night, 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 behind +some convenient bushes. And the first thing he did there was to light a +match, and read what was written on the slip of paper pinned to his +coat. It was, simply: + +"My Dear Mr. Grimm: + +"By the time you read this the compact will have been signed, and your +efforts to prevent it, splendid as they were, futile. It is a tribute to +you that it was unanimously agreed that you must be accounted for at +the time of the signing, hence the drugging in the restaurant; it was +only an act of kindness that I should come here to see that all was well +with you, and leave the door open behind me. + +"Believe me when I say that you are one man in whom I have never been +disappointed. Accept this as my farewell, for now I assume again the +name and position rightfully mine. And know, too, that I shall always +cherish 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 a +tug-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, writing +materials and a metal spheroid a shade larger than a one-pound shell; +and around it a semicircle of silent, masked and cowled figures. There +were twelve of them, eleven men and a woman. In the shadows, which grew +denser at the far end of the room, was a squat, globular object, a +massive, smooth-sided, black, threatening thing of iron. + +One of the men glanced at his watch--it was just two o'clock--then rose +and took a position beside the table, facing the semicircle. He placed +the timepiece on the table in front of him. + +"Gentlemen," he said, and there was the faintest trace of a foreign +accent, "I shall speak English because I know that whatever your +nationality all of you are familiar with that tongue. And now an apology +for the theatric aspect of all this--the masks, the time and place of +meeting, and the rest of it." He paused a moment. "There is only one +person living who knows the name and position of all of you," and by a +sweep of his hand he indicated the motionless figure of the woman. "It +was by her decision that masks are worn, for, while we all know the +details of the Latin compact, there is a bare chance that some one will +not sign, and it is not desirable that the identity of that person be +known to all of us. The reason for the selection of this time and place +is obvious, for an inkling of the proposed signing has reached the +Secret Service. I will add the United States was chosen as the +birthplace of this new epoch in history for several reasons, one being +the proximity to Central and South America; and another the inadequate +police system which enables greater freedom of action." + +He stopped and drew from his pocket a folded parchment. He tapped the +tips 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 a +decade. As long as fifty years ago it was suggested, and whatever +differences the Latin countries of the world have had among themselves, +they have always realized that ultimately they must stand together +against--against the other nations of the world. This idea germinated +into action three years ago, and since that time agents have covered the +world in its interest. This meeting is the fruition of all that work, +and this," he held the parchment aloft, "is the instrument that will +unite us. Never has a diplomatic secret been kept as this has been kept; +never has a greater reprisal been planned. It means, gentlemen, the +domination of the world--socially, spiritually, commercially and +artistically; it means that England and the United States, whose sphere +of influence has extended around the globe, will be beaten back, that +the 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 with +enthusiasm; and his hands pointed his remarks with quick, sharp +gestures. + +"All this," he went on, "was never possible until three years ago, when +the navies of the world were given over into the hands of one nation--my +country. Five years ago a fellow-countryman of mine happened to be +present at an electrical exhibition in New York City, and there he +witnessed an interesting experiment--practical demonstration of the fact +that a submarine mine may be exploded by the use of the Marconi wireless +system. He was a practical electrician himself, and the idea lingered in +his mind. For two years he experimented, and finally this resulted." He +picked up the metal spheroid and held it out for their inspection. "As +it stands it is absolutely perfect and gives a world's supremacy to the +Latin countries because it places all the navies of the world at our +mercy. It is a variation of the well-known percussion cap or fuse by +which mines and torpedoes are exploded. + +"The theory of it is simple, as are the theories of all great +inventions; the secret of its construction is known only to its +inventor--a man of whom you never heard. It is merely that the mechanism +of 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 may +use the word, to a certain number of vibrations and half-vibrations; a +wireless instrument of high power, with a modifying addition which the +inventor has added, has only to be set in motion to discharge it at any +distance up to twenty-five miles. High power wireless waves recognize no +obstacle, so the explosion of a submarine mine is as easily brought +about as would be the explosion of a mine on dry land. You will readily +see 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 to +the Latin compact, gentlemen, is that the United States and England are +now concluding negotiations, unknown to each other, by which _they_ will +protect _their_ seaports by means of mines primed with this cap. The +tuning of the caps which we will use is known only to us; _the tuning of +the caps which they will use is also known to us_! The addition to the +wireless apparatus which they will use is such that they _can not_, even +by accident, explode a mine guarding our seaports; but, on the other +hand, the addition to the wireless apparatus which _we_ will use permits +of the extreme high charge which will explode their mines. To make it +clearer, we could send a navy against such a city as New York or +Liverpool, and explode every mine in front of us as we went; and +meanwhile our mines are impervious. + +"Another word, and I have finished. Five gentlemen, whom I imagine are +present now, have witnessed a test of this cap, by direct command of +their home governments. For the benefit of the others of you a simple +test has been arranged for to-night. This cap on the table is charged; +its inventor is at his wireless instrument, fifteen miles away. At three +o'clock he will turn on the current that will explode it." Four of the +eleven men looked at their watches. "It is now seventeen minutes past +two. I am instructed, for the purposes of the test, to place this cap +anywhere you may select--in this house or outside of it, in a box, +sealed, or under water. The purpose is merely to demonstrate its +efficacy; to prove to your complete satisfaction that it can be exploded +under 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 and +Italian. I shall ask you to sign, after reading either or all, precisely +as the directions you have received from your home government instruct. +On behalf of the three greatest Latin countries, as special envoy of +each, I will sign first." + +He dropped into the chair, signed each of the three parchment pages +three times, then rose and offered the pen to the cowled figure at one +end of the semicircle. The man came forward, read the English +transcript, studied the three signatures already there with a certain +air of surprise, then signed. The second man signed, the third man, and +the fourth. + +The fifth had just risen to go forward when the door opened silently and +Mr. Grimm entered. Without a glance either to right or left, he went +straight toward the table, and extended a hand to take the compact. + +For an instant there had come amazement, a dumb astonishment, at the +intrusion. It passed, and the hand of the man who had done the talking +darted 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 eyes +of 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 me +that document." + +He backed away as he spoke, kicked the door closed with one heel, then +leaned against it, facing them. + +"Or better yet," he went on after a moment, "burn it. There is a lamp in +front of you." He paused for an answer. "It would be absurd of me to +attempt 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 palms +fiercely, 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 locked +him in the coal-bin," replied Mr. Grimm tersely. "I am waiting for you +to 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 prince +gazed straight into his inscrutable face, then turned accusing eyes on +the masked figures about him. + +"Is there a traitor?" he demanded suddenly. His gaze settled on Miss +Thorne and lingered there. + +"I can relieve your mind on that point--there is not," Mr. Grimm assured +him. "Just a final word, your Highness, if you will permit me. I have +heard everything that has been said here for the last fifteen minutes. +The details of your percussion cap are interesting. I shall lay them +before my government and my government may take it upon itself to lay +them before the British government. You yourself said a few minutes ago +that this compact was not possible before this cap was invented and +perfected. It isn't possible the minute my government is warned against +its use. That will be my first duty." + +"You are giving some very excellent reasons, Mr. Grimm," was the +deliberate reply, "why you should not be permitted to leave this room +alive." + +"Further," Mr. Grimm resumed in the same tone, "I have been ordered to +prevent the signing of that compact, at least in this country. It seems +that I am barely in time. If it is signed--and it will be useless now on +your own statement unless you murder me--every man who signs it will +have to reckon with the highest power of this country. Will you destroy +it? I don't want to know what countries already stand committed by the +signatures 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, will +receive 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. Her +cheeks 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 make +him turn traitor." She stared coldly into the prince's eyes. "And we are +not 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 face +of this woman who, in a way, was defending him. "But there is only one +thing to do, Miss Thorne." He was talking to her now. "There is no +middle course. It is a problem that has only one possible answer--the +destruction of that document, and the departure of you, and you, your +Highness, for Italy under my personal care all the way. I imagined this +matter had ended that day on the steamer; it _will_ end here, now, +to-night." + +The prince glanced again at his watch, then thoughtfully weighed the +percussion cap in his hand, after which, with a curious laugh, he walked +over to the squat iron globe in an opposite corner of the room. He bent +over it half a minute, then straightened up. + +"That cap, Mr. Grimm, has one disadvantage," he remarked casually. "When +it is attached to a mine or torpedo it can not be disconnected without +firing it. It is attached." He turned to the others. "It is needless to +discuss the matter further just now. If you will follow me? We will +leave Mr. Grimm here." + +With a strange little cry, neither anger nor anguish, yet oddly +partaking 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 the +prince coldly. "It has all passed beyond the point where the feelings +of any one person, even the feelings of the woman who has engineered the +compact, can be considered. A single life can not be permitted to stand +in the way of the consummation of this world project. Mr. Grimm alive +means the compact would be useless, if not impossible; Mr. Grimm dead +means the fruition of all our plans and hopes. You have done your duty +and you have done it well; but now your authority ends, and I, the +special envoy of--" + +"Just a moment, please," Mr. Grimm interrupted courteously. "As I +understand 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 a +wireless 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 chair +up against the door and sat down, crossing his legs. On his knees rested +the barrel of a revolver, glittering, fascinating, in the semi-darkness. +"Now, gentlemen," and he glanced at his watch, "it's twenty-one minutes +of three o'clock. At three that mine will explode. We will all be in the +room when it happens, unless his Highness sees fit to destroy the +compact." + +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 should +say, _any person_, attempts to leave this room I _know_ he will die; and +there's a bare chance that the percussion cap will fail to work. I can +account for six of you, if there is a rush." + +"But, man, if that mine explodes we shall all be killed--blown to +pieces!" 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 studied +Mr. Grimm's impassive countenance. + +"I have never disappointed you yet, Miss Thorne," he remarked as if it +were an explanation. "I shall not now." + +She turned to the prince. + +"Your Highness, I think it needless to argue further," she said. "We +have no choice in the matter; there is only one course--destroy the +compact." + +"No!" was the curt answer. + +"I believe I know Mr. Grimm better than you do," she argued. "You think +he will weaken; I know he will not. I am not arguing for him, nor for +myself; I am arguing against the frightful loss that will come here in +this 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 prince +angrily. + +"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 in +the way?" + +A quick change came over Miss Thorne's face. The eyes hardened, the lips +were set, and lines Mr. Grimm had never seen appeared about the mouth. +Here, in a flash, the cloak of dissimulation was cast aside, and the +woman stood forth, this keen, brilliant, determined woman who did +things. + +"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 bosom +and cast it upon the table; the prince stared at it. "In the name of +your sovereign--_must_!" she said again. + +The prince turned away and began pacing, back and forth across the room +with the parchment crumpled in his hand. For a minute or more Isabel +stood 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 for +so long all began talking at once. One of them snatched at the crumpled +compact 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-distorted +face. + +"Do you know what it means to you if I do as you say?" he demanded +savagely. "It means you will be branded as traitor, that your name, +your property--" + +"If you will pardon me, your Highness," she interrupted, "the power that +I have used was given to me to use; I have used it. It is a matter to be +settled between me and my government, and as far as it affects my person +is 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 cowled +men 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, is +that the compact?" + +She glanced at it, nodded her head, and then the flame caught the +fringed edge of paper. It crackled, flashed, flamed, and at last, a +thing 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. The +prince and Miss Thorne waited until the last. + +"And, Miss Thorne, if you will give us a lift in your car?" Mr. Grimm +suggested. "It is now four minutes of three." + +The automobile came in answer to a signal and the three in silence +entered it. The car trembled and had just begun to move when Mr. Grimm +remembered 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 horror +sank back in her seat with face like chalk. The prince glanced uneasily +at his watch, then spoke curtly to the chauffeur. + +"Run the car up out of danger; there'll be an explosion there in a +moment." + +They had gone perhaps a hundred feet when the building they had just +left seemed to be lifted bodily from the ground by a great spurt of +flame which tore through its center, then collapsed like a thing of +cards. The prince, unmoved, glanced around at Miss Thorne; she lay in a +dead faint beside him. + +"Go ahead," he commanded. "Baltimore." + + + + +XXIV + +THE PERSONAL EQUATION + + +Mr. Campbell ceased talking and the deep earnestness that had settled on +his face passed, leaving instead the blank, inscrutable mask of +benevolence behind which his clock-like genius was habitually hidden. +The choleric blue eyes of the president of the United States shifted +inquiringly to the thoughtful countenance of the secretary of state at +his right, thence along the table around which the official family was +gathered. It was a special meeting of the cabinet called at the +suggestion of Chief Campbell, and for more than an hour he had done the +talking. There had been no interruption. + +"So much!" he concluded, at last. "If there is any point I have not made +clear Mr. Grimm is here to explain it in person." + +Mr. Grimm rose at the mention of his name and stood with his hands +clasped behind his back. His eyes met those of the chief executive +listlessly. + +"We understand, Mr. Grimm," the president began, and he paused for an +instant to regard the tall, clean-cut young man with a certain +admiration, "we understand that there does not actually exist such a +thing 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 several +signatures had been attached," Mr. Grimm amended. "Throughout I have +acted 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 his +shoulders. + +"You are certain, Mr. Grimm," and the president spoke with great +deliberation, "you are certain that the representatives of the Latin +countries 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 excuse +for existence destroyed--when they permitted me to learn of the wireless +percussion cap which would have placed the navies of the world at their +mercy. Believe me, gentlemen, if they had kept their secret it would +have given them dominion of the earth. They made one mistake," he added +in a most matter-of-fact tone. "They should have killed me; it was their +only 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 they +should have permitted the life of one man to stand between them and the +world power for which they had so long planned and schemed. His +Highness, Prince Benedetto d'Abruzzi believed as I do, and so expressed +himself." He paused a moment; there was a hint of surprise in his +manner. "I expected to be killed, of course. It seemed to me the only +thing that could happen." + +"They must have known of the far-reaching consequences which would +follow 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 gain +by killing me there as I stood in the room where I had interrupted the +signing of the compact, because that would have been before I had placed +the facts in the hands of my government. I was the only person outside +of their circle who knew all of them. Only the basest motive could +inspire 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 prince +under--that is, you detained them?" he queried. "If so, where are they +now?" + +"I don't know," was the reply. "Just before the explosion the three of +us entered an automobile together, and then as we were starting away I +remembered something which made it necessary for me to reenter the +house. 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 to +their 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 go +back to save his life, otherwise--" + +"Oh, the guard at the door, you mean?" came the interruption. "Who was +it?" + +Mr. Grimm glanced at his chief, who nodded. + +"It was Mr. Charles Winthrop Rankin of the German embassy," said the +young man. + +"Mr. Rankin of the German embassy was on guard at the door?" demanded +the president quickly. + +"Yes. We got out safely." + +"And that means that Germany was--!" + +The president paused and startled glances passed around the table. After +a 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 listless +eyes, and his lips were set. "Perhaps I had better explain here that the +personal equation enters largely into an affair of this kind," he said +at last, slowly. "It happens that it entered into this. Unless I am +ordered to pursue the matter further I think it would be best for all +concerned to accept the fact of Miss Thorne's escape, and--" He stopped. + +There was a long, thoughtful silence. Every man in the room was studying +Mr. Grimm's impassive face. + +"Personal equation," mused the president. "Just how, Mr. Grimm, does the +personal 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 us +and yet are not enemies. It is merely that our paths of duty cross. We +may have the greatest respect for them and they for us, but purposes are +unalterably different. In other words there is a personal enmity and a +political enmity. You, for instance, might be a close personal friend of +the man whom you defeated for president. There might"--he stopped +suddenly. + +"Go on," urged the president. + +"I think every man meets once in his life an individual with whom he +would like to reckon personally," the young man continued. "That +reckoning may not be a severe one; it may be less severe than the law +would provide; but it would be a personal reckoning. There is one +individual in this affair with whom I should like to reckon, hence the +personal equation enters very largely into the case." + +For a little while the silence of the room was unbroken, save for the +steady tick-tock of a great clock in one corner. Mr. Grimm's eyes were +fixed unwaveringly upon those of the chief executive. At last the +secretary of war crumpled a sheet of paper impatiently and hitched his +chair up to the table. + +"Coming down to the facts it's like this, isn't it?" he demanded +briskly. "The Latin countries, by an invention of their own which the +United States and England were to be duped into purchasing, would have +had power to explode every submarine mine before attacking a port? Very +well. This thing, of course, would have given them the freedom of the +seas as long as we were unable to explode their submarines as they were +able to explode ours. And this is the condition which made the Latin +compact possible, isn't it?" + +He looked straight at Mr. Grimm, who nodded. + +"Therefore," he went on, "if the Latin compact is not a reality on +paper; if the United States and England do not purchase this--this +wireless percussion cap, we are right back where we were before it all +happened, aren't we? Every possible danger from that direction has +passed, hasn't it? The world-war of which we have been talking is +rendered impossible, isn't it?" + +"That's a question," answered Mr. Grimm. "If you will pardon me for +suggesting it, I would venture to say that as long as there is an +invention of that importance in the hands of nations whom we now know +have 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 peace +we must either get complete control of that invention or else understand +it so well that there can be no further danger. And again, please let me +call your attention to the fact that the brain which brought this thing +into existence is still to be reckoned with. There may, some day, come a +time when our submarines may be exploded at will regardless of this +percussion cap." + +The secretary of war turned flatly upon Chief Campbell. + +"This woman who is mixed up in this affair?" he demanded. "This Miss +Thorne. Who is she?" + +"Who is she?" repeated the chief. "She's a secret agent of Italy, one of +the most brilliant, perhaps, that has ever operated in this or any other +country. She is the pivot around which the intrigue moved. We know her +by a dozen names; any one of them may be correct." + +The brows of the secretary of war were drawn down in thought as he +turned to the president. + +"Mr. Grimm was speaking of the personal equation," he remarked +pointedly. "I think perhaps his meaning is clear when we know there is a +woman in the case. We know that Mr. Grimm has done his duty to the last +inch in this matter; we know that alone and unaided, practically, he has +done a thing that no living man of his relative position has ever done +before--prevented a world-war. But there is further danger--he himself +has called our attention to it--therefore, I would suggest that Mr. +Grimm be relieved of further duty in this particular case. This is not a +moment when the peace of the world may be imperiled by personal feelings +of--of kindliness for an individual." + +Mr. Grimm received the blow without a tremor. His hands were still idly +clasped behind his back; the eyes fastened upon the president's face +were still listless; the mouth absolutely without expression. + +"As Mr. Grimm has pointed out," the secretary went on, "we have been +negotiating for this wireless percussion cap. I have somewhere in my +office the name and address of the individual with whom these +negotiations have been conducted. Through that it is possible to reach +the inventor, and then--! I suggest that we vote our thanks to Mr. Grimm +and relieve him of this particular case." + +The choleric eyes of the president softened a little, and grew grave as +they studied the impassive face of the young man. + +"It's a strange situation, Mr. Grimm," he said evenly. "What do you say +to withdrawing?" + +"I am at your orders, Mr. President," was the reply. + +"No one knows better what you have done than the gentlemen here at this +table," the president went on slowly. "No one questions that you have +done more than any other man could have done under the circumstances. We +understand, I think, that indirectly you are asking immunity for an +individual. I don't happen to know the liability of that individual +under our law, but we can't make any mistake now, Mr. Grimm, and so--and +so--" He stopped and was silent. + +"I had hoped, Mr. President, that what I have done so far--and I don't +underestimate it--would have, at least, earned for me the privilege of +remaining 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 justice +fairly, severely if necessary, to one for whom he has a personal +regard?" + +"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 again +summoned into the cabinet chamber. The president met him with +outstretched hand. There was more than mere perfunctory thanks in +this--there was the understanding of man and man. + +"You will proceed with the case to the end, Mr. Grimm," he instructed +abruptly. "If you need assistance ask for it; if not, proceed alone. +You will rely upon your own judgment entirely. If there are +circumstances which make it inadvisable to move against an individual by +legal process, even if that individual is amenable to our laws, you are +not constrained so to do if your judgment is against it. There is one +stipulation: You will either secure the complete rights of the wireless +percussion cap to this government or learn the secret of the invention +so 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 president +brought one vigorous hand down on the young man's shoulder, "that our +government 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, walked +along half a block or so, climbed a short flight of stairs and entered +an 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 imprint +of the Department of War in the upper left hand corner; and the boy +disappeared into a room beyond. A moment later he emerged and held open +the door for Mr. Grimm. A gentleman--Mr. Howard--rose from his seat and +stared 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 to +meet the inventor of the wireless percussion cap," Mr. Grimm explained +carelessly. "The negotiations have reached a point where the War +Department must have one or two questions answered directly by the +inventor. Simple enough, you see." + +"But it has been understood, and I have personally impressed it upon the +secretary of war that such a meeting is impossible," objected Mr. +Howard. "All negotiations have been conducted through me, and I have, as +attorney for the inventor, the right to answer any question that may +properly be answered. This now is a request for a personal interview +with the inventor." + +"The necessity for such an interview has risen unexpectedly, because of +a 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 entirely +on this interview." + +Mr. Howard was leaning forward in his chair with wrinkled brow intently +studying the calm face of the young man. Innocent himself of all the +intrigue and international chicanery back of the affair, representing +only an individual in these secret negotiations, he saw in the +statement, as Mr. Grimm intended that he should, the possible climax of +a great business contract. His greed was aroused; it might mean hundreds +of 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 between +the inventor and myself at once--this afternoon." + +Mr. Howard thoughtfully drummed on his desk for a little while. From the +first, save in so far as the patent rights were concerned, he had seen +no reasons for the obligations of utter secrecy which had been enforced +upon 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 shall +have to put it to my client, of course. Can you give me, say, half an +hour to communicate with him?" + +"Certainly," and Mr. Grimm rose obligingly. "Shall I wait outside here +or call again?" + +"You may wait if you don't mind," said Mr. Howard. "I'll be able to let +you know in a few minutes, I hope." + +Mr. Grimm bowed and passed out. At the end of twenty-five minutes the +door of Mr. Howard's private office opened and he appeared. His face was +violently red, evidently from anger, and perspiration stood on his +forehead. + +"I can't do anything with him," he declared savagely. "He says simply +that 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 note +says, 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 stepped +into 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 Secret +Service. 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 the +old Baltimore Road," came the crisp, business-like answer. "The name is +Murdock Williams." + +"Thank you," said Mr. Grimm. "Good-by." + +A moment later he was standing by the curb waiting for a car, when +Howard, still angry, and with an expression of deep chagrin on his +face, 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 head +summoned 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 solitary +confinement until you hear from me. Don't talk to him, don't let any one +else talk to him, and don't let him talk. If any person speaks to him +before he is locked up, take that person in charge also. He is guilty of +no 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 away +without a protest. Mr. Grimm, musing gently on the stupidity of mankind +in general and the ease with which it is possible to lead even a clever +individual into a trap, if the bait appeals to greed, took a car and +went up town. + +Some three hours later he walked briskly along a narrow path strewn with +pine needles, which led tortuously up to an old colonial farmhouse. +Outwardly the place seemed to be deserted. The blinds, battered and +stripped of paint by wind and rain, were all closed and one corner of +the small veranda had crumbled away from age and neglect. In the rear of +the house, rising from an old barn, a thin pole with a cup-like +attachment 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 to +rap on the door when it was opened from within, and Miss Thorne stood +before him. He was not surprised; intuition had told him he would meet +her again, perhaps here in hiding. A sudden quick tenderness lighted the +listless eyes. For an instant she stood staring, her face pallid against +the 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 by +drooping lids, then she recovered herself and they opened into his. In +them he saw anxiety, apprehension, fear even. + +"Miss Thorne!" he greeted, and he bowed low over the white hand which +she impulsively thrust toward him. + +"I--I knew some one was coming," she stammered in a half whisper. "I +didn't know it was you; I hadn't known definitely until this instant +that you were safe from the explosion. I am glad--glad, you understand; +glad that you were not--" She stopped and fought back her emotions, then +went on: "But you must not come in; you must go away at once. Your--your +life 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 be +some one from your bureau, and I hoped that it was you. I saw how you +forced him to call us up here, and that was all you needed. It was +simple, of course, to trace the telephone call." Both of her hands +closed over one of his desperately. "Now, go, please. The Latin compact +is at an end; you merely invite death here. Now, go!" + +Her eyes were searching the listless face with entreaty in them; the +slender fingers were fiercely gripping one of Mr. Grimm's nerveless +hands. For an instant some strange, softening light flickered in the +young man's eyes, then it passed. + +"I have no choice, Miss Thorne," he said gravely at last. "I am honor +bound by my government to do one of two things. If I fail in the first +of those--the greater--it can only be because--" + +He stopped; hope flamed up in her eyes and she leaned forward eagerly +studying the impassive face. + +"Because--?" she repeated. + +"It can only be because I am killed," he added quietly. Suddenly his +whole 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 began +tensely. + +"May I see the inventor, please?" Mr. Grimm interrupted. + +For a little time she stood, white and rigid, staring at him. Then her +lids fluttered down wearily, as if to veil some crushing agony within +her, and she stepped aside. Mr. Grimm entered and the door closed +noiselessly behind him. After a moment her hand rested lightly on his +arm, 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 low +tone. Her voice was quite calm now. "If you will be--?" + +"Please understand, Miss Thorne," he interposed mercilessly, "that I +must see the inventor, whoever he is. What assurance have I that this +is 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 had +not come to him he would have gone to you." She swayed a little and +pressed one hand to her eyes. "I would to God it were in my power to +prevent that meeting!" she exclaimed desperately. Then, with an effort: +"There are some things I want to explain to you. It may be that you will +be willing to go then of your own free will. If I lay bare to you every +step I have taken since I have been in Washington; if I make clear to +you every obscure point in this hideous intrigue; if I confess to you +that the Latin compact has been given up for all time, won't that be +enough? 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 saying +that 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 been +disappointed in you. I will not permit you to disappoint me now. The +secrets of your government are mine if I can get them--but I won't allow +you to tell them to me." + +"My government!" Miss Thorne repeated, and her lips curled sadly. "I--I +have no government. I have been cast off by that government, stripped of +my 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 of +failure. Prince d'Abruzzi went on to New York that night, cabled a full +account of the destruction of the compact to my government, and sailed +home on the following day. I was the responsible one, and now it all +comes 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 face +like chalk. For a minute or more he sat there turning it all over in his +mind. Truly the triumph had been robbed of its splendor when the blow +fell here--here upon a woman he loved. + +"There's no shame in the confession of one who is fairly beaten," Isabel +went on softly, after a little. "There are many things that you don't +understand. I came to Washington with an authority from my sovereign +higher even than that vested in the ambassador; I came _as_ I did and +compelled Count di Rosini to obtain an invitation to the state ball for +me in order that I might meet a representative of Russia there that +night and receive an answer as to whether or not they would join the +compact. I received that answer; its substance is of no consequence now. + +"And you remember where I first met you? It was while you were +investigating the shooting of Señor Alvarez in the German embassy. That +shooting, as you know, was done by Prince d'Abruzzi, so almost from the +beginning my plans went wrong because of the assumption of authority by +the prince. The paper he took from Señor Alvarez after the shooting was +supposed to bear vitally upon Mexico's attitude toward our plan, but, as +it 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 Germany +agreed to join the compact upon conditions. Mr. Rankin, who was attached +to the German embassy in an advisory capacity, delivered the answer to +me, and I pretended to faint in order that I might reasonably avoid +you." + +"I surmised that much," remarked Mr. Grimm. + +"The telegraphing I did with my fan was as much to distract your +attention as anything else, and at the same time to identify myself to +Mr. 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 were +investigating the theft of the fifty thousand dollars in gold from the +safe. I thrust myself into that case, because I was afraid of you; and +mercilessly destroyed a woman's name in your eyes to further my plans. I +made you believe that Señorita Rodriguez stole that fifty thousand +dollars, and I returned it to you, presumably, while we stood in her +room that night. Only it was not her room--it was _mine!_ _I_ stole the +fifty thousand dollars! All the details, even to her trip to see Mr. +Griswold in Baltimore in company with Mr. Cadwallader, had been +carefully worked out; and she _did_ bring me the combination of the safe +from Mr. Griswold on the strength of a forged letter. But she didn't +know it. There was no theft, of course. I had no intention of keeping +the money. It was necessary to take it to distract attention from the +thing I _did_ do--break a lock inside the safe to get a sealed packet +that contained Venezuela's answer to our plan. I sealed that packet +again, 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. I +plunged into that case as I did in the other because I was afraid of you +and had to know just how much you knew. It was explained to you as an +attempt at extortion with details which I carefully supplied. As a +matter of fact, Monsieur Boisségur opposed our plans, even endangered +them; and it was not advisable to have him recalled or even permit him +to resign at the moment. So we abducted him, intending to hold him +until direct orders could reach him from Paris. Understand, please, that +all these things were made possible by the aid and cooperation of +dozens, scores, of agents who were under my orders; every person who +appeared in that abduction was working at my direction. The ambassador's +unexpected escape disarranged our plans; but he was taken out of the +embassy by force the second time under your very eyes. The darkness +which made this possible was due to the fact that while you were looking +for the switch, and I was apparently aiding, I was holding my hand over +it all the time to keep you from turning on the light. You remember +that?" + +Mr. Grimm nodded. + +"All the rest of it you know," she concluded wearily. "You compelled me +to leave the Venezuelan legation by your espionage, but in the crowded +hotel to which I moved I had little difficulty avoiding your Mr. +Hastings, your Mr. Blair and your Mr. Johnson, so I came and went +freely without your knowledge. The escape of the prince from prison you +arranged, so you understand all of that, as well as the meeting and +attempted signing of the compact, and the rapid recovery of Señor +Alvarez. And, after all, it was my fault that our plans failed, because +if I had not been--been uneasy as to your condition and had not made the +mistake 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 act +of--consideration and kindness to me--" + +"We would have succeeded in spite of you," explained Isabel. "We were +afraid of you, Mr. Grimm. It was a compliment to you that we considered +it necessary to account for your whereabouts at the time of the signing +of the compact." + +"And if you had succeeded," remarked Mr. Grimm, "the whole civilized +world 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 is +exaltation, stimulation, excitement in it. It has always possessed the +greatest fascination for me. I have always won, you know, until now. I +failed! And my reward is 'Traitor!'" + +"Just a word of assurance now," she went on after a moment. "The Latin +compact 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 know +you have wondered; I know your agents have scoured the world to find +out. I am the daughter of a former Italian ambassador to the Court of +St. James. My mother was an English woman. I was born and received my +early 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 am +an exile with a price on my head. That is all, except for several years +I was a trusted agent of my government, and a friend of my queen." + +She rose and extended both hands graciously. Mr. Grimm seized the +slender white fingers and stood with eyes fixed upon hers. Slowly a +flush 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 that +you have learned take the place of whatever you expected to learn, and +go. Believe me, there can only be one result if you meet--if you meet +the inventor of the wireless cap upon which so much was staked, and so +much lost." She shuddered a little, then raised the blue-gray eyes +beseechingly to his face. "Please go." + +Go! The word straightened Mr. Grimm in his tracks and he allowed her +hands to fall limply. Suddenly his face grew hard. In the ecstasy of +adoration he had momentarily forgotten his purpose here. His eyes lost +their 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? You +can't; no man can. No one knows the inventor more intimately than I, and +even 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 have +accepted a fortune at the hands of Prince d'Abruzzi to remain silent. +The compact has failed; you did that. The agents have scattered--gone to +other duties. That is enough." + +"No," said Mr. Grimm. There was a strange fear tearing at his +heart,--"No one knows the inventor more intimately than I." "No," he +said again. "I won from my government a promise to be made good upon a +condition--I must fulfil that condition." + +"But there is nothing, promotion, honor, reward, that would compensate +you for the loss of your life," she entreated. "There is still time." +She was pleading now, with her slim white hands resting on his +shoulders, and the blue-gray eyes fixed upon his face. + +"It's more than all that," he said. "That condition is you--your +safety." + +"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 face +turned 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 with +disappointment and anger," she rushed on desperately. "Remember that a +vast fortune, honor, fame were at his finger tips when you--you placed +them beyond his reach by the destruction of the compact. He has sworn to +kill 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. Grimm +disengaged his right hand and drew his revolver; the barrel clicked +under his fingers as it spun. + +"If I tell you that of the two human beings in this world whom I love +this man is one?" + +"No." + +A shuffling step sounded in the hallway just outside. Mr. Grimm stepped +back from the kneeling figure, and turned to face the door with his +revolver ready. + +"Great God!" It was a scream of agony. "He is my brother! Don't you +see?" + +She came to her feet and went staggering across to the door. The key +clicked 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 to +Mr. Grimm mutely, with arms outstretched. The revolver barrel clicked +under his hand, then, after a moment, he replaced the weapon in his +pocket. + +"Please open the door," he requested quietly. + +"He'll kill you!" she screamed. + +Exhausted, helpless, she leaned against a chair with her face in her +hands. Mr. Grimm went to her suddenly, tore the hands from her face, and +met 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 it +open. 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. There +was a short, sharp struggle, and both went down. The revolver! He must +get 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 his +head, and then came a second flash. Instantly he felt the figure in his +arms grow limp; and after a moment he rose. The face of the man on the +floor was pearly gray; and a thin, scarlet thread flowed from his +temple. + +[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. The +blue-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. He +lifted her gently and placed her on a couch, after which he disappeared +into another room. In a little while there came the cheerful ting-a-ling +of a telephone bell. + +"Is this the county constable's office?" he inquired. "Well, there's +been a little shooting accident at the Murdock Williams' place, five +miles out from Alexandria on the old Baltimore Road. Please send some of +your men over to take charge. Two hours from now call up Mr. Grimm at +Secret Service headquarters in Washington and he will explain. Good-by." + +And a few minutes later Mr. Grimm walked along the road toward an +automobile a hundred yards away, bearing Miss Thorne in his arms. The +chauffeur cranked the machine and climbed to his seat. + +"Washington!" directed Mr. Grimm. "Never mind the speed laws." + + + +THE END + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Elusive Isabel, by Jacques Futrelle + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 10943 *** diff --git a/10943-h/10943-h.htm b/10943-h/10943-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f2e182a --- /dev/null +++ b/10943-h/10943-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,8631 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<html> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" + content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of + Elusive isabel, + by Jacques Futrelle. +</title> +<style type="text/css"> + <!-- + * { font-family: Times;} + P { margin-top: .75em; + font-size: 12pt; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; } + HR { width: 33%; } + PRE { font-family: Courier, monospaced; } + BODY {margin-left: 4%; + margin-right: 4%;} + .figure + {margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 5%; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; + text-align: center; } + .figure img + {border: none;} + // --> +</style> +</head> +<body> +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 10943 ***</div> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<h1>ELUSIVE ISABEL</h1> +<h2>BY JACQUES FUTRELLE </h2> +<h3> +WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY ALONZO KIMBALL +</h3> +<p> </p> + +<h3> + 1908 +</h3> + +<p> </p> + +<h3> +TO +</h3> +<h3> +THE WONDERFUL WOMAN +</h3> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<a name="TOC"><!-- TOC --></a> +<p> +<b> + CONTENTS +</b></p> + +<p> </p> +<p> +<a href="#CH1">CHAPTER I</a> — MISS ISABEL THORNE +</p> +<p> +<a href="#CH2">CHAPTER II</a> — MR. CAMPBELL AND THE CABLE +</p> +<p> +<a href="#CH3">CHAPTER III</a> — THE LANGUAGE OF THE FAN +</p> +<p> +<a href="#CH4">CHAPTER IV</a> — THE FLEEING WOMAN +</p> +<p> +<a href="#CH5">CHAPTER V</a> — A VISIT TO THE COUNT +</p> +<p> +<a href="#CH6">CHAPTER VI</a> — REVELATIONS +</p> +<p> +<a href="#CH7">CHAPTER VII</a> — THE SIGNAL +</p> +<p> +<a href="#CH8">CHAPTER VIII</a> — MISS THORNE AND NOT MISS THORNE +</p> +<p> +<a href="#CH9">CHAPTER IX</a> — FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS +</p> +<p> +<a href="#CH10">CHAPTER X</a> — A SAFE OPENING +</p> +<p> +<a href="#CH11">CHAPTER XI</a> — THE LACE HANDKERCHIEF +</p> +<p> +<a href="#CH12">CHAPTER XII</a> — THE VANISHING DIPLOMATIST +</p> +<p> +<a href="#CH13">CHAPTER XIII</a> — A CONFERENCE IN THE DARK +</p> +<p> +<a href="#CH14">CHAPTER XIV</a> — A RESCUE AND AN ESCAPE +</p> +<p> +<a href="#CH15">CHAPTER XV</a> — MASTER OF THE SITUATION +</p> +<p> +<a href="#CH16">CHAPTER XVI</a> — LETTERS FROM JAIL +</p> +<p> +<a href="#CH17">CHAPTER XVII</a> — A CALL ON THE WARDEN +</p> +<p> +<a href="#CH18">CHAPTER XVIII</a> — NOTICE TO LEAVE +</p> +<p> +<a href="#CH19">CHAPTER XIX</a> — BY WIRELESS +</p> +<p> +<a href="#CH20">CHAPTER XX</a> — THE LIGHT IN THE DOME +</p> +<p> +<a href="#CH21">CHAPTER XXI</a> — A SLIP OF PAPER +</p> +<p> +<a href="#CH22">CHAPTER XXII</a> — THE COMPACT +</p> +<p> +<a href="#CH23">CHAPTER XXIII</a> — THE PERCUSSION CAP +</p> +<p> +<a href="#CH24">CHAPTER XXIV</a> — THE PERSONAL EQUATION +</p> +<p> +<a href="#CH25">CHAPTER XXV</a> — WE TWO +</p> +<p> +<a href="#CH26">CHAPTER XXVI</a> — IN WHICH THEY BOTH WIN +</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> +<b>ILLUSTRATIONS</b> +</p> +<p>1. <a href="#image-1"> +The Handwriting Was Unmistakably That of a Woman. +</a></p> +<p>2. <a href="#image-2"> +He Found Himself inspecting the Weapon from the Barrel End. +</a></p> +<p>3. <a href="#image-3"> +A Long Tense Silence when Eye Challenges Eye. +</a></p> +<p>4. <a href="#image-4"> +'You Think He Will Weaken; I Know He Will Not.' +</a></p> +<p>5. <a href="#image-5"> +In a Stride Mr. Grimm Was Beside Her. +</a></p> +<p> </p> +<hr> + + +<p> </p> + +<h2> + ELUSIVE ISABEL +</h2> + +<a name="CH1"><!-- CHAPTER 1 --></a> +<h3> + I +</h3> +<h3> +MISS ISABEL THORNE +</h3> +<p> +All the world rubs elbows in Washington. +Outwardly it is merely a city of evasion, +of conventionalities, sated with the commonplace +pleasures of life, listless, blasé even, +and always exquisitely, albeit frigidly, courteous; +but beneath the still, suave surface strange +currents play at cross purposes, intrigue is endless, +and the merciless war of diplomacy goes +on unceasingly. Occasionally, only occasionally, +a bubble comes to the surface, and when it bursts +the echo goes crashing around the earth. Sometimes +a dynasty is shaken, a nation trembles, a +ministry topples over; but the ripple moves and +all is placid again. No man may know all that +happens there, for then he would be diplomatic +master of the world. +</p> +<p> +"There is plenty of red blood in Washington," +remarked a jesting legislative gray-beard, +once upon a time, "but it's always frozen before +they put it in circulation. Diplomatic negotiations +are conducted in the drawing-room, but +long before that the fight is fought down cellar. +The diplomatists meet at table and there isn't +any broken crockery, but you can always tell +what the player thinks of the dealer by the way +he draws three cards. Everybody is after results; +and lots of monarchs of Europe sit up +nights polishing their crowns waiting for word +from Washington." +</p> +<p> +So, this is Washington! And here at dinner +are the diplomatic representatives of all the nations. +That is the British ambassador, that +stolid-faced, distinguished-looking, elderly man; +and this is the French ambassador, dapper, volatile, +plus-correct; here Russia's highest representative +wags a huge, blond beard; and yonder +is the phlegmatic German ambassador. Scattered +around the table, brilliant splotches of +color, are the uniformed envoys of the Orient—the +smaller the country the more brilliant the +splotch. It is a state dinner, to be followed by +a state ball, and they are all present. +</p> +<p> +The Italian ambassador, Count di Rosini, was +trying to interpret a French <i>bon mot</i> into English +for the benefit of the dainty, doll-like wife +of the Chinese minister—who was educated at +Radcliffe—when a servant leaned over him and +laid a sealed envelope beside his plate. The +count glanced around at the servant, excused +himself to Mrs. Quong Li Wi, and opened the +envelope. Inside was a single sheet of embassy +note paper, and a terse line signed by his secretary: +</p> +<blockquote><p>"A lady is waiting for you here. She says +she must see you immediately, on a matter of the +greatest importance."</p></blockquote> +<p> +The count read the note twice, with wrinkled +brow, then scribbled on it in pencil: +</p> +<blockquote><p>"Impossible to-night. Tell her to call at the +embassy to-morrow morning at half-past ten +o'clock."</p></blockquote> +<p> +He folded the note, handed it to the servant, +and resumed his conversation with Mrs. Wi. +</p> +<p> +Half an hour later the same servant placed a +second sealed envelope beside his plate. Recognizing +the superscription, the ambassador impatiently +shoved it aside, intending to disregard +it. But irritated curiosity finally triumphed, +and he opened it. A white card on which was +written this command was his reward: +</p> +<blockquote><p>"It is necessary that you come to the embassy +at once."</p></blockquote> +<p> +There was no signature. The handwriting +was unmistakably that of a woman, and just as +unmistakably strange to him. He frowned a +little as he stared at it wonderingly, then idly +turned the card over. There was no name on +the reverse side—only a crest. Evidently the +count recognized this, for his impassive face reflected +surprise for an instant, and this was followed +by a keen, bewildered interest. Finally +he arose, made his apologies, and left the room. +His automobile was at the door. +</p> + +<a name="image-1"><!-- Image 1 --></a> +<p class="figure"> +<a href="images/img1.jpg"> +<img width="60%" src="images/img1.jpg" +alt="The Handwriting Was Unmistakably That of a Woman." +/></a><br /> +<b>"The Handwriting Was Unmistakably That of a Woman."</b> +</p> + +<p> +"To the embassy," he directed the chauffeur. +</p> +<p> +And within five minutes he was there. His +secretary met him in the hall. +</p> +<p> +"The lady is waiting in your office," he explained +apologetically. "I gave her your message, +but she said she must see you and would +write you a line herself. I sent it." +</p> +<p> +"Quite correct," commented the ambassador. +"What name did she give?" +</p> +<p> +"None," was the reply. "She said none was +necessary." +</p> +<p> +The ambassador laid aside hat and coat and +entered his office with a slightly puzzled expression +on his face. Standing before a window, +gazing idly out into the light-spangled night, +was a young woman, rather tall and severely +gowned in some rich, glistening stuff which fell +away sheerly from her splendid bare shoulders. +She turned and he found himself looking into a +pair of clear, blue-gray eyes, frank enough and +yet in their very frankness possessing an alluring, +indefinable subtlety. He would not have +called her pretty, yet her smile, slight as it was, +was singularly charming, and there radiated +from her a something—personality, perhaps—which +held his glance. He bowed low, and closed +the door. +</p> +<p> +"I am at your service, Madam," he said in a +tone of deep respect. "Please pardon my delay +in coming to you." +</p> +<p> +"It is unfortunate that I didn't write the first +note," she apologized graciously. "It would at +least have saved a little time. You have the +card?" +</p> +<p> +He produced it silently, crest down, and +handed it to her. She struck a match, lighted +the card, and it crumbled up in her gloved hand. +The last tiny scrap found refuge in a silver +tray, where she watched it burn to ashes, then +she turned to the ambassador with a brilliant +smile. He was still standing. +</p> +<p> +"The dinner isn't over yet?" she inquired. +</p> +<p> +"No, Madam, not for another hour, perhaps." +</p> +<p> +"Then there's no harm done," she went on +lightly. "The dinner isn't of any consequence, +but I should like very much to attend the ball +afterward. Can you arrange it for me?" +</p> +<p> +"I don't know just how I would proceed, +Madam," the ambassador objected diffidently. +"It would be rather unusual, difficult, I may +say, and—" +</p> +<p> +"But surely you can arrange it some way?" +she interrupted demurely. "The highest diplomatic +representative of a great nation should +not find it difficult to arrange so simple a matter +as—as this?" She was smiling. +</p> +<p> +"Pardon me for suggesting it, Madam," the +ambassador persisted courteously, "but anything +out of the usual attracts attention in +Washington. I dare say, from the manner of +your appearance to-night, that you would not +care to attract attention to yourself." +</p> +<p> +She regarded him with an enigmatic smile. +</p> +<p> +"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 to +herself." She laughed—a throaty, silvery note +that was charming. "And if you hesitate now, +then to-morrow—why, to-morrow I am going to +ask that you open to me all this Washington +world—this brilliant world of diplomatic society. +You see what I ask now is simple." +</p> +<p> +The ambassador was respectfully silent and +deeply thoughtful for a time. There was, perhaps, +something of resentment struggling within +him, and certainly there was an uneasy feeling +of rebellion at this attempt to thrust him +forward against all precedent. +</p> +<p> +"Your requests are of so extraordinary a nature +that—" he began in courteous protestation. +</p> +<p> +There was no trace of impatience in the woman's +manner; she was still smiling. +</p> +<p> +"It is necessary that I attend the ball to-night," +she explained, "you may imagine how +necessary when I say I sailed from Liverpool +six days ago, reaching New York at half-past +three o'clock this afternoon; and at half-past +four I was on my way here. I have been here +less than one hour. I came from Liverpool +especially that I might be present; and I even +dressed on the train so there would be no delay. +Now do you see the necessity of it?" +</p> +<p> +Diplomatic procedure is along well-oiled +grooves, and the diplomatist who steps out of +the rut for an instant happens upon strange +and unexpected obstacles. Knowing this, the +ambassador still hesitated. The woman apparently +understood. +</p> +<p> +"I had hoped that this would not be necessary," +she remarked, and she produced a small, +sealed envelope. "Please read it." +</p> +<p> +The ambassador received the envelope with +uplifted brows, opened it and read what was +written on a folded sheet of paper. Some subtle +working of his brain brought a sudden change +in the expression of his face. There was wonder +in it, and amazement, and more than these. +Again he bowed low. +</p> +<p> +"I am at your service, Madam," he repeated. +"I shall take pleasure in making any arrangements +that are necessary. Again, I beg your +pardon." +</p> +<p> +"And it will not be so very difficult, after all, +will it?" she inquired, and she smiled tauntingly. +</p> +<p> +"It will not be at all difficult, Madam," the +ambassador assured her gravely. "I shall take +steps at once to have an invitation issued to you +for to-night; and to-morrow I shall be pleased +to proceed as you may suggest." +</p> +<p> +She nodded. He folded the note, replaced it +in the envelope and returned it to her with another +deep bow. She drew her skirts about her +and sat down; he stood. +</p> +<p> +"It will be necessary for your name to appear +on the invitation," the ambassador went on to +explain. "If you will give me your name I'll +have my secretary—" +</p> +<p> +"Oh, yes, my name," she interrupted gaily. +"Why, Count, you embarrass me. You know, +really, I have no name. Isn't it awkward?" +</p> +<p> +"I understand perfectly, Madam," responded +the count. "I should have said <i>a</i> name." +</p> +<p> +She meditated a moment. +</p> +<p> +"Well, say—Miss Thorne—Miss Isabel +Thorne," she suggested at last. "That will +do very nicely, don't you think?" +</p> +<p> +"Very nicely, Miss Thorne," and the ambassador +bowed again. "Please excuse me a moment, +and I'll give my secretary instructions +how to proceed. There will be a delay of a few +minutes." +</p> +<p> +He opened the door and went out. For a +minute or more Miss Thorne sat perfectly still, +gazing at the blank wooden panels, then she +rose and went to the window again. In the +distance, hazy in the soft night, the dome of the +capitol rose mistily; over to the right was the +congressional library, and out there where the +lights sparkled lay Pennsylvania Avenue, a +thread of commerce. Miss Thorne saw it all, +and suddenly stretched out her arms with an all-enveloping +gesture. She stood so for a minute, +then they fell beside her, and she was motionless. +</p> +<p> +Count di Rosini entered. +</p> +<p> +"Everything is arranged, Miss Thorne," he +announced. "Will you go with me in my automobile, +or do you prefer to go alone?" +</p> +<p> +"I'll go alone, please," she answered after a +moment. "I shall be there about eleven." +</p> +<p> +The ambassador bowed himself out. +</p> +<p> +And so Miss Isabel Thorne came to Washington! +</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<a name="CH2"><!-- CHAPTER 2 --></a> +<h3> + II +</h3> + +<h3> +MR. CAMPBELL AND THE CABLE +</h3> +<p> </p> +<p> +Just as it is one man's business to manufacture +watches, and another man's business +to peddle shoe-strings, so it was Mr. +Campbell's business to know things. He was +a human card index, a governmental ready reference +posted to the minute and backed by all the +tremendous resources of a nation. From the little +office in the Secret Service Bureau, where he +sat day after day, radiating threads connected +with the huge outer world, and enabled him to +keep a firm hand on the diplomatic and departmental +pulse of Washington. Perhaps he came +nearer knowing everything that happened there +than any other man living; and no man realized +more perfectly than he just how little of all of +it he did know. +</p> +<p> +In person Mr. Campbell was not unlike a retired +grocer who had shaken the butter and +eggs from his soul and settled back to enjoy a +life of placid idleness. He was a little beyond +middle age, pleasant of face, white of hair, and +blessed with guileless blue eyes. His genius +had no sparkle to it; it consisted solely of detail +and system and indefatigability, coupled with a +memory that was well nigh infallible. His brain +was as serene and orderly as a cash register; one +almost expected to hear it click. +</p> +<p> +He sat at his desk intently studying a cable +despatch which lay before him. It was in the +Secret Service code. Leaning over his shoulder +was Mr. Grimm—<i>the</i> Mr. Grimm of the bureau. +Mr. Grimm was an utterly different type from +his chief. He was younger, perhaps thirty-one +or two, physically well proportioned, a little +above the average height, with regular features +and listless, purposeless eyes—a replica of a +hundred other young men who dawdle idly in +the windows of their clubs and watch the world +hurry by. His manner was languid; his dress +showed fastidious care. +</p> +<p> +Sentence by sentence the bewildering intricacies +of the code gave way before the placid understanding +of Chief Campbell, and word by +word, from the chaos of it, a translation took +intelligible form upon a sheet of paper under +his right hand. Mr. Grimm, looking on, exhibited +only a most perfunctory interest in the +extraordinary message he was reading; the listless +eyes narrowed a little, that was all. It was +a special despatch from Lisbon dated that morning, +and signed simply "Gault." Completely +translated it ran thus: +</p> +<blockquote><p>"Secret offensive and defensive alliance of the +Latin against the English-speaking nations of +the world is planned. Italy, France, Spain and +two South American republics will soon sign +compact in Washington. Proposition just made +to Portugal, and may be accepted. Special envoys +now working in Mexico and Central and +South America. Germany invited to join, but +refuses as yet, giving, however, tacit support; +attitude of Russia and Japan unknown to me. +Prince Benedetto d'Abruzzi, believed to be in +Washington at present, has absolute power to +sign for Italy, France and Spain. Profound secrecy +enjoined and preserved. I learned of it by +underground. Shall I inform our minister? Cable +instructions."</p></blockquote> +<p> +"So much!" commented Mr. Campbell. +</p> +<p> +He clasped his hands behind his head, lay +back in his chair and sat for a long time, staring +with steadfast, thoughtful eyes into the impassive +face of his subordinate. Mr. Grimm +perched himself on the edge of the desk and with +his legs dangling read the despatch a second +time, and a third. +</p> +<p> +"If," he observed slowly, "if any other man +than Gault had sent that I should have said he +was crazy." +</p> +<p> +"The peace of the world is in peril, Mr. +Grimm," said Campbell impressively, at last. +"It had to come, of course, the United States +and England against a large part of Europe +and all of Central and South America. It had +to come, and yet—!" +</p> +<p> +He broke off abruptly, and picked up the receiver +of his desk telephone. +</p> +<p> +"The White House, please," he requested +curtly, and then, after a moment: "Hello! +Please ask the president if he will receive Mr. +Campbell immediately. Yes, Mr. Campbell of +the Secret Service." There was a pause. Mr. +Grimm removed his immaculate person from the +desk, and took a chair. "Hello! In half an +hour? So much!" +</p> +<p> +The pages of the Almanac de Gotha fluttered +through his fingers, and finally he leaned forward +and studied a paragraph of it closely. +When he raised his eyes again there was that in +them which Mr. Grimm had never seen before—a +settled, darkening shadow. +</p> +<p> +"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 +American countries, taken separately, are inconsequential, +and that is true, too, of the Latin +countries of Europe, except France, but taken +in combination, under one directing mind, the +allied navies would be—would be formidable, at +least. Backed by the moral support of Germany, +and perhaps Japan—! Don't you see? +Don't you see?" +</p> +<p> +He lapsed into silence. Mr. Grimm opened his +lips to ask a question: Mr. Campbell anticipated +it unerringly: +</p> +<p> +"The purpose of such an alliance? It is not +too much to construe it into the first step toward +a world-war—a war of reprisal and conquest +beside which the other great wars of the world +would seem trivial. For the fact has at last +come home to the nations of the world that ultimately +the English-speaking peoples will dominate +it—dominate it, because they are the practical +peoples. They have given to the world all +its great practical inventions—the railroad, the +steamship, electricity, the telegraph and cable—all +of them; they are the great civilizing forces, +rounding the world up to new moral understanding, +for what England has done in Africa and +India we have done in a smaller way in the Philippines +and Cuba and Porto Rico; they are the +great commercial peoples, slowly but surely winning +the market-places of the earth; wherever +the English or the American flag is planted +there the English tongue is being spoken, and +there the peoples are being taught the sanity +of right living and square dealing. +</p> +<p> +"It requires no great effort of the imagination, +Mr. Grimm, to foresee that day when the +traditional power of Paris, and Berlin, and St. +Petersburg, and Madrid will be honey-combed +by the steady encroachment of our methods. +This alliance would indicate that already that +day has been foreseen; that there is now a resentment +which is about to find expression in +one great, desperate struggle for world supremacy. +A few hundred years ago Italy—or +Rome—was stripped of her power; only recently the +United States dispelled the illusion that Spain +was anything but a shell; and France—! One +can't help but wonder if the power she boasts is +not principally on paper. But if their forces +are combined? Do you see? It would be an +enormous power to reckon with, with a hundred +bases of supplies right at our doors." +</p> +<p> +He rose suddenly and walked over to the +window, where he stood for a moment, staring +out with unseeing eyes. +</p> +<p> +"Given a yard of canvas, Mr. Grimm," he +went on finally, "a Spanish boy will waste it, a +French boy will paint a picture on it, an English +boy will built a sail-boat, and an American +boy will erect a tent. That fully illustrates the +difference in the races." +</p> +<p> +He abandoned the didactic tone, and returned +to the material matter in hand. Mr. Grimm +passed him the despatch and he sat down again. +</p> +<p> +"'Will soon sign compact in Washington,'" +he read musingly. "Now I don't know that the +signing of that compact can be prevented, but +the signing of it on United States soil can be +prevented. You will see to that, Mr. Grimm." +</p> +<p> +"Very well," the young man agreed carelessly. +The magnitude of such a task made, apparently, +not the slightest impression on him. +He languidly drew on his gloves. +</p> +<p> +"And meanwhile I shall take steps to ascertain +the attitude of Russian and Japanese representatives +in this city." +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm nodded. +</p> +<p> +"And now, for Prince Benedetto d'Abruzzi," +Mr. Campbell went on slowly. "Officially he is +not in Washington, nor the United States, for +that matter. Naturally, on such a mission, he +would not come as a publicly accredited agent, +therefore, I imagine, he is to be sought under +another name." +</p> +<p> +"Of course," Mr. Grimm acquiesced. +</p> +<p> +"And he would avoid the big hotels." +</p> +<p> +"Certainly." +</p> +<p> +Mr. Campbell permitted his guileless blue eyes +to linger inquiringly upon those of the young +man for half a minute. He caught himself wondering, +sometimes, at the perfection of the deliberate +indifference with which Mr. Grimm masked +his emotions. In his admiration of this quality +he quite overlooked the remarkable mask of benevolence +behind which he himself hid. +</p> +<p> +"And the name, D'Abruzzi," he remarked, +after a time. "What does it mean to you, Mr. +Grimm?" +</p> +<p> +"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 Gotha and glanced at the open page. "Of +course, the first thing to do is to find him; the +rest will be simple enough." He perused the +page carelessly. "I will begin work at once." +</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<a name="CH3"><!-- CHAPTER 3 --></a> +<h3> + III +</h3> + +<h3> +THE LANGUAGE OF THE FAN +</h3> +<p> </p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm was chatting idly with +Señorita Rodriguez, daughter of the +minister from Venezuela, the while he +permitted his listless eyes to wander aimlessly +about the spacious ball-room of the German embassy, +ablaze with festooned lights, and brilliant +with a multi-colored chaos of uniforms. Gleaming +pearl-white, translucent in the mass, were +the bare shoulders of women; and from far off +came the plaintive whine of an orchestra, a pulsing +sense rather than a living sound, of music, +pointed here and there by the staccato cry of a +flute. A zephyr, perfumed with the clean, fresh +odor of lilacs, stirred the draperies of the archway +which led into the conservatory and rustled +the bending branches of palms and ferns. +</p> +<p> +For a scant instant Mr. Grimm's eyes rested +on a young woman who sat a dozen feet away, +talking, in playful animation, with an undersecretary +of the British embassy—a young +woman severely gowned in some glistening stuff +which fell away sheerly from her splendid bare +shoulders. She glanced up, as if in acknowledgment +of his look, and her eyes met his. +Frank, blue-gray eyes they were, stirred to their +depths now by amusement. She smiled at Señorita +Rodriguez, in token of recognition. +</p> +<p> +"Aren't they wonderful?" asked Señorita +Rodriguez with the quick, bubbling enthusiasm +of her race. +</p> +<p> +"What?" asked Mr. Grimm. +</p> +<p> +"Her eyes," was the reply. "Every person +has one dominant feature—with Miss Thorne it +is her eyes." +</p> +<p> +"Miss Thorne?" Mr. Grimm repeated. +</p> +<p> +"Haven't you met her?" the señorita went on. +"Miss Isabel Thorne? She only arrived a few +days ago—the night of the state ball. She's +my guest at the legation. When an opportunity +comes I shall present you to her." +</p> +<p> +She ran on, about other things, with only an +occasional remark from Mr. Grimm, who was +thoughtfully nursing his knee. Somewhere +through the chatter and effervescent gaiety, +mingling with the sound of the pulsing music, +he had a singular impression of a rhythmical +beat, an indistinct tattoo, noticeable, perhaps, +only because of its monotony. After a moment +he shot a quick glance at Miss Thorne and understood; +it was the tapping of an exquisitely +wrought ivory fan against one of her tapering, +gloved fingers. She was talking and smiling. +</p> +<p> +"Dot-dash-dot! Dot-dash-dot! Dot-dash-dot!" +said the fan. +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm twisted around in his seat and regaled +his listless eyes with a long stare into the +señorita's pretty face. Behind the careless ease +of repose he was mechanically isolating the faint +clatter of the fan. +</p> +<p> +"Dot-dash-dot! Dot-dash-dot! Dot-dash-dot!" +</p> +<p> +"Did any one ever accuse you of staring, Mr. +Grimm?" demanded the señorita banteringly. +</p> +<p> +For an instant Mr. Grimm continued to stare, +and then his listless eyes swept the ball-room, +pausing involuntarily at the scarlet splendor of +the minister from Turkey. +</p> +<p> +"I beg your pardon," he apologized contritely. +There was a pause. "The minister +from Turkey looks like a barn on fire, doesn't +he?" +</p> +<p> +Señorita Rodriguez laughed, and Mr. Grimm +glanced idly toward Miss Thorne. She was still +talking, her face alive with interest; and the fan +was still tapping rhythmically, steadily, now on +the arm of her chair. +</p> +<p> +"Dot-dash-dot! Dot-dash-dot! Dot-dash-dot! +Dot-dash-dot!" +</p> +<p> +"Pretty women who don't want to be stared +at should go with their faces swathed," Mr. +Grimm suggested indolently. "Haroun el Raschid +there would agree with me on that point, I +have no doubt. What a shock he would get if +he should happen up at Atlantic City for a +week-end in August!" +</p> +<p> +"Dot-dash-dot! Dot-dash-dot! Dot-dash-dot!" +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm read it with perfect understanding; +it was "F—F—F" in the Morse code, the +call of one operator to another. Was it accident? +Mr. Grimm wondered, and wondering he +went on talking lazily: +</p> +<p> +"Curious, isn't it, the smaller the nation the +more color it crowds into the uniforms of its +diplomatists? The British ambassador, you will +observe, is clothed sanely and modestly, as befits +the representative of a great nation; but coming +on down by way of Spain and Italy, they +get more gorgeous. However, I dare say as +stout a heart beats beneath a sky-blue sash as +behind the unembellished black of evening +dress." +</p> +<p> +"F—F—F," the fan was calling insistently. +</p> +<p> +And then the answer came. It took the unexpectedly +prosaic form of a violent sneeze, a +vociferous outburst on a bench directly behind +Mr. Grimm. Señorita Rodriguez jumped, then +laughed nervously. +</p> +<p> +"It startled me," she explained. +</p> +<p> +"I think there must be a draft from the +conservatory," said a man's voice apologetically. +"Do you ladies feel it? No? Well, if +you'll excuse me—?" +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm glanced back languidly. The +speaker was Charles Winthrop Rankin, a brilliant +young American lawyer who was attached +to the German embassy in an advisory capacity. +Among other things he was a Heidelberg man, +having spent some dozen years of his life in +Germany, where he established influential connections. +Mr. Grimm knew him only by sight. +</p> +<p> +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 fan tapped steadily. +</p> +<p> +"Dot-dot-dot! Dash! Dash-dash-dash! Dot-dot-dash! +Dash!" +</p> +<p> +"S—t—5—u—t," Mr. Grimm read in Morse. +He laughed pleasantly at some remark of his +companion. +</p> +<p> +"Dash-dash! Dot-dash! Dash-dot!" said the +fan. +</p> +<p> +"M—a—n," Mr. Grimm spelled it out, the +while his listless eyes roved aimlessly over the +throng. "S—t—5—u—t m—a—n!" Was it +meant for "stout man?" Mr. Grimm wondered. +</p> +<p> +"Dot-dash-dot! Dot! Dash-dot-dot!" +</p> +<p> +"F—e—d," that was. +</p> +<p> +"Dot-dot-dash-dot! Dot-dash! Dash-dot-dash-dot! +Dot!" +</p> +<p> +"Q—a—j—e!" Mr. Grimm was puzzled a +little now, but there was not a wrinkle, nor the +tiniest indication of perplexity in his face. Instead +he began talking of Raphael's cherubs, the +remark being called into life by the high complexion +of a young man who was passing. Miss +Thorne glanced at him once keenly, her splendid +eyes fairly aglow, and the fan rattled on in the +code. +</p> +<p> +"Dash-dot! Dot! Dot-dash! Dot-dash-dot!" +</p> +<p> +"N—e—a—f." Mr. Grimm was still spelling +it out. +</p> +<p> +Then came a perfect jumble. Mr. Grimm +followed it with difficulty, a difficulty utterly +belied by the quizzical lines about his mouth. +As he caught 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!" +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm carefully stored that jumble +away in some recess of his brain, along with the +unknown signal. +</p> +<p> +"D—5—5—f," he read, and then, on to the +end: "B—f—i—n—g 5—v—e—f w—h—e—n +g g—5—e—s." +</p> +<p> +That was all, apparently. The soft clatter +of the fan against the arm of the chair ran on +meaninglessly after that. +</p> +<p> +"May I bring you an ice?" Mr. Grimm asked +at last. +</p> +<p> +"If you will, please," responded the señorita, +"and when you come back I'll reward you by +presenting you to Miss Thorne. You'll find her +charming; and Mr. Cadwallader has monopolized +her long enough." +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm bowed and left her. He had +barely disappeared when Mr. Rankin lounged +along in front of Miss Thorne. He glanced +at her, paused and greeted her effusively. +</p> +<p> +"Why, Miss Thorne!" he exclaimed. "I'm +delighted to see you here. I understood you +would not be present, and—" +</p> +<p> +Their hands met in a friendly clasp as she +rose and moved away, with a nod 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 the little paper, +still folded, inside the palm. +</p> +<p> +"Is it yes, or no?" Miss Thorne asked in a +low tone. +</p> +<p> +"Frankly, I can't say," was the reply. +</p> +<p> +"He read the message," she explained hastily, +"and now he has gone to decipher it." +</p> +<p> +She gathered up her trailing skirts over one +arm, and together they glided away through the +crowd to the strains of a Strauss waltz. +</p> +<p> +"I'm going to faint in a moment," she said +quite calmly to Mr. Rankin. "Please have me +sent to the ladies' dressing-room." +</p> +<p> +"I understand," he replied quietly. +</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<a name="CH4"><!-- CHAPTER 4 --></a> +<h3> + IV +</h3> + +<h3> +THE FLEEING WOMAN +</h3> +<p> </p> +<p> +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 the chief's face +was disturbed by the slightest questioning uplift +of his brows as he dropped into a seat opposite +Mr. Grimm, and lighted a cigar. Mr. +Grimm raised his hand, and a servant who stood +near, approached them. +</p> +<p> +"An ice—here," Mr. Grimm directed tersely. +</p> +<p> +The servant bowed and disappeared, and Mr. +Grimm hastily scribbled something on a sheet +of paper and handed it to his chief. +</p> +<p> +"There is a reading, in the Morse code, of a +message that seems to be unintelligible," Mr. +Grimm explained. "I have reason to believe it +is in the Continental code. You know the Continental—I +don't." +</p> +<p> +Mr. Campbell read this: +</p> +<p> +"St5ut man fed qaje neaf j5nsefvat5f," and +then came the unknown, dash-dot-dash-dash. +"That," he explained, "is Y in the Continental +code." It went on: "d55f bfing 5vef when g +g5es." +</p> +<p> +The chief read it off glibly: +</p> +<p> +"Stout man, red face, near conservatory door. +Bring over when G goes." +</p> +<p> +"Very well!" commented Mr. Grimm ambiguously. +</p> +<p> +With no word of explanation, he rose and +went out, pausing at the door to take the ice +which the servant was bringing in. The seat +where he had left Señorita Rodriguez was vacant; +so was the chair where Miss Thorne had +been. He glanced about inquiringly, and a +servant who stood stolidly near the conservatory +door approached him. +</p> +<p> +"Pardon, sir, but the lady who was sitting +here," and he indicated the chair where Miss +Thorne had been sitting, "fainted while dancing, +and the lady who was with you went along when +she was removed to the ladies' dressing-room, +sir." +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm's teeth closed with a little snap. +</p> +<p> +"Did you happen to notice any time this evening +a stout gentleman, with red face, near the +conservatory door?" he asked. +</p> +<p> +The servant pondered a moment, then shook +his head. +</p> +<p> +"No, sir." +</p> +<p> +"Thank you." +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm was just turning away, when +there came the sharp, vibrant cra-a-sh! of a revolver, +somewhere off to his left. The president! +That was his first thought. One glance +across the room to where the chief executive +stood, in conversation with two other gentlemen, +reassured him. The choleric blue eyes of +the president had opened a little at the sound, +then he calmly resumed the conversation. Mr. +Grimm impulsively started toward the little +group, but already a cordon was being drawn +there—a cordon of quiet-faced, keen-eyed men, +unobstrusively forcing their way through the +crowd. There was Johnson, and Hastings, and +Blair, and half a dozen others. +</p> +<p> +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 in which white-faced +women clung to the arms of their escorts, +and the brilliant galaxy of colors halted. Then, +after a moment, there came clearly through the +stillness, the excited, guttural command of the +German ambassador. +</p> +<p> +"Keep on blaying, you tam fools! Keep on +blaying!" +</p> +<p> +The orchestra started again tremulously. +Mr. Grimm nodded a silent approval of the +ambassador's command, then turned away toward +his left, in the direction of the shot. After +the first dismay, there was a general movement +of the crowd in that direction, a movement which +was checked by Mr. Campbell's appearance upon +a chair, with a smile on his bland face. +</p> +<p> +"No harm done," he called. "One of the officers +present dropped his revolver, and it was +accidently discharged. No harm done." +</p> +<p> +There was a moment's excited chatter, deep-drawn +breaths of relief, the orchestra swung +again into the interrupted rhythm, and the +dancers moved on. Mr. Grimm went straight to +his chief, who had stepped down from the chair. +Two other Secret Service men stood behind him, +blocking the doorway that opened into a narrow +hall. +</p> +<p> +"This way," directed the chief tersely. +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm walked along beside him. They +skirted the end of the ball-room until they came +to another door opening into the hall. Chief +Campbell pushed it open, and entered. One of +his men stood just inside. +</p> +<p> +"What was it, Gray?" asked the chief. +</p> +<p> +"Señor Alvarez, of the Mexican legation, was +shot," was the reply. +</p> +<p> +"Dead?" +</p> +<p> +"Only wounded. He's in that room," and he +indicated a door a little way down the hall. +"Fairchild, two servants, and a physician are +with him." +</p> +<p> +"Who shot him?" +</p> +<p> +"Don't know. We found him lying in the +hall here." +</p> +<p> +Still followed by Mr. Grimm, the chief entered +the room, and together they bent over the +wounded man. The bullet had entered the torso +just below the ribs on the left side. +</p> +<p> +"It's a clean wound," the physician was explaining. +"The bullet passed through. There's +no immediate danger." +</p> +<p> +Señor Alvarez opened his eyes, and stared +about him in bewilderment; then alarm overspread +his face, and he made spasmodic efforts +to reach the inside breast pocket of his coat. +Mr. Grimm obligingly thrust his hand into the +pocket and drew out its contents, the while +Señor Alvarez struggled frantically. +</p> +<p> +"Just a moment," Mr. Grimm advised quietly. +"I'm only going to let you see if it is here. +Is it?" +</p> +<p> +He held the papers, one by one, in front of +the wounded man, and each time a shake of the +head was his answer. At the last Señor Alvarez +closed his eyes again. +</p> +<p> +"What sort of paper was it?" inquired Mr. +Grimm. +</p> +<p> +"None of your business," came the curt answer. +</p> +<p> +"Who shot you?" +</p> +<p> +"None of your business." +</p> +<p> +"A man?" +</p> +<p> +Señor Alvarez was silent. +</p> +<p> +"A woman?" +</p> +<p> +Still silence. +</p> +<p> +With some new idea Mr. Grimm turned away +suddenly and started out into the hall. He met +a maid-servant at the door, coming in. Her +face was blanched, and she stuttered through +sheer excitement. +</p> +<p> +"A lady, sir—a lady—" she began babblingly. +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm calmly closed the door, shutting +in the wounded man, Chief Campbell and the +others. Then he caught the maid sharply by +the arm and shook some coherence into her disordered +brain. +</p> +<p> +"A lady—she ran away, sir," the girl went +on, in blank surprise. +</p> +<p> +"What lady?" demanded Mr. Grimm coldly. +"Where did she run from? Why did she run?" +The maid stared at him with mouth agape. "Begin +at the beginning." +</p> +<p> +"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't know—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 indicated the rear of the house. "Then I +came to the door and looked out to see who it +was, and what was the matter, sir. I was standing +there when a man—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 excited I couldn't open it right +away, sir, and—and when I did I came here to +see what was the matter." She drew a deep +breath and stopped. +</p> +<p> +"That all?" demanded Mr. Grimm. +</p> +<p> +"Yes, sir, except—except the lady had a pistol +in her hand, sir—" +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm regarded her in silence for a +moment. +</p> +<p> +"Who was the lady?" he asked at last. +</p> +<p> +"I forget her name, sir. She was the lady +who—who fainted in the ball-room, sir, just a +few minutes ago." +</p> +<p> +Whatever emotion may have been aroused +within Mr. Grimm it certainly found no expression +in his face. When he spoke again his +voice was quite calm. +</p> +<p> +"Miss Thorne, perhaps?" +</p> +<p> +"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 one called +her name." +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm took the girl, still a-quiver with +excitement, and led her along the hall to where +Gray stood. +</p> +<p> +"Take this girl in charge, Gray," he directed. +"Lock her up, if necessary. Don't permit her +to say one word to anybody—<i>anybody</i> you understand, +except the chief." +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm left them there. He passed along +the hall, glancing in each room as he went, +until he came to a short flight of stairs leading +toward the kitchen. He went on down +silently. The lights were burning, but the place +was still, deserted. All the servants who belonged +there were evidently, for the moment, +transferred to other posts. He passed on +through the kitchen and out the back door into +the street. +</p> +<p> +A little distance away, leaning against a +lamp-post, a man was standing. He might +have been waiting for a car. Mr. Grimm approached +him. +</p> +<p> +"Beg pardon," he said, "did you see a woman +come out of the back door, there?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes, just a moment or so ago," replied the +stranger. "She got into an automobile at the +corner. I imagine this is hers," and he extended +a handkerchief, a dainty, perfumed trifle +of lace. "I picked it up immediately after she +passed." +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm took the handkerchief and examined +it under the light. For a time he was +thoughtful, with lowered eyes, which, finally +raised, met those of the stranger with a scrutinizing +stare. +</p> +<p> +"Why," asked Mr. Grimm slowly and distinctly, +"why did you slam the door in the girl's +face?" +</p> +<p> +"Why did I—what?" came the answering +question. +</p> +<p> +"Why did you slam the door in the girl's +face?" Mr. Grimm repeated slowly. +</p> +<p> +The stranger stared in utter amazement—an +amazement so frank, so unacted, so genuine, +that Mr. Grimm was satisfied. +</p> +<p> +"Did you see a man come out the door?" Mr. +Grimm pursued. +</p> +<p> +"No. Say, young fellow, I guess you've had +a little too much to drink, haven't you?" +</p> +<p> +But by that time Mr. Grimm was turning the +corner. +</p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<a name="CH5"><!-- CHAPTER 5 --></a> +<h3> + V +</h3> +<h3> +A VISIT TO THE COUNT +</h3> +<p> </p> +<p> +The bland serenity of Mr. Campbell's +face was disturbed by thin, spidery lines +of perplexity, and the guileless blue eyes +were vacant as he stared at the top of his desk. +Mr. Grimm was talking. +</p> +<p> +"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 +lucky enough to find one immediately she came +out. She did not return to the embassy ball last +night—that much is certain." He paused reflectively. +"She is a guest of Señorita Inez +Rodriguez at the Venezuelan legation," he added. +</p> +<p> +"Yes, I know," his chief nodded. +</p> +<p> +"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 fact +that she is suspected, unless perhaps the man +who slammed the door—" He paused. "Anyway, +she will not attempt to leave Washington; +I am confident of that. Again, it didn't seem +wise to me to employ the ordinary crude police +methods in the case—that is, go to the Venezuelan +legation and kick up a row." +</p> +<p> +For a long time Campbell was silent; the perplexed +lines still furrowed his benevolent forehead. +</p> +<p> +"The president is very anxious that we get +to facts in this reported Latin alliance as soon +as possible," he said at last, irrelevantly. "He +mentioned the matter last night, and he has been +keeping in constant communication with Gault, +in Lisbon, who, however, has not been able to +add materially to the original despatch. Under +all the circumstances don't you think it would +be best for me to relieve you of the investigation +of this shooting affair so that you can concentrate +on this greater and more important +thing?" +</p> +<p> +"Will Señor Alvarez die?" asked Mr. Grimm +in turn. +</p> +<p> +"His condition is serious, although the wound +is not necessarily fatal," was the reply. +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm arose, stretched his long legs and +stood for a little while gazing out the window. +Finally he turned to his chief: +</p> +<p> +"What do we know, here in the bureau, about +Miss Thorne?" +</p> +<p> +"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 +and glanced at it. "She arrived in Washington +two weeks and two days ago from New York, +off the <i>Lusitania</i>, from Liverpool. She brought +some sort of an introduction to Count di Rosini, +the Italian ambassador, and he obtained for her +a special invitation to the state ball, which was +held that night. Until four days ago she was +a guest at the Italian embassy, but now, as you +know, is a guest at the Venezuelan legation. +Since her arrival here she has been prominently +pushed forward into society; she has gone +everywhere, and been received everywhere in the +diplomatic set. We have no knowledge of her +beyond this." +</p> +<p> +There was a question in Mr. Grimm's listless +eyes as they met those of his chief. The same +line of thought was running in both their minds, +born, perhaps, of the association of ideas—Italy +as one of three great nations known to be +in the Latin compact; Prince Benedetto d'Abruzzi, +of Italy, the secret envoy of three countries; +the sudden appearance of Miss Thorne +at the Italian embassy. And in the mind of the +younger man there was more than this—a definite +knowledge of a message cunningly transmitted +to Mr. Rankin, of the German embassy, +by Miss Thorne there in the ball-room. +</p> +<p> +"Can you imagine—" he asked slowly, "can +you imagine a person who would be of more +value to the Latin governments in Washington +right at this stage of the negotiations than a +brilliant woman agent?" +</p> +<p> +"I most certainly can not," was the chief's unhesitating +response. +</p> +<p> +"In that case I <i>don't</i> think it would be wise to +transfer the investigation of the shooting affair +to another man," said Mr. Grimm emphatically, +reverting to his chief's question. "I think, on +the contrary, we should find out more about Miss +Thorne." +</p> +<p> +"Precisely," Campbell agreed. +</p> +<p> +"Ask all the great capitals about her—Madrid, +Paris and Rome, particularly; then, perhaps, +London and Berlin and St. Petersburg." +</p> +<p> +Mr. Campbell thoughtfully scribbled the +names of the cities on a slip of paper. +</p> +<p> +"Do you intend to arrest Miss Thorne for the +shooting?" he queried. +</p> +<p> +"I don't know," replied Mr. Grimm frankly. +"I don't know," he repeated musingly. "If I +<i>do</i> arrest her immediately I may cut off a clue +which will lead to the other affair. I don't +know," he concluded. +</p> +<p> +"Use your own judgment, and bear in mind +that a man—<i>a man</i> slammed the door in the +maid's face." +</p> +<p> +"I shall not forget him," Mr. Grimm answered. +"Now I'm going over to talk to Count +di Rosini for a while." +</p> +<p> +The young man went out, thoughtfully tugging +at his gloves. The Italian ambassador received +him with an inquiring uplift of his dark +brows. +</p> +<p> +"I came to make some inquiries in regard to +Miss Thorne—Miss Isabel Thorne," Mr. Grimm +informed him frankly. +</p> +<p> +The count was surprised, but it didn't appear +in his face. +</p> +<p> +"As I understand it," the young man pursued, +"you are sponsor for her in Washington?" +</p> +<p> +The count, evasively diplomatic, born and +bred in a school of caution, considered the question +from every standpoint. +</p> +<p> +"It may be that I am so regarded," he admitted +at last. +</p> +<p> +"May I inquire if the sponsorship is official, +personal, social, or all three?" Mr. Grimm continued. +</p> +<p> +There was silence for a long time. +</p> +<p> +"I don't see the trend of your questioning," +said the ambassador finally. "Miss Thorne is +worthy of my protection in every way." +</p> +<p> +"Let's suppose a case," suggested Mr. Grimm +blandly. "Suppose Miss Thorne had—had, let +us say, shot a man, and he was about to die, +would you feel justified in withdrawing that—that +protection, as you call it?" +</p> +<p> +"Such a thing is preposterous!" exclaimed +the ambassador. "The utter absurdity of such +a charge would impel me to offer her every assistance." +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm nodded. +</p> +<p> +"And if it were proved to your satisfaction +that she <i>did</i> shoot him?" he went on evenly. +</p> +<p> +The count's lips were drawn together in a +straight line. +</p> +<p> +"Whom, may I ask," he inquired frigidly, +"are we supposing that Miss Thorne shot?" +</p> +<p> +"No one, particularly," Mr. Grimm assured +him easily. "Just suppose that she <i>had</i> shot +anybody—me, say, or Señor Alvarez?" +</p> +<p> +"I can't answer a question so ridiculous as +that." +</p> +<p> +"And suppose we go a little further," Mr. +Grimm insisted pleasantly, "and assume that +you <i>knew</i> she <i>had</i> shot some one, say Señor Alvarez, +and you <i>could</i> protect her from the consequences, +<i>would</i> you?" +</p> +<p> +"I decline to suppose anything so utterly absurd," +was the rejoinder. +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm sat with his elbows on his knees, +idly twisting a seal ring on his little finger. +The searching eyes of the ambassador found his +face blankly inscrutable. +</p> +<p> +"Diplomatic representatives in Washington +have certain obligations to this government," +the young man reminded him. "We—that is, +the government of the United States—undertake +to guarantee the personal safety of every +accredited representative; in return for that protection +we must insist upon the name and identity +of a dangerous person who may be known +to any foreign representative. Understand, +please, I'm not asserting that Miss Thorne is +a dangerous person. You are sponsor for her +here. Is she, in every way, worthy of your protection?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes," said the ambassador flatly. +</p> +<p> +"I can take it, then, that the introduction she +brought to you is from a person whose position +is high enough to insure Miss Thorne's position?" +</p> +<p> +"That is correct." +</p> +<p> +"Very well!" +</p> +<p> +And Mr. Grimm went away. +</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<a name="CH6"><!-- CHAPTER 6 --></a> +<h3> + VI +</h3> + +<h3> +REVELATIONS +</h3> +<p> </p> +<p> +Some vague, indefinable shadow darkened +Miss Thorne's clear, blue-gray eyes, in +sharp contrast to the glow of radiant +health in her cheeks, as she stepped from an automobile +in front of the Venezuelan legation, +and ran lightly up the steps. A liveried servant +opened the door. +</p> +<p> +"A gentleman is waiting for you, Madam," +he announced. "His card is here on the—" +</p> +<p> +"I was expecting him," she interrupted. +</p> +<p> +"Which room, please?" +</p> +<p> +"The blue room, Madam." +</p> +<p> +Miss Thorne passed along the hallway which +led to a suite of small drawing-rooms opening +on a garden in the rear, pushed aside the portières, +and entered. +</p> +<p> +"I'm sorry I've kept you—" she began, and +then, in a tone of surprise: "I beg your pardon." +</p> +<p> +A gentleman rose and bowed gravely. +</p> +<p> +"I am Mr. Grimm of the Secret Service," he +informed her with frank courtesy. "I am afraid +you were expecting some one else; I handed my +card to the footman." +</p> +<p> +For an instant the blue-gray eyes opened +wide in astonishment, and then some quick, +subtle change swept over Miss Thorne's face. +She smiled graciously and motioned him to a +seat. +</p> +<p> +"This is quite a different meeting from the +one Señorita Rodriguez had planned, isn't it?" +she asked. +</p> +<p> +There was a taunting curve on her scarlet +lips; the shadow passed from her eyes; her slim, +white hands lay idle in her lap. Mr. Grimm regarded +her reflectively. There was a determination +of steel back of this charming exterior; +there was an indomitable will, a keen brain, and +all of a woman's intuition to reckon with. She +was silent, with a questioning upward slant of +her arched brows. +</p> +<p> +"I am not mistaken in assuming that you are +a secret agent of the Italian government, am I?" +he queried finally. +</p> +<p> +"No," she responded readily. +</p> +<p> +"In that event I may speak with perfect +frankness?" he went on. "It would be as useless +as it would be absurd to approach the matter in +any other manner?" It was a question. +</p> +<p> +Miss Thorne was still smiling, but again the +vague, indefinable shadow, momentarily lifted, +darkened her eyes. +</p> +<p> +"You may be frank, of course," she said +pleasantly. "Please go on." +</p> +<p> +"Señor Alvarez was shot at the German Embassy +Ball last night," Mr. Grimm told her. +</p> +<p> +Miss Thorne nodded, as if in wonder. +</p> +<p> +"Did you, or did you not, shoot him?" +</p> +<p> +It was quite casual. She received the question +without change of countenance, but involuntarily +she caught her breath. It might have been +a sigh of relief. +</p> +<p> +"Why do you come to me with such a query?" +she asked in turn. +</p> +<p> +"I beg your pardon," interposed Mr. Grimm +steadily. "Did you, or did you not, shoot him?" +</p> +<p> +"No, of course I didn't shoot him," was the +reply. If there was any emotion in the tone it +was merely impatience. "Why do you come to +me?" she repeated. +</p> +<p> +"Why do I come to you?" Mr. Grimm echoed +the question, while his listless eyes rested on +her face. "I will be absolutely frank, as I feel +sure you would be under the same circumstances." +He paused a moment; she nodded. +"Well, immediately after the shooting you ran +along the hallway with 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 is not conjecture; it is susceptible +of proof by eye witnesses." +</p> +<p> +Miss Thorne rose suddenly with a queer, helpless +little gesture of her arms, and walked to the +window. She stood there for a long time with +her hands clasped behind her back. +</p> +<p> +"That brings us to another question," Mr. +Grimm continued mercilessly. "If you did not +shoot Señor Alvarez, do you know who did?" +</p> +<p> +There was another long pause. +</p> +<p> +"I want to believe you, Miss Thorne," he supplemented. +</p> +<p> +She turned quickly with something of defiance +in her attitude. +</p> +<p> +"Yes, I know," she said slowly. "It were useless +to deny it." +</p> +<p> +"Who was it?" +</p> +<p> +"I won't tell you." +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm leaned forward in his chair, and +spoke earnestly. +</p> +<p> +"Understand, please, that by that answer you +assume equal guilt with the person who actually +did the shooting," he explained. "If you adhere +to it you compel me to regard you as an accomplice." +His questioning took a different line. +</p> +<p> +"Will you explain how the revolver came into +your possession?" +</p> +<p> +"Oh, I—I picked it up in the hallway there," +she replied vaguely. +</p> +<p> +"I want to believe you, Miss Thorne," Mr. +Grimm said again. +</p> +<p> +"You may. I picked it up in the hallway," +she repeated. "I saw it lying there and picked +it up." +</p> +<p> +"Why that, instead of giving an alarm?" +</p> +<p> +"No alarm was necessary. The shot itself +was an alarm." +</p> +<p> +"Then why," Mr. Grimm persisted coldly, +"did you run along the hallway and escape by +way of the kitchen? If you did not do the +shooting, why the necessity of escape, carrying +the revolver?" +</p> +<p> +There was that in the blue-gray eyes which +brought Mr. Grimm to his feet. His hands +gripped each other cruelly; his tone was calm as +always. +</p> +<p> +"Why did you take the revolver?" he asked. +</p> +<p> +Miss Thorne's head drooped forward a little, +and she was silent. +</p> +<p> +"There are only two possibilities, of course," +he went on. "First, that you, in spite of your +denial, did the shooting." +</p> +<p> +"I did not!" The words fairly burst from +her tightly closed lips. +</p> +<p> +"Or that you knew the revolver, and took it +to save the person, man or woman, who fired the +shot. I will assume, for the moment, that this +is correct. Where is the revolver?" +</p> +<p> +From the adjoining room there came a slight +noise, a faint breath of sound; or it might have +been only an echo of silence. Their eyes were +fixed each upon the others unwaveringly, with +not a flicker to indicate that either had heard. +After a moment Miss Thorne returned to her +chair and sat down. +</p> +<p> +"It's rather a singular situation, isn't it, Mr. +Grimm?" she inquired irrelevantly. "You, Mr. +Grimm of the Secret Service of the United +States; I, Isabel Thorne, a secret agent of Italy +together here, one accusing the other of a crime, +and perhaps with good reason." +</p> +<p> +"Where is the revolver?" Mr. Grimm insisted. +</p> +<p> +"If you were any one else <i>but</i> you! I could +not afford to be frank with you and—" +</p> +<p> +"If you had been any one else but <i>you</i> I +should have placed you under arrest when I entered +the room." +</p> +<p> +She smiled, and inclined her head. +</p> +<p> +"I understand," she said pleasantly. "For +the reason that you are Mr. Grimm of the Secret +Service I shall tell you the truth. I <i>did</i> take +the revolver because I knew who had fired the +shot. Believe me when I tell you that that person +did not act with my knowledge or consent. +You do believe that? You do?" She was pleading, +eager to convince him. +</p> +<p> +After a while Mr. Grimm nodded. +</p> +<p> +"The revolver is beyond your reach and shall +remain so," she resumed. "According to your +laws I suppose I am an accomplice. That is my +misfortune. It will in no way alter my determination +to keep silent. If I am arrested I can't +help it." She studied his face with hopeful eyes. +"Am I to be arrested?" +</p> +<p> +"Where is the paper that was taken from +Señor Alvarez immediately after he was shot?" +Mr. Grimm queried. +</p> +<p> +"I don't know," she replied frankly. +</p> +<p> +"As I understand it, then, the motive for the +shooting was to obtain possession of that paper? +For your government?" +</p> +<p> +"The individual who shot Señor Alvarez <i>did</i> +obtain the paper, yes. And now, please, am I +to be arrested?" +</p> +<p> +"And just what was the purpose, may I inquire, +of the message you telegraphed with your +fan in the ball-room?" +</p> +<p> +"You read that?" exclaimed Miss Thorne in +mock astonishment. "You read that?" +</p> +<p> +"And the man who read that message? Perhaps +he shot the señor?" +</p> +<p> +"Perhaps," she taunted. +</p> +<p> +For a long time Mr. Grimm stood staring at +her, staring, staring. She, too, rose, and faced +him quietly. +</p> +<p> +"Am I to be arrested?" she asked again. +</p> +<p> +"Why do you make me do it?" he demanded. +</p> +<p> +"That is my affair." +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm laid a hand upon her arm, a hand +that had never known nervousness. A moment +longer he stared, and then: +</p> +<p> +"Madam, you are my prisoner for the attempted +murder of Señor Alvarez!" +</p> +<p> +The rings on the portières behind him clicked +sharply, and the draperies parted. Mr. Grimm +stood motionless, with his hand on Miss Thorne's +arm. +</p> +<p> +"You were inquiring a moment ago for a revolver," +came in a man's voice. "Here it is!" +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm found himself inspecting the +weapon from the barrel end. After a moment +his glance shifted to the blazing eyes of the man +who held it—a young man, rather slight, with +clean-cut, aristocratic features, and of the pronounced +Italian type. +</p> + +<a name="image-2"><!-- Image 2 --></a> +<p class="figure"> +<a href="images/img2.jpg"> +<img width="60%" src="images/img2.jpg" +alt="He Found Himself inspecting the Weapon from the Barrel End."/></a><br /> +<b>"He Found Himself inspecting the Weapon from the Barrel End."</b> +</p> + +<p> +"My God!" The words came from Miss +Thorne's lips almost in a scream. "Don't—!" +</p> +<p> +"I did make some inquiries about a revolver, +yes," Mr. Grimm interrupted quietly. "Is this +the one?" +</p> +<p> +He raised his hand quite casually, and his +fingers closed like steel around the weapon. Behind +his back Miss Thorne made some quick emphatic +gesture, and the new-comer released the +revolver. +</p> +<p> +"I shall ask you, please, to free Miss Thorne," +he requested courteously. "I shot Señor Alvarez. +I, too, am a secret agent of the Italian government, +willing and able to defend myself. Miss +Thorne has told you the truth; she had nothing +whatever to do with it. She took the weapon +and escaped because it was mine. Here is the +paper that was taken from 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 my compliments." +</p> +<p> +After a moment Mr. Grimm's hand fell away +from Miss Thorne's arm, and he regarded the +new-comer with an interest in which admiration, +even, played a part. +</p> +<p> +"Your name?" he asked finally. +</p> +<p> +"Pietro Petrozinni," was the ready reply. +"As I say, I accept all responsibility." +</p> +<p> +A few minutes later Mr. Grimm and his prisoner +passed out of the legation side by side, and +strolled down the street together, in amicable +conversation. Half an hour later Señor Alvarez +identified Pietro Petrozinni as the man who shot +him; and the maid servant expressed a belief +that he was the man who slammed the door in her +face. +</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<a name="CH7"><!-- CHAPTER 7 --></a> +<h3> + VII +</h3> + +<h3> +THE SIGNAL +</h3> +<p> </p> +<p> +"And the original question remains unanswered," +remarked Mr. Campbell. +</p> +<p> +"The original question?" repeated +Mr. Grimm. +</p> +<p> +"<i>Where</i> is Prince Benedetto d'Abruzzi, the +secret envoy?" his chief reminded him. +</p> +<p> +"I wonder!" mused the young man. +</p> +<p> +"If the Latin compact is signed in the United +States—?" +</p> +<p> +"The Latin compact will <i>not</i> be signed in the +United States," Mr. Grimm interrupted. And +then, after a moment: "Have we received any +further reports on Miss Thorne? I mean reports +from our foreign agents?" +</p> +<p> +The chief shook his head. +</p> +<p> +"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 becomes +plain sailing. We know she <i>is</i> a secret agent—I expected +a denial, but she was quite frank +about it. And I had no intention whatever of +placing her under arrest. I knew some one was +in the adjoining room because of a slight noise +in there, and I knew she knew it. She raised her +voice a little, obviously for the benefit of whoever +was there. From that point everything I +said and did was to compel that person, whoever +it was, to show himself." +</p> +<p> +His chief nodded, understandingly. Mr. +Grimm was silent for a little, then went on: +</p> +<p> +"The last possibility in my mind at that moment," +he confessed, "was that the person in +there was the man who shot Señor Alvarez. +Frankly I had half an idea that—that it might +be the prince in person." Suddenly his mood +changed: "And now our lady of mystery may +come and go as she likes because I know, even if +a dozen of our men have ransacked Washington +in vain for the prince, she will inevitably lead +us to him. And that reminds me: I should like +to borrow Blair, and Hastings, and Johnson. +Please plant them so they may keep constant +watch on Miss Thorne. Let them report to you, +and, wherever I am, I will reach you over the +'phone." +</p> +<p> +"By the way, what was in that sealed packet +that was taken from Señor Alvarez?" Campbell +inquired curiously. +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +For a little while the two men gazed thoughtfully, +each into the eyes of the other, then Mr. +Grimm entered his private office where he sat for +an hour with his immaculate boots on his desk, +thinking. A world-war—he had been thrust +forward by his government to prevent it—subtle +blue-gray eyes—his Highness, Prince Benedetto +d'Abruzzi—a haunting smile and scarlet lips. +</p> +<p> +At about the moment he rose to go out, Miss +Thorne, closely veiled, left the Venezuelan legation +and walked rapidly down the street to a +corner, where, without a word, she entered a +waiting automobile. The wheels spun and the car +leaped forward. For a mile or more it wound +aimlessly in and out, occasionally bisecting its +own path; finally Miss Thorne leaned forward +and touched the chauffeur on the arm. +</p> +<p> +"Now!" she said. +</p> +<p> +The car straightened out into a street of +stately residences and scuttled along until the +placid bosom of the Potomac came into view; +beside that for a few minutes, then over the +bridge to the Virginia side, in the dilapidated +little city of Alexandria. The car did not slacken +its speed, but wound in and out through +dingy streets, past tumble-down negro huts, for +half an hour before it came to a standstill in +front of an old brick mansion. +</p> +<p> +"This is number ninety-seven," the chauffeur +announced. +</p> +<p> +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 into the car silently. Again it moved +forward, on to the end of the dingy street, and +finally into the open country. Three, four, five +miles, perhaps, out the old Baltimore Road, and +again the car stopped, this time in front of an +ancient colonial farm-house. +</p> +<p> +Outwardly the place seemed to be deserted. +The blinds, battered and stripped of paint by +wind and rain, were all closed, and one corner +of the 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 of the house, rising from an old barn, a +thin pole with a cup-like attachment at the apex, +thrust its point into the open above the dense, +odorous pines. It appeared to be a wireless +mast. Miss Thorne passed around the house, +and entered the barn. +</p> +<p> +A man came forward and kissed her—a thin, +little man of indeterminate age—drying his +hands on a piece of cotton waste. His face was +pale with the pallor of one who knows little outdoor +life, his eyes deep-set and a-glitter with +some feverish inward fire, and the thin lips were +pressed together in a sharp line. Behind him +was a long bench on which were scattered tools +of various sorts, fantastically shaped chemical +apparatus, two or three electric batteries of odd +sizes, and ranged along one end of it, in a row, +were a score or more metal spheroids, a shade +larger than a one-pound shell. From somewhere +in the rear came the clatter of a small gasoline +engine, and still farther away was an electric +dynamo. +</p> +<p> +"Is the test arranged, Rosa?" the little man +queried eagerly in Italian. +</p> +<p> +"The date is not fixed yet," she replied in the +same language. "It will be, I hope, within the +next two weeks. And then—" +</p> +<p> +"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 will come, and with it the dominion of the +world again by our country. How will I know +when the date is fixed? It would not be well to +write me here." +</p> +<p> +My lady of mystery stroked the slender, +nervous hand caressingly, and a great affection +shone in the blue-gray eyes. +</p> +<p> +"At eight o'clock on the night of the test," +she explained, still speaking Italian, "a single +light will appear at the apex of the capitol dome +in Washington. That is the signal agreed +upon; it can be seen by all in the city, and is +visible here from the window of your bedroom." +</p> +<p> +"Yes, yes," he exclaimed. The feverish glitter +in his eyes deepened. +</p> +<p> +"If there is a fog, of course you will not attempt +the test," she went on. +</p> +<p> +"No, not in a fog," he put in quickly. "It +must be clear." +</p> +<p> +"And if it is clear you can see the light in the +dome without difficulty." +</p> +<p> +"And all your plans are working out well?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes. And yours?" +</p> +<p> +"I don't think there is any question but that +both England and the United States will buy. +Do you know what it means? Do you know what +it means?" He was silent a moment, his hands +working nervously. Then, with an effort: "And +his Highness?" +</p> +<p> +"His Highness is safe." The subtle eyes +grew misty, thoughtful for a moment, then +cleared again. "He is safe," she repeated. +</p> +<p> +"Mexico and Venezuela were—?" he began. +</p> +<p> +"We don't know, yet, what they will do. The +Venezuelan answer is locked in the safe at the +legation; I will know what it is within forty-eight +hours." She was silent a little. "Our difficulty +now, our greatest difficulty, is the hostility +of the French ambassador to the compact. +His government has not yet notified him of the +presence of Prince d'Abruzzi; he does not believe +in the feasibility of the plan, and we have +to—to proceed to extremes to prevent him working +against us." +</p> +<p> +"But they <i>must</i> see the incalculable advantages +to follow upon such a compact, with the +vast power that will be given to them over the +whole earth by this." He indicated the long, +littered work-table. "They <i>must</i> see it." +</p> +<p> +"They will see it, Luigi," said Miss Thorne +gently. "And now, how are you? Are you +well? Are you comfortable? It's such a dreary +old place here." +</p> +<p> +"I suppose so," he replied, and he met the solicitous +blue-gray eyes for an instant. "Yes, I +am quite comfortable," he added. "I have no +time to be otherwise with all the work I must do. +It will mean so much!" +</p> +<p> +They were both silent for a time. Finally +Miss Thorne walked over to the long table and +curiously lifted one of the spheroids. It was a +sinister looking thing, nickeled, glittering. At +one end of it was a delicate, vibratory apparatus, +not unlike the transmitter of a telephone, +and the other end was threaded, as if the +spheroid was made as an attachment to some +other device. +</p> +<p> +"With that we control the world!" exclaimed +the man triumphantly. "And it's mine, Rosa, +mine!" +</p> +<p> +"It's wonderful!" she mused softly. "Wonderful! +And now I must go. I may not see you +again until after the test, because I shall be +watched and followed wherever I go. If I get an +opportunity I shall reach you by telephone, but +not even that unless it is necessary. There is +always danger, always danger!" she repeated +thoughtfully. She was thinking of Mr. Grimm. +</p> +<p> +"I understand," said the man simply. +</p> +<p> +"And look out for the signal—the light in +the apex of the capitol dome," she went on. "I +understand the night must be perfectly clear; +and <i>you</i> understand that the test is to be made +promptly at three o'clock by your chronometer?" +</p> +<p> +"At three o'clock," he repeated. +</p> +<p> +For a moment they stood with their arms +around each other, then tenderly his visitor +kissed him, and went out. He remained looking +after her vacantly until the chug-chug of her +automobile, as it moved off down the road, was +lost in the distance, then turned again to the +long work-table. +</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<a name="CH8"><!-- CHAPTER 8 --></a> +<h3> + VIII +</h3> + +<h3> +MISS THORNE AND NOT MISS THORNE +</h3> +<p> </p> +<p> +From a pleasant, wide-open bay-window +of her apartments on the second floor, +Miss Thorne looked out upon the avenue +with inscrutable eyes. Behind the closely +drawn shutters of another bay-window, farther +down the avenue, on the corner, she knew a man +named Hastings was hiding; she knew that for +an hour or more he had been watching her as +she wrote. In the other direction, in a house +near the corner, another man named Blair was +similarly ensconced, and he, too, had been watching +as she wrote. There should be a third man, +Johnson. Miss Thorne curiously studied the +face of each passer-by, seeking therein something +to remember. +</p> +<p> +She sat at the little mahogany desk and a +note with the ink yet wet upon it lay face up before +her. It was addressed to Signor Pietro +Petrozinni in the district prison, and read: +</p> +<blockquote><p>"My Dear Friend: +</p> +<p> +"I have been waiting to write you with the +hope that I could report Señor Alvarez out of +danger, but his condition, I regret to say, remains +unchanged. Shall I send an attorney to +you? Would you like a book of any kind? Or +some delicacy sent in from a restaurant? Can +I be of any service to you in any way? If I can +please drop me a line. +</p> +<p> +"Sincerely, +</p> +<p> +"Isabel Thorne."</p></blockquote> +<p> +At last she rose and standing in the window +read the note over, folded it, placed it in an envelope +and sealed it. A maid came in answer to her +ring, and there at the window, under the watchful +eyes of Blair and Hastings—and, perhaps, +Johnson—she handed the note to the maid with +instructions to mail it immediately. Two minutes +later she saw the maid go out along the +avenue to a post-box on the corner. +</p> +<p> +Then she drew back into the shadow of the +room, slipped on a dark-colored wrap, and, +standing away from the window, safe beyond the +reach of prying eyes, waited patiently for the +postman. He appeared about five o'clock and +simultaneously another man turned the corner +near the post-box and spoke to him. Then, together, +they disappeared from view around the +corner. +</p> +<p> +"So that's Johnson, is it?" mused Miss +Thorne, and she smiled a little. "Mr. Grimm +certainly pays me the compliment of having me +carefully watched." +</p> +<p> +A few minutes later she dropped into the seat +at the desk again. The dark wrap had been +thrown aside and Hastings and Blair from their +hiding-places could see her distinctly. After +a while they saw her rise quickly, as an automobile +turned into the avenue, and lean toward the +window eagerly looking out. The car came to +a standstill in front of the legation, and Mr. +Cadwallader, an under-secretary of the British +embassy, who was alone in the car, raised his +cap. She nodded and smiled, then disappeared +in the shadows of the room again. +</p> +<p> +Mr. Cadwallader went to the door, spoke to +the servant there, then returned and busied himself +about the car. Hastings and Blair watched +intently both the door and the window for a +long time; finally a closely veiled and muffled +figure appeared at the bay-window, and waved +a gloved hand at Mr. Cadwallader, who again +lifted his cap. A minute later the veiled woman +came out of the front door, shook hands with +Mr. Cadwallader, and got in the car. He also +climbed in, and the car moved slowly away. +</p> +<p> +Simultaneously the front door of the house +on the corner, where Hastings had been hiding, +and the front door of the house near the corner, +where Blair had been hiding, opened and two +heads peered out. As the car approached Hastings' +hiding-place he withdrew into the hallway; +but Blair came out and hurried past the legation +in the direction of the rapidly disappearing +motor. Hastings joined him; they spoke together, +then turned the corner. +</p> +<p> +It was about ten o'clock that night when +Hastings reported to Mr. Campbell at his home. +</p> +<p> +"We followed the car in a rented automobile +from the time it turned the corner, out through +Alexandria, and along the old Baltimore Road +into the city of Baltimore," he explained. "It +was dark by the time we reached Alexandria, +but we stuck to the car ahead, running without +lights until we came in sight of Druid Hill Park, +and then we had to show lights or be held up. +We covered those forty miles going in less than +two hours. +</p> +<p> +"After the car passed Druid Hill it slowed up +a little, and ran off the turnpike into North Avenue, +then into North Charles Street, and slowly +along that as if they were looking for a number. +At last it stopped and Miss Thorne got +out and entered a house. She was gone for +more than half an hour, leaving Mr. Cadwallader +with the car. While she was gone I made +some inquiries and learned that the house was +occupied by a Mr. Thomas Q. Griswold. I don't +know anything else about him; Blair may have +learned something. +</p> +<p> +"Now comes the curious part of it," and +Hastings looked a little sheepish. "When Miss +Thorne came out of the house she was not Miss +Thorne at all—<i>she was Señorita Inez Rodriguez</i>, +daughter of the Venezuelan minister. She +wore the same clothing Miss Thorne had worn +going, but her veil was lifted. Veiled and all +muffled up one would have taken oath it was the +same woman. She and Cadwallader are back in +Washington now, or are coming. That's all, +except Blair is still in Baltimore, awaiting orders. +I caught the train from the Charles Street +station and came back. Johnson, you know—" +</p> +<p> +"Yes, I've seen Johnson," interrupted Campbell. +"Are you absolutely positive that the +woman you saw get into the automobile with +Mr. Cadwallader was Miss Thorne?" +</p> +<p> +"Absolutely," replied Hastings without hesitation. +"I saw her in her own room with her +wraps on, then saw her come down and get into +the car." +</p> +<p> +"That's all," said the chief. "Good night." +For an hour or more he sat in a great, comfortable +chair in the smoking-room of his own +home, the guileless blue eyes vacant, staring, +and spidery lines in the benevolent forehead. +</p> +<hr> +<p> +On the morning of the second day following, +Señor Rodriguez, the minister from Venezuela, +reported to the Secret Service Bureau the disappearance +of fifty thousand dollars in gold from +a safe in his private office at the legation. +</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<a name="CH9"><!-- CHAPTER 9 --></a> +<h3> + IX +</h3> + +<h3> +FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS +</h3> +<p> </p> +<p> +Mr. Campbell was talking. +</p> +<p> +"For several months past," he said, +"the International Investment Company, +through its representative, Mr. Cressy, +has been secretly negotiating with Señor Rodriguez +for certain asphalt properties in Venezuela. +Three days ago these negotiations were successfully +concluded, and yesterday afternoon Mr. +Cressy, in secret, paid to Señor Rodriguez, fifty +thousand dollars in American gold, the first of +four payments of similar sums. This gold was +to have been shipped to Philadelphia by express +to-day to catch a steamer for Venezuela." +Mr. Grimm nodded. +</p> +<p> +"The fact that this gold was in Señor Rodriguez's +possession could not have been known to +more than half a dozen persons, as the negotiations +throughout have been in strict secrecy," +and Mr. Campbell smiled benignly. "So much! +Now, Señor Rodriguez has just telephoned asking +that I send a man to the legation at once. +The gold was kept there over night; or perhaps +I should say that the señor intended to +keep it there over night." Mr. Campbell stared +at Mr. Grimm for a moment, then: "Miss +Thorne, you know, is a guest at the legation, +that is why I am referring the matter to you." +</p> +<p> +"I understand," said Mr. Grimm. +</p> +<p> +And ten minutes later Mr. Grimm presented +himself to Señor Rodriguez. The minister from +Venezuela, bubbling with excitement, was pacing +forth and back across his office, ruffling his gray-black +hair with nervous, twining fingers. Mr. +Grimm sat down. +</p> +<p> +"Señor," he inquired placidly, "fifty thousand +dollars in gold would weigh nearly two +hundred pounds, wouldn't it?" +</p> +<p> +Señor Rodriguez stared at him blankly. +</p> +<p> +"<i>Si, Señor</i>," he agreed absently. And then, +in English: "Yes, I should imagine so." +</p> +<p> +"Well, was all of it stolen, or only a part of +it?" Mr. Grimm went on. +</p> +<p> +The minister gazed into the listless eyes for +a time, then, apparently bewildered, walked forth +and back across the room again. Finally he sat +down. +</p> +<p> +"All of it," he admitted. "I can't understand +it. No one, not a soul in this house, except myself, +knew it was here." +</p> +<p> +"In addition to this weight of, say two hundred +pounds, fifty thousand dollars would make +considerable bulk," mused Mr. Grimm. "Very +well! Therefore it would appear that the person, +or persons, who got it must have gone away +from here heavily laden?" +</p> +<p> +Señor Rodriguez nodded. +</p> +<p> +"And now, Señor," Mr. Grimm continued, "if +you will kindly state the circumstances immediately +preceding and following the theft?" +</p> +<p> +A slight frown which had been growing upon +the smooth brow of the diplomatist was instantly +dissipated. +</p> +<p> +"The money—fifty thousand dollars in gold +coin—was paid to me yesterday afternoon about +four o'clock," he began slowly, in explanation. +</p> +<p> +"By Mr. Cressy of the International Investment +Company," supplemented Mr. Grimm. +"Yes. Go on." +</p> +<p> +The diplomatist favored the young man with +one sharp, inquiring glance, and continued: +</p> +<p> +"The gentleman who paid the money remained +here from four until nine o'clock while +I, personally, counted it. As I counted it I +placed it in canvas bags and when he had gone +I took these bags from this room into that," he +indicated a closed door to his right, "and personally +stowed them away in the safe. I closed +and locked the door of the safe myself; I <i>know</i> +that it <i>was</i> locked. And that's all, except this +morning the money was gone—every dollar +of it." +</p> +<p> +"Safe blown?" inquired Mr. Grimm. +</p> +<p> +"No, Señor!" exclaimed the diplomatist with +sudden violence. "No, the safe was not blown! +It was <i>closed and locked</i>, exactly as I had left +it!" +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm was idly twisting the seal ring on +his little finger. +</p> +<p> +"Just as I left it!" Señor Rodriguez repeated +excitedly. "Last night after I locked the safe +door I tried it to make certain that it <i>was</i> locked. +I happened to notice then that the pointer on +the dial had stopped precisely at number forty-five. +This morning, when I unlocked the safe—and, +of course, I didn't know then that the +money had been taken—the pointer was still at +number forty-five." +</p> +<p> +He paused with one hand in the air; Mr. +Grimm continued to twist the seal ring. +</p> +<p> +"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 +had not put the money into the safe at all!" +</p> +<p> +"Did you?" inquired Mr. Grimm amiably. +</p> +<p> +"Did I?" blazed Señor Rodriguez. "Why, +Señor—! I did!" he concluded meekly. +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm believed him. +</p> +<p> +"Who else knows the combination of the +safe?" he queried. +</p> +<p> +"No one, Señor—not a living soul." +</p> +<p> +"Your secretary, for instance?" +</p> +<p> +"Not even my secretary." +</p> +<p> +"Some servant—some member of your family?" +</p> +<p> +"I tell you, Señor, not one person in all the +world knew that combination except myself," +Señor Rodriguez insisted. +</p> +<p> +"Your secretary—a servant—some member +of your family might have seen you unlock the +safe some time, and thus learned the combination?" +</p> +<p> +Señor Rodriguez did not quite know whether +to be annoyed at Mr. Grimm's persistence, or to +admire the tenacity with which he held to this +one point. +</p> +<p> +"You must understand, Señor Grimm, that +many state documents are kept in the safe," he +said finally, "therefore it is not advisable that +any one should know the combination. I have +made it an absolute rule, as did my predecessors +here, never to unlock the safe in the presence of +another person." +</p> +<p> +"State documents!" Mr. Grimm's lips silently +repeated the words. Then aloud: "Perhaps +there's a record of the combination somewhere? +If you had died suddenly, for instance, how +would the safe have been opened?" +</p> +<p> +"There would have been only one way, Señor—blow +it open. There is no record." +</p> +<p> +"Well, if we accept all that as true," observed +Mr. Grimm musingly, "it would 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 money was taken out of the +safe without it being unlocked. This last would +have been a miracle, and this is not the day of +miracles, therefore—!" +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm's well modulated voice trailed off +into silence. Señor Rodriguez came to his feet +with a blaze of anger in his eyes; Mr. Grimm +was watching him curiously. +</p> +<p> +"I understand then, Señor," said the minister +deliberately, "that you believe that I—!" +</p> +<p> +"I believe that you have told the truth," interrupted +Mr. Grimm placidly, "that is the truth +so far as you know it. But you have stated one +thing in error. Somebody besides yourself <i>does</i> +know the combination. Whether they knew it +or not at this time yesterday I can't say, but +somebody knows it now." +</p> +<p> +Señor Rodriguez drew a deep breath of relief. +The implied accusation had been withdrawn as +pleasantly and frankly as it had been put forward. +</p> +<p> +"I ran across a chap in New York once, for +instance," Mr. Grimm took the trouble to explain, +"who could unlock any safe—that is, any +safe of the kind used at that time—twelve or +fourteen years ago. So you see. I doubt if he +would be so successful with the new models, with +all their improvements, but then—! You know +he would have made an ideal burglar, that chap. +Now, Señor, who lives here in the legation with +you?" +</p> +<p> +"My secretary, Señor Diaz, my daughter +Inez, and just at the moment, a Miss Thorne—Miss +Isabel Thorne," the señor informed him. +"Also four servants—two men and two women." +</p> +<p> +"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?" +</p> +<p> +"Certainly." +</p> +<p> +Señor Rodriguez started toward the closed +door just as there came a timid knock from the +hall. He glanced at Mr. Grimm, who nodded, +then he called: +</p> +<p> +"Come in!" +</p> +<p> +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 white neck. At sight of Mr. Grimm the +blue-gray eyes opened as if in surprise, and she +paused irresolutely. +</p> +<p> +"I beg your pardon, Señor," she said, addressing +the diplomatist. "I did not know you +were engaged. And Mr. Grimm!" She extended +a slim, white hand, and the young man +bowed low over it. "We are old friends," she +explained, smilingly, to the minister. Then: +"I think I must have dropped my handkerchief +when I was in here yesterday with Inez. Perhaps +you found it?" +</p> +<p> +"<i>Si, Señorita</i>," replied Señor Rodriguez gallantly. +"It is on my desk in here. Just a moment." +</p> +<p> +He opened the door and passed into the adjoining +room. Mr. Grimm's eyes met those of +Miss Isabel Thorne, and there was no listlessness +in them now, only interest. She smiled at him +tauntingly and lowered her lids. Señor Rodriguez +appeared from the other room with the +handkerchief. +</p> +<p> +"<i>Mil gracias, Señor</i>," she thanked him. +</p> +<p> +"<i>No hay de que, Señorita</i>," he returned, as he +opened the door for her. +</p> +<p> +"<i>Monsieur Grimm, au revoir</i>!" She dropped +a little curtsey, and still smiling, went out. +</p> +<p> +"She is charming, Señor," the diplomatist assured +him enthusiastically, albeit irrelevantly. +"Such vivacity, such personality, such—such—she +is charming." +</p> +<p> +"The safe, please," Mr. Grimm reminded him. +</p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<a name="CH10"><!-- CHAPTER 10 --></a> +<h3> + X +</h3> +<h3> +A SAFE OPENING +</h3> +<p> </p> +<p> +Together they entered the adjoining +room, which was small compared to the +one they had just left. Señor Rodriguez +used it as a private office. His desk was +on their right between two windows overlooking +the same pleasant little garden which was visible +from the suite of tiny drawing-rooms farther +along. The safe, a formidable looking receptacle +of black enameled steel, stood at their left, +closed and locked. The remaining wall space of +the room was given over to oak cabinets, evidently +a storage place for the less important +legation papers. +</p> +<p> +"Has any one besides yourself been in this +room to-day?" Mr. Grimm inquired. +</p> +<p> +"Not a soul, Señor," was the reply. +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm went over and examined the windows. +They were both locked inside; and there +were no marks of any sort on the sills. +</p> +<p> +"They are just as I left them last night," explained +Señor Rodriguez. "I have not touched +them to-day." +</p> +<p> +"And there's only one door," mused Mr. +Grimm, meaning that by which they had entered. +"So it would appear that whoever was here last +night entered through that room. Very well." +</p> +<p> +He walked around the room once, opening and +shutting the doors of the cabinets as he passed, +and finally paused in front of the safe. A brief +examination of the nickeled dial and handle and +of the enameled edges of the heavy door satisfied +him that no force had been employed—the +safe had merely been unlocked. Whereupon he +sat himself down, cross-legged on the floor, in +front of it. +</p> +<p> +"What are the first and second figures of the +combination?" he asked. +</p> +<p> +"Thirty-six, then back to ten." +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm set the dial at thirty-six, and +then, with his ear pressed closely against the +polished door, turned the dial slowly back. Señor +Rodriguez stood looking on helplessly, but none +the less intently. The pointer read ten, then +nine, eight, seven, five. Mr. Grimm gazed at it +thoughtfully, after which he did it all over +again, placidly and without haste. +</p> +<p> +"Now, we'll look inside, please," he requested, +rising. +</p> +<p> +Señor Rodriguez unlocked the safe the while +Mr. Grimm respectfully turned his eyes away, +then pulled the door wide open. The books had +been piled one on top of another and thrust into +various pigeonholes at the top. Mr. Grimm +understood that this disorder was the result of +making room at the bottom for the bulk of gold, +and asked no questions. Instead, he sat down +upon the floor again. +</p> +<p> +"The lock on this private compartment at the +top is broken," he remarked after a moment. +</p> +<p> +"<i>Si, Señor</i>," the diplomatist agreed. "Evidently +the robbers were not content with only +fifty thousand dollars in gold—they imagined +that something else of value was hidden there." +</p> +<p> +"Was there?" asked Mr. Grimm naively. He +didn't look around. +</p> +<p> +"Nothing of monetary value," the señor explained. +"There were some important state papers +in there—they are there yet—but no +money." +</p> +<p> +"None of the papers was stolen?" +</p> +<p> +"No, Señor. There were only nine packets—they are there yet." +</p> +<p> +"Contents all right?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes. I personally looked them over." +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm drew out the packets of papers, +one by one. They were all unsealed save the +last. When he reached for that, Señor Rodriguez +made a quick, involuntary motion toward +it with his hand. +</p> +<p> +"This one's sealed," commented Mr. Grimm. +"It doesn't happen that you opened it and sealed +it again?" +</p> +<p> +Señor Rodriguez stood staring at him blankly +for a moment, then some sudden apprehension +was aroused, for a startled look came into his +eyes, and again he reached for the packet. +</p> +<p> +"<i>Dios mio</i>!" he exclaimed, "let me see, Señor." +</p> +<p> +"Going to open it?" asked Mr. Grimm. +</p> +<p> +"Yes, Señor. I had not thought of it before." +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm rose and walked over to the window +where the light was better. He scrutinized +the sealed packet closely. There were three +red splotches of wax upon it, each impressed +with the legation seal; the envelope was without +marks otherwise. He turned and twisted it aimlessly, +and peered curiously at the various seals, +after which he handed it to the frankly impatient +diplomatist. +</p> +<p> +Señor Rodriguez opened it, with nervous, +twitching fingers. Mr. Grimm had turned toward +the safe again, but he heard the crackle of +parchment as some document was drawn out of +the envelope, and then came a deep sigh of relief. +Having satisfied his sudden fears for the +safety of the paper, whatever it was, the señor +placed it in another envelope and sealed it again +with elaborate care. Mr. Grimm dropped into +the swivel chair at the desk. +</p> +<p> +"Señor," he inquired pleasantly, "your +daughter and Miss Thorne were in this room +yesterday afternoon?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes," replied the diplomatist as if surprised +at the question. +</p> +<p> +"What time, please?" +</p> +<p> +"About three o'clock. They were going out +driving. Why?" +</p> +<p> +"And just where, please, did you find that +handkerchief?" continued Mr. Grimm. +</p> +<p> +"Handkerchief?" repeated the diplomatist. +"You mean Miss Thorne's handkerchief?" He +paused and regarded Mr. Grimm keenly. +"Señor, what am I to understand from that +question?" +</p> +<p> +"It was plain enough," replied Mr. Grimm. +"Where did you find that handkerchief?" There +was silence for an instant. "In this room?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes," replied Señor Rodriguez at last. +</p> +<p> +"Near the safe?" Mr. Grimm persisted. +</p> +<p> +"Yes," came the slow reply, again. "Just +here," and he indicated a spot a little to the left +of the safe. +</p> +<p> +"And <i>when</i> did you find it? Yesterday afternoon? +Last night? This morning?" +</p> +<p> +"This morning," and without any apparent +reason the diplomatist's face turned deathly +white. +</p> +<p> +"But, Señor—Señor, you are mistaken! There +can be nothing—! A woman! Two hundred +pounds of gold! Señor!" +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm was still pleasant about it; his +curiosity was absolutely impersonal; his eyes, +grown listless again, were turned straight into +the other's face. +</p> +<p> +"If that handkerchief had been there last +night, Señor," he resumed quietly, "wouldn't +you have noticed it when you placed the gold in +the safe?" +</p> +<p> +Señor Rodriguez stared at him a long time. +</p> +<p> +"I don't know," he said, at last. He dropped +back into a chair with his face in his hands. +"Señor," he burst out suddenly, impetuously, +after a moment, "if the gold is not recovered I +am ruined. You understand that better than I +can tell you. It's the kind of thing that could +not be explained to my government." He rose +suddenly and faced the impassive young man, +with merciless determination in his face. "You +must find the gold, Señor," he said. +</p> +<p> +"No matter who may be—who may suffer?" +inquired Mr. Grimm. +</p> +<p> +"Find the gold, Señor!" +</p> +<p> +"Very well," commented Mr. Grimm, without +moving. "Do me the favor, please, to regain +possession of the handkerchief you just returned +to Miss Thorne, and to send to me here your secretary, +Señor Diaz, and your servants, 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." +</p> +<p> +Señor Rodriguez replaced the packet without +question, afterward locking the door, then went +out. A moment later Señor Diaz appeared. +He remained with Mr. Grimm for just eight +minutes. Señor Rodriguez entered again as his +secretary passed on, and laid a lace handkerchief +on the desk. Mr. Grimm stared at it curiously +for a long time. +</p> +<p> +"It's the same handkerchief?" +</p> +<p> +"<i>Si, Señor</i>." +</p> +<p> +"There's no doubt whatever about it?" +</p> +<p> +"No, Señor, I got it by—!" +</p> +<p> +"It's of no consequence," interrupted Mr. +Grimm. "Now the servants, please—the men +first." +</p> +<p> +The first of the men servants was in the room +two minutes; the second—the butler—was there +five minutes; one of the women was not questioned +at all; the other remained ten minutes. +Mr. Grimm followed her into the hall; Señor +Rodriguez stood there helpless, impatient. +</p> +<p> +"Well?" he demanded eagerly. +</p> +<p> +"I'm going out a little while," replied Mr. +Grimm placidly. "No one has even an intimation +of the affair—please keep the matter absolutely +to yourself until I return." +</p> +<p> +That was all. The door opened and closed, +and he was gone. +</p> +<p> +At the end of an hour he returned, passed on +through to the diplomatist's private office, sat +down in front of the locked safe again, and set +the dial at thirty-six. Señor Rodriguez looked +on, astonished, as Mr. Grimm pressed the soft +rubber sounder of a stethoscope against the +safe door and began turning the dial back toward +ten, slowly, slowly. Thirty-five minutes +later the lock clicked. Mr. Grimm rose, turned +the handle, and pulled the safe door open. +</p> +<p> +"That's how it was done," he explained to +the amazed diplomatist. "And now, please, have +a servant hand my card to Miss Thorne." +</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<a name="CH11"><!-- CHAPTER 11 --></a> +<h3> + XI +</h3> + +<h3> +THE LACE HANDKERCHIEF +</h3> +<p> </p> +<p> +Still wearing the graceful, filmy morning +gown, with an added touch, of scarlet +in her hair—a single red rose—Miss +Thorne came into the drawing-room where Mr. +Grimm sat waiting. There was curiosity in her +manner, thinly veiled, but the haunting smile +still lingered about her lips. Mr. Grimm bowed +low, and placed a chair for her, after which he +stood for a time staring down at one slim, white +hand at rest on the arm of the seat. At last, he, +too, sat down. +</p> +<p> +"I believe," he said slowly, without preliminaries, +"this is your handkerchief?" +</p> +<p> +He offered the lacy trifle, odd in design, +unique in workmanship, obviously of foreign +texture, and she accepted it. +</p> +<p> +"Yes," she agreed readily, "I must have +dropped it again." +</p> +<p> +"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?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes?" She nodded inquiringly. +</p> +<p> +"It may interest you to know that Señor +Rodriguez's butler positively identifies it as one +he restored to you twice at dinner last evening, +between seven and nine o'clock," Mr. Grimm +went on dispassionately. +</p> +<p> +"Indeed!" exclaimed Miss Thorne. +</p> +<p> +"The señor identifies it as one he found this +morning in his office," Mr. Grimm explained +obligingly. "During the night fifty thousand +dollars in gold were stolen from his safe." +</p> +<p> +There was not the slightest change of expression +in her face; the blue-gray eyes were still +inquiring in their gaze, the white hands still at +rest, the scarlet lips still curled slightly, an +echo of a smile. +</p> +<p> +"No force was used in opening the safe," Mr. +Grimm resumed. "It was unlocked. It's an old +model and I have demonstrated how it could +have been opened either with the assistance of +a stethoscope, which catches the sound of the +tumbler in the lock, or by a person of acute +hearing." +</p> +<p> +Miss Thorne sat motionless, waiting. +</p> +<p> +"All this means—what?" she inquired, at +length. +</p> +<p> +"I'll trouble you, please, to return the +money," requested Mr. Grimm courteously. +"No reason appears why you should have taken +it. But I'm not seeking reasons, nor am I seeking +disagreeable publicity—only the money." +</p> +<p> +"It seems to me you attach undue importance +to the handkerchief," she objected. +</p> +<p> +"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 is the difficulty of entrance, the weight +of the gold, the ingenious method of opening +the safe, and the assumption that not more than +six persons knew the money was in the safe; +while a person in the house <i>might</i> have learned +it in any of a dozen ways. And, in addition, is +the fact that the handkerchief is odd, therefore +noticeable. A lace expert assures me there's +probably not another like it in the world." +</p> +<p> +He stopped. Miss Thorne's eyes sparkled +and a smile seemed to be tugging at the corners +of her mouth. She spread out the handkerchief +on her knees. +</p> +<p> +"You could identify this again, of course?" +she queried. +</p> +<p> +"Yes." +</p> +<p> +She thoughtfully crumpled up the bit of lace +in both hands, then opened them. There were +two handkerchiefs now—they were identical. +</p> +<p> +"Which is it, please?" she asked. +</p> +<p> +If Mr. Grimm was disappointed there was not +a trace of it on his face. She laughed outright, +gleefully, mockingly, then, demurely: +</p> +<p> +"Pardon me! You see, it's absurd. The +handkerchief the butler restored to me at dinner, +after I lost one in the señor's office, might +have been either of these, or one of ten other +duplicates in my room, all given to me by her +Maj—I mean," she corrected quickly, "by a +friend in Europe." She was silent for a moment. +"Is that all?" +</p> +<p> +"No," replied Mr. Grimm gravely, decisively. +"I'm not satisfied. I shall insist upon +the return of the money, and if it is not forthcoming +I dare say Count di Rosini, the Italian +ambassador, would be pleased to give his personal +check rather than have the matter become +public." She started to interrupt; he went on. +"In any event you will be requested to leave the +country." +</p> +<p> +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, and there was a flash of uneasiness in her +eyes. +</p> +<p> +"But if I am innocent?" she protested. +</p> +<p> +"You must prove it," continued Mr. Grimm +mercilessly. "Personally, I am convinced, and +Count di Rosini has practically assured me +that—" +</p> +<p> +"It's unjust!" she interrupted passionately. +"It's—it's—you have proved nothing. It's unheard +of! It's beyond—!" +</p> +<p> +Suddenly she became silent. A minute, two +minutes, three minutes passed; Mr. Grimm waited +patiently. +</p> +<p> +"Will you give me time and opportunity to +prove my innocence?" she demanded finally. +"And if I <i>do</i> convince you—?" +</p> +<p> +"I should be delighted to believe that I have +made a mistake," Mr. Grimm assured her. +"How much time? One day? Two days?" +</p> +<p> +"I will let you know within an hour at your +office," she told him. +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm rose. +</p> +<p> +"And meanwhile, in case of accident, I shall +look to Count di Rosini for adjustment," he +added pointedly. "Good morning." +</p> +<p> +One hour and ten minutes later he received +this note, unsigned: +</p> +<p> +"Closed carriage will stop for you at southeast +corner of Pennsylvania Avenue and Fourteenth +Street to-night at one." +</p> +<p> +He was there; the carriage was on time; and +my lady of mystery was inside. He stepped +in and they swung out into Pennsylvania Avenue, +noiselessly over the asphalt. +</p> +<p> +"Should the gold be placed in your hands +now, within the hour," she queried solicitously, +"would it be necessary for you to know who was +the—the thief?" +</p> +<p> +"It would," Mr. Grimm responded without +hesitation. +</p> +<p> +"Even if it destroyed a reputation?" she +pleaded. +</p> +<p> +"The Secret Service rarely destroys a reputation, +Miss Thorne, although it holds itself in +readiness to do so. I dare say in this case there +would be no arrest or prosecution, because of—of +reasons which appear to be good." +</p> +<p> +"There wouldn't?" and there was a note of +eagerness in her voice. "The identity of the +guilty person would never appear?" +</p> +<p> +"It would become a matter of record in our +office, but beyond that I think not—at least in +this one instance." +</p> +<p> +Miss Thorne sat silent for a block or more. +</p> +<p> +"You'll admit, Mr. Grimm, that you have +forced me into a most remarkable position. You +seemed convinced of my guilt, and, if you'll +pardon me, without reason; then you made it +compulsory upon me to establish my innocence. +The only way for me to do that was to find the +guilty one. I have done it, and I'm sorry, because +it's a little tragedy." +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm waited. +</p> +<p> +"It's a girl high in diplomatic society. Her +father's position is an honorable rather than a +lucrative one; he has no fortune. This girl +moves in a certain set devoted to bridge, and +stakes are high. She played and won, and +played and won, and on and on, until her winnings +were about eight thousand dollars. Then +luck turned. She began to lose. Her money +went, but she continued to play desperately. +Finally some old family jewels were pawned +without her father's knowledge, and ultimately +they were lost. One day she awoke to the fact +that she owed some nine or ten thousand dollars +in bridge debts. They were pressing and there +was no way to meet them. This meant exposure +and utter ruin, and women do strange things, +Mr. Grimm, to postpone such an ending to social +aspirations. I know this much is true, for +she related it all to me herself. +</p> +<p> +"At last, in some way—a misplaced letter, +perhaps, or a word overheard—-she learned that +fifty thousand dollars would be in the legation +safe overnight, and evidently she learned the +precise night." She paused a moment. "Here +is the address of a man in Baltimore, Thomas Q. +Griswold," and she passed a card to Mr. Grimm, +who sat motionless, listening. "About four +years ago the combination on the legation safe +was changed. This man was sent here to make +the change, therefore some one besides Señor +Rodriguez <i>does</i> know the combination. I have +communicated with this man to-day, for I saw +the possibility of just such a thing as this instead +of your stethoscope. By a trick and a +forged letter this girl obtained the combination +from this man." +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm drew a long breath. +</p> +<p> +"She intended to take, perhaps, only what she +desperately needed—but at sight of it all—do +you see what must have been the temptation +then? We get out here." +</p> +<p> +There were many unanswered questions in +Mr. Grimm's mind. He repressed them for the +time, stepped out and assisted Miss Thorne +to alight. The carriage had turned out of +Pennsylvania Avenue, and at the moment he +didn't quite place himself. A narrow passageway +opened before them—evidently the rear entrance +to a house possibly in the next street. +Miss Thorne led the way unhesitatingly, cautiously +unlocked the door, and together they entered +a hall. Then there was a short flight of +stairs, and they stepped into a room, one of a +suite. She closed the door and turned on the +lights. +</p> +<p> +"The bags of gold are in the next room," she +said with the utmost composure. +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm dragged them out of a dark +closet, opened one—there were ten—and allowed +the coins to dribble through his fingers. Finally +he turned and stared at Miss Thorne, who, pallid +and weary, stood looking on. +</p> +<p> +"Where are we?" he asked. "What house is +this?" +</p> +<p> +"The Venezuelan legation," she answered. +"We are standing less than forty feet from the +safe that was robbed. You see how easy—!" +</p> +<p> +"And whose room?" inquired Mr. Grimm +slowly. +</p> +<p> +"Must I answer?" she asked appealingly. +</p> +<p> +"You must!" +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +"Yes, I know," said Mr. Grimm. +</p> +<p> +He stood looking at her in silence for a moment, +staring deeply into the pleading eyes; +and a certain tense expression about his lips +passed. For an instant her hand trembled on +his arm, and he caught the fragrance of her +hair. +</p> +<p> +"Where is she now?" he asked. +</p> +<p> +"Playing bridge," replied Miss Thorne, with +a sad little smile. "It is always so—at least +twice a week, and she rarely returns before two +or half-past." She extended both hands impetuously, +entreatingly. "Please be generous, +Mr. Grimm. You have the gold; don't destroy +her." +</p> +<p> +Señor Rodriguez, the minister from Venezuela, +found the gold in his safe on the following +morning, with a brief note from Mr. Grimm, in +which there was no explanation of how or where +it had been found.... And two hours later +Monsieur Boisségur, ambassador from France +to the United States, disappeared from the embassy, +vanished! +</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<a name="CH12"><!-- CHAPTER 12 --></a> +<h3> + XII +</h3> + +<h3> +THE VANISHING DIPLOMATIST +</h3> +<p> </p> +<p> +It was three days after the ambassador's +disappearance that Monsieur Rigolot, secretary +of the French embassy and temporary +<i>chargé-d'affaires</i>, reported the matter to +Chief Campbell in the Secret Service Bureau, +adding thereto a detailed statement of several +singular incidents following close upon it. He +told it in order, concisely and to the point, while +Grimm and his chief listened. +</p> +<p> +"Monsieur Boisségur, the ambassador, you +understand, is a man whose habits are remarkably +regular," he began. "He has made it a +rule to be at his desk every morning at ten +o'clock, and between that time and one o'clock +he dictates his correspondence, and clears up +whatever routine work there is before him. I +have known him for many years, and have been +secretary of the embassy under him in Germany +and Japan and this country. I have never +known him to vary this general order of work +unless because of illness, or necessary absence. +</p> +<p> +"Well, Monsieur, last Tuesday—this is Friday—the +ambassador was at his desk as usual. +He dictated a dozen or more letters, and had begun +another—a private letter to his sister in +Paris. He was well along in this letter when, +without any apparent reason, he rose from his +desk and left the room, closing the door behind +him. His stenographer's impression was that +some detail of business had occurred to him, and +he had gone into the general office farther down +the hall to attend to it. I may say, Monsieur, +that this impression seemed strengthened by the +fact that he left a fresh cigarette burning in +his ash tray, and his pen was behind his ear. +It was all as if he had merely stepped out, intending +to return immediately—the sort of +thing, Monsieur, that any man might have done. +</p> +<p> +"It so happened that when he went out he +left a sentence of his letter incomplete. I tell +you this to show that the impulse to go must +have been a sudden one, yet there was nothing +in his manner, so his stenographer says, to indicate +excitement, or any other than his usual +frame of mind. It was about five minutes of +twelve o'clock—high noon—when he went out. +When he didn't return immediately the stenographer +began transcribing the letters. At one +o'clock Monsieur Boisségur still had not returned +and his stenographer went to luncheon." +</p> +<p> +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 regain +control of himself. Incidentally he wondered +if Mr. Grimm was taking the slightest +interest in what he was saying. Certainly there +was nothing in his impassive face to indicate it. +</p> +<p> +"Understand, Monsieur," the secretary continued, +after a moment, "that I knew nothing +whatever of all this until late that afternoon—that +is, Tuesday afternoon about five o'clock. +I was engaged all day upon some important +work in my own office, and had had no occasion +to see Monsieur Boisségur since a word or so +when he came in at ten o'clock. My attention +was called to the affair finally by his stenographer, +Monsieur Netterville, who came to me +for instructions. He had finished the letters and +the ambassador had not returned to sign them. +At this point I began an investigation, Monsieur, +and the further I went the more uneasy I +grew. +</p> +<p> +"Now, Monsieur, there are only two entrances +to the embassy—the front door, where a servant +is in constant attendance from nine in the morning +until ten at night, and the rear door, which +can only be reached through the kitchen. +Neither of the two men who had been stationed +at the front door had seen the ambassador since +breakfast, therefore he could not have gone out +that way. <i>Comprenez</i>? It seemed ridiculous, +Monsieur, but then I went to the kitchen. The +<i>chef</i> had been there all day, and he had not seen +the ambassador at all. I inquired further. No +one in the embassy, not a clerk, nor a servant, +nor a member of the ambassador's family had +seen him since he left his office." +</p> +<p> +Again he paused and ran one hand across his +troubled brow. +</p> +<p> +"Monsieur," he went on, and there was a tense +note in his voice, "the ambassador of France +had disappeared, gone, vanished! We searched +the house from the cellar to the servants' quarters, +even the roof, but there was no trace of +him. The hat he usually wore was in the hall, +and all his other hats were accounted for. You +may remember, Monsieur, that Tuesday was +cold, but all his top-coats were found in their +proper places. So it seems, Monsieur," and repression +ended in a burst of excitement, "if he +left the embassy he did not go out by either +door, and he went without hat or coat!" +</p> +<p> +He stopped helplessly and his gaze alternated +inquiringly between the benevolent face of the +chief and the expressionless countenance of Mr. +Grimm. +</p> +<p> +"<i>If</i> he left the embassy?" Mr. Grimm repeated. +"If your search of the house proved +conclusively that he wasn't there, he <i>did</i> leave +it, didn't he?" +</p> +<p> +Monsieur Rigolot stared at him blankly for +a moment, then nodded. +</p> +<p> +"And there are windows, you know," Mr. +Grimm went on, then: "As I understand it, +Monsieur, no one except you and the stenographer +saw the ambassador after ten o'clock in +the morning?" +</p> +<p> +"<i>Oui, Monsieur. C'est—</i>" Monsieur Rigolot +began excitedly. "I beg pardon. I believe that +is correct." +</p> +<p> +"You saw him about ten, you say; therefore no +one except the stenographer saw him after ten +o'clock?" +</p> +<p> +"That is also true, as far as I know." +</p> +<p> +"Any callers? Letters? Telegrams? Telephone +messages?" +</p> +<p> +"I made inquiries in that direction, Monsieur," +was the reply. "I have the words of the +servants at the door and of the stenographer +that there were no callers, and the statement of +the stenographer that there were no telephone +calls or telegrams. There were only four letters +for him personally. He left them all on his +desk—here they are." +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm looked them over leisurely. They +were commonplace enough, containing nothing +that might be construed into a reason for the +disappearance. +</p> +<p> +"The letters Monsieur Boisségur had dictated +were laid on his desk by the stenographer," +Monsieur Rigolot rushed on volubly, excitedly. +"In the anxiety and uneasiness following the +disappearance they were allowed to remain there +overnight. On Wednesday morning, Monsieur"—and +he hesitated impressively—"<i>those +letters bore his signature in his own handwriting</i>!" +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm turned his listless eyes full upon +Monsieur Rigolot's perturbed face for one scant +instant. +</p> +<p> +"No doubt of it being his signature?" he +queried. +</p> +<p> +"<i>Non, Monsieur, non!</i>" the secretary exclaimed +emphatically. "<i>Vous avez</i>—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 at copies of +them?" +</p> +<p> +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. Grimm nodded, +and Monsieur Rigolot resumed: +</p> +<p> +"And Wednesday night, Monsieur, another +strange thing happened. Monsieur Boisségur +smokes many cigarettes, of a kind made especially +for him in France, and shipped to him +here. He keeps them in a case on his dressing-table. +On Thursday morning his valet reported +to me that <i>this case of cigarettes had disappeared</i>!" +</p> +<p> +"Of course," observed Mr. Grimm, "Monsieur +Boisségur has a latch-key to the embassy?" +</p> +<p> +"Of course." +</p> +<p> +"Anything unusual happen last night—that +is, Thursday night?" +</p> +<p> +"Nothing, Monsieur—that is, nothing we can +find." +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm was silent for a time and fell to +twisting the seal ring on his finger. Mr. Campbell +turned around and moved a paper weight +one inch to the left, where it belonged, while +Monsieur Rigolot, disappointed at their amazing +apathy, squirmed uneasily in his chair. +</p> +<p> +"It would appear, then," Mr. Grimm remarked +musingly, "that after his mysterious +disappearance the ambassador has either twice +returned to his house at night, or else sent some +one there, first to bring the letters to him for +signature, and later to get his cigarettes?" +</p> +<p> +"<i>Certainement, Monsieur</i>—I mean, that seems +to be true. But where is he? Why should he +not come back? What does it mean? Madame +Boisségur is frantic, prostrated! She wanted +me to go to the police, but I did not think it +wise that it should become public, so I came +here." +</p> +<p> +"Very well," commented Mr. Grimm. "Let +it rest as it is. Meanwhile you may reassure +madame. Point out to her that if Monsieur +Boisségur signed the letters Tuesday night he +was, at least, alive; and if he came or sent for +the cigarettes Wednesday night, he was still +alive. I shall call at the embassy this afternoon. +No, it isn't advisable to go with you now. +Give me your latch-key, please." +</p> +<p> +Monsieur Rigolot produced the key and +passed it over without a word. +</p> +<p> +"And one other thing," Mr. Grimm continued, +"please collect all the revolvers that may be in +the house and take charge of them yourself. If +any one, by chance, heard a burglar prowling +around there to-night he might shoot, and in +that event either kill Monsieur Boisségur or—or +me!" +</p> +<p> +When the secretary had gone Mr. Campbell +idly drummed on his desk as he studied the face +of his subordinate. +</p> +<p> +"So much!" he commented finally. +</p> +<p> +"It's Miss Thorne again," said the young +man as if answering a question. +</p> +<p> +"Perhaps these reports I have received to-day +from the Latin capitals may aid you in dispelling +that mystery," Campbell suggested, and +Mr. Grimm turned to them eagerly. "Meanwhile +our royal visitor, Prince Benedetto d'Abruzzi, +remains unknown?" +</p> +<p> +The young man's teeth closed with a snap. +</p> +<p> +"It's only a question of time, Chief," he said +abruptly. "I'll find him—I'll find him!" +</p> +<p> +And he sat down to read the reports. +</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<a name="CH13"><!-- CHAPTER 13 --></a> +<h3> + XIII +</h3> + +<h3> +A CONFERENCE IN THE DARK +</h3> +<p> </p> +<p> +The white rays of a distant arc light +filtered through the half-drawn velvet +hangings and laid a faintly illumined +path across the ambassador's desk; the heavy +leather chairs were mere impalpable splotches +in the shadows; the cut-glass knobs of a mahogany +cabinet caught the glint of light and +reflected it dimly. Outside was the vague, indefinable +night drone of a city asleep, unbroken +by any sound that was distinguishable, until +finally there came the distant boom of a clock. +It struck twice. +</p> +<p> +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 +on the seat, thoughtfully nursing his knees. If +his attitude indicated anything except sheer +comfort, it was that he was listening. He had +been there for two hours, wide-awake, and absolutely +motionless. Five, ten, fifteen minutes +more passed, and then Mr. Grimm heard the +grind and whir of an automobile a block or so +away, coming toward the embassy. Now it was +in front. +</p> +<p> +"Honk! Hon-on-onk!" it called plaintively. +"Hon-on-onk! Honk!" +</p> +<p> +The signal! At last! The automobile went +rushing on, full tilt, while Mr. Grimm removed +his feet from the seat and dropped them noiselessly +to the floor. Thus, with his hands on his +knees, and listening, listening with every faculty +strained, he sat motionless, peering toward the +open door that led into the hall. The car was +gone now, the sound of it was swallowed up in +the distance, still he sat there. It was obviously +some noise in the house for which he was waiting. +</p> +<p> +Minute after minute passed, and still nothing. +There was not even the whisper 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, the electric lights in +the room blazed up brilliantly. The glare dazzled +Mr. Grimm with its blinding flood, but he +didn't move. Then softly, almost in a whisper: +</p> +<p> +"Good evening, Mr. Grimm." +</p> +<p> +It was a woman's voice, pleasant, unsurprised, +perfectly modulated. Mr. Grimm certainly did +not expect it now, but he knew it instantly—there +was not another quite like it in the wide, +wide world—and though he was still blinking +a little, he came to his feet courteously. +</p> +<p> +"Good morning, Miss Thorne," he corrected +gravely. +</p> +<p> +Now his vision was clearing, and he saw her, +a graceful figure, silhouetted against the rich +green of the wall draperies. Her lips were +curled the least bit, as if she might have been +smiling, and her wonderful eyes reflected a glint +of—of—was it amusement? The folds of her +evening dress fell away from her, and one bare, +white arm was extended, as her hand still rested +on the switch. +</p> +<p> +"And you didn't hear me?" still in the half +whisper. "I didn't think you would. Now I'm +going to put out the lights for an instant, while +you pull the shades down, and then—then we +must have a—a conference." +</p> +<p> +The switch snapped. The lights died as suddenly +as they had been born, and Mr. Grimm, +moving noiselessly, visited each of the four windows +in turn. Then the lights blazed brilliantly +again. +</p> +<p> +"Just for a moment," Miss Thorne explained +to him quietly, and she handed him a sheet of +paper. "I want you to read this—read it carefully—then +I shall turn out the lights again. +They are dangerous. After that we may discuss +the matter at our leisure." +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm read the paper while Miss +Thorne's eyes questioned his impassive face. At +length he looked up indolently, listlessly, and +the switch snapped. She crossed the room and +sat down; Mr. Grimm sat beside her. +</p> +<p> +"I think," Miss Thorne suggested tentatively, +"that that accounts perfectly for Monsieur +Boisségur's disappearance." +</p> +<p> +"It gives one explanation, at least," Mr. +Grimm assented musingly. "Kidnapped—held +prisoner—fifty thousand dollars demanded for +his safety and release." A pause. "And to +whom, may I ask, was this demand addressed?" +</p> +<p> +"To Madame Boisségur," replied Miss +Thorne. "I have the envelope in which it came. +It was mailed at the general post-office at half-past +one o'clock this afternoon, so the canceling +stamp shows, and the envelope was addressed, as +the letter was written, on a typewriter." +</p> +<p> +"And how," inquired Mr. Grimm, after a long +pause, "how did it come into your possession?" +He waited a little. "Why didn't Monsieur Rigolot +report this development to me this afternoon +when I was here?" +</p> +<p> +"Monsieur Rigolot did not inform you of it +because he didn't know of it himself," she replied, +answering the last question first. "It +came into my possession directly from the hands +of Madame Boisségur—she gave it to me." +</p> +<p> +"Why?" +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm was peering through the inscrutable +darkness, straight into her face—a white +daub in the gloom, shapeless, indistinct. +</p> +<p> +"I have known Madame Boisségur for half a +dozen years," Miss Thorne continued, in explanation. +"We have been friends that long. +I met her first in Tokio, later in Berlin, and +within a few weeks, here in Washington. You +see I have traveled in the time I have been an +agent for my government. Well, Madame Boisségur +received this letter about half-past four +o'clock this afternoon; and about half-past five +she sent for me and placed it in my hands, together +with all the singular details following +upon the ambassador's disappearance. So, it +would seem that you and I are allies for this +once, and the problem is already solved. There +merely remains the task of finding and releasing +the ambassador." +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm sat perfectly still. +</p> +<p> +"And why," he asked slowly, "are you here +now?" +</p> +<p> +"For the same reason that you are here," she +replied readily, "to see for myself if the—the +person who twice came here at night—once for +the ambassador's letters and once for his cigarettes—would, +by any chance, make another +trip. I knew you were here, of course." +</p> +<p> +"You knew I was here," repeated Mr. Grimm +musingly. "And, may I—?" +</p> +<p> +"Just as you knew that I, or some one, at +least, had entered this house a few minutes ago," +she interrupted. "The automobile horn outside +was a signal, wasn't it? Hastings was in the +car? Or was it Blair or Johnson?" +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm did not say. +</p> +<p> +"Didn't you anticipate any personal danger +when you entered?" he queried instead. +"Weren't you afraid I might shoot?" +</p> +<p> +"No." +</p> +<p> +There was a long silence. Mr. Grimm still +sat with his elbows on his knees, staring, staring +at the vague white splotch which was Miss +Thorne's face and bare neck. One of her white +arms hung at her side like a pallid serpent, and +her hand was at rest on the seat of the couch. +</p> +<p> +"It seems, Miss Thorne," he said at length, +casually, quite casually, "that our paths of duty +are inextricably tangled. Twice previously we +have 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 by side toward +a conclusion. I am wondering now if this +singular affair will take a similar course." +</p> +<p> +He paused. Miss Thorne started to speak, +but he silenced her with a slight gesture of his +hand. +</p> +<p> +"It is only fair to you to say that we—that +is, the Secret Service—have learned many things +about you," he resumed in the same casual tone. +"We have, through our foreign agents, traced +you step by step from Rome to Washington. +We know that you are, in a way, a representative +of a sovereign of Europe; we know that +you were on a secret mission to the Spanish +court, perhaps for this sovereign, and remained +in Madrid for a month; we know that from there +you went to Paris, also on a secret mission—perhaps +the same—and remained there for three +weeks; we know that you met diplomatic agents +of those governments later in London. We +know all this; we know the manner of your coming +to this country; of your coming to Washington. +But we don't know <i>why</i> you are here." +</p> +<p> +Again she started to speak, and again he +stopped her. +</p> +<p> +"We don't know your name, but that is of no +consequence. We <i>do</i> know that in Spain you +were Señora Cassavant, in Paris Mademoiselle +d'Aubinon, in London Miss Jane Kellog, and here +Miss Isabel Thorne. We realize that exigencies +arise in your calling, and mine, which make +changes of name desirable, necessary even, and +there is no criticism of that. Now as the representative +of your government—rather <i>a</i> government—you +have a right to be here, although unaccredited; +you have a right to remain here as +long as your acts are consistent with our laws; +you have a right to your secrets as long as they +do not, directly or indirectly, threaten the welfare +of this country. Now, why are you here?" +</p> +<p> +He received no answer; he expected none. +After a moment he went on: +</p> +<p> +"Admitting that you are a secret agent of +Italy, admitting everything that you claim to +be, you haven't convinced me that you are not +the person who came here for the letters and +cigarettes. You have said nothing to prove to +my satisfaction that you are not the individual +I was waiting for to-night." +</p> +<p> +"You don't mean that you suspect—?" she +began in a tone of amazement. +</p> +<p> +"I don't mean that I suspect anything," he +interposed. "I mean merely that you haven't +convinced me. There's nothing inconsistent in +the fact that you are what you say you are, and +that in spite of that, you came to-night for—" +</p> +<p> +He was interrupted by a laugh, a throaty, +silvery note that he remembered well. His idle +hands closed spasmodically, only to be instantly +relaxed. +</p> +<p> +"Suppose, Mr. Grimm, I should tell you that +immediately after Madame Boisségur placed the +matter in my hands this afternoon I went +straight to 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 on being informed that you were out—remember +I knew you were on the case from +Madame Boisségur—would that indicate anything +except that I wanted to put the matter +squarely before you, and work with you?" +</p> +<p> +"We will suppose that much," Mr. Grimm +agreed. +</p> +<p> +"That is a statement of fact," Miss Thorne +added. "My card, which you will find at your +office, will show that. And when I left your +office I went to the hotel where you live, with the +same purpose. You were not there, and I left +a card for you. And <i>that</i> is a statement of fact. +It was not difficult, owing to the extraordinary +circumstances, to imagine that you would be +here to-night—just as you are—and I came +here. My purpose, still, was to inform you of +what I knew, and work with you. Does that +convince you?" +</p> +<p> +"And how did you enter the embassy?" Mr. +Grimm persisted. +</p> +<p> +"Not with a latch-key, as you did," she replied. +"Madame Boisségur, at my suggestion, +left the French window in the hall there unfastened, +and I came in that way—the way, I +may add, that <i>Monsieur l'Ambassadeur</i> went out +when he disappeared." +</p> +<p> +"Very well!" commented Mr. Grimm, and +finally: "I think, perhaps, I owe you an apology, +Miss Thorne—another one. The circumstances +now, as they were at our previous meetings, +are so unusual that—is it necessary to go +on?" There was a certain growing deference +in his tone. "I wonder if you account for Monsieur +Boisségur's disappearance as I do?" he +inquired. +</p> +<p> +"I dare say," and Miss Thorne leaned toward +him with sudden eagerness in her manner and +voice. "Your theory is—?" she questioned. +</p> +<p> +"If we believe the servants we know that Monsieur +Boisségur did not go out either by the +front door or rear," Mr. Grimm explained. +"That being true the French window by which +you entered seems to have been the way." +</p> +<p> +"Yes, yes," Miss Thorne interpolated. "And +the circumstances attending the disappearance? +How do you account for the fact that he went, +evidently of his own will?" +</p> +<p> +"Precisely as you must account for it if you +have studied the situation here as I have," responded +Mr. Grimm. "For instance, sitting at +his desk there"—and he turned to indicate it—"he +could readily see out the windows overlooking +the street. There is only a narrow strip of +lawn between the house and the sidewalk. Now, +if some one on the sidewalk, or—or—" +</p> +<p> +"In a carriage?" promptly suggested Miss +Thorne. +</p> +<p> +"Or in a carriage," Mr. Grimm supplemented, +"had attracted his attention—some one he knew—it +is not at all unlikely that he rose, for no +apparent reason, as he did do, passed along the +hall—" +</p> +<p> +"And through the French window, across the +lawn to the carriage, and not a person in the +house would have seen him go out? Precisely! +There seems no doubt that was the way," she +mused. "And, of course, he must have entered +the carriage of his own free will?" +</p> +<p> +"In other words, on some pretext or other, he +was lured in, then made prisoner, and—!" +</p> +<p> +He paused suddenly and his hand met Miss +Thorne's warningly. The silence of the night +was broken by the violent clatter of footsteps, +apparently approaching the embassy. The +noise was unmistakable—some one was running. +</p> +<p> +"The window!" Miss Thorne whispered. +</p> +<p> +She rose quickly and started to cross the +room, to look out; Mr. Grimm sat motionless, +listening. An instant later and there came a +tremendous crash of glass—the French window +in the hallway by the sound—then rapid footsteps, +still running, along the hall. Mr. Grimm +moved toward the door unruffled, perfectly self-possessed; +there was only a narrowing of his +eyes at the abruptness and clatter of it all. And +then the electric lights in the hall flashed up. +</p> +<p> +Before Mr. Grimm stood a man, framed by +the doorway, staring unseeingly into the darkened +room. His face was haggard and white +as death; his mouth agape as if from exertion, +and the lips bloodless; his eyes were widely distended +as if from fright—clothing disarranged, +collar unfastened and dangling. +</p> +<p> +"The ambassador!" Miss Thorne whispered +thrillingly. +</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<a name="CH14"><!-- CHAPTER 14 --></a> +<h3> + XIV +</h3> + +<h3> +A RESCUE AND AN ESCAPE +</h3> +<p> </p> +<p> +Miss Thorne's voice startled Mr. Grimm a little, +but he had no doubts. It was Monsieur Boisségur. Mr. +Grimm was going toward the enframed figure +when, without any apparent reason, the ambassador +turned and ran along the hall; and at +that instant the lights went out again. For one +moment Grimm stood still, dazed and blinded by +the sudden blackness, and again he started toward +the door. Miss Thorne was beside him. +</p> +<p> +"The lights!" he whispered tensely. "Find +the switch!" +</p> +<p> +He heard the rustle of her skirts as she moved +away, and stepped out into the hall, feeling with +both his hands along the wall. A few feet +away, in the direction the ambassador had gone, +there seemed to be a violent struggle in progress—there +was the scuffling of feet, and quick-drawn +breaths as muscle strained against muscle. +The lights! If he could only find the switch! +Then, as his hands moved along the wall, they +came in contact with another hand—a hand +pressed firmly against the plastering, barring +his progress. A light blow in the face caused +him to step back quickly. +</p> +<p> +The scuffling sound suddenly resolved itself +into moving footsteps, and the front door +opened and closed with a bang. Mr. Grimm's +listless eyes snapped, and his white teeth came +together sharply as he started toward the front +door. But fate seemed to be against him still. +He stumbled over a chair, and his own impetus +forward sent him sprawling; his head struck the +wall with a resounding whack; and then, over +the house, came utter silence. From outside he +heard the clatter of a cab. Finally that died +away in the distance. +</p> +<p> +"Miss Thorne?" he inquired quietly. +</p> +<p> +"I'm here," she answered in a despairing +voice. "But I can't find the switch." +</p> +<p> +"Are you hurt?" +</p> +<p> +"No." +</p> +<p> +And then she found the switch; the lights +flared up. Mr. Grimm was sitting thoughtfully +on the floor. +</p> +<p> +"That simplifies the matter considerably," he +observed complacently, as he rose. "The men +who signaled to me when you entered the embassy +will never let that cab get out of their +sight." +</p> +<p> +Miss Thorne stood leaning forward a little, +eagerly gazing at him with those wonderful +blue-gray eyes, and an expression of—of—perhaps +it was admiration on her face. +</p> +<p> +"Are you sure?" she demanded, at last. +</p> +<p> +"I know it," was his response. +</p> +<p> +And just then Monsieur Rigolot, secretary of +the embassy, thrust an inquisitive head timidly +around the corner of the stairs. The crash of +glass had aroused him. +</p> +<p> +"What happened?" he asked breathlessly. +</p> +<p> +"We don't know just yet," replied Mr. +Grimm. "If the noise aroused any one else +please assure them that there's nothing the matter. +And you might inform Madame Boisségur +that the ambassador will return home to-morrow. +Good night!" +</p> +<p> +At his hotel, when he reached there, Mr. +Grimm found Miss Thorne's card—and he drew +a long breath; at his office he found another of +her cards, and he drew another long breath. He +did like corroborative details, did Mr. Grimm, +and, of course, this—! On the following day +Miss Thorne accompanied him to Alexandria, +and they were driven in a closed carriage out +toward the western edge of the city. Finally +the carriage stopped at a signal from Mr. +Grimm, and he assisted Miss Thorne out, after +which he turned and spoke to some one remaining +inside—a man. +</p> +<p> +"The house is two blocks west, along that +street there," he explained, and he indicated an +intersecting thoroughfare just ahead. "It is +number ninety-seven. Five minutes after we +enter you will drive up in front of the door and +wait. If we don't return in fifteen minutes—come +in after us!" +</p> +<p> +"Do you anticipate danger?" Miss Thorne +queried quickly. +</p> +<p> +"If I had anticipated danger," replied Mr. +Grimm, "I should not have permitted you to +come with me." +</p> +<p> +They entered the house—number ninety-seven—with +a key which Mr. Grimm produced, and +a minute or so later walked into a room where +three men were sitting. One of them was of a +coarse, repulsive type, large and heavy; another +rather dapper, of superficial polish, evidently a +foreigner, and the third—the third was Ambassador +Boisségur! +</p> +<p> +"Good morning, gentlemen!" Mr. Grimm +greeted them, then ceremoniously: "Monsieur +Boisségur, your carriage is at the door." +</p> +<p> +The three men came to their feet instantly, +and one of them—he of the heavy face—drew +a revolver. Mr. Grimm faced him placidly. +</p> +<p> +"Do you know what would happen to you if +you killed me?" he inquired pleasantly. "You +wouldn't live three minutes. Do you imagine I +came in here blindly? There are a dozen men +guarding the entrances to the house—a pistol +shot would bring them in. Put down the gun!" +</p> +<p> +Eyes challenged eyes for one long tense instant, +and the man carefully laid the weapon on +the table. Mr. Grimm strolled over and picked +it up, after which he glanced inquiringly at the +other man—the ambassador's second guard. +</p> +<p> +"And you are the gentleman, I dare say, who +made the necessary trips to the ambassador's +house, probably using his latch-key?" he remarked +interrogatively. "First for the letters +to be signed, and again for the cigarettes?" +</p> +<p> +There was no answer and Mr. Grimm turned +questioningly to Monsieur Boisségur, silent, +white of face, motionless. +</p> +<p> +"Yes, Monsieur," the ambassador burst out +suddenly. His eyes were fixed unwaveringly on +Miss Thorne. +</p> +<p> +"And your escape, Monsieur?" continued Mr. +Grimm. +</p> +<p> +"I did escape, Monsieur, last night," the ambassador +explained, "but they knew it immediately—they +pursued me into my own house, +these two and another—and dragged me back +here! <i>Mon Dieu, Monsieur, c'est—!</i>" +</p> +<p> +"That's all that's necessary," remarked Mr. +Grimm. "You are free to go now." +</p> +<p> +"But there are others," Monsieur Boisségur +interposed desperately, "two more somewhere below, +and they will not allow—they will attack—!" +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm's listless eyes narrowed slightly +and he turned to Miss Thorne. She was a little +white, but he saw enough in her face to satisfy +him. +</p> +<p> +"I shall escort Monsieur Boisségur to his carriage, +Miss Thorne," he said calmly. "These +men will remain here until I return. Take the +revolver. If either of them so much as wags his +head—<i>shoot</i>! You are not—not afraid?" +</p> +<p> +"No." She smiled faintly. "I am not +afraid." +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm and the ambassador went down +the stairs, and out the front door. Mr. Grimm +was just turning to reenter the house when +from above came a muffled, venomous cra-as-ash!—a +shot! He took the steps going up, 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 stood open; and +the clatter of footsteps echoed through the +house. +</p> +<p> +"One of them leaped at me and I fired," she +gasped in explanation. "He struck me, but I'm—I'm +not hurt." +</p> +<p> +She stooped quickly, picked up the revolver +and made as if to follow the dying footsteps. +Mr. Grimm stopped her. +</p> +<p> +"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 +should never have consented to allow you—" +</p> +<p> +"I understand," she interrupted, and for one +instant her outstretched hand rested on his arm. +"The ambassador?" +</p> +<p> +"Perfectly safe," responded Mr. Grimm. +"Two of my men are with him." +</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<a name="CH15"><!-- CHAPTER 15 --></a> +<h3> + XV +</h3> + +<h3> +MASTER OF THE SITUATION +</h3> +<p> </p> +<p> +As the women rose and started out, leaving +the gentlemen over their coffee and +cigars, Miss Thorne paused at the door +and the blue-gray eyes flashed some subtle message +to the French ambassador who, after an +instant, nodded comprehendingly, then resumed +his conversation. As he left the room a few +minutes later he noticed that Mr. Grimm had +joined a group of automaniacs of which Mr. +Cadwallader was the enthusiastic center. 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 beside her. She +greeted him with a smile and was still smiling +as she talked. +</p> +<p> +"I believe, Monsieur," she said in French, +"you sent a code message to the cable office this +afternoon?" +</p> +<p> +His eyes questioned hers quickly. +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +"Yes, I sent a code message," he replied. +</p> +<p> +"It was your resignation?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes." +</p> +<p> +"Well, it wasn't sent, of course," she informed +him, and her eyes were sparkling as if something +amusing had been said. "One of my agents +stopped it. I may add that it will not be sent." +</p> +<p> +The ambassador's eyes grew steely, then +blank again. +</p> +<p> +"Mademoiselle, what am I to understand from +that?" he demanded. +</p> +<p> +"You are to understand that I am absolute +master of the situation in Washington at this +moment," she replied positively. The smile on +her lips and the tone of her voice were strangely +at variance. "From the beginning I let you understand +that ultimately you would receive your +instructions from Paris; now I know they will +reach you by cable to-morrow. Within a week +the compact will be signed. Whether you approve +of it or not it will be signed for your +country by a special envoy whose authority is +greater than yours—his Highness, the Prince +Benedetto d'Abruzzi." +</p> +<p> +"Has he reached Washington?" +</p> +<p> +"He is in Washington. He has been here for +some time, incognito." She was 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 been comfortably +kept out in Alexandria where Mr. Grimm and I +found you. Please remember, Monsieur, that +we will accomplish what we set out to do. Nothing +can stop us—nothing." +</p> +<p> +At just about the same moment the name of +Prince d'Abruzzi had been used in the dining-room, +but in a different connection. Mr. Cadwallader +was reciting some incident of an automobile +trip in Italy when he had been connected +with the British embassy there. +</p> +<p> +"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 +of thing. He was one scion of royalty who +didn't mind soiling his hands by diving in under +a car and fixing it himself. At that time he +was inclined to be wild—that was eight or nine +years ago—but they say now he has settled +down to work, and is one of the real diplomatic +powers of Italy. I haven't seen him for a half +dozen years." +</p> +<p> +"How old a man is he?" asked Mr. Grimm +carelessly. +</p> +<p> +"Thirty-five, thirty-eight, perhaps; I don't +know," replied Mr. Cadwallader. "It's odd, you +know, the number of princes and blue-bloods +and all that sort of thing one can find knocking +about in Italy and Germany and Spain. One +never hears of half of them. I never had heard +of the Prince d'Abruzzi until I went to Italy, +and I've heard jolly well little of him since, except +indirectly." +</p> +<p> +Mr. Cadwallader lapsed into silence as he sat +staring at a large group photograph which +was framed on a wall of the dining-room. +</p> +<p> +"Isn't that the royal family of Italy?" he +asked. He rose and went over to it. "By Jove, +it is, and here is the prince in the group. The +picture was taken, I should say, about the time I +knew him." +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm strolled over idly and stood for a +long time staring at the photograph. +</p> +<p> +"He can drive a motor, you know," said Mr. +Cadwallader admiringly. "And Italy is the +place to drive them. They forgot to make any +speed laws over there, and if a chap gets in your +way and you knock him silly they arrest him +for obstructing traffic, you know. Over here if +a chap really starts to go any place in a hurry +some bally idiot holds him up." +</p> +<p> +"Have you ever been held up?" queried Mr. +Grimm. +</p> +<p> +"No, but I expect to be every day," was the +reply. "I've got a new motor, you know, and +I've never been able to see how fast it is. The +other evening I ran up to Baltimore with it in +an hour and thirty-seven minutes from Alexandria +to Druid Hill Park, and that's better than +forty miles. I never did let the motor out, you +know, because we ran in the dark most of the +way." +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm was still gazing at the photograph. +</p> +<p> +"Did you go alone?" he asked. +</p> +<p> +"There's no fun motoring alone, you know. +Señorita Rodriguez was with me. Charming +girl, what?" +</p> +<p> +A little while later Mr. Grimm sauntered out +into the drawing-room and made his way toward +Miss Thorne and the French ambassador. Monsieur +Boisségur rose, and offered his hand cordially. +</p> +<p> +"I hope, Monsieur," said Mr. Grimm, "that +you are no worse off for your—your unpleasant +experience?" +</p> +<p> +"Not at all, thanks to you," was the reply. +"I have just thanked Miss Thorne for her part +in the affair, and—" +</p> +<p> +"I'm glad to have been of service," interrupted +Mr. Grimm lightly. +</p> +<p> +The ambassador bowed ceremoniously and +moved away. Mr. Grimm dropped into the seat +he had just left. +</p> +<p> +"You've left the legation, haven't you?" he +asked. +</p> +<p> +"You drove me out," she laughed. +</p> +<p> +"Drove you out?" he repeated. "Drove you +out?" +</p> +<p> +"Why, it was not only uncomfortable, but it +was rather conspicuous because of the constant +espionage of your Mr. Blair and your Mr. +Johnson and your Mr. Hastings," she explained, +still laughing. "So I have moved to +the Hotel Hilliard." +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm was twisting the seal ring on his +little finger. +</p> +<p> +"I'm sorry if I've made it uncomfortable for +you," he apologized. "You see it's necessary +to—" +</p> +<p> +"No explanation," Miss Thorne interrupted. +"I understand." +</p> +<p> +"I'm glad you do," he replied seriously. +"How long do you intend to remain in the city?" +</p> +<p> +"Really I don't know—two, three, four weeks, +perhaps. Why?" +</p> +<p> +"I was just wondering." +</p> +<p> +Señorita Rodriguez came toward them. +</p> +<p> +"We're going to play bridge," she said, "and +we need you, Isabel, to make the four. Come. +I hate to take her away, Mr. Grimm." +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm and Miss Thorne rose together. +For an instant her slim white hand rested on +Mr. Grimm's sleeve and she stared into his eyes +understandingly with a little of melancholy in +her own. They left Mr. Grimm there. +</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<a name="CH16"><!-- CHAPTER 16 --></a> +<h3> + XVI +</h3> + +<h3> +LETTERS FROM JAIL +</h3> +<p> </p> +<p> +For two weeks Signor Pietro Petrozinni, +known to the Secret Service as an unaccredited +agent of the Italian government, +and the self-confessed assailant of Señor +Alvarez of the Mexican legation, had been taking +his ease in a cell. He had been formally arraigned +and committed without bail to await +the result of the bullet wound which had been +inflicted upon the diplomatist from Mexico at +the German Embassy Ball, and, since then, undisturbed +and apparently careless of the outcome, +he had spent his time in reading and +smoking. He had answered questions with only +a curt yes or no when he deigned to answer them +at all; and there had been no callers or inquiries +for him. He had abruptly declined a suggestion +of counsel. +</p> +<p> +Twice each day, morning and night, he had +asked a question of the jailer who brought his +simple meals. +</p> +<p> +"How is Señor Alvarez?" +</p> +<p> +"He is still in a critical condition." The answer +was always the same. +</p> +<p> +Whereupon the secret agent would return to +his reading with not a shadow of uneasiness or +concern on his face. +</p> +<p> +Occasionally there came a courteous little note +from Miss Thorne, which he read without +emotion, afterward casting them aside or tearing +them up. He never answered them. And +then one day there came another note which, for +no apparent reason, seemed to stir him from his +lethargy. Outwardly it was like all the others, +but when Signor Petrozinni scanned the sheet +his eyes lighted strangely, and he stood staring +down at it as though to hide a sudden change of +expression in his face. His gaze was concentrated +on two small splotches of ink where, it +seemed, the pen had scratched as Miss Thorne +signed her name. +</p> +<p> +The guard stood at the barred door for a moment, +then started to turn away. The prisoner +stopped him with a quick gesture. +</p> +<p> +"Oh, Guard, may I have a glass of milk, +please?" he asked. "No ice. I prefer it tepid." +</p> +<p> +He thrust a small coin between the bars; the +guard accepted it and passed on. Then, still +standing at the door, the prisoner read the note +again: +</p> +<blockquote><p>"MY DEAR FRIEND: +</p> +<p> +"I understand, from an indirect source, that +there has been a marked improvement in Señor +Alvarez's condition, and I am hastening to send +you the good news. There is every hope that +within a short while, if he continues to improve, +we can arrange a bail bond, and you will be free +until the time of trial anyway. +</p> +<p> +"Might it not be well for you to consult an +attorney at once? Drop me a line to let me +know you received this. +</p> +<p> +"Sincerely, +</p> +<p> +"ISABEL THORNE."</p></blockquote> +<p> +Finally the prisoner tossed the note on a tiny +table in a corner of his cell, and resumed his +reading. After a time the guard returned with +the milk. +</p> +<p> +"Would it be against the rules for me to write +an answer to this?" queried Signor Petrozinni, +and he indicated the note. +</p> +<p> +"Certainly not," was the reply. +</p> +<p> +"If I might trouble you, then, for pen and ink +and paper?" suggested the signor and he smiled +a little. "Believe me, I would prefer to get them +for myself." +</p> +<p> +"I guess that's right," the guard grinned +good-naturedly. +</p> +<p> +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 +twice and permitted the light to die. After a +little there came again the clatter of the guard's +feet on the cement pavement, and the writing +materials were thrust through the bars. +</p> +<p> +"Thank you," said the prisoner. +</p> +<p> +The guard went on, with a nod, and a moment +later the signor heard the clangor 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 a long time, then rose and +noiselessly approached the cell door. Again +he listened intently, after which he resumed his +seat. He tossed away the cigarette he had and +lighted a fresh one, afterward holding the note +over the flame of the match. Here and there, +where the paper charred in the heat, a letter or +word stood out from the bare whiteness of the +paper, and finally, a message complete appeared +between the innocuous ink-written lines. The +prisoner read it greedily: +</p> +<blockquote><p>"Am privately informed there is little chance +of Alvarez's recovery. Shall I arrange escape +for you, or have ambassador intercede? Would +advise former, as the other might take months, +and meeting to sign treaty alliance would be +dangerously delayed."</p></blockquote> +<p> +Signor Petrozinni permitted the sputtering +flame to ignite the paper, and thoughtfully +watched the blaze destroy it. The last tiny +scrap dropped on the floor, burned out, and he +crushed the ashes under his heel. Then he began +to write: +</p> +<blockquote><p>"My Dear Miss Thorne: +</p> +<p> +"Many thanks for your courteous little note. +I am delighted to know of the improvement in +Señor Alvarez's condition. I had hoped that my +impulsive act in shooting him would not end in +a tragedy. Please keep me informed of any +further change in his condition. As yet I do +not see the necessity of consulting an attorney, +but later I may be compelled to do so. +</p> +<p> +"Respectfully, +</p> +<p> +"Pietro Petrozinni."</p></blockquote> +<p> +This done the secret agent carefully cleaned +the ink from the pen, wiping it dry with his +handkerchief, then thrust it into the half empty +glass of milk. The fluid clung to the steel nib +thinly; he went on writing with it, between the +lines of ink: +</p> +<blockquote><p>"I am in no danger. I hold credentials to +United States, which, when presented, will make +me responsible only to the Italian government +as special envoy, according to international law. +Arrange escape for one week from to-night; +use any money necessary. Make careful arrangements +for the test and signing of compact for +two nights after."</p></blockquote> +<p> +Again the prisoner cleaned the steel nib, after +which he put it back in the bottle of ink, leaving +it there. He waved the sheet of paper back and +forth to dry it, and at last scrutinized it minutely, +standing under the light from the high-up +window of his cell. Letter by letter the milk +evaporated, leaving the sheet perfectly clean +and white except for the ink-written message. +This sheet he folded, placed in an envelope, and +addressed. +</p> +<p> +Later the guard passed along the corridor, +and Signor Petrozinni thrust the letter out to +him. +</p> +<p> +"Be good enough to post that, please," he requested. +"It isn't sealed. I don't know if your +prison rules require you to read the letters that +go out. If so, read it, or have it read, then +seal it." +</p> +<p> +For answer the guard dampened the flap of +the envelope, sealed it, thrust it into his pocket +and passed on. The secret agent sat down again, +and sipped his milk meditatively. +</p> +<p> +One hour later Mr. Grimm, accompanied by +Johnson, came out of a photographer's dark +room in Pennsylvania Avenue with a developed +negative which he set on a rack to dry. At the +end of another hour he was sitting at his desk +studying, under a magnifying glass, a finished +print of the negative. Word by word he was +writing on a slip of paper what his magnifying +glass gave him and so, curiously enough, it came +to pass that Miss Thorne and Chief Campbell +of the Secret Service were reading the hidden, +milk-written message at almost the identical moment. +</p> +<p> +"Johnson got Petrozinni's letter from the +postman," Mr. Grimm was explaining. "I +opened it, photographed it, sealed it again and +remailed it. There was not more than half an +hour's delay; and Miss Thorne can not possibly +know of it." He paused a moment. "It's an +odd thing that writing such as that is absolutely +invisible to the naked eye, and yet when photographed +becomes decipherable in the negative." +</p> +<p> +"What do you make of it?" Mr. Campbell +asked. The guileless blue eyes were alive with +eagerness. +</p> +<p> +"Well, he's right, of course, about not being +in danger," said Mr. Grimm. "If he came with +credentials as special envoy this government +must respect them, even if Señor Alvarez dies, +and leave it to his own government to punish +him. If we were officially aware that he has +such credentials I doubt if we would have the +right to keep him confined; we would merely +have to hand him over to the Italian embassy +and demand his punishment. And, of course, all +that makes him more dangerous than ever." +</p> +<p> +"Yes, I know that," said the chief a little impatiently. +"But who is this man?" +</p> +<p> +"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 +found him." +</p> +<p> +Mr. Campbell's clock-like brain ticked over the +situation in detail. +</p> +<p> +"It's like this," Mr. Grimm elucidated. "He +has credentials which he knows will free him if +he is forced to present them, but I imagine they +were given to him more for protection in an +emergency like this than for introducing him to +our government. As the matter stands he can't +afford to discover himself by using those credentials, +and yet, if the Latin compact is signed, +he must be free. Remember, too, that he is accredited +from three countries—Italy, France +and Spain." He was silent for a moment. "Naturally +his escape from prison would preserve his +incognito, and at the same time permit him to +sign the compact." +</p> +<p> +There was silence for a long time. +</p> +<p> +"I believe the situation is without precedent," +said Mr. Campbell slowly. "The special envoy +of three great powers held for attempted—!" +</p> +<p> +"Officially we are not aware of his purpose, or +his identity," Mr. Grimm reminded him. "If he +escaped it would clarify the situation tremendously." +</p> +<p> +"If he escaped!" repeated Mr. Campbell musingly. +</p> +<p> +"But, of course, the compact would not be +signed, at least in this country," Mr. Grimm +went on tentatively. +</p> +<p> +Mr. Campbell gazed straight into the listless +eyes of the young man for a minute or more, +and gradually full understanding came home to +him. Finally he nodded his head. +</p> +<p> +"Use your own judgment, Mr. Grimm," he +directed. +</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<a name="CH17"><!-- CHAPTER 17 --></a> +<h3> + XVII +</h3> + +<h3> +A CALL ON THE WARDEN +</h3> +<p> </p> +<p> +The restful silence of night lay over the +great prison. Here and there in 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 at +his desk, poring over a report. Once he glanced +up at the clock—it was five minutes of eleven—and +then he went on with his reading. +</p> +<p> +After a little the silence was broken by the +whir of the clock and the first sharp stroke of +the hour; and at just that moment the door from +the street opened and a man entered. He was +rather tall and slender, and a sinister black mask +hid his face from the quickly raised eyes of the +warden. For a bare fraction of a second the +two men stared at each other, then, instinctively, +the warden's right hand moved toward the open +drawer of his desk where a revolver lay, and his +left toward several electrically connected levers. +The intruder noted both gestures, and, unarmed +himself, stood silent. The warden was first to +speak. +</p> +<p> +"Well, what is it?" +</p> +<p> +"You have a prisoner here, Pietro Petrozinni," +was the reply, in a pleasant voice. "I have +come to demand his release." +</p> +<p> +The warden's right hand was raised above the +desk top, and the revolver in it clicked warningly. +</p> +<p> +"You have come to demand his release, eh?" +he queried. He still sat motionless, with his +eyes fixed on the black mask. "How did you +pass the outside guard?" +</p> +<p> +"He was bribed," was the ready response. +"Now, Warden," the masked intruder continued +pacifically, "it would be much more pleasant +all around and there would be less personal danger +in it for both of us if you would release Signor +Petrozinni without question. I may add +that no bribe was offered to you because your +integrity was beyond question." +</p> +<p> +"Thank you," said the warden grimly, "and +it shall remain so as long as I have this." He +tapped on the desk with the revolver. +</p> +<p> +"Oh, that isn't loaded," said the masked man +quietly. +</p> +<p> +One quick glance at the weapon showed the +warden that the cartridges had been drawn! His +teeth closed with a snap at the treachery of it, +and with his left hand he pulled back one of the +levers—that which should arouse the jailers, +turnkeys and guards. Instead of the insistent +clangor which he expected, there was silence. +</p> +<p> +"That wire has been cut," the stranger volunteered. +</p> +<p> +With clenched teeth the warden pulled the police +alarm. +</p> +<p> +"And that wire was cut, too," the stranger +explained. +</p> +<p> +The warden came to his feet with white face, +and nails biting into the palms of his hands. +He still held the revolver as he advanced upon +the masked man threateningly. +</p> +<p> +"Not too close, now," warned the intruder, +with a sudden hardening of his 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 to injure you, still less +do I intend that you shall injure me; and it +would be needless for either of us to make a personal +matter of it. I want your prisoner, Signor +Petrozinni—you will release him at once! That's +all!" +</p> +<p> +The warden paused, dazed, incredulous before +the audacity of it, while he studied two calm +eyes which peered at him through the slits of +the mask. +</p> +<p> +"And if I <i>don't</i> release him?" he demanded at +last, fiercely. +</p> +<p> +"Then I shall take him," was the reply. "It +has been made impossible for you to give an +alarm," the stranger went on. "The very men +on whom you most depended have been bought, +and even if they were within sound of your voice +now they wouldn't respond. One of your assistants +who has been here for years unloaded +the revolver in the desk there, and less than an +hour ago cut the prison alarm wire. I, personally, +cut the police alarm outside the building. +So you see!" +</p> +<p> +As yet there was no weapon in sight, save the +unloaded revolver in the warden's hand; at no +time had the stranger's voice been raised. His +tone was a perfectly normal one. +</p> +<p> +"Besides yourself there are only five other +men employed here who are now awake," the +masked man continued. "These are four inner +guards and the outer guard. They have all been +bought—the turnkeys at five thousand dollars +each, and the outer guard at seven thousand. +The receipt of all of this money is conditional +upon the release of Signor Petrozinni, 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 how futile any resistance would +be." +</p> +<p> +"But who—who is this Signor Petrozinni, +that such powerful influences should be brought +to bear in his behalf?" demanded the bewildered +warden. +</p> +<p> +"He is a man who can command a vast fortune—and +Señor Alvarez is at the point of +death. That, I think, makes it clear. Now, if +you'll sit down, please!" +</p> +<p> +"Sit down?" bellowed the warden. +</p> +<p> +Suddenly he was seized by a violent, maddening +rage. He took one step forward and raised +the empty revolver to strike. The masked man +moved slightly to one side and his clenched fist +caught the warden on the point 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 prison opened, and Signor Petrozinni, +accompanied by one of the guards, entered +the warden's office. The masked man glanced +around at them, and with a motion of his head +indicated the door leading to the street. They +passed through, closing the door behind them. +</p> +<p> +For a little time the intruder stood staring +down at the still body, then he went to the telephone +and called police headquarters. +</p> +<p> +"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 +send some of your men up to investigate." +</p> +<p> +"Who is that?" came the answering question. +</p> +<p> +The stranger replaced the receiver on the +hook, stripped off his black mask, dropped it on +the floor beside the motionless warden, and went +out. It was Mr. Grimm! +</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<a name="CH18"><!-- CHAPTER 18 --></a> +<h3> + XVIII +</h3> + +<h3> +NOTICE TO LEAVE +</h3> +<p> </p> +<p> +At fifteen minutes of midnight when Miss +Thorne, followed by Signor Petrozinni, +entered the sitting-room of her apartments +in the hotel and turned up the light they +found Mr. Grimm already there. He rose courteously. +At sight of him Miss Thorne's face +went deathly white, and the escaped prisoner +turned toward the door again. +</p> +<p> +"I would advise that you stay, your Highness," +said Mr. Grimm coldly. Signor Petrozinni +paused, amazed. "You will merely subject +yourself to the humiliation of arrest if you attempt +to leave. The house is guarded by a dozen +men." +</p> +<p> +"Your Highness?" Miss Thorne repeated +blankly. "You are assuming a great deal, aren't +you, Mr. Grimm?" +</p> +<p> +"I don't believe," and Mr. Grimm's listless +eyes were fixed on those of the escaped prisoner, +"I don't believe that Prince Benedetto d'Abruzzi +will deny his identity?" +</p> +<p> +There was one of those long tense silences +when eye challenges eye, when wit is pitted +against wit, and mind is hauled around to a new, +and sometimes unattractive, view of a situation. +Miss Thorne stood silent with rigid features, +colorless as marble; but slowly a sneer settled +about the lips of Signor Petrozinni that was, +and he sat down. +</p> + +<a name="image-3"><!-- Image 3 --></a> +<p class="figure"> +<a href="images/img3.jpg"> +<img width="60%" src="images/img3.jpg" +alt="A Long Tense Silence when Eye Challenges Eye."/></a><br /> +<b>"A Long Tense Silence when Eye Challenges Eye."</b> +</p> + +<p> +"You seem to know everything, Mr. Grimm," +he taunted. +</p> +<p> +"I <i>try</i> to know everything, your Highness," +was the reply. Mr. Grimm was still standing. +"I know, for instance, that one week ago the +plot which had your freedom for its purpose +was born; I know the contents of every letter +that passed between you and Miss Thorne here, +notwithstanding the invisible ink; I know that +four days ago several thousand 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 or one of her agents +bribed the guard in front; I know that the escape +was planned for to-night, and that the man +who was delegated to take charge of it is now +locked in my office under guard. It may interest +you to know that it was I who took his place +and made the escape possible. I know that +much!" +</p> +<p> +"You—<i>you</i>—!" the prince burst out suddenly. +"<i>You</i> aided me to escape?" +</p> +<p> +Miss Thorne was staring, staring at them +with her eyes widely distended, and her red lips +slightly parted. +</p> +<p> +"<i>Why</i> did you assist him?" she demanded. +</p> +<p> +"Details are tiresome, Miss Thorne," replied +Mr. Grimm with the utmost courtesy. "There +is one other thing I know—that the Latin compact +will not be signed in the United States." +</p> +<p> +The prince's eyes met Miss Thorne's inquiringly, +and she shook her head. The sneer was +still playing about his mouth. +</p> +<p> +"Anything else of special interest that you +know?" he queried. +</p> +<p> +"Yes, of interest to both you and Miss +Thorne. That is merely if the Latin compact +is signed anywhere, the English-speaking countries +of the world might construe it as a <i>casus +belli</i> and strike soon enough, and hard enough, +to put an end to it once for all." +</p> +<p> +Again there was silence for a little while. +Slowly the prince's eyes were darkening, and a +shadow flitted across Miss Thorne's face. The +prince rose impatiently. +</p> +<p> +"Well, what is the meaning of all this? Are +you going to take me back to prison?" +</p> +<p> +"No," said Mr. Grimm. He glanced at his +watch. "I will give each of you one-half hour +to pack your belongings. We must catch a +train at one o'clock." +</p> +<p> +"Leave the city?" gasped Miss Thorne. +</p> +<p> +"Impossible!" exclaimed the prince. +</p> +<p> +"One-half hour," said Mr. Grimm coldly. +</p> +<p> +"But—but it's out of the question," expostulated +Miss Thorne. +</p> +<p> +"One-half hour," repeated Mr. Grimm. He +didn't dare to meet those wonderful blue-gray +eyes now. "A special car with private compartments +will be attached to the regular train, and +the only inconvenience to you will be the fact +that the three of us will be compelled to sit up +all night. Half a dozen other Secret Service men +will be on the train with us." +</p> +<p> +And then the prince's entire manner underwent +a change. +</p> +<p> +"Mr. Grimm," he said earnestly, "it is absolutely +necessary that I remain in Washington +for another week—remain here even if I am +locked up again—lock me up again if you like. +I can't sign compacts in prison." +</p> +<p> +"Twenty-five minutes," replied Mr. Grimm +quietly. +</p> +<p> +"But here," exclaimed the prince explosively, +"I have credentials which will insure my protection +in spite of your laws." +</p> +<p> +"I know that," said Mr. Grimm placidly. +"Credentials of that nature can not be presented +at midnight, and you will not be here to-morrow +to present them. The fact that you have those +credentials, your Highness, is one reason why +you must leave Washington now, to-night." +</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<a name="CH19"><!-- CHAPTER 19 --></a> +<h3> + XIX +</h3> + +<h3> +BY WIRELESS +</h3> +<p> </p> +<p> +They paused in the office, the three of +them, and while Miss Thorne was giving +some instructions as to her baggage +the prince went over to the telegraph booth and +began to write a message on a blank. Mr. +Grimm appeared at his elbow. +</p> +<p> +"No," he said. +</p> +<p> +"Can't I send a telegram if I like?" demanded +the prince sharply. +</p> +<p> +"No, nor a note, nor a letter, nor may you +speak to any one," Mr. Grimm informed him +quietly. +</p> +<p> +"Why, it's an outrage!" flamed the prince. +</p> +<p> +"It depends altogether on the view-point, +your Highness," said Mr. Grimm courteously. +"If you will pardon me I might suggest that it +is needless to attract attention by your present +attitude. You may—I say you <i>may</i>—compel +me to humiliate you." The prince glared at him +angrily. "I mean handcuff you," Mr. Grimm +added gratuitously. +</p> +<p> +"Handcuff <i>me</i>?" +</p> +<p> +"I shouldn't hesitate, your Highness, if it +was necessary." +</p> +<p> +After a moment Miss Thorne signified her +readiness, and they started out. At the door +Mr. Grimm stopped and turned back to the desk, +as if struck by some sudden thought, leaving +them together. +</p> +<p> +"Oh, Miss Thorne left a message for some +one," Mr. Grimm was saying to the clerk. +"She's decided it is unnecessary." He turned +and glanced toward her, and the clerk's eyes followed +his. "Please give it to me." +</p> +<p> +It was passed over without comment. It was +a sealed envelope addressed to Mr. Charles Winthrop +Rankin. Mr. Grimm glanced at the superscription, +tore the envelope into bits and +dropped it into a basket. A minute later he was +assisting Miss Thorne and the prince into an +automobile that was waiting in front. As the +car moved away two other automobiles appeared +from corners near-by and trailed along behind to +the station. There a private compartment-car +was in readiness for them. +</p> +<p> +It was a long, dreary ride—a ride of utter +silence save for the roar and clatter of the moving +train. Mr. Grimm, vigilant, implacable, +sat at ease; 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 was passed, and Trenton, and then +the dawn began to break through the night. It +was quite light when they rolled into Jersey +City. +</p> +<p> +"I'm sorry for all the inconvenience I have +caused," Mr. Grimm apologized to Miss Thorne +as he assisted her to alight. "You must be exhausted." +</p> +<p> +"If it were only that!" she replied, with a +slight smile. "And is it too early to ask where +we are going?" +</p> +<p> +The prince turned quickly at the question. +</p> +<p> +"We take the <i>Lusitania</i> for Liverpool at ten +o'clock," said Mr. Grimm obligingly. "Meanwhile +let's get some coffee and a bite to eat." +</p> +<p> +"Are you going to make the trip with us?" +asked the prince. +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm shrugged his shoulders. +</p> +<p> +Weary and spiritless they went aboard the +boat, and a little while later they steamed out +into the stream and threaded their way down the +bay. Miss Thorne stood at the rail gazing +back upon the city they were leaving. Mr. +Grimm stood beside her; the prince, still sullen, +still scowling, sat a dozen feet away. +</p> +<p> +"This is a wonderful thing you have done, +Mr. Grimm," said Miss Thorne at last. +</p> +<p> +"Thank you," he said simply. "It was a destructive +thing that you intended to do. Did +you ever see a more marvelous thing than +that?" and he indicated the sky-line of New +York. "It's the most marvelous bit of mechanism +in the world; the dynamo of the western +hemisphere. You would have destroyed it, because +in the world-war that would have been the +first point of attack." +</p> +<p> +She raised her eyebrows, but was silent. +</p> +<p> +"Somehow," he went on after a moment, "I +could never associate a woman with destructiveness, +with wars and with violence." +</p> +<p> +"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? And now your remark +makes me feel that you alone have stood +for peace and the general good, and I for destruction +and evil." +</p> +<p> +"I didn't mean that," Mr. Grimm said quickly. +"You have done your duty as you saw it, +and—" +</p> +<p> +"Failed!" she interrupted. +</p> +<p> +"And I have done my duty as I saw it." +</p> +<p> +"And won!" she added. She smiled a little +sadly. "I think, perhaps you and I might have +been excellent friends if it had not been for all +this." +</p> +<p> +"I know we should have," said Mr. Grimm, +almost eagerly. "I wonder if you will ever forgive +me for—for—?" +</p> +<p> +"Forgive you?" she repeated. "There is +nothing to forgive. One must do one's duty. +But I wish it could have been otherwise." +</p> +<p> +The Statue of Liberty slid by, and Governor's +Island and Fort Hamilton; then, in the distance, +Sandy Hook light came into view. +</p> +<p> +"I'm going to leave you here," said Mr. +Grimm, and for the first time there was a tense, +strained note in his voice. +</p> +<p> +Miss Thorne's blue-gray eyes had grown mistily +thoughtful; the words startled her a little +and she turned to face him. +</p> +<p> +"It may be that you and I shall never meet +again," Mr. Grimm went on. +</p> +<p> +"We <i>will</i> meet again," she said gravely. +"When and where I don't know, but it will +come." +</p> +<p> +"And perhaps then we may be friends?" He +was pleading now. +</p> +<p> +"Why, we are friends now, aren't we?" she +asked, and again the smile curled her scarlet lips. +"Surely we are friends, aren't we?" +</p> +<p> +"We are," he declared positively. +</p> +<p> +As they started forward a revenue cutter which +had been hovering about Sandy Hook put toward +them, flying some signal at her masthead. +Slowly the great boat on which they stood crept +along, then the clang of a bell in the engine-room +brought her to a standstill, and the revenue +cutter came alongside. +</p> +<p> +"I leave you here," Mr. Grimm said again. +"It's good-by." +</p> +<p> +"Good-by," she said softly. "Good-by, till +we meet once more." +</p> +<p> +She extended both hands impulsively and he +stood for an instant staring into the limpid gray +eyes, then, turning, went below. From the revenue +cutter he waved a hand at her as the great +<i>Lusitania</i>, moving again, sped on her way. The +prince joined Miss Thorne at the rail. The +scowl was still on his face. +</p> +<p> +"And now what?" he demanded abruptly. +"This man has treated us as if we were a pair of +children." +</p> +<p> +"He's a wonderful man," she replied. +</p> +<p> +"That may be—but we have been fools to allow +him to do all this." +</p> +<p> +Miss Thorne turned flatly and faced him. +</p> +<p> +"We are not beaten yet," she said slowly. "If +all things go well we—we are not beaten yet." +</p> +<p> +The <i>Lusitania</i> was rounding Montauk Point +when the wireless brought her to half-speed with +a curt message: +</p> +<p> +"Isabel Thorne and Pietro Petrozinni aboard +<i>Lusitania</i> wanted on warrants charging conspiracy. +Tug-boat will take them off, intercepting +you beyond Montauk Point. +</p> +<p> +"CAMPBELL, Secret Service." +</p> +<p> +"What does <i>that</i> mean?" asked the prince, bewildered. +</p> +<p> +"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 aid of one of the maids in the depot at Jersey +City I managed to get a telegram of explanation +and instruction to De Foe in New York, +and this is the result. He signed Mr. Campbell's +name, I suppose, to give weight to the message." +</p> +<p> +An hour later a tug-boat came alongside, and +they went aboard. +</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<a name="CH20"><!-- CHAPTER 20 --></a> +<h3> + XX +</h3> + +<h3> +THE LIGHT IN THE DOME +</h3> +<p> </p> +<p> +From where he sat, in a tiny alcove which +jutted out and encroached upon the 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 and amusement; automobiles, carriages, +cabs, cars flowed past endlessly; and yet +Mr. Grimm saw naught of it. In the distance, +at one end of the avenue the dome of the capitol +cleft the shadows of night, and a single light +sparkled at its apex; in the other direction, at +the left of the treasury building which abruptly +blocks the wide thoroughfare, were the shimmering +windows of the White House. +</p> +<p> +Motionless, moody, thoughtful, Mr. Grimm +sat staring, staring straight ahead, comprehending +none of these things which lay before him +as in a panorama. Instead, his memory was conjuring +up a pair of subtle, blue-gray eyes, now +pleading, now coquettish, now frankly defiant; +two slim, white, wonderful hands; the echo of a +pleasant, throaty laugh; a splendid, elusive, radiant-haired +phantom. Truly, a woman of mystery! +Who was this Isabel Thorne who, for +months past, had been the storm-center and directing +mind of a vast international intrigue +which threatened the world with war? Who, +this remarkable young woman who with ease and +assurance commanded ambassadors and played +nations as pawns? +</p> +<p> +Now that she was safely out of the country +Mr. Grimm had leisure to speculate. Upon him +had devolved the duty of blocking her plans, +and he had done so—merciless alike of his own +feeling and of hers. Hesitation or evasion had +never occurred to him. It was a thing to be done, +and he did it. He wondered if she had understood, +there at the last beside the rail? He wondered +if she knew the struggle it had cost him +deliberately to send her out of his life? Or had +even surmised that her expulsion from the country, +by his direct act, was wholly lacking in the +exaltation of triumph to him; that it struck +deeper than that, below the listless, official exterior, +into his personal happiness? And wondering, +he knew that she <i>did</i> understand. +</p> +<p> +A silent shod waiter came and placed the coffee +things at his elbow. He didn't heed. The +waiter poured a demi-tasse, and inquiringly +lifted a lump of sugar in the silver tongs. Still +Mr. Grimm didn't heed. At last the waiter deposited +the sugar on the edge of the fragile saucer, +and moved away as silently as he had come. +A newspaper which Mr. Grimm had placed on +the end of the table when he sat down, rattled a +little as a breeze from the open window caught it, +then the top sheet slid off and fell to the floor. +Mr. Grimm was still staring out the window. +</p> +<p> +Slowly the room behind him was thinning of +its crowd as the theater-bound diners went out +in twos and threes. The last of these disappeared +finally, and save for Mr. Grimm there +were not more than a dozen persons left in the +place. Thus for a few minutes, and then the +swinging doors leading from the street clicked, +and a gentleman entered. He glanced around, +as if seeking a seat near a window, then moved +along in Mr. Grimm's direction, between the +rows of tables. His gaze lingered on Mr. +Grimm for an instant, and when he came opposite +he stooped and picked up the fallen newspaper +sheet. +</p> +<p> +"Your paper?" he inquired courteously. +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm was still gazing dreamily out of +the window. +</p> +<p> +"I beg pardon," insisted the new-comer pleasantly. +He folded the paper once and replaced +it on the table. One hand lingered for just the +fraction of a moment above Mr. Grimm's coffee-cup. +</p> +<p> +Aroused by the remark, Mr. Grimm glanced +around. +</p> +<p> +"Oh, thank you," he apologized hastily. "I +didn't hear you at first. Thank you." +</p> +<p> +The new-comer nodded, smiled and passed on, +taking a seat two or three tables down. +</p> +<p> +Apparently this trifling courtesy had broken +the spell of reverie, for Mr. Grimm squared +around to the table again, drew his coffee-cup +toward him, and dropped in the single lump of +sugar. He idly stirred it for a moment, as his +eyes turned again toward the open window, then +he lifted the tiny cup and emptied it. +</p> +<p> +Again he sat motionless for a long time, and +thrice the new-comer, only a few feet away, +glanced at him narrowly. And now, it seemed, +a peculiar drowsiness was overtaking Mr. +Grimm. Once he caught himself nodding and +raised his head with a jerk. Then he noticed +that the arc lights in the street were wobbling +curiously, and he fell to wondering why that +single flame sparkled at the apex of the capitol +dome. Things around him grew hazy, vague, +unreal, and then, as if realizing that something +was the matter with him, he came to his feet. +</p> +<p> +He took one step forward into the space between +the tables, reeled, attempted to steady +himself by holding on to a chair, then everything +grew black about him, and he pitched forward +on the floor. His face was dead white; +his fingers moved a little, nervously, weakly, +then they were still. +</p> +<p> +Several people rose at the sound of the falling +body, and the new-comer hurried forward. His +coat sleeve caught the empty demi-tasse, as he +stooped, and swept it to the floor, where it was +shattered. The head waiter and another came, +pell-mell, and those diners who had risen came +more slowly. +</p> +<p> +"What's the matter?" asked the head waiter +anxiously. +</p> +<p> +Already the new-comer was supporting Mr. +Grimm on his knee, and flicking water in his +face. +</p> +<p> +"Nothing serious, I fancy," he answered +shortly. "He's subject to these little attacks." +</p> +<p> +"What are they? Who is he?" +</p> +<p> +The stranger tore at Mr. Grimm's collar until +it came loose, then he fell to chafing the still +hands. +</p> +<p> +"He is a Mr. Grimm, a government employee—I +know him," he answered again. "I imagine +it's nothing more serious than indigestion." +</p> +<p> +A little knot had gathered about them, with +offers of assistance. +</p> +<p> +"Waiter, hadn't you better send for a physician?" +some one suggested. +</p> +<p> +"I'm a physician," the stranger put in impatiently. +"Have some one call a cab, and I'll see +that he's taken home. It happens that we live in +the same apartment house, just a few blocks from +here." +</p> +<p> +Obedient to the crisply-spoken directions, a +cab was called, and five minutes later Mr. +Grimm, still insensible, was lifted into it. The +stranger took a seat beside him, the cabby +touched his horse with a whip, and the vehicle +fell into the endless, moving line. +</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<a name="CH21"><!-- CHAPTER 21 --></a> +<h3> + XXI +</h3> + +<h3> +A SLIP OF PAPER +</h3> +<p> </p> +<p> +When the light of returning consciousness +finally pierced the black +lethargy that enshrouded him, Mr. +Grimm's mind was a chaos of vagrant, absurd +fantasies; then slowly, slowly, realization struggled +back to its own, and he came to know +things. First was the knowledge that he was +lying flat on his back, on a couch, it seemed; +then, that he was in the dark—an utter, abject +darkness. And finally came an overwhelming +sense of silence. +</p> +<p> +For a while he lay motionless, with not even +the movement of an eye-lash to indicate consciousness, +wrapped in a delicious languor. +Gradually this passed and the feeble flutter of +his heart grew into a steady, rhythmic beat. +The keen brain was awakening; he was beginning +to remember. What had happened? He +knew only that in some manner a drug had been +administered to him, a bitter dose tasting of +opium; that speechlessly, he had fought against +it, that he had risen from the table in the restaurant, +and that he had fallen. All the rest +was blank. +</p> +<p> +With eyes still closed, and nerveless hands +inert at his sides he listened, the while he turned +the situation over in speculative mood. The +waiter had administered the drug, of course, +unless—unless it had been the courteous stranger +who had replaced the newspaper on the +table! That thought opened new fields of conjecture. +Mr. Grimm had no recollection of ever +having seen him before; and he had paid only +the enforced attention of politeness to him. And +why had the drug been administered? Vaguely, +incoherently, Mr. Grimm imagined that in some +way it had to do with the great international +plot of war in which Miss Thorne was so delicate +and vital an instrument. +</p> +<p> +Where was he? Conjecture stopped there. +Evidently he was where the courteous gentleman +in the restaurant wanted him to be. A +prisoner? Probably. In danger? Long, careful +attention to detail work in the Secret Service +had convinced Mr. Grimm that he was always in +danger. That was one reason—and the best—why +he had lain motionless, without so much as +lifting a finger, since that first glimmer of consciousness +had entered his brain. He was probably +under scrutiny, even in the darkness, and +for the present it was desirable to accommodate +any chance watcher by remaining apparently unconscious. +</p> +<p> +And so for a long time he lay, listening. Was +there another person in the room? Mr. Grimm's +ears were keenly alive for the inadvertent shuffling +of a foot; or the sound of breathing. +Nothing. Even the night roar of the city was +missing; the silence was oppressive. At last he +opened his eyes. A pall of gloom encompassed +him—a pall without one rift of light. His +fingers, moving slowly, explored the limits of +the couch whereon he lay. +</p> +<p> +Confident, at last, that wherever he was, he was +unwatched, Mr. Grimm was on the point of concluding +that further inaction was useless, when +his straining ears caught the faint grating of +metal against metal—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 its hinges, and a breath of cool air +informed Mr. Grimm that that open door, wherever +it was, led to the outside, and freedom. +</p> +<p> +There was another faint creaking as the door +was shut. Mr. Grimm's nerveless hands closed +involuntarily, and his lips were set together +tightly. Was it to be a knife thrust in the +dark? If not—then what? He expected the +flare of a match; instead there was a soft tread, +and the rustle of skirts. A woman! Mr. +Grimm's caution was all but forgotten in his +surprise. As the steps drew nearer his clenched +fingers loosened; he waited. +</p> +<p> +Two hands stretched forward in the dark, +touched him simultaneously—one on the face, +one on the breast. A singular thrill shot +through him, but there was not the flicker of an +eye or the twitching of a finger. The woman—it +<i>was</i> a woman—seemed now to be bending over +him, then he heard her drop on her knees beside +him, and she pressed an inquiring ear to his left +side. It was the heart test. +</p> +<p> +"Thank God!" she breathed softly. +</p> +<p> +It was only by a masterful effort that Mr. +Grimm held himself limp and inert, for a +strange fragrance was enveloping him—a fragrance +he well knew. +</p> +<p> +The hands were fumbling at his breast again, +and there was the sharp crackle of paper. At +first he didn't understand, then he knew that the +woman had pinned a paper to the lapel of his +coat. Finally she straightened up, and took +two steps away from him, after which came a +pause. His keenly attuned ears caught her faint +breathing, then the rustle of her skirts as she +turned back. She was leaning over him again—her +lips touched his forehead, barely; again +there was a quick rustling of skirts, the door +creaked, and—silence, deep, oppressive, overwhelming +silence. +</p> +<p> +Isabel! Was he dreaming? And then he +ceased wondering and fell to remembering her +kiss—light as air—and the softly spoken +"Thank God!" She did care, then! She <i>had</i> +understood, that day! +</p> +<p> +The kiss of a woman beloved is a splendid +heart tonic. Mr. Grimm straightened up suddenly +on the couch, himself again. He touched +the slip of paper which she had pinned to his +coat to make sure it was not all a dream, after +which he recalled the fact that while he had +heard the 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 was beside the question at the +moment. +</p> +<p> +And why—how—was she in Washington? +Pondering that question, Mr. Grimm's excellent +teeth clicked sharply together and he rose. He +knew the answer. The compact was to be signed—the +alliance which would array the civilized +world in arms. He had failed to block that, as +he thought. If Miss Thorne had returned, then +Prince Benedetto d'Abruzzi, who held absolute +power to sign the compact for Italy, France and +Spain, had also returned. +</p> +<p> +Stealthily, feeling his way as he went, Mr. +Grimm moved toward the door leading to freedom, +guided by the fresh draft of air. He +reached the door—it was standing open—and a +moment later stepped out into the star-lit night. +It was open country here, with a thread of white +road just ahead, and farther along a fringe of +shrubbery. Mr. Grimm reached the road. Far +down it, a pin point in the night, a light flickered +through interlacing branches. The tail +lamp of an automobile, of course! +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm left the road and skirted a sparse +hedge in the direction of the light. After a +moment he heard the engine of an automobile, +and saw a woman—barely discernible—step into +the car. As it started forward he staked everything +on one bold move, and won, his reward being +a narrow sitting space in the rear of the +car, hidden from its occupants by the tonneau. +One mile, two miles, three miles they charged +through the night, and still he clung on. At +last there came relief. +</p> +<p> +"That's the place, where the lights are—just +ahead." +</p> +<p> +There was no mistaking that voice raised +above the clamor of the engine. The car slackened +speed, and Mr. Grimm dropped off and +darted behind some convenient bushes. And the +first thing he did there was to light a match, +and read what was written on the slip of paper +pinned to his coat. It was, simply: +</p> +<blockquote><p>"My Dear Mr. Grimm: +</p> +<p> +"By the time you read this the compact will +have been signed, and your efforts to prevent it, +splendid as they were, futile. It is a tribute to +you that it was unanimously agreed that you +must be accounted for at the time of the signing, +hence the drugging in the restaurant; it +was only an act of kindness that I should come +here to see that all was well with you, and leave +the door open behind me. +</p> +<p> +"Believe me when I say that you are one man +in whom I have never been disappointed. Accept +this as my farewell, for now I assume again +the name and position rightfully mine. And +know, too, that I shall always cherish the belief +that you will remember me as +</p> +<p> +"Your friend, +</p> +<p> +"ISABEL THORNE. +</p> +<p> +"P. S. The prince and I left the steamer at +Montauk Point, on a tug-boat."</p></blockquote> +<p> +Mr. Grimm kissed the note twice, then +burned it. +</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<a name="CH22"><!-- CHAPTER 22 --></a> +<h3> + XXII +</h3> + +<h3> +THE COMPACT +</h3> +<p> </p> +<p> +A room, low-ceilinged, dim, gloomy, sinister +as an inquisition chamber; a single +large table in the center, holding a kerosene +lamp, writing materials and a metal spheroid +a shade larger than a one-pound shell; and +around it a semicircle of silent, masked and +cowled figures. There were twelve of them, +eleven men and a woman. In the shadows, +which grew denser at the far end of the room, +was a squat, globular object, a massive, smooth-sided, +black, threatening thing of iron. +</p> +<p> +One of the men glanced at his watch—it was +just two o'clock—then rose and took a position +beside the table, facing the semicircle. He +placed the timepiece on the table in front of +him. +</p> +<p> +"Gentlemen," he said, and there was the faintest +trace of a foreign accent, "I shall speak +English because I know that whatever your nationality +all of you are familiar with that tongue. +And now an apology for the theatric aspect of +all this—the masks, the time and place of meeting, +and the rest of it." He paused a moment. +"There is only one person living who knows the +name and position of all of you," and by a sweep +of his hand he indicated the motionless figure of +the woman. "It was by her decision that masks +are worn, for, while we all know the details of +the Latin compact, there is a bare chance that +some one will not sign, and it is not desirable +that the identity of that person be known to all +of us. The reason for the selection of this time +and place is obvious, for an inkling of the proposed +signing has reached the Secret Service. +I will add the United States was chosen as the +birthplace of this new epoch in history for several +reasons, one being the proximity to Central +and South America; and another the inadequate +police system which enables greater freedom of +action." +</p> +<p> +He stopped and drew from his pocket a folded +parchment. He tapped the tips of his fingers +with it from time to time as he talked. +</p> +<p> +"The Latin compact, gentlemen, is not the +dream, of a night, nor of a decade. As long as +fifty years ago it was suggested, and whatever +differences the Latin countries of the world have +had among themselves, they have always realized +that ultimately they must stand together +against—against the other nations of the world. +This idea germinated into action three years +ago, and since that time agents have covered +the world in its interest. This meeting is the +fruition of all that work, and this," he held the +parchment aloft, "is the instrument that will +unite us. Never has a diplomatic secret been +kept as this has been kept; never has a greater +reprisal been planned. It means, gentlemen, the +domination of the world—socially, spiritually, +commercially and artistically; it means that +England and the United States, whose sphere of +influence has extended around the globe, will be +beaten back, that the flag of the Latin countries +will wave again over lost possessions. It means +all of that, and more." +</p> +<p> +His voice had risen as he talked until it had +grown vibrant with enthusiasm; and his hands +pointed his remarks with quick, sharp gestures. +</p> +<p> +"All this," he went on, "was never possible +until three years ago, when the navies of the +world were given over into the hands of one +nation—my country. Five years ago a fellow-countryman +of mine happened to be present at +an electrical exhibition in New York City, and +there he witnessed an interesting experiment—practical +demonstration of the fact that a +submarine mine may be exploded by the use of +the Marconi wireless system. He was a practical +electrician himself, and the idea lingered +in his mind. For two years he experimented, +and finally this resulted." He picked up the +metal spheroid and held it out for their inspection. +"As it stands it is absolutely perfect and +gives a world's supremacy to the Latin countries +because it places all the navies of the world +at our mercy. It is a variation of the well-known +percussion cap or fuse by which mines +and torpedoes are exploded. +</p> +<p> +"The theory of it is simple, as are the theories +of all great inventions; the secret of its construction +is known only to its inventor—a man +of whom you never heard. It is merely that the +mechanism of the cap is so delicate that the +Marconi wireless waves—-and <i>only</i> those—will +fire the cap. In other words, this cap is tuned, +if I may use the word, to a certain number of +vibrations and half-vibrations; a wireless instrument +of high power, with a modifying addition +which the inventor has added, has only to be set +in motion to discharge it at any distance up to +twenty-five miles. High power wireless waves +recognize no obstacle, so the explosion of a submarine +mine is as easily brought about as would +be the explosion of a mine on dry land. You will +readily see its value as a protective agency for +our seaports." +</p> +<p> +He replaced the spheroid on the table. +</p> +<p> +"But its chief value is not in that," he resumed. +"Its chief value to the Latin compact, +gentlemen, is that the United States and England +are now concluding negotiations, unknown +to each other, by which <i>they</i> will protect <i>their</i> +seaports by means of mines primed with this +cap. The tuning of the caps which we will use +is known only to us; <i>the tuning of the caps +which they will use is also known to us</i>! The +addition to the wireless apparatus which they +will use is such that they <i>can not</i>, even by accident, +explode a mine guarding our seaports; +but, on the other hand, the addition to the wireless +apparatus which <i>we</i> will use permits of the +extreme high charge which will explode their +mines. To make it clearer, we could send a navy +against such a city as New York or Liverpool, +and explode every mine in front of us as we +went; and meanwhile our mines are impervious. +</p> +<p> +"Another word, and I have finished. Five +gentlemen, whom I imagine are present now, +have witnessed a test of this cap, by direct command +of their home governments. For the benefit +of the others of you a simple test has been +arranged for to-night. This cap on the table +is charged; its inventor is at his wireless instrument, +fifteen miles away. At three o'clock +he will turn on the current that will explode it." +Four of the eleven men looked at their watches. +"It is now seventeen minutes past two. I am +instructed, for the purposes of the test, to place +this cap anywhere you may select—in this house +or outside of it, in a box, sealed, or under water. +The purpose is merely to demonstrate its efficacy; +to prove to your complete satisfaction +that it can be exploded under practically any +conditions." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"The compact is written in three languages—English, +French and Italian. I shall ask you +to sign, after reading either or all, precisely as +the directions you have received from your home +government instruct. On behalf of the three +greatest Latin countries, as special envoy of +each, I will sign first." +</p> +<p> +He dropped into the chair, signed each of the +three parchment pages three times, then rose +and offered the pen to the cowled figure at one +end of the semicircle. The man came forward, +read the English transcript, studied the three +signatures already there with a certain air of +surprise, then signed. The second man signed, +the third man, and the fourth. +</p> +<p> +The fifth had just risen to go forward when +the door opened silently and Mr. Grimm entered. +Without a glance either to right or left, he went +straight toward the table, and extended a hand +to take the compact. +</p> +<p> +For an instant there had come amazement, a +dumb astonishment, at the intrusion. It passed, +and the hand of the man who had done the talking +darted out, seized the compact, and held it +behind him. +</p> +<p> +"If you will be good enough to give that to +me, your Highness," suggested Mr. Grimm +quietly. +</p> +<p> +For half a minute the masked man stared +straight into the listless eyes of the intruder, +and then: +</p> +<p> +"Mr. Grimm, you are in very grave danger." +</p> +<p> +"That is beside the question," was the reply. +"Be good enough to give me that document." +</p> +<p> +He backed away as he spoke, kicked the door +closed with one heel, then leaned against it, facing +them. +</p> +<p> +"Or better yet," he went on after a moment, +"burn it. There is a lamp in front of you." +He paused for an answer. "It would be absurd +of me to attempt to take it by force," he added. +</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<a name="CH23"><!-- CHAPTER 23 --></a> +<h3> + XXIII +</h3> + +<h3> +THE PERCUSSION CAP +</h3> +<p> </p> +<p> +There was a long, tense silence. The +cowled figures had risen ominously; +Miss Thorne paled behind her mask, +and her fingers gripped her palms fiercely, still +she sat motionless. Prince d'Abruzzi broke the +silence. He seemed perfectly calm and self-possessed. +</p> +<p> +"How did you get in?" he demanded. +</p> +<p> +"Throttled your guard at the front door, +took him down cellar and locked him in the coal-bin," +replied Mr. Grimm tersely. "I am waiting +for you to burn it." +</p> +<p> +"And how did you escape from—from the +other place?" +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm shrugged his shoulders. +</p> +<p> +"The lamp is in front of you," he said. +</p> +<p> +"And find your way here?" the prince pursued. +</p> +<p> +Again Mr. Grimm shrugged his shoulders. +For an instant longer the prince gazed straight +into his inscrutable face, then turned accusing +eyes on the masked figures about him. +</p> +<p> +"Is there a traitor?" he demanded suddenly. +His gaze settled on Miss Thorne and lingered +there. +</p> +<p> +"I can relieve your mind on that point—there +is not," Mr. Grimm assured him. "Just a final +word, your Highness, if you will permit me. I +have heard everything that has been said here +for the last fifteen minutes. The details of your +percussion cap are interesting. I shall lay them +before my government and my government may +take it upon itself to lay them before the British +government. You yourself said a few minutes +ago that this compact was not possible before +this cap was invented and perfected. It isn't +possible the minute my government is warned +against its use. That will be my first duty." +</p> +<p> +"You are giving some very excellent reasons, +Mr. Grimm," was the deliberate reply, "why +you should not be permitted to leave this room +alive." +</p> +<p> +"Further," Mr. Grimm resumed in the same +tone, "I have been ordered to prevent the signing +of that compact, at least in this country. It +seems that I am barely in time. If it is signed—and +it will be useless now on your own statement +unless you murder me—every man who +signs it will have to reckon with the highest +power of this country. Will you destroy it? +I don't want to know what countries already +stand committed by the signatures there." +</p> +<p> +"I will not," was the steady response. And +then, after a little: "Mr. Grimm, the inventor +of this little cap, insignificant as it seems, will +receive millions for it. Your silence would be +worth—just how much?" +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm's face turned red, then white +again. +</p> +<p> +"Which would you prefer? An independence +by virtue of a great fortune, or—or the other +thing?" +</p> +<p> +Suddenly Miss Thorne tore the mask from +her face and came forward. Her cheeks were +scarlet, and anger flamed in the blue-gray eyes. +</p> +<p> +"Mr. Grimm has no price—I happen to know +that," she declared hotly. "Neither money nor +a consideration for his own personal safety will +make him turn traitor." She stared coldly into +the prince's eyes. "And we are not assassins +here," she added. +</p> +<p> +"Miss Thorne has stated the matter fairly, I +believe, your Highness," and Mr. Grimm permitted +his eyes to linger a moment on the flushed +face of this woman who, in a way, was defending +him. "But there is only one thing to do, Miss +Thorne." He was talking to her now. "There +is no middle course. It is a problem that has +only one possible answer—the destruction of +that document, and the departure of you, and +you, your Highness, for Italy under my personal +care all the way. I imagined this matter +had ended that day on the steamer; it <i>will</i> end +here, now, to-night." +</p> +<p> +The prince glanced again at his watch, then +thoughtfully weighed the percussion cap in his +hand, after which, with a curious laugh, he +walked over to the squat iron globe in an opposite +corner of the room. He bent over it half a +minute, then straightened up. +</p> +<p> +"That cap, Mr. Grimm, has one disadvantage," +he remarked casually. "When it is attached +to a mine or torpedo it can not be +disconnected without firing it. It is attached." +He turned to the others. "It is needless to discuss +the matter further just now. If you will +follow me? We will leave Mr. Grimm here." +</p> +<p> +With a strange little cry, neither anger nor +anguish, yet oddly partaking of the quality of +each, Isabel went quickly to the prince. +</p> +<p> +"How dare you do such a thing?" she demanded +fiercely. "It is murder." +</p> +<p> +"This is not a time, Miss Thorne, for your +interference," replied the prince coldly. "It +has all passed beyond the point where the feelings +of any one person, even the feelings of the +woman who has engineered the compact, can be +considered. A single life can not be permitted +to stand in the way of the consummation of this +world project. Mr. Grimm alive means the compact +would be useless, if not impossible; Mr. +Grimm dead means the fruition of all our plans +and hopes. You have done your duty and you +have done it well; but now your authority ends, +and I, the special envoy of—" +</p> +<p> +"Just a moment, please," Mr. Grimm interrupted +courteously. "As I understand it, your +Highness, the mine there in the corner is +charged?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes. It just happened to be here for purposes +of experiment." +</p> +<p> +"The cap is attached?" +</p> +<p> +"Quite right." The prince laughed. +</p> +<p> +"And at three o'clock, by your watch, the +mine will be fired by a wireless operator fifteen +miles from here?" +</p> +<p> +"Something like that; yes, very much like +that," assented the prince. +</p> +<p> +"Thank you. I merely wanted to understand +it." Mr. Grimm pulled a chair up against the +door and sat down, crossing his legs. On his +knees rested the barrel of a revolver, glittering, +fascinating, in the semi-darkness. "Now, gentlemen," +and he glanced at his watch, "it's +twenty-one minutes of three o'clock. At three +that mine will explode. We will all be in the +room when it happens, unless his Highness sees +fit to destroy the compact." +</p> +<p> +Eyes sought eyes, and the prince removed his +mask with a sudden gesture. His face was +bloodless. +</p> +<p> +"If any man," and Mr. Grimm gave Miss +Thorne a quick glance, "I should say, <i>any person</i>, +attempts to leave this room I <i>know</i> he will +die; and there's a bare chance that the percussion +cap will fail to work. I can account for +six of you, if there is a rush." +</p> +<p> +"But, man, if that mine explodes we shall all +be killed—blown to pieces!" burst from one of +the cowled figures. +</p> +<p> +"If the percussion cap works," supplemented +Mr. Grimm. +</p> +<p> +Mingled emotions struggled in the flushed +face of Isabel as she studied Mr. Grimm's impassive +countenance. +</p> +<p> +"I have never disappointed you yet, Miss +Thorne," he remarked as if it were an explanation. +"I shall not now." +</p> +<p> +She turned to the prince. +</p> +<p> +"Your Highness, I think it needless to argue +further," she said. "We have no choice in the +matter; there is only one course—destroy the +compact." +</p> +<p> +"No!" was the curt answer. +</p> +<p> +"I believe I know Mr. Grimm better than you +do," she argued. "You think he will weaken; +I know he will not. I am not arguing for him, +nor for myself; I am arguing against the +frightful loss that will come here in this room +if the compact is not destroyed." +</p> + +<a name="image-4"><!-- Image 4 --></a> +<p class="figure"> +<a href="images/img4.jpg"> +<img width="60%" src="images/img4.jpg" +alt="'You Think He Will Weaken; I Know He Will Not.'"/></a><br /> +<b>"'You Think He Will Weaken; I Know He Will Not.'"</b> +</p> + +<p> +"It's absurd to let one man stand in the way," +declared the prince angrily. +</p> +<p> +"It might not be an impertinent question, +your Highness," commented Mr. Grimm, "for +me to ask how you are going to <i>prevent</i> one +man standing in the way?" +</p> +<p> +A quick change came over Miss Thorne's +face. The eyes hardened, the lips were set, and +lines Mr. Grimm had never seen appeared about +the mouth. Here, in a flash, the cloak of dissimulation +was cast aside, and the woman stood +forth, this keen, brilliant, determined woman +who did things. +</p> +<p> +"The compact will be destroyed," she said. +</p> +<p> +"No," declared the prince. +</p> +<p> +"It <i>must</i> be destroyed." +</p> +<p> +"<i>Must? Must?</i> Do you say <i>must to me?</i>" +</p> +<p> +"Yes, <i>must</i>," she repeated steadily. +</p> +<p> +"And by what authority, please, do—" +</p> +<p> +"By that authority!" She drew a tiny, filigreed +gold box from her bosom and cast it upon +the table; the prince stared at it. "In the name +of your sovereign—<i>must</i>!" she said again. +</p> +<p> +The prince turned away and began pacing, +back and forth across the room with the parchment +crumpled in his hand. For a minute or +more Isabel stood watching him. +</p> +<p> +"Thirteen minutes!" Mr. Grimm announced +coldly. +</p> +<p> +And now broke out an excited chatter, a babel +of French, English, Italian, Spanish; those +masked and cowled ones who had held silence +for so long all began talking at once. One +of them snatched at the crumpled compact +in the prince's hand, while all crowded around +him arguing. Mr. Grimm sat perfectly still +with the revolver barrel resting on his knees. +</p> +<p> +"Eleven minutes!" he announced again. +</p> +<p> +Suddenly the prince turned violently on Miss +Thorne with rage-distorted face. +</p> +<p> +"Do you know what it means to you if I do +as you say?" he demanded savagely. "It means +you will be branded as traitor, that your name, +your property—" +</p> +<p> +"If you will pardon me, your Highness," she +interrupted, "the power that I have used was +given to me to use; I have used it. It is a matter +to be settled between me and my government, +and as far as it affects my person is of +no consequence now. You will destroy the compact." +</p> +<p> +"Nine minutes!" said Mr. Grimm monotonously. +</p> +<p> +Again the babel broke out. +</p> +<p> +"Do we understand that you want to see the +compact?" one of the cowled men asked suddenly +of Mr. Grimm as he turned. +</p> +<p> +"No, I don't want to see it. I'd prefer not +to see it." +</p> +<p> +With hatred blazing in his eyes the prince +made his way toward the lamp, holding a parchment +toward the blaze. +</p> +<p> +"There's nothing else to be done," he exclaimed +savagely. +</p> +<p> +"Just a moment, please," Mr. Grimm interposed +quickly. "Miss Thorne, is that the compact?" +</p> +<p> +She glanced at it, nodded her head, and then +the flame caught the fringed edge of paper. It +crackled, flashed, flamed, and at last, a thing of +ashes, was scattered on the floor. Mr. Grimm +rose. +</p> +<p> +"That is all, gentlemen," he announced courteously. +"You are free to go. You, your +Highness, and Miss Thorne, will accompany +me." +</p> +<p> +He held open the door and there was almost a +scramble to get out. The prince and Miss +Thorne waited until the last. +</p> +<p> +"And, Miss Thorne, if you will give us a lift +in your car?" Mr. Grimm suggested. "It is +now four minutes of three." +</p> +<p> +The automobile came in answer to a signal +and the three in silence entered it. The car +trembled and had just begun to move when Mr. +Grimm remembered something, and leaped out. +</p> +<p> +"Wait for me!" he called. "There's a man +locked in the coal-bin!" +</p> +<p> +He disappeared into the house, and Miss +Thorne, with a gasp of horror sank back in her +seat with face like chalk. The prince glanced +uneasily at his watch, then spoke curtly to the +chauffeur. +</p> +<p> +"Run the car up out of danger; there'll be an +explosion there in a moment." +</p> +<p> +They had gone perhaps a hundred feet when +the building they had just left seemed to be +lifted bodily from the ground by a great spurt +of flame which tore through its center, then collapsed +like a thing of cards. The prince, unmoved, +glanced around at Miss Thorne; she lay +in a dead faint beside him. +</p> +<p> +"Go ahead," he commanded. "Baltimore." +</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<a name="CH24"><!-- CHAPTER 24 --></a> +<h3> + XXIV +</h3> + +<h3> +THE PERSONAL EQUATION +</h3> +<p> </p> +<p> +Mr. Campbell ceased talking and +the deep earnestness that had settled +on his face passed, leaving instead +the blank, inscrutable mask of benevolence behind +which his clock-like genius was habitually +hidden. The choleric blue eyes of the president +of the United States shifted inquiringly to the +thoughtful countenance of the secretary of +state at his right, thence along the table around +which the official family was gathered. It was a +special meeting of the cabinet called at the suggestion +of Chief Campbell, and for more than an +hour he had done the talking. There had been +no interruption. +</p> +<p> +"So much!" he concluded, at last. "If there +is any point I have not made clear Mr. Grimm +is here to explain it in person." +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm rose at the mention of his name +and stood with his hands clasped behind his +back. His eyes met those of the chief executive +listlessly. +</p> +<p> +"We understand, Mr. Grimm," the president +began, and he paused for an instant to regard +the tall, clean-cut young man with a certain +admiration, "we understand that there does not +actually exist such a thing as a Latin compact +against the English-speaking peoples?" +</p> +<p> +"On paper, no," was the reply. +</p> +<p> +"You personally prevented the signing of the +compact?" +</p> +<p> +"I personally caused the destruction of the +compact after several signatures had been attached," +Mr. Grimm amended. "Throughout I +have acted under the direction of Mr. Campbell, +of course." +</p> +<p> +"You were in very grave personal danger?" +the president went on. +</p> +<p> +"It was of no consequence," said Mr. Grimm +simply. +</p> +<p> +The president glanced at Mr. Campbell and +the chief shrugged his shoulders. +</p> +<p> +"You are certain, Mr. Grimm," and the president +spoke with great deliberation, "you are +certain that the representatives of the Latin +countries have not met since and signed the compact?" +</p> +<p> +"I am not certain—no," replied Mr. Grimm +promptly. "I am certain, however, that the +backbone of the alliance was broken—its only +excuse for existence destroyed—when they permitted +me to learn of the wireless percussion +cap which would have placed the navies of the +world at their mercy. Believe me, gentlemen, +if they had kept their secret it would have given +them dominion of the earth. They made one +mistake," he added in a most matter-of-fact +tone. "They should have killed me; it was their +only chance." +</p> +<p> +The president seemed a little startled at the +suggestion. +</p> +<p> +"That would have been murder," he remarked. +</p> +<p> +"True," Mr. Grimm acquiesced, "but it seems +an absurd thing that they should have permitted +the life of one man to stand between them and +the world power for which they had so long +planned and schemed. His Highness, Prince +Benedetto d'Abruzzi believed as I do, and so +expressed himself." He paused a moment; there +was a hint of surprise in his manner. "I expected +to be killed, of course. It seemed to me +the only thing that could happen." +</p> +<p> +"They must have known of the far-reaching +consequences which would follow upon your +escape, Mr. Grimm. Why <i>didn't</i> they kill you?" +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm made a little gesture with both +hands and was silent. +</p> +<p> +"May they not yet attempt it?" the president +insisted. +</p> +<p> +"It's too late now," Mr. Grimm explained. +"They had everything to gain by killing me +there as I stood in the room where I had interrupted +the signing of the compact, because that +would have been before I had placed the facts +in the hands of my government. I was the only +person outside of their circle who knew all of +them. Only the basest motive could inspire them +to attempt my life now." +</p> +<p> +There was a pause. The secretary of state +glanced from Mr. Grimm to Mr. Campbell with +a question in his deep-set eyes. +</p> +<p> +"Do I understand that you placed a Miss +Thorne and the prince under—that is, you detained +them?" he queried. "If so, where are +they now?" +</p> +<p> +"I don't know," was the reply. "Just before +the explosion the three of us entered an automobile +together, and then as we were starting +away I remembered something which made it +necessary for me to reenter the house. When +I came out again, just a few seconds before the +explosion, the prince and Miss Thorne had +gone." +</p> +<p> +The secretary's lips curled down in disapproval. +</p> +<p> +"Wasn't it rather unusual, to put it mildly, +to leave your prisoners to their own devices that +way?" he asked. +</p> +<p> +"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 go back to save his life, otherwise—" +</p> +<p> +"Oh, the guard at the door, you mean?" came +the interruption. "Who was it?" +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm glanced at his chief, who nodded. +</p> +<p> +"It was Mr. Charles Winthrop Rankin of +the German embassy," said the young man. +</p> +<p> +"Mr. Rankin of the German embassy was on +guard at the door?" demanded the president +quickly. +</p> +<p> +"Yes. We got out safely." +</p> +<p> +"And that means that Germany was—!" +</p> +<p> +The president paused and startled glances +passed around the table. After a moment of +deep abstraction the secretary went on: +</p> +<p> +"So Miss Thorne and the prince escaped. Are +they still in this country?" +</p> +<p> +"That I don't know," replied Mr. Grimm. +He stood silent a moment, staring at the president. +Some subtle change crept into the listless +eyes, and his lips were set. "Perhaps I had better +explain here that the personal equation enters +largely into an affair of this kind," he said +at last, slowly. "It happens that it entered into +this. Unless I am ordered to pursue the matter +further I think it would be best for all concerned +to accept the fact of Miss Thorne's +escape, and—" He stopped. +</p> +<p> +There was a long, thoughtful silence. Every +man in the room was studying Mr. Grimm's impassive +face. +</p> +<p> +"Personal equation," mused the president. +"Just how, Mr. Grimm, does the personal equation +enter into the affair?" +</p> +<p> +The young man's lips closed tightly, and +then: +</p> +<p> +"There are some people, Mr. President, whom +we meet frankly as enemies, and we deal with +them accordingly; and there are others who oppose +us and yet are not enemies. It is merely +that our paths of duty cross. We may have +the greatest respect for them and they for us, +but purposes are unalterably different. In other +words there is a personal enmity and a political +enmity. You, for instance, might be a close +personal friend of the man whom you defeated +for president. There might"—he stopped suddenly. +</p> +<p> +"Go on," urged the president. +</p> +<p> +"I think every man meets once in his life an +individual with whom he would like to reckon +personally," the young man continued. "That +reckoning may not be a severe one; it may be +less severe than the law would provide; but it +would be a personal reckoning. There is one individual +in this affair with whom I should like to +reckon, hence the personal equation enters very +largely into the case." +</p> +<p> +For a little while the silence of the room was +unbroken, save for the steady tick-tock of a +great clock in one corner. Mr. Grimm's eyes +were fixed unwaveringly upon those of the chief +executive. At last the secretary of war crumpled +a sheet of paper impatiently and hitched +his chair up to the table. +</p> +<p> +"Coming down to the facts it's like this, isn't +it?" he demanded briskly. "The Latin countries, +by an invention of their own which the United +States and England were to be duped into purchasing, +would have had power to explode every +submarine mine before attacking a port? Very +well. This thing, of course, would have given +them the freedom of the seas as long as we were +unable to explode their submarines as they were +able to explode ours. And this is the condition +which made the Latin compact possible, +isn't it?" +</p> +<p> +He looked straight at Mr. Grimm, who nodded. +</p> +<p> +"Therefore," he went on, "if the Latin compact +is not a reality on paper; if the United +States and England do not purchase this—this +wireless percussion cap, we are right back where +we were before it all happened, aren't we? +Every possible danger from that direction has +passed, hasn't it? The world-war of which we +have been talking is rendered impossible, isn't +it?" +</p> +<p> +"That's a question," answered Mr. Grimm. +"If you will pardon me for suggesting it, I +would venture to say that as long as there is an +invention of that importance in the hands of +nations whom we now know have 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 peace we must either +get complete control of that invention or else +understand it so well that there can be no further +danger. And again, please let me call your +attention to the fact that the brain which +brought this thing into existence is still to be +reckoned with. There may, some day, come a +time when our submarines may be exploded at +will regardless of this percussion cap." +</p> +<p> +The secretary of war turned flatly upon Chief +Campbell. +</p> +<p> +"This woman who is mixed up in this affair?" +he demanded. "This Miss Thorne. Who +is she?" +</p> +<p> +"Who is she?" repeated the chief. "She's a +secret agent of Italy, one of the most brilliant, +perhaps, that has ever operated in this or any +other country. She is the pivot around which +the intrigue moved. We know her by a dozen +names; any one of them may be correct." +</p> +<p> +The brows of the secretary of war were +drawn down in thought as he turned to the president. +</p> +<p> +"Mr. Grimm was speaking of the personal +equation," he remarked pointedly. "I think +perhaps his meaning is clear when we know +there is a woman in the case. We know that +Mr. Grimm has done his duty to the last inch in +this matter; we know that alone and unaided, +practically, he has done a thing that no living +man of his relative position has ever done before—prevented +a world-war. But there is further +danger—he himself has called our attention to +it—therefore, I would suggest that Mr. Grimm +be relieved of further duty in this particular +case. This is not a moment when the peace of +the world may be imperiled by personal feelings +of—of kindliness for an individual." +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm received the blow without a tremor. +His hands were still idly clasped behind +his back; the eyes fastened upon the president's +face were still listless; the mouth absolutely +without expression. +</p> +<p> +"As Mr. Grimm has pointed out," the secretary +went on, "we have been negotiating for +this wireless percussion cap. I have somewhere +in my office the name and address of the individual +with whom these negotiations have been conducted. +Through that it is possible to reach +the inventor, and then—! I suggest that we +vote our thanks to Mr. Grimm and relieve him +of this particular case." +</p> +<p> +The choleric eyes of the president softened a +little, and grew grave as they studied the impassive +face of the young man. +</p> +<p> +"It's a strange situation, Mr. Grimm," he said +evenly. "What do you say to withdrawing?" +</p> +<p> +"I am at your orders, Mr. President," was the +reply. +</p> +<p> +"No one knows better what you have done +than the gentlemen here at this table," the president +went on slowly. "No one questions that +you have done more than any other man could +have done under the circumstances. We understand, +I think, that indirectly you are asking +immunity for an individual. I don't happen to +know the liability of that individual under our +law, but we can't make any mistake now, Mr. +Grimm, and so—and so—" He stopped and +was silent. +</p> +<p> +"I had hoped, Mr. President, that what I have +done so far—and I don't underestimate it—would +have, at least, earned for me the privilege +of remaining in this case until its conclusion," +said Mr. Grimm steadily. "If it is to be otherwise, +of course I am at—" +</p> +<p> +"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 justice fairly, severely +if necessary, to one for whom he has a personal +regard?" +</p> +<p> +"I do, sir." +</p> +<p> +"Perhaps even to one—to a woman whom he +might love?" +</p> +<p> +"I do, sir." +</p> +<p> +The president rose. +</p> +<p> +"Please wait in the anteroom for a few minutes," +he directed. +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm bowed himself out. At the end +of half an hour he was again summoned into +the cabinet chamber. The president met him +with outstretched hand. There was more than +mere perfunctory thanks in this—there was the +understanding of man and man. +</p> +<p> +"You will proceed with the case to the end, +Mr. Grimm," he instructed abruptly. "If you +need assistance ask for it; if not, proceed alone. +You will rely upon your own judgment entirely. +If there are circumstances which make it inadvisable +to move against an individual by legal +process, even if that individual is amenable to +our laws, you are not constrained so to do if +your judgment is against it. There is one stipulation: +You will either secure the complete +rights of the wireless percussion cap to this government +or learn the secret of the invention so +that at no future time can we be endangered +by it." +</p> +<p> +"Thank you," said Mr. Grimm quietly. "I +understand." +</p> +<p> +"I may add that it is a matter of deep regret +to me," and the president brought one vigorous +hand down on the young man's shoulder, "that +our government has so few men of your type in +its service. Good day." +</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<a name="CH25"><!-- CHAPTER 25 --></a> +<h3> + XXV +</h3> + +<h3> +WE TWO +</h3> +<p> </p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm turned from Pennsylvania +Avenue into a cross street, walked +along half a block or so, climbed a +short flight of stairs and entered an office. +</p> +<p> +"Is Mr. Howard in?" he queried of a boy in +attendance. +</p> +<p> +"Name, please." +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm handed over a sealed envelope +which bore the official imprint of the Department +of War in the upper left hand corner; and +the boy disappeared into a room beyond. A moment +later he emerged and held open the door +for Mr. Grimm. A gentleman—Mr. Howard—rose +from his seat and stared at him as he +entered. +</p> +<p> +"This note, Mr. Grimm, is surprising," he +remarked. +</p> +<p> +"It is only a request from the secretary of +war that I be permitted to meet the inventor of +the wireless percussion cap," Mr. Grimm explained +carelessly. "The negotiations have +reached a point where the War Department +must have one or two questions answered directly +by the inventor. Simple enough, you see." +</p> +<p> +"But it has been understood, and I have personally +impressed it upon the secretary of war +that such a meeting is impossible," objected Mr. +Howard. "All negotiations have been conducted +through me, and I have, as attorney for the inventor, +the right to answer any question that +may properly be answered. This now is a request +for a personal interview with the inventor." +</p> +<p> +"The necessity for such an interview has +risen unexpectedly, because of a 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 entirely on this interview." +</p> +<p> +Mr. Howard was leaning forward in his chair +with wrinkled brow intently studying the calm +face of the young man. Innocent himself of all +the intrigue and international chicanery back of +the affair, representing only an individual in +these secret negotiations, he saw in the statement, +as Mr. Grimm intended that he should, the possible +climax of a great business contract. His +greed was aroused; it might mean hundreds of +thousands of dollars to him. +</p> +<p> +"Do you think the deal can be made?" he +asked at last. +</p> +<p> +"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 between +the inventor and myself at once—this +afternoon." +</p> +<p> +Mr. Howard thoughtfully drummed on his +desk for a little while. From the first, save in +so far as the patent rights were concerned, he +had seen no reasons for the obligations of utter +secrecy which had been enforced upon him. Perhaps, +if he laid it before the inventor in this new +light, with the deal practically closed, the interview +would be possible! +</p> +<p> +"I have no choice in the matter, Mr. Grimm," +he said at last. "I shall have to put it to my +client, of course. Can you give me, say, half an +hour to communicate with him?" +</p> +<p> +"Certainly," and Mr. Grimm rose obligingly. +"Shall I wait outside here or call again?" +</p> +<p> +"You may wait if you don't mind," said Mr. +Howard. "I'll be able to let you know in a few +minutes, I hope." +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm bowed and passed out. At the +end of twenty-five minutes the door of Mr. Howard's +private office opened and he appeared. His +face was violently red, evidently from anger, +and perspiration stood on his forehead. +</p> +<p> +"I can't do anything with him," he declared +savagely. "He says simply that negotiations +must be conducted through me or not at all." +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm had risen; he bowed courteously. +</p> +<p> +"Very well," he said placidly. "You understand, +of course, as the note says, that this refusal +of his terminates the negotiations, so—" +</p> +<p> +"But just a moment—" interposed Mr. Howard +quickly. +</p> +<p> +"Good day," said Mr. Grimm. +</p> +<p> +The door opened and closed; he was gone. +Three minutes later he stepped into a telephone +booth at a near-by corner and took down the receiver. +</p> +<p> +"Hello, central!" he called, and then: "This +is Mr. Grimm of the Secret Service. What number +was Mr. Howard talking to?" +</p> +<p> +"Eleven double-nought six, Alexandria," was +the reply. +</p> +<p> +"Where is the connection? In whose name?" +</p> +<p> +"The connection is five miles out from Alexandria +in a farm-house on the old Baltimore +Road," came the crisp, business-like answer. +"The name is Murdock Williams." +</p> +<p> +"Thank you," said Mr. Grimm. "Good-by." +</p> +<p> +A moment later he was standing by the curb +waiting for a car, when Howard, still angry, and +with an expression of deep chagrin on his face, +came bustling up. +</p> +<p> +"If you can give me until to-morrow afternoon, +then—" he began. +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm glanced around at him, and with +a slight motion of his head summoned two men +who had been chatting near-by. One of them +was Blair, and the other Hastings. +</p> +<p> +"Take this man in charge," he directed. +"Hold him in solitary confinement until you hear +from me. Don't talk to him, don't let any one +else talk to him, and don't let him talk. If any +person speaks to him before he is locked up, +take that person in charge also. He is guilty +of no crime, but a single word from him now will +endanger my life." +</p> +<p> +That was all. It was said and done so quickly +that Howard, dazed, confused and utterly unable +to account for anything, was led away without +a protest. Mr. Grimm, musing gently on +the stupidity of mankind in general and the ease +with which it is possible to lead even a clever individual +into a trap, if the bait appeals to greed, +took a car and went up town. +</p> +<p> +Some three hours later he walked briskly +along a narrow path strewn with pine needles, +which led tortuously up to an old colonial farmhouse. +Outwardly the place seemed to be deserted. +The blinds, battered and stripped of +paint by wind and rain, were all closed and one +corner of the small veranda had crumbled away +from age and neglect. In the rear of the house, +rising from an old barn, a thin pole with a cup-like +attachment at the apex, thrust its point into +the open above the dense, odorous pines. Mr. +Grimm noted these things as he came along. +</p> +<p> +He stepped up quietly on the veranda and +had just extended one hand to rap on the door +when it was opened from within, and Miss +Thorne stood before him. He was not surprised; +intuition had told him he would meet her +again, perhaps here in hiding. A sudden quick +tenderness lighted the listless eyes. For an instant +she stood staring, her face pallid against +the 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 +by drooping lids, then she recovered herself and +they opened into his. In them he saw anxiety, +apprehension, fear even. +</p> +<p> +"Miss Thorne!" he greeted, and he bowed low +over the white hand which she impulsively thrust +toward him. +</p> +<p> +"I—I knew some one was coming," she stammered +in a half whisper. "I didn't know it was +you; I hadn't known definitely until this instant +that you were safe from the explosion. I am +glad—glad, you understand; glad that you +were not—" She stopped and fought back her +emotions, then went on: "But you must not come +in; you must go away at once. Your—your life +is in danger here." +</p> +<p> +"<i>How</i> did you know I was coming?" inquired +Mr. Grimm. +</p> +<p> +"From the moment Mr. Howard telephoned," +she replied, still hastily, still in the mysterious +half whisper. "I knew that it could only be +some one from your bureau, and I hoped that it +was you. I saw how you forced him to call us +up here, and that was all you needed. It was +simple, of course, to trace the telephone call." +Both of her hands closed over one of his desperately. +"Now, go, please. The Latin compact is +at an end; you merely invite death here. Now, +go!" +</p> +<p> +Her eyes were searching the listless face with +entreaty in them; the slender fingers were fiercely +gripping one of Mr. Grimm's nerveless hands. +For an instant some strange, softening light +flickered in the young man's eyes, then it passed. +</p> +<p> +"I have no choice, Miss Thorne," he said +gravely at last. "I am honor bound by my government +to do one of two things. If I fail in +the first of those—the greater—it can only be +because—" +</p> +<p> +He stopped; hope flamed up in her eyes and +she leaned forward eagerly studying the impassive +face. +</p> +<p> +"Because—?" she repeated. +</p> +<p> +"It can only be because I am killed," he added +quietly. Suddenly his whole manner changed. +"I should like to see the—the inventor?" +</p> +<p> +"But don't you see—don't you see you <i>will</i> +be killed if—?" she began tensely. +</p> +<p> +"May I see the inventor, please?" Mr. Grimm +interrupted. +</p> +<p> +For a little time she stood, white and rigid, +staring at him. Then her lids fluttered down +wearily, as if to veil some crushing agony within +her, and she stepped aside. Mr. Grimm entered +and the door closed noiselessly behind him. +After a moment her hand rested lightly on his +arm, and he was led into a room to his left. This +door, too, she closed, immediately turning to +face him. +</p> +<p> +"We may talk here a few minutes without interruption," +she said in a low tone. Her voice +was quite calm now. "If you will be—?" +</p> +<p> +"Please understand, Miss Thorne," he interposed +mercilessly, "that I must see the inventor, +whoever he is. What assurance have I that this +is not some ruse to permit him to escape?" +</p> +<p> +"You have my word of honor," she said quite +simply. +</p> +<p> +"Please go on." He sat down. +</p> +<p> +"You will see him too soon, I fear," she continued +slowly. "If you had not come to him he +would have gone to you." She swayed a little +and pressed one hand to her eyes. "I would to +God it were in my power to prevent that meeting!" +she exclaimed desperately. Then, with an +effort: "There are some things I want to explain +to you. It may be that you will be willing +to go then of your own free will. If I lay bare +to you every step I have taken since I have been +in Washington; if I make clear to you every +obscure point in this hideous intrigue; if I confess +to you that the Latin compact has been +given up for all time, won't that be enough? +Won't you go then?" +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm's teeth closed with a snap. +</p> +<p> +"I don't want that—from you," he declared. +</p> +<p> +"But if I should tell it all to you?" she +pleaded. +</p> +<p> +"I won't listen, Miss Thorne. You once paid +me the compliment of saying that I was one man +you knew in whom you had never been disappointed." +The listless eyes were blazing into +her own now. "<i>I</i> have never been disappointed +in you. I will not permit you to disappoint me +now. The secrets of your government are mine +if I can get them—but I won't allow you to tell +them to me." +</p> +<p> +"My government!" Miss Thorne repeated, +and her lips curled sadly. "I—I have no government. +I have been cast off by that government, +stripped of my rank, and branded as a +traitor!" +</p> +<p> +"Traitor!" Mr. Grimm's lips formed the +word silently. +</p> +<p> +"I failed, don't you see?" she rushed on. +"Ignominy is the reward of failure. Prince +d'Abruzzi went on to New York that night, cabled +a full account of the destruction of the +compact to my government, and sailed home on +the following day. I was the responsible one, +and now it all comes 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." +</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<a name="CH26"><!-- CHAPTER 26 --></a> +<h3> + XXVI +</h3> + +<h3> +IN WHICH THEY BOTH WIN +</h3> +<p> </p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm dropped into a chair with +his teeth clenched, and his face like +chalk. For a minute or more he sat +there turning it all over in his mind. Truly the +triumph had been robbed of its splendor when +the blow fell here—here upon a woman he loved. +</p> +<p> +"There's no shame in the confession of one +who is fairly beaten," Isabel went on softly, +after a little. "There are many things that +you don't understand. I came to Washington +with an authority from my sovereign higher +even than that vested in the ambassador; I came +<i>as</i> I did and compelled Count di Rosini to obtain +an invitation to the state ball for me in order +that I might meet a representative of Russia +there that night and receive an answer as to +whether or not they would join the compact. I +received that answer; its substance is of no consequence +now. +</p> +<p> +"And you remember where I first met you? +It was while you were investigating the shooting +of Señor Alvarez in the German embassy. That +shooting, as you know, was done by Prince +d'Abruzzi, so almost from the beginning my +plans went wrong because of the assumption of +authority by the prince. The paper he took +from Señor Alvarez after the shooting was supposed +to bear vitally upon Mexico's attitude toward +our plan, but, as it developed, it was about +another matter entirely." +</p> +<p> +"Yes, I know," said Mr. Grimm. +</p> +<p> +"The event of that night which you did <i>not</i> +learn was that Germany agreed to join the compact +upon conditions. Mr. Rankin, who was attached +to the German embassy in an advisory +capacity, delivered the answer to me, and I pretended +to faint in order that I might reasonably +avoid you." +</p> +<p> +"I surmised that much," remarked Mr. +Grimm. +</p> +<p> +"The telegraphing I did with my fan was as +much to distract your attention as anything +else, and at the same time to identify myself to +Mr. Rankin, whom I had never met. You knew +him, of course; I didn't." +</p> +<p> +She was silent a while as her eyes steadily +met those of Mr. Grimm. Finally she went on: +</p> +<p> +"When next I met you it was in the Venezuelan +legation; you were investigating the theft of +the fifty thousand dollars in gold from the safe. +I thrust myself into that case, because I was +afraid of you; and mercilessly destroyed a woman's +name in your eyes to further my plans. I +made you believe that Señorita Rodriguez stole +that fifty thousand dollars, and I returned it to +you, presumably, while we stood in her room that +night. Only it was not her room—it was <i>mine!</i> +<i>I</i> stole the fifty thousand dollars! All the details, +even to her trip to see Mr. Griswold in +Baltimore in company with Mr. Cadwallader, +had been carefully worked out; and she <i>did</i> +bring me the combination of the safe from Mr. +Griswold on the strength of a forged letter. But +she didn't know it. There was no theft, of +course. I had no intention of keeping the +money. It was necessary to take it to distract +attention from the thing I <i>did</i> do—break a lock +inside the safe to get a sealed packet that contained +Venezuela's answer to our plan. I sealed +that packet again, and there was never a suspicion +that it had been opened." +</p> +<p> +"Only a suspicion," Mr. Grimm corrected. +</p> +<p> +"Then came the abduction of Monsieur Boisségur, +the French ambassador. I plunged into +that case as I did in the other because I was +afraid of you and had to know just how much +you knew. It was explained to you as an attempt +at extortion with details which I carefully +supplied. As a matter of fact, Monsieur +Boisségur opposed our plans, even endangered +them; and it was not advisable to have him recalled +or even permit him to resign at the moment. +So we abducted him, intending to hold +him until direct orders could reach him from +Paris. Understand, please, that all these things +were made possible by the aid and cooperation +of dozens, scores, of agents who were under my +orders; every person who appeared in that abduction +was working at my direction. The ambassador's +unexpected escape disarranged our +plans; but he was taken out of the embassy by +force the second time under your very eyes. The +darkness which made this possible was due to the +fact that while you were looking for the switch, +and I was apparently aiding, I was holding my +hand over it all the time to keep you from turning +on the light. You remember that?" +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm nodded. +</p> +<p> +"All the rest of it you know," she concluded +wearily. "You compelled me to leave the +Venezuelan legation by your espionage, but in +the crowded hotel to which I moved I had little +difficulty avoiding your Mr. Hastings, your Mr. +Blair and your Mr. Johnson, so I came and +went freely without your knowledge. The escape +of the prince from prison you arranged, so +you understand all of that, as well as the meeting +and attempted signing of the compact, and +the rapid recovery of Señor Alvarez. And, after +all, it was my fault that our plans failed, because +if I had not been—been uneasy as to your +condition and had not made the mistake of going +to the deserted little house where you were a prisoner, +the plans would have succeeded, the compact +been signed." +</p> +<p> +"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 act +of—consideration and kindness to me—" +</p> +<p> +"We would have succeeded in spite of you," +explained Isabel. "We were afraid of you, Mr. +Grimm. It was a compliment to you that we +considered it necessary to account for your +whereabouts at the time of the signing of the +compact." +</p> +<p> +"And if you had succeeded," remarked Mr. +Grimm, "the whole civilized world would have +come to war." +</p> +<p> +"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 is exaltation, +stimulation, excitement in it. It has always +possessed the greatest fascination for me. +I have always won, you know, until now. I +failed! And my reward is 'Traitor!'" +</p> +<p> +"Just a word of assurance now," she went on +after a moment. "The Latin compact 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 know you have wondered; +I know your agents have scoured the +world to find out. I am the daughter of a former +Italian ambassador to the Court of St. +James. My mother was an English woman. I +was born and received my early 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 am an exile with +a price on my head. That is all, except for several +years I was a trusted agent of my government, +and a friend of my queen." +</p> +<p> +She rose and extended both hands graciously. +Mr. Grimm seized the slender white fingers and +stood with eyes fixed upon hers. Slowly a flush +crept into her pallid cheeks, and she bowed her +head. +</p> +<p> +"Wonderful woman!" he said softly. +</p> +<p> +"I shall ask a favor of you now," she went on +gently. "Let all this that you have learned take +the place of whatever you expected to learn, and +go. Believe me, there can only be one result if +you meet—if you meet the inventor of the wireless +cap upon which so much was staked, and so +much lost." She shuddered a little, then raised +the blue-gray eyes beseechingly to his face. +"Please go." +</p> +<p> +Go! The word straightened Mr. Grimm in +his tracks and he allowed her hands to fall limply. +Suddenly his face grew hard. In the ecstasy +of adoration he had momentarily forgotten his +purpose here. His eyes lost their ardor; his +nerveless hands dropped beside him. +</p> +<p> +"No," he said. +</p> +<p> +"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? +You can't; no man can. No one knows the inventor +more intimately than I, and even 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 have +accepted a fortune at the hands of Prince +d'Abruzzi to remain silent. The compact has +failed; you did that. The agents have scattered—gone +to other duties. That is enough." +</p> +<p> +"No," said Mr. Grimm. There was a strange +fear tearing at his heart,—"No one knows the +inventor more intimately than I." "No," he said +again. "I won from my government a promise +to be made good upon a condition—I must fulfil +that condition." +</p> +<p> +"But there is nothing, promotion, honor, reward, +that would compensate you for the loss of +your life," she entreated. "There is still time." +She was pleading now, with her slim white hands +resting on his shoulders, and the blue-gray eyes +fixed upon his face. +</p> +<p> +"It's more than all that," he said. "That +condition is you—your safety." +</p> +<p> +"For me?" she repeated. "For me? Then, +won't you go for—for my sake?" +</p> +<p> +"No." +</p> +<p> +"Won't you go if you know you will be +killed," and suddenly her face turned scarlet, +"and that your life is dear to me?" +</p> +<p> +"No." +</p> +<p> +Isabel dropped upon her knees before him. +</p> +<p> +"This inventor—this man whom you insist +on seeing is half insane with disappointment and +anger," she rushed on desperately. "Remember +that a vast fortune, honor, fame were at his finger +tips when you—you placed them beyond his +reach by the destruction of the compact. He +has sworn to kill you." +</p> +<p> +"I can't go!" +</p> +<p> +"If you <i>know</i> that when you meet one of you +will die?" +</p> +<p> +"No." The answer came fiercely, through +clenched teeth. Mr. Grimm disengaged his +right hand and drew his revolver; the barrel +clicked under his fingers as it spun. +</p> +<p> +"If I tell you that of the two human beings in +this world whom I love this man is one?" +</p> +<p> +"No." +</p> +<p> +A shuffling step sounded in the hallway just +outside. Mr. Grimm stepped back from the +kneeling figure, and turned to face the door with +his revolver ready. +</p> +<p> +"Great God!" It was a scream of agony. +"He is my brother! Don't you see?" +</p> +<p> +She came to her feet and went staggering +across to the door. The key clicked in the lock. +</p> +<p> +"Your brother!" exclaimed Mr. Grimm. +</p> +<p> +"He wouldn't listen to me—<i>you</i> wouldn't +listen to me, and now—and <i>now</i>! God have +mercy!" +</p> +<p> +There was a sharp rattling, a clamor at the +door, and Isabel turned to Mr. Grimm mutely, +with arms outstretched. The revolver barrel +clicked under his hand, then, after a moment, he +replaced the weapon in his pocket. +</p> +<p> +"Please open the door," he requested quietly. +</p> +<p> +"He'll kill you!" she screamed. +</p> +<p> +Exhausted, helpless, she leaned against a +chair with her face in her hands. Mr. Grimm +went to her suddenly, tore the hands from her +face, and met the tear-stained eyes. +</p> +<p> +"I love you," he said. "I want you to know +that!" +</p> +<p> +"And I love you—that's why it matters so." +</p> +<p> +Leaving her there, Mr. Grimm strode straight +to the door and threw it open. 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. There was a short, sharp +struggle, and both went down. The revolver! +He must get 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 his head, and then came a second flash. +Instantly he felt the figure in his arms grow +limp; and after a moment he rose. The face of +the man on the floor was pearly gray; and a +thin, scarlet thread flowed from his temple. +</p> + +<a name="image-5"><!-- Image 5 --></a> +<p class="figure"> +<a href="images/img5.jpg"> +<img width="60%" src="images/img5.jpg" +alt="In a Stride Mr. Grimm Was Beside Her."/></a><br /> +<b>"In a Stride Mr. Grimm Was Beside Her."</b> +</p> + +<p> +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. The blue-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. He lifted her gently and placed her on +a couch, after which he disappeared into another +room. In a little while there came the +cheerful ting-a-ling of a telephone bell. +</p> +<p> +"Is this the county constable's office?" he inquired. +"Well, there's been a little shooting accident +at the Murdock Williams' place, five miles +out from Alexandria on the old Baltimore Road. +Please send some of your men over to take +charge. Two hours from now call up Mr. +Grimm at Secret Service headquarters in Washington +and he will explain. Good-by." +</p> +<p> +And a few minutes later Mr. Grimm walked +along the road toward an automobile a hundred +yards away, bearing Miss Thorne in his arms. +The chauffeur cranked the machine and climbed +to his seat. +</p> +<p> +"Washington!" directed Mr. Grimm. "Never +mind the speed laws." +</p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<center> +<b>THE END</b> +</center> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 10943 ***</div> +</body> +</html> + diff --git a/10943-h/images/img1.jpg b/10943-h/images/img1.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..7cfc521 --- /dev/null +++ b/10943-h/images/img1.jpg diff --git a/10943-h/images/img2.jpg b/10943-h/images/img2.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..d021cdb --- /dev/null +++ b/10943-h/images/img2.jpg diff --git a/10943-h/images/img3.jpg b/10943-h/images/img3.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..d14d395 --- /dev/null +++ b/10943-h/images/img3.jpg diff --git a/10943-h/images/img4.jpg b/10943-h/images/img4.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..fffd27b --- /dev/null +++ b/10943-h/images/img4.jpg diff --git a/10943-h/images/img5.jpg b/10943-h/images/img5.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..320c067 --- /dev/null +++ b/10943-h/images/img5.jpg diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0ba487d --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #10943 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/10943) diff --git a/old/10943-8.txt b/old/10943-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2d0cf42 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/10943-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5844 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Elusive Isabel, by Jacques Futrelle + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Elusive Isabel + +Author: Jacques Futrelle + +Release Date: February 4, 2004 [EBook #10943] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ELUSIVE ISABEL *** + + + + +Produced by Steven desJardins and PG Distributed Proofreaders + + + + +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 city +of evasion, of conventionalities, sated with the commonplace pleasures +of life, listless, blasé even, and always exquisitely, albeit frigidly, +courteous; but beneath the still, suave surface strange currents play at +cross purposes, intrigue is endless, and the merciless war of diplomacy +goes on unceasingly. Occasionally, only occasionally, a bubble comes to +the surface, and when it bursts the echo goes crashing around the earth. +Sometimes a dynasty is shaken, a nation trembles, a ministry topples +over; but the ripple moves and all is placid again. No man may know all +that happens there, for then he would be diplomatic master of the +world. + +"There is plenty of red blood in Washington," remarked a jesting +legislative gray-beard, once upon a time, "but it's always frozen before +they put it in circulation. Diplomatic negotiations are conducted in the +drawing-room, but long before that the fight is fought down cellar. The +diplomatists meet at table and there isn't any broken crockery, but you +can always tell what the player thinks of the dealer by the way he draws +three cards. Everybody is after results; and lots of monarchs of Europe +sit up nights polishing their crowns waiting for word from Washington." + +So, this is Washington! And here at dinner are the diplomatic +representatives of all the nations. That is the British ambassador, that +stolid-faced, distinguished-looking, elderly man; and this is the French +ambassador, dapper, volatile, plus-correct; here Russia's highest +representative wags a huge, blond beard; and yonder is the phlegmatic +German ambassador. Scattered around the table, brilliant splotches of +color, are the uniformed envoys of the Orient--the smaller the country +the more brilliant the splotch. It is a state dinner, to be followed by +a state ball, and they are all present. + +The Italian ambassador, Count di Rosini, was trying to interpret a +French _bon mot_ into English for the benefit of the dainty, doll-like +wife of the Chinese minister--who was educated at Radcliffe--when a +servant leaned over him and laid a sealed envelope beside his plate. The +count glanced around at the servant, excused himself to Mrs. Quong Li +Wi, and opened the envelope. Inside was a single sheet of embassy note +paper, 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 it +in pencil: + +"Impossible to-night. Tell her to call at the embassy to-morrow morning +at half-past ten o'clock." + +He folded the note, handed it to the servant, and resumed his +conversation with Mrs. Wi. + +Half an hour later the same servant placed a second sealed envelope +beside his plate. Recognizing the superscription, the ambassador +impatiently shoved it aside, intending to disregard it. But irritated +curiosity finally triumphed, and he opened it. A white card on which was +written 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 a +woman, and just as unmistakably strange to him. He frowned a little as +he stared at it wonderingly, then idly turned the card over. There was +no name on the reverse side--only a crest. Evidently the count +recognized this, for his impassive face reflected surprise for an +instant, and this was followed by a keen, bewildered interest. Finally +he arose, made his apologies, and left the room. His automobile was at +the 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. "I +gave her your message, but she said she must see you and would write you +a 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 a +slightly puzzled expression on his face. Standing before a window, +gazing idly out into the light-spangled night, was a young woman, rather +tall and severely gowned in some rich, glistening stuff which fell away +sheerly from her splendid bare shoulders. She turned and he found +himself looking into a pair of clear, blue-gray eyes, frank enough and +yet in their very frankness possessing an alluring, indefinable +subtlety. He would not have called her pretty, yet her smile, slight as +it was, was singularly charming, and there radiated from her a +something--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 apologized +graciously. "It would at least have saved a little time. You have the +card?" + +He produced it silently, crest down, and handed it to her. She struck a +match, lighted the card, and it crumbled up in her gloved hand. The last +tiny scrap found refuge in a silver tray, where she watched it burn to +ashes, then she turned to the ambassador with a brilliant smile. He was +still 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 of +any consequence, but I should like very much to attend the ball +afterward. Can you arrange it for me?" + +"I don't know just how I would proceed, Madam," the ambassador objected +diffidently. "It would be rather unusual, difficult, I may say, and--" + +"But surely you can arrange it some way?" she interrupted demurely. "The +highest diplomatic representative of a great nation should not find it +difficult to arrange so simple a matter as--as this?" She was smiling. + +"Pardon me for suggesting it, Madam," the ambassador persisted +courteously, "but anything out of the usual attracts attention in +Washington. 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 to +herself." She laughed--a throaty, silvery note that was charming. "And +if you hesitate now, then to-morrow--why, to-morrow I am going to ask +that you open to me all this Washington world--this brilliant world of +diplomatic 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, and +certainly there was an uneasy feeling of rebellion at this attempt to +thrust him forward against all precedent. + +"Your requests are of so extraordinary a nature that--" he began in +courteous protestation. + +There was no trace of impatience in the woman's manner; she was still +smiling. + +"It is necessary that I attend the ball to-night," she explained, "you +may imagine how necessary when I say I sailed from Liverpool six days +ago, reaching New York at half-past three o'clock this afternoon; and at +half-past four I was on my way here. I have been here less than one +hour. I came from Liverpool especially that I might be present; and I +even dressed on the train so there would be no delay. Now do you see the +necessity of it?" + +Diplomatic procedure is along well-oiled grooves, and the diplomatist +who steps out of the rut for an instant happens upon strange and +unexpected obstacles. Knowing this, the ambassador still hesitated. The +woman apparently understood. + +"I had hoped that this would not be necessary," she remarked, and she +produced a small, sealed envelope. "Please read it." + +The ambassador received the envelope with uplifted brows, opened it and +read what was written on a folded sheet of paper. Some subtle working +of his brain brought a sudden change in the expression of his face. +There was wonder in it, and amazement, and more than these. Again he +bowed low. + +"I am at your service, Madam," he repeated. "I shall take pleasure in +making any arrangements that are necessary. Again, I beg your pardon." + +"And it will not be so very difficult, after all, will it?" she +inquired, and she smiled tauntingly. + +"It will not be at all difficult, Madam," the ambassador assured her +gravely. "I shall take steps at once to have an invitation issued to you +for to-night; and to-morrow I shall be pleased to proceed as you may +suggest." + +She nodded. He folded the note, replaced it in the envelope and returned +it to her with another deep bow. She drew her skirts about her and sat +down; he stood. + +"It will be necessary for your name to appear on the invitation," the +ambassador went on to explain. "If you will give me your name I'll have +my secretary--" + +"Oh, yes, my name," she interrupted gaily. "Why, Count, you embarrass +me. You know, really, I have no name. Isn't it awkward?" + +"I understand perfectly, Madam," responded the count. "I should have +said _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. "Please +excuse me a moment, and I'll give my secretary instructions how to +proceed. There will be a delay of a few minutes." + +He opened the door and went out. For a minute or more Miss Thorne sat +perfectly still, gazing at the blank wooden panels, then she rose and +went to the window again. In the distance, hazy in the soft night, the +dome of the capitol rose mistily; over to the right was the +congressional library, and out there where the lights sparkled lay +Pennsylvania Avenue, a thread of commerce. Miss Thorne saw it all, and +suddenly stretched out her arms with an all-enveloping gesture. She +stood so for a minute, then they fell beside her, and she was +motionless. + +Count di Rosini entered. + +"Everything is arranged, Miss Thorne," he announced. "Will you go with +me in my automobile, or do you prefer to go alone?" + +"I'll go alone, please," she answered after a moment. "I shall be there +about 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 another +man's business to peddle shoe-strings, so it was Mr. Campbell's business +to know things. He was a human card index, a governmental ready +reference posted to the minute and backed by all the tremendous +resources of a nation. From the little office in the Secret Service +Bureau, where he sat day after day, radiating threads connected with the +huge outer world, and enabled him to keep a firm hand on the diplomatic +and departmental pulse of Washington. Perhaps he came nearer knowing +everything that happened there than any other man living; and no man +realized more perfectly than he just how little of all of it he did +know. + +In person Mr. Campbell was not unlike a retired grocer who had shaken +the butter and eggs from his soul and settled back to enjoy a life of +placid idleness. He was a little beyond middle age, pleasant of face, +white of hair, and blessed with guileless blue eyes. His genius had no +sparkle to it; it consisted solely of detail and system and +indefatigability, coupled with a memory that was well nigh infallible. +His brain was as serene and orderly as a cash register; one almost +expected to hear it click. + +He sat at his desk intently studying a cable despatch which lay before +him. It was in the Secret Service code. Leaning over his shoulder was +Mr. Grimm--_the_ Mr. Grimm of the bureau. Mr. Grimm was an utterly +different type from his chief. He was younger, perhaps thirty-one or +two, physically well proportioned, a little above the average height, +with regular features and listless, purposeless eyes--a replica of a +hundred other young men who dawdle idly in the windows of their clubs +and watch the world hurry by. His manner was languid; his dress showed +fastidious care. + +Sentence by sentence the bewildering intricacies of the code gave way +before the placid understanding of Chief Campbell, and word by word, +from the chaos of it, a translation took intelligible form upon a sheet +of paper under his right hand. Mr. Grimm, looking on, exhibited only a +most perfunctory interest in the extraordinary message he was reading; +the listless eyes narrowed a little, that was all. It was a special +despatch from Lisbon dated that morning, and signed simply "Gault." +Completely translated it ran thus: + +"Secret offensive and defensive alliance of the Latin against the +English-speaking nations of the world is planned. Italy, France, Spain +and two South American republics will soon sign compact in Washington. +Proposition just made to Portugal, and may be accepted. Special envoys +now working in Mexico and Central and South America. Germany invited to +join, but refuses as yet, giving, however, tacit support; attitude of +Russia and Japan unknown to me. Prince Benedetto d'Abruzzi, believed to +be in Washington at present, has absolute power to sign for Italy, +France and Spain. Profound secrecy enjoined and preserved. I learned of +it 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 for +a long time, staring with steadfast, thoughtful eyes into the impassive +face of his subordinate. Mr. Grimm perched himself on the edge of the +desk and with his legs dangling read the despatch a second time, and a +third. + +"If," he observed slowly, "if any other man than Gault had sent that I +should have said he was crazy." + +"The peace of the world is in peril, Mr. Grimm," said Campbell +impressively, at last. "It had to come, of course, the United States and +England against a large part of Europe and all of Central and South +America. It had to come, and yet--!" + +He broke off abruptly, and picked up the receiver of his desk +telephone. + +"The White House, please," he requested curtly, and then, after a +moment: "Hello! Please ask the president if he will receive Mr. Campbell +immediately. Yes, Mr. Campbell of the Secret Service." There was a +pause. Mr. Grimm removed his immaculate person from the desk, and took a +chair. "Hello! In half an hour? So much!" + +The pages of the Almanac de Gotha fluttered through his fingers, and +finally he leaned forward and studied a paragraph of it closely. When he +raised his eyes again there was that in them which Mr. Grimm had never +seen 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 American +countries, taken separately, are inconsequential, and that is true, too, +of the Latin countries of Europe, except France, but taken in +combination, under one directing mind, the allied navies would be--would +be formidable, at least. Backed by the moral support of Germany, and +perhaps 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 into +the first step toward a world-war--a war of reprisal and conquest beside +which the other great wars of the world would seem trivial. For the fact +has at last come home to the nations of the world that ultimately the +English-speaking peoples will dominate it--dominate it, because they are +the practical peoples. They have given to the world all its great +practical inventions--the railroad, the steamship, electricity, the +telegraph and cable--all of them; they are the great civilizing forces, +rounding the world up to new moral understanding, for what England has +done in Africa and India we have done in a smaller way in the +Philippines and Cuba and Porto Rico; they are the great commercial +peoples, slowly but surely winning the market-places of the earth; +wherever the English or the American flag is planted there the English +tongue is being spoken, and there the peoples are being taught the +sanity of right living and square dealing. + +"It requires no great effort of the imagination, Mr. Grimm, to foresee +that day when the traditional power of Paris, and Berlin, and St. +Petersburg, and Madrid will be honey-combed by the steady encroachment +of our methods. This alliance would indicate that already that day has +been foreseen; that there is now a resentment which is about to find +expression in one great, desperate struggle for world supremacy. A few +hundred years ago Italy--or Rome--was stripped of her power; only +recently the United States dispelled the illusion that Spain was +anything but a shell; and France--! One can't help but wonder if the +power she boasts is not principally on paper. But if their forces are +combined? Do you see? It would be an enormous power to reckon with, with +a hundred bases of supplies right at our doors." + +He rose suddenly and walked over to the window, where he stood for a +moment, staring out with unseeing eyes. + +"Given a yard of canvas, Mr. Grimm," he went on finally, "a Spanish boy +will waste it, a French boy will paint a picture on it, an English boy +will built a sail-boat, and an American boy will erect a tent. That +fully illustrates the difference in the races." + +He abandoned the didactic tone, and returned to the material matter in +hand. Mr. Grimm passed him the despatch and he sat down again. + +"'Will soon sign compact in Washington,'" he read musingly. "Now I don't +know that the signing of that compact can be prevented, but the signing +of 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 a +task made, apparently, not the slightest impression on him. He languidly +drew on his gloves. + +"And meanwhile I shall take steps to ascertain the attitude of Russian +and 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 that +matter. Naturally, on such a mission, he would not come as a publicly +accredited agent, therefore, I imagine, he is to be sought under another +name." + +"Of course," Mr. Grimm acquiesced. + +"And he would avoid the big hotels." + +"Certainly." + +Mr. Campbell permitted his guileless blue eyes to linger inquiringly +upon those of the young man for half a minute. He caught himself +wondering, sometimes, at the perfection of the deliberate indifference +with which Mr. Grimm masked his emotions. In his admiration of this +quality he quite overlooked the remarkable mask of benevolence behind +which he himself hid. + +"And the name, D'Abruzzi," he remarked, after a time. "What does it mean +to 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 Gotha +and glanced at the open page. "Of course, the first thing to do is to +find him; the rest will be simple enough." He perused the page +carelessly. "I will begin work at once." + + + + +III + +THE LANGUAGE OF THE FAN + + +Mr. Grimm was chatting idly with Señorita Rodriguez, daughter of the +minister from Venezuela, the while he permitted his listless eyes to +wander aimlessly about the spacious ball-room of the German embassy, +ablaze with festooned lights, and brilliant with a multi-colored chaos +of uniforms. Gleaming pearl-white, translucent in the mass, were the +bare shoulders of women; and from far off came the plaintive whine of an +orchestra, a pulsing sense rather than a living sound, of music, pointed +here and there by the staccato cry of a flute. A zephyr, perfumed with +the clean, fresh odor of lilacs, stirred the draperies of the archway +which led into the conservatory and rustled the bending branches of +palms and ferns. + +For a scant instant Mr. Grimm's eyes rested on a young woman who sat a +dozen feet away, talking, in playful animation, with an undersecretary +of the British embassy--a young woman severely gowned in some glistening +stuff which fell away sheerly from her splendid bare shoulders. She +glanced up, as if in acknowledgment of his look, and her eyes met his. +Frank, blue-gray eyes they were, stirred to their depths now by +amusement. 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--with +Miss Thorne it is her eyes." + +"Miss Thorne?" Mr. Grimm repeated. + +"Haven't you met her?" the señorita went on. "Miss Isabel Thorne? She +only arrived a few days ago--the night of the state ball. She's my +guest at the legation. When an opportunity comes I shall present you to +her." + +She ran on, about other things, with only an occasional remark from Mr. +Grimm, who was thoughtfully nursing his knee. Somewhere through the +chatter and effervescent gaiety, mingling with the sound of the pulsing +music, he had a singular impression of a rhythmical beat, an indistinct +tattoo, noticeable, perhaps, only because of its monotony. After a +moment he shot a quick glance at Miss Thorne and understood; it was the +tapping 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 with +a long stare into the señorita's pretty face. Behind the careless ease +of 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 the +señorita banteringly. + +For an instant Mr. Grimm continued to stare, and then his listless eyes +swept the ball-room, pausing involuntarily at the scarlet splendor of +the minister from Turkey. + +"I beg your pardon," he apologized contritely. There was a pause. "The +minister from Turkey looks like a barn on fire, doesn't he?" + +Señorita Rodriguez laughed, and Mr. Grimm glanced idly toward Miss +Thorne. She was still talking, her face alive with interest; and the fan +was 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 faces +swathed," Mr. Grimm suggested indolently. "Haroun el Raschid there would +agree with me on that point, I have no doubt. What a shock he would get +if 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 the +Morse 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 into +the uniforms of its diplomatists? The British ambassador, you will +observe, is clothed sanely and modestly, as befits the representative of +a great nation; but coming on down by way of Spain and Italy, they get +more gorgeous. However, I dare say as stout a heart beats beneath a +sky-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 a +violent 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's +voice apologetically. "Do you ladies feel it? No? Well, if you'll excuse +me--?" + +Mr. Grimm glanced back languidly. The speaker was Charles Winthrop +Rankin, a brilliant young American lawyer who was attached to the German +embassy in an advisory capacity. Among other things he was a Heidelberg +man, having spent some dozen years of his life in Germany, where he +established 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 fan +tapped 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 some +remark 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 roved +aimlessly 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 a +wrinkle, nor the tiniest indication of perplexity in his face. Instead +he began talking of Raphael's cherubs, the remark being called into life +by the high complexion of a young man who was passing. Miss Thorne +glanced at him once keenly, her splendid eyes fairly aglow, and the fan +rattled 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, a +difficulty utterly belied by the quizzical lines about his mouth. As he +caught 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--g +5--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 of +the 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 back +I'll reward you by presenting you to Miss Thorne. You'll find her +charming; and Mr. Cadwallader has monopolized her long enough." + +Mr. Grimm bowed and left her. He had barely disappeared when Mr. Rankin +lounged along in front of Miss Thorne. He glanced at her, paused and +greeted her effusively. + +"Why, Miss Thorne!" he exclaimed. "I'm delighted to see you here. I +understood you would not be present, and--" + +Their hands met in a friendly clasp as she rose and moved away, with a +nod 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 the +little 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 to +decipher it." + +She gathered up her trailing skirts over one arm, and together they +glided 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 the +chief's face was disturbed by the slightest questioning uplift of his +brows as he dropped into a seat opposite Mr. Grimm, and lighted a cigar. +Mr. Grimm raised his hand, and a servant who stood near, approached +them. + +"An ice--here," Mr. Grimm directed tersely. + +The servant bowed and disappeared, and Mr. Grimm hastily scribbled +something 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 be +unintelligible," Mr. Grimm explained. "I have reason to believe it is +in 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 Continental +code." 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 door +to take the ice which the servant was bringing in. The seat where he had +left Señorita Rodriguez was vacant; so was the chair where Miss Thorne +had been. He glanced about inquiringly, and a servant who stood stolidly +near the conservatory door approached him. + +"Pardon, sir, but the lady who was sitting here," and he indicated the +chair where Miss Thorne had been sitting, "fainted while dancing, and +the 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, with +red 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, vibrant +cra-a-sh! of a revolver, somewhere off to his left. The president! That +was his first thought. One glance across the room to where the chief +executive stood, in conversation with two other gentlemen, reassured +him. The choleric blue eyes of the president had opened a little at the +sound, then he calmly resumed the conversation. Mr. Grimm impulsively +started toward the little group, but already a cordon was being drawn +there--a cordon of quiet-faced, keen-eyed men, unobstrusively forcing +their 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 in +which white-faced women clung to the arms of their escorts, and the +brilliant galaxy of colors halted. Then, after a moment, there came +clearly through the stillness, the excited, guttural command of the +German ambassador. + +"Keep on blaying, you tam fools! Keep on blaying!" + +The orchestra started again tremulously. Mr. Grimm nodded a silent +approval of the ambassador's command, then turned away toward his left, +in the direction of the shot. After the first dismay, there was a +general movement of the crowd in that direction, a movement which was +checked by Mr. Campbell's appearance upon a chair, with a smile on his +bland face. + +"No harm done," he called. "One of the officers present dropped his +revolver, and it was accidently discharged. No harm done." + +There was a moment's excited chatter, deep-drawn breaths of relief, the +orchestra swung again into the interrupted rhythm, and the dancers moved +on. Mr. Grimm went straight to his chief, who had stepped down from the +chair. Two other Secret Service men stood behind him, blocking the +doorway 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-room +until they came to another door opening into the hall. Chief Campbell +pushed 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 way +down 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 together +they bent over the wounded man. The bullet had entered the torso just +below the ribs on the left side. + +"It's a clean wound," the physician was explaining. "The bullet passed +through. 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 reach +the inside breast pocket of his coat. Mr. Grimm obligingly thrust his +hand into the pocket and drew out its contents, the while Señor Alvarez +struggled frantically. + +"Just a moment," Mr. Grimm advised quietly. "I'm only going to let you +see if it is here. Is it?" + +He held the papers, one by one, in front of the wounded man, and each +time a shake of the head was his answer. At the last Señor Alvarez +closed 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 into +the hall. He met a maid-servant at the door, coming in. Her face was +blanched, 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, Chief +Campbell and the others. Then he caught the maid sharply by the arm and +shook 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 did +she run?" The maid stared at him with mouth agape. "Begin at the +beginning." + +"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't +know--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 indicated +the rear of the house. "Then I came to the door and looked out to see +who it was, and what was the matter, sir. I was standing there when a +man--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 excited +I couldn't open it right away, sir, and--and when I did I came here to +see 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 the +ball-room, sir, just a few minutes ago." + +Whatever emotion may have been aroused within Mr. Grimm it certainly +found no expression in his face. When he spoke again his voice was quite +calm. + +"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 one +called her name." + +Mr. Grimm took the girl, still a-quiver with excitement, and led her +along the hall to where Gray stood. + +"Take this girl in charge, Gray," he directed. "Lock her up, if +necessary. Don't permit her to say one word to anybody--_anybody_ you +understand, except the chief." + +Mr. Grimm left them there. He passed along the hall, glancing in each +room as he went, until he came to a short flight of stairs leading +toward the kitchen. He went on down silently. The lights were burning, +but the place was still, deserted. All the servants who belonged there +were evidently, for the moment, transferred to other posts. He passed on +through the kitchen and out the back door into the street. + +A little distance away, leaning against a lamp-post, a man was +standing. He might have been waiting for a car. Mr. Grimm approached +him. + +"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 an +automobile at the corner. I imagine this is hers," and he extended a +handkerchief, a dainty, perfumed trifle of lace. "I picked it up +immediately after she passed." + +Mr. Grimm took the handkerchief and examined it under the light. For a +time he was thoughtful, with lowered eyes, which, finally raised, met +those of the stranger with a scrutinizing stare. + +"Why," asked Mr. Grimm slowly and distinctly, "why did you slam the door +in 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 repeated +slowly. + +The stranger stared in utter amazement--an amazement so frank, so +unacted, 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, spidery +lines of perplexity, and the guileless blue eyes were vacant as he +stared 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 lucky +enough to find one immediately she came out. She did not return to the +embassy 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 fact +that she is suspected, unless perhaps the man who slammed the door--" +He paused. "Anyway, she will not attempt to leave Washington; I am +confident of that. Again, it didn't seem wise to me to employ the +ordinary crude police methods in the case--that is, go to the Venezuelan +legation and kick up a row." + +For a long time Campbell was silent; the perplexed lines still furrowed +his benevolent forehead. + +"The president is very anxious that we get to facts in this reported +Latin alliance as soon as possible," he said at last, irrelevantly. "He +mentioned the matter last night, and he has been keeping in constant +communication with Gault, in Lisbon, who, however, has not been able to +add materially to the original despatch. Under all the circumstances +don't you think it would be best for me to relieve you of the +investigation of this shooting affair so that you can concentrate on +this 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 while +gazing 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 and +glanced at it. "She arrived in Washington two weeks and two days ago +from New York, off the _Lusitania_, from Liverpool. She brought some +sort of an introduction to Count di Rosini, the Italian ambassador, and +he obtained for her a special invitation to the state ball, which was +held that night. Until four days ago she was a guest at the Italian +embassy, but now, as you know, is a guest at the Venezuelan legation. +Since her arrival here she has been prominently pushed forward into +society; she has gone everywhere, and been received everywhere in the +diplomatic set. We have no knowledge of her beyond this." + +There was a question in Mr. Grimm's listless eyes as they met those of +his chief. The same line of thought was running in both their minds, +born, perhaps, of the association of ideas--Italy as one of three great +nations known to be in the Latin compact; Prince Benedetto d'Abruzzi, of +Italy, the secret envoy of three countries; the sudden appearance of +Miss Thorne at the Italian embassy. And in the mind of the younger man +there was more than this--a definite knowledge of a message cunningly +transmitted to Mr. Rankin, of the German embassy, by Miss Thorne there +in the ball-room. + +"Can you imagine--" he asked slowly, "can you imagine a person who would +be of more value to the Latin governments in Washington right at this +stage 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 the +investigation of the shooting affair to another man," said Mr. Grimm +emphatically, reverting to his chief's question. "I think, on the +contrary, 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 of +paper. + +"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 repeated +musingly. "If I _do_ arrest her immediately I may cut off a clue which +will lead to the other affair. I don't know," he concluded. + +"Use your own judgment, and bear in mind that a man--_a man_ slammed +the door in the maid's face." + +"I shall not forget him," Mr. Grimm answered. "Now I'm going over to +talk to Count di Rosini for a while." + +The young man went out, thoughtfully tugging at his gloves. The Italian +ambassador received him with an inquiring uplift of his dark brows. + +"I came to make some inquiries in regard to Miss Thorne--Miss Isabel +Thorne," 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 in +Washington?" + +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 all +three?" Mr. Grimm continued. + +There was silence for a long time. + +"I don't see the trend of your questioning," said the ambassador +finally. "Miss Thorne is worthy of my protection in every way." + +"Let's suppose a case," suggested Mr. Grimm blandly. "Suppose Miss +Thorne had--had, let us say, shot a man, and he was about to die, would +you feel justified in withdrawing that--that protection, as you call +it?" + +"Such a thing is preposterous!" exclaimed the ambassador. "The utter +absurdity of such a charge would impel me to offer her every +assistance." + +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 Miss +Thorne shot?" + +"No one, particularly," Mr. Grimm assured him easily. "Just suppose +that 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 on +his little finger. The searching eyes of the ambassador found his face +blankly inscrutable. + +"Diplomatic representatives in Washington have certain obligations to +this government," the young man reminded him. "We--that is, the +government of the United States--undertake to guarantee the personal +safety of every accredited representative; in return for that +protection we must insist upon the name and identity of a dangerous +person who may be known to any foreign representative. Understand, +please, I'm not asserting that Miss Thorne is a dangerous person. You +are sponsor for her here. Is she, in every way, worthy of your +protection?" + +"Yes," said the ambassador flatly. + +"I can take it, then, that the introduction she brought to you is from a +person 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-gray +eyes, in sharp contrast to the glow of radiant health in her cheeks, as +she stepped from an automobile in front of the Venezuelan legation, and +ran lightly up the steps. A liveried servant opened the door. + +"A gentleman is waiting for you, Madam," he announced. "His card is here +on 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 small +drawing-rooms opening on a garden in the rear, pushed aside the +portières, 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 frank +courtesy. "I am afraid you were expecting some one else; I handed my +card to the footman." + +For an instant the blue-gray eyes opened wide in astonishment, and then +some quick, subtle change swept over Miss Thorne's face. She smiled +graciously and motioned him to a seat. + +"This is quite a different meeting from the one Señorita Rodriguez had +planned, isn't it?" she asked. + +There was a taunting curve on her scarlet lips; the shadow passed from +her eyes; her slim, white hands lay idle in her lap. Mr. Grimm regarded +her reflectively. There was a determination of steel back of this +charming exterior; there was an indomitable will, a keen brain, and all +of a woman's intuition to reckon with. She was silent, with a +questioning upward slant of her arched brows. + +"I am not mistaken in assuming that you are a secret agent of the +Italian government, am I?" he queried finally. + +"No," she responded readily. + +"In that event I may speak with perfect frankness?" he went on. "It +would be as useless as it would be absurd to approach the matter in any +other 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 of +countenance, but involuntarily she caught her breath. It might have +been 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 you +not, shoot him?" + +"No, of course I didn't shoot him," was the reply. If there was any +emotion 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 his +listless eyes rested on her face. "I will be absolutely frank, as I feel +sure you would be under the same circumstances." He paused a moment; she +nodded. "Well, immediately after the shooting you ran along the hallway +with 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 is +not conjecture; it is susceptible of proof by eye witnesses." + +Miss Thorne rose suddenly with a queer, helpless little gesture of her +arms, and walked to the window. She stood there for a long time with her +hands 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 the +person who actually did the shooting," he explained. "If you adhere to +it you compel me to regard you as an accomplice." His questioning took a +different 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 lying +there 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 hallway +and escape by way of the kitchen? If you did not do the shooting, why +the necessity of escape, carrying the revolver?" + +There was that in the blue-gray eyes which brought Mr. Grimm to his +feet. 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, that +you, 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 or +woman, who fired the shot. I will assume, for the moment, that this is +correct. Where is the revolver?" + +From the adjoining room there came a slight noise, a faint breath of +sound; or it might have been only an echo of silence. Their eyes were +fixed each upon the others unwaveringly, with not a flicker to indicate +that either had heard. After a moment Miss Thorne returned to her chair +and sat down. + +"It's rather a singular situation, isn't it, Mr. Grimm?" she inquired +irrelevantly. "You, Mr. Grimm of the Secret Service of the United +States; I, Isabel Thorne, a secret agent of Italy together here, one +accusing 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 with +you and--" + +"If you had been any one else but _you_ I should have placed you under +arrest 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 the +revolver because I knew who had fired the shot. Believe me when I tell +you that that person did not act with my knowledge or consent. You do +believe 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 my +misfortune. It will in no way alter my determination to keep silent. If +I 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 after +he was shot?" Mr. Grimm queried. + +"I don't know," she replied frankly. + +"As I understand it, then, the motive for the shooting was to obtain +possession of that paper? For your government?" + +"The individual who shot Señor Alvarez _did_ obtain the paper, yes. And +now, please, am I to be arrested?" + +"And just what was the purpose, may I inquire, of the message you +telegraphed with your fan in the ball-room?" + +"You read that?" exclaimed Miss Thorne in mock astonishment. "You read +that?" + +"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 known +nervousness. 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 draperies +parted. 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. After +a moment his glance shifted to the blazing eyes of the man who held +it--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 barrel +end.] + +"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 interrupted +quietly. "Is this the one?" + +He raised his hand quite casually, and his fingers closed like steel +around the weapon. Behind his back Miss Thorne made some quick emphatic +gesture, and the new-comer released the revolver. + +"I shall ask you, please, to free Miss Thorne," he requested +courteously. "I shot Señor Alvarez. I, too, am a secret agent of the +Italian government, willing and able to defend myself. Miss Thorne has +told you the truth; she had nothing whatever to do with it. She took the +weapon and escaped because it was mine. Here is the paper that was taken +from 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 my +compliments." + +After a moment Mr. Grimm's hand fell away from Miss Thorne's arm, and +he 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 all +responsibility." + +A few minutes later Mr. Grimm and his prisoner passed out of the +legation side by side, and strolled down the street together, in +amicable conversation. Half an hour later Señor Alvarez identified +Pietro Petrozinni as the man who shot him; and the maid servant +expressed 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 chief +reminded 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. Grimm +interrupted. And then, after a moment: "Have we received any further +reports 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 becomes +plain sailing. We know she _is_ a secret agent--I expected a denial, but +she was quite frank about it. And I had no intention whatever of placing +her under arrest. I knew some one was in the adjoining room because of a +slight noise in there, and I knew she knew it. She raised her voice a +little, obviously for the benefit of whoever was there. From that point +everything I said and did was to compel that person, whoever it was, to +show 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, "was +that the person in there was the man who shot Señor Alvarez. Frankly I +had half an idea that--that it might be the prince in person." Suddenly +his mood changed: "And now our lady of mystery may come and go as she +likes because I know, even if a dozen of our men have ransacked +Washington in vain for the prince, she will inevitably lead us to him. +And that reminds me: I should like to borrow Blair, and Hastings, and +Johnson. Please plant them so they may keep constant watch on Miss +Thorne. Let them report to you, and, wherever I am, I will reach you +over the 'phone." + +"By the way, what was in that sealed packet that was taken from Señor +Alvarez?" 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 of +the other, then Mr. Grimm entered his private office where he sat for an +hour with his immaculate boots on his desk, thinking. A world-war--he +had been thrust forward by his government to prevent it--subtle +blue-gray eyes--his Highness, Prince Benedetto d'Abruzzi--a haunting +smile and scarlet lips. + +At about the moment he rose to go out, Miss Thorne, closely veiled, left +the Venezuelan legation and walked rapidly down the street to a corner, +where, without a word, she entered a waiting automobile. The wheels spun +and the car leaped forward. For a mile or more it wound aimlessly in and +out, occasionally bisecting its own path; finally Miss Thorne leaned +forward and touched the chauffeur on the arm. + +"Now!" she said. + +The car straightened out into a street of stately residences and +scuttled along until the placid bosom of the Potomac came into view; +beside that for a few minutes, then over the bridge to the Virginia +side, in the dilapidated little city of Alexandria. The car did not +slacken its speed, but wound in and out through dingy streets, past +tumble-down negro huts, for half an hour before it came to a standstill +in 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 into +the car silently. Again it moved forward, on to the end of the dingy +street, and finally into the open country. Three, four, five miles, +perhaps, out the old Baltimore Road, and again the car stopped, this +time in front of an ancient colonial farm-house. + +Outwardly the place seemed to be deserted. The blinds, battered and +stripped of paint by wind and rain, were all closed, and one corner of +the 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 of +the house, rising from an old barn, a thin pole with a cup-like +attachment at the apex, thrust its point into the open above the dense, +odorous pines. It appeared to be a wireless mast. Miss Thorne passed +around the house, and entered the barn. + +A man came forward and kissed her--a thin, little man of indeterminate +age--drying his hands on a piece of cotton waste. His face was pale with +the pallor of one who knows little outdoor life, his eyes deep-set and +a-glitter with some feverish inward fire, and the thin lips were pressed +together in a sharp line. Behind him was a long bench on which were +scattered tools of various sorts, fantastically shaped chemical +apparatus, two or three electric batteries of odd sizes, and ranged +along one end of it, in a row, were a score or more metal spheroids, a +shade larger than a one-pound shell. From somewhere in the rear came the +clatter of a small gasoline engine, and still farther away was an +electric 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 will +be, 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 will +come, and with it the dominion of the world again by our country. How +will I know when the date is fixed? It would not be well to write me +here." + +My lady of mystery stroked the slender, nervous hand caressingly, and a +great affection shone in the blue-gray eyes. + +"At eight o'clock on the night of the test," she explained, still +speaking Italian, "a single light will appear at the apex of the capitol +dome in Washington. That is the signal agreed upon; it can be seen by +all 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 went +on. + +"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 without +difficulty." + +"And all your plans are working out well?" + +"Yes. And yours?" + +"I don't think there is any question but that both England and the +United States will buy. Do you know what it means? Do you know what it +means?" He was silent a moment, his hands working nervously. Then, with +an effort: "And his Highness?" + +"His Highness is safe." The subtle eyes grew misty, thoughtful for a +moment, 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 locked +in the safe at the legation; I will know what it is within forty-eight +hours." She was silent a little. "Our difficulty now, our greatest +difficulty, is the hostility of the French ambassador to the compact. +His government has not yet notified him of the presence of Prince +d'Abruzzi; he does not believe in the feasibility of the plan, and we +have to--to proceed to extremes to prevent him working against us." + +"But they _must_ see the incalculable advantages to follow upon such a +compact, with the vast power that will be given to them over the whole +earth 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 are +you? Are you well? Are you comfortable? It's such a dreary old place +here." + +"I suppose so," he replied, and he met the solicitous blue-gray eyes for +an instant. "Yes, I am quite comfortable," he added. "I have no time to +be 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 the +long table and curiously lifted one of the spheroids. It was a sinister +looking thing, nickeled, glittering. At one end of it was a delicate, +vibratory apparatus, not unlike the transmitter of a telephone, and the +other end was threaded, as if the spheroid was made as an attachment to +some other device. + +"With that we control the world!" exclaimed the man triumphantly. "And +it's mine, Rosa, mine!" + +"It's wonderful!" she mused softly. "Wonderful! And now I must go. I may +not see you again until after the test, because I shall be watched and +followed wherever I go. If I get an opportunity I shall reach you by +telephone, but not even that unless it is necessary. There is always +danger, always danger!" she repeated thoughtfully. She was thinking of +Mr. Grimm. + +"I understand," said the man simply. + +"And look out for the signal--the light in the apex of the capitol +dome," 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'clock +by your chronometer?" + +"At three o'clock," he repeated. + +For a moment they stood with their arms around each other, then tenderly +his visitor kissed him, and went out. He remained looking after her +vacantly until the chug-chug of her automobile, as it moved off down the +road, was lost in the distance, then turned again to the long +work-table. + + + + +VIII + +MISS THORNE AND NOT MISS THORNE + + +From a pleasant, wide-open bay-window of her apartments on the second +floor, Miss Thorne looked out upon the avenue with inscrutable eyes. +Behind the closely drawn shutters of another bay-window, farther down +the avenue, on the corner, she knew a man named Hastings was hiding; she +knew that for an hour or more he had been watching her as she wrote. In +the other direction, in a house near the corner, another man named Blair +was similarly ensconced, and he, too, had been watching as she wrote. +There should be a third man, Johnson. Miss Thorne curiously studied the +face of each passer-by, seeking therein something to remember. + +She sat at the little mahogany desk and a note with the ink yet wet +upon it lay face up before her. It was addressed to Signor Pietro +Petrozinni in the district prison, and read: + +"My Dear Friend: + +"I have been waiting to write you with the hope that I could report +Señor Alvarez out of danger, but his condition, I regret to say, remains +unchanged. Shall I send an attorney to you? Would you like a book of any +kind? Or some delicacy sent in from a restaurant? Can I be of any +service 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, folded +it, placed it in an envelope and sealed it. A maid came in answer to her +ring, and there at the window, under the watchful eyes of Blair and +Hastings--and, perhaps, Johnson--she handed the note to the maid with +instructions to mail it immediately. Two minutes later she saw the maid +go out along the avenue to a post-box on the corner. + +Then she drew back into the shadow of the room, slipped on a +dark-colored wrap, and, standing away from the window, safe beyond the +reach of prying eyes, waited patiently for the postman. He appeared +about five o'clock and simultaneously another man turned the corner near +the post-box and spoke to him. Then, together, they disappeared from +view 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 carefully +watched." + +A few minutes later she dropped into the seat at the desk again. The +dark wrap had been thrown aside and Hastings and Blair from their +hiding-places could see her distinctly. After a while they saw her rise +quickly, as an automobile turned into the avenue, and lean toward the +window eagerly looking out. The car came to a standstill in front of the +legation, and Mr. Cadwallader, an under-secretary of the British +embassy, who was alone in the car, raised his cap. She nodded and +smiled, then disappeared in the shadows of the room again. + +Mr. Cadwallader went to the door, spoke to the servant there, then +returned and busied himself about the car. Hastings and Blair watched +intently both the door and the window for a long time; finally a closely +veiled and muffled figure appeared at the bay-window, and waved a gloved +hand at Mr. Cadwallader, who again lifted his cap. A minute later the +veiled woman came out of the front door, shook hands with Mr. +Cadwallader, and got in the car. He also climbed in, and the car moved +slowly away. + +Simultaneously the front door of the house on the corner, where Hastings +had been hiding, and the front door of the house near the corner, where +Blair had been hiding, opened and two heads peered out. As the car +approached Hastings' hiding-place he withdrew into the hallway; but +Blair came out and hurried past the legation in the direction of the +rapidly 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 the +corner, out through Alexandria, and along the old Baltimore Road into +the city of Baltimore," he explained. "It was dark by the time we +reached Alexandria, but we stuck to the car ahead, running without +lights until we came in sight of Druid Hill Park, and then we had to +show lights or be held up. We covered those forty miles going in less +than two hours. + +"After the car passed Druid Hill it slowed up a little, and ran off the +turnpike into North Avenue, then into North Charles Street, and slowly +along that as if they were looking for a number. At last it stopped and +Miss Thorne got out and entered a house. She was gone for more than half +an hour, leaving Mr. Cadwallader with the car. While she was gone I made +some inquiries and learned that the house was occupied by a Mr. Thomas +Q. Griswold. I don't know anything else about him; Blair may have +learned something. + +"Now comes the curious part of it," and Hastings looked a little +sheepish. "When Miss Thorne came out of the house she was not Miss +Thorne at all--_she was Señorita Inez Rodriguez_, daughter of the +Venezuelan minister. She wore the same clothing Miss Thorne had worn +going, but her veil was lifted. Veiled and all muffled up one would have +taken oath it was the same woman. She and Cadwallader are back in +Washington now, or are coming. That's all, except Blair is still in +Baltimore, awaiting orders. I caught the train from the Charles Street +station and came back. Johnson, you know--" + +"Yes, I've seen Johnson," interrupted Campbell. "Are you absolutely +positive that the woman you saw get into the automobile with Mr. +Cadwallader was Miss Thorne?" + +"Absolutely," replied Hastings without hesitation. "I saw her in her +own room with her wraps on, then saw her come down and get into the +car." + +"That's all," said the chief. "Good night." For an hour or more he sat +in a great, comfortable chair in the smoking-room of his own home, the +guileless blue eyes vacant, staring, and spidery lines in the benevolent +forehead. + + * * * * * + +On the morning of the second day following, Señor Rodriguez, the +minister from Venezuela, reported to the Secret Service Bureau the +disappearance of fifty thousand dollars in gold from a safe in his +private office at the legation. + + + + +IX + +FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS + + +Mr. Campbell was talking. + +"For several months past," he said, "the International Investment +Company, through its representative, Mr. Cressy, has been secretly +negotiating with Señor Rodriguez for certain asphalt properties in +Venezuela. Three days ago these negotiations were successfully +concluded, and yesterday afternoon Mr. Cressy, in secret, paid to Señor +Rodriguez, fifty thousand dollars in American gold, the first of four +payments of similar sums. This gold was to have been shipped to +Philadelphia 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 not +have been known to more than half a dozen persons, as the negotiations +throughout have been in strict secrecy," and Mr. Campbell smiled +benignly. "So much! Now, Señor Rodriguez has just telephoned asking that +I send a man to the legation at once. The gold was kept there over +night; or perhaps I should say that the señor intended to keep it there +over night." Mr. Campbell stared at Mr. Grimm for a moment, then: "Miss +Thorne, you know, is a guest at the legation, that is why I am referring +the 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 forth +and 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 would +weigh nearly two hundred pounds, wouldn't it?" + +Señor Rodriguez stared at him blankly. + +"_Si, Señor_," he agreed absently. And then, in English: "Yes, I should +imagine 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, apparently +bewildered, walked forth and back across the room again. Finally he sat +down. + +"All of it," he admitted. "I can't understand it. No one, not a soul in +this house, except myself, knew it was here." + +"In addition to this weight of, say two hundred pounds, fifty thousand +dollars would make considerable bulk," mused Mr. Grimm. "Very well! +Therefore it would appear that the person, or persons, who got it must +have gone away from here heavily laden?" + +Señor Rodriguez nodded. + +"And now, Señor," Mr. Grimm continued, "if you will kindly state the +circumstances immediately preceding and following the theft?" + +A slight frown which had been growing upon the smooth brow of the +diplomatist was instantly dissipated. + +"The money--fifty thousand dollars in gold coin--was paid to me +yesterday afternoon about four o'clock," he began slowly, in +explanation. + +"By Mr. Cressy of the International Investment Company," supplemented +Mr. 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 nine +o'clock while I, personally, counted it. As I counted it I placed it in +canvas bags and when he had gone I took these bags from this room into +that," he indicated a closed door to his right, "and personally stowed +them 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 the +money was gone--every dollar of it." + +"Safe blown?" inquired Mr. Grimm. + +"No, Señor!" exclaimed the diplomatist with sudden violence. "No, the +safe was not blown! It was _closed and locked_, exactly as I had left +it!" + +Mr. Grimm was idly twisting the seal ring on his little finger. + +"Just as I left it!" Señor Rodriguez repeated excitedly. "Last night +after 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 had +stopped precisely at number forty-five. This morning, when I unlocked +the safe--and, of course, I didn't know then that the money had been +taken--the pointer was still at number forty-five." + +He paused with one hand in the air; Mr. Grimm continued to twist the +seal 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 had +not put the money into the safe at all!" + +"Did you?" inquired Mr. Grimm amiably. + +"Did I?" blazed Señor Rodriguez. "Why, Señor--! I did!" he concluded +meekly. + +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 that +combination except myself," Señor Rodriguez insisted. + +"Your secretary--a servant--some member of your family might have seen +you unlock the safe some time, and thus learned the combination?" + +Señor Rodriguez did not quite know whether to be annoyed at Mr. Grimm's +persistence, or to admire the tenacity with which he held to this one +point. + +"You must understand, Señor Grimm, that many state documents are kept +in the safe," he said finally, "therefore it is not advisable that any +one should know the combination. I have made it an absolute rule, as did +my predecessors here, never to unlock the safe in the presence of +another person." + +"State documents!" Mr. Grimm's lips silently repeated the words. Then +aloud: "Perhaps there's a record of the combination somewhere? If you +had died suddenly, for instance, how would the safe have been opened?" + +"There would have been only one way, Señor--blow it open. There is no +record." + +"Well, if we accept all that as true," observed Mr. Grimm musingly, "it +would 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 money +was taken out of the safe without it being unlocked. This last would +have been a miracle, and this is not the day of miracles, therefore--!" + +Mr. Grimm's well modulated voice trailed off into silence. Señor +Rodriguez came to his feet with a blaze of anger in his eyes; Mr. Grimm +was watching him curiously. + +"I understand then, Señor," said the minister deliberately, "that you +believe that I--!" + +"I believe that you have told the truth," interrupted Mr. Grimm +placidly, "that is the truth so far as you know it. But you have stated +one thing in error. Somebody besides yourself _does_ know the +combination. Whether they knew it or not at this time yesterday I can't +say, but somebody knows it now." + +Señor Rodriguez drew a deep breath of relief. The implied accusation had +been 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 the +trouble to explain, "who could unlock any safe--that is, any safe of the +kind used at that time--twelve or fourteen years ago. So you see. I +doubt if he would be so successful with the new models, with all their +improvements, 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, a +Miss Thorne--Miss Isabel Thorne," the señor informed him. "Also four +servants--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 a +timid knock from the hall. He glanced at Mr. Grimm, who nodded, then he +called: + +"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 white +neck. At sight of Mr. Grimm the blue-gray eyes opened as if in +surprise, and she paused irresolutely. + +"I beg your pardon, Señor," she said, addressing the diplomatist. "I did +not know you were engaged. And Mr. Grimm!" She extended a slim, white +hand, and the young man bowed low over it. "We are old friends," she +explained, smilingly, to the minister. Then: "I think I must have +dropped my handkerchief when I was in here yesterday with Inez. Perhaps +you found it?" + +"_Si, Señorita_," replied Señor Rodriguez gallantly. "It is on my desk +in here. Just a moment." + +He opened the door and passed into the adjoining room. Mr. Grimm's eyes +met those of Miss Isabel Thorne, and there was no listlessness in them +now, 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 for +her. + +"_Monsieur Grimm, au revoir_!" She dropped a little curtsey, and still +smiling, went out. + +"She is charming, Señor," the diplomatist assured him enthusiastically, +albeit irrelevantly. "Such vivacity, such personality, such--such--she +is charming." + +"The safe, please," Mr. Grimm reminded him. + + + + +X + +A SAFE OPENING + + +Together they entered the adjoining room, which was small compared to +the one they had just left. Señor Rodriguez used it as a private office. +His desk was on their right between two windows overlooking the same +pleasant little garden which was visible from the suite of tiny +drawing-rooms farther along. The safe, a formidable looking receptacle +of black enameled steel, stood at their left, closed and locked. The +remaining 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. Grimm +inquired. + +"Not a soul, Señor," was the reply. + +Mr. Grimm went over and examined the windows. They were both locked +inside; and there were no marks of any sort on the sills. + +"They are just as I left them last night," explained Señor Rodriguez. "I +have not touched them to-day." + +"And there's only one door," mused Mr. Grimm, meaning that by which they +had entered. "So it would appear that whoever was here last night +entered through that room. Very well." + +He walked around the room once, opening and shutting the doors of the +cabinets as he passed, and finally paused in front of the safe. A brief +examination of the nickeled dial and handle and of the enameled edges of +the heavy door satisfied him that no force had been employed--the safe +had merely been unlocked. Whereupon he sat himself down, cross-legged on +the 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 pressed +closely against the polished door, turned the dial slowly back. Señor +Rodriguez stood looking on helplessly, but none the less intently. The +pointer read ten, then nine, eight, seven, five. Mr. Grimm gazed at it +thoughtfully, after which he did it all over again, placidly and without +haste. + +"Now, we'll look inside, please," he requested, rising. + +Señor Rodriguez unlocked the safe the while Mr. Grimm respectfully +turned his eyes away, then pulled the door wide open. The books had been +piled one on top of another and thrust into various pigeonholes at the +top. Mr. Grimm understood that this disorder was the result of making +room 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 remarked +after a moment. + +"_Si, Señor_," the diplomatist agreed. "Evidently the robbers were not +content with only fifty thousand dollars in gold--they imagined that +something 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 some +important 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 all +unsealed save the last. When he reached for that, Señor Rodriguez made a +quick, involuntary motion toward it with his hand. + +"This one's sealed," commented Mr. Grimm. "It doesn't happen that you +opened it and sealed it again?" + +Señor Rodriguez stood staring at him blankly for a moment, then some +sudden 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 splotches +of wax upon it, each impressed with the legation seal; the envelope was +without marks otherwise. He turned and twisted it aimlessly, and peered +curiously at the various seals, after which he handed it to the frankly +impatient diplomatist. + +Señor Rodriguez opened it, with nervous, twitching fingers. Mr. Grimm +had turned toward the safe again, but he heard the crackle of parchment +as some document was drawn out of the envelope, and then came a deep +sigh of relief. Having satisfied his sudden fears for the safety of the +paper, whatever it was, the señor placed it in another envelope and +sealed it again with elaborate care. Mr. Grimm dropped into the swivel +chair at the desk. + +"Señor," he inquired pleasantly, "your daughter and Miss Thorne were in +this 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's +handkerchief?" He paused and regarded Mr. Grimm keenly. "Señor, what am +I to understand from that question?" + +"It was plain enough," replied Mr. Grimm. "Where did you find that +handkerchief?" 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 spot +a little to the left of the safe. + +"And _when_ did you find it? Yesterday afternoon? Last night? This +morning?" + +"This morning," and without any apparent reason the diplomatist's face +turned 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 absolutely +impersonal; his eyes, grown listless again, were turned straight into +the other's face. + +"If that handkerchief had been there last night, Señor," he resumed +quietly, "wouldn't you have noticed it when you placed the gold in the +safe?" + +Señor Rodriguez stared at him a long time. + +"I don't know," he said, at last. He dropped back into a chair with his +face in his hands. "Señor," he burst out suddenly, impetuously, after a +moment, "if the gold is not recovered I am ruined. You understand that +better than I can tell you. It's the kind of thing that could not be +explained to my government." He rose suddenly and faced the impassive +young man, with merciless determination in his face. "You must find the +gold, 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 to +Miss Thorne, and to send to me here your secretary, Señor Diaz, and your +servants, 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 locking +the door, then went out. A moment later Señor Diaz appeared. He remained +with Mr. Grimm for just eight minutes. Señor Rodriguez entered again as +his 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; the +second--the butler--was there five minutes; one of the women was not +questioned at all; the other remained ten minutes. Mr. Grimm followed +her 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 has +even an intimation of the affair--please keep the matter absolutely to +yourself 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 the +diplomatist's private office, sat down in front of the locked safe +again, and set the dial at thirty-six. Señor Rodriguez looked on, +astonished, as Mr. Grimm pressed the soft rubber sounder of a +stethoscope against the safe door and began turning the dial back toward +ten, 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. "And +now, 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, of +scarlet in her hair--a single red rose--Miss Thorne came into the +drawing-room where Mr. Grimm sat waiting. There was curiosity in her +manner, thinly veiled, but the haunting smile still lingered about her +lips. Mr. Grimm bowed low, and placed a chair for her, after which he +stood for a time staring down at one slim, white hand at rest on the arm +of the seat. At last, he, too, sat down. + +"I believe," he said slowly, without preliminaries, "this is your +handkerchief?" + +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 positively +identifies 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 dollars +in gold were stolen from his safe." + +There was not the slightest change of expression in her face; the +blue-gray eyes were still inquiring in their gaze, the white hands still +at rest, the scarlet lips still curled slightly, an echo of a smile. + +"No force was used in opening the safe," Mr. Grimm resumed. "It was +unlocked. It's an old model and I have demonstrated how it could have +been opened either with the assistance of a stethoscope, which catches +the 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. Grimm +courteously. "No reason appears why you should have taken it. But I'm +not seeking reasons, nor am I seeking disagreeable publicity--only the +money." + +"It seems to me you attach undue importance to the handkerchief," she +objected. + +"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 is +the difficulty of entrance, the weight of the gold, the ingenious method +of opening the safe, and the assumption that not more than six persons +knew the money was in the safe; while a person in the house _might_ have +learned it in any of a dozen ways. And, in addition, is the fact that +the handkerchief is odd, therefore noticeable. A lace expert assures me +there's probably not another like it in the world." + +He stopped. Miss Thorne's eyes sparkled and a smile seemed to be tugging +at the corners of her mouth. She spread out the handkerchief on her +knees. + +"You could identify this again, of course?" she queried. + +"Yes." + +She thoughtfully crumpled up the bit of lace in both hands, then opened +them. 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 restored +to me at dinner, after I lost one in the señor's office, might have been +either of these, or one of ten other duplicates in my room, all given to +me 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 shall +insist upon the return of the money, and if it is not forthcoming I dare +say Count di Rosini, the Italian ambassador, would be pleased to give +his personal check rather than have the matter become public." She +started to interrupt; he went on. "In any event you will be requested to +leave 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, and +there 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 am +convinced, and Count di Rosini has practically assured me that--" + +"It's unjust!" she interrupted passionately. "It's--it's--you have +proved 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?" she +demanded finally. "And if I _do_ convince you--?" + +"I should be delighted to believe that I have made a mistake," Mr. Grimm +assured 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 for +adjustment," 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 Pennsylvania +Avenue and Fourteenth Street to-night at one." + +He was there; the carriage was on time; and my lady of mystery was +inside. 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," she +queried solicitously, "would it be necessary for you to know who was +the--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, although +it holds itself in readiness to do so. I dare say in this case there +would be no arrest or prosecution, because of--of reasons which appear +to be good." + +"There wouldn't?" and there was a note of eagerness in her voice. "The +identity of the guilty person would never appear?" + +"It would become a matter of record in our office, but beyond that I +think 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 remarkable +position. You seemed convinced of my guilt, and, if you'll pardon me, +without reason; then you made it compulsory upon me to establish my +innocence. The only way for me to do that was to find the guilty one. I +have 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 an +honorable rather than a lucrative one; he has no fortune. This girl +moves in a certain set devoted to bridge, and stakes are high. She +played and won, and played and won, and on and on, until her winnings +were about eight thousand dollars. Then luck turned. She began to lose. +Her money went, but she continued to play desperately. Finally some old +family jewels were pawned without her father's knowledge, and ultimately +they were lost. One day she awoke to the fact that she owed some nine or +ten thousand dollars in bridge debts. They were pressing and there was +no way to meet them. This meant exposure and utter ruin, and women do +strange things, Mr. Grimm, to postpone such an ending to social +aspirations. I know this much is true, for she related it all to me +herself. + +"At last, in some way--a misplaced letter, perhaps, or a word +overheard--she learned that fifty thousand dollars would be in the +legation safe overnight, and evidently she learned the precise night." +She paused a moment. "Here is the address of a man in Baltimore, Thomas +Q. Griswold," and she passed a card to Mr. Grimm, who sat motionless, +listening. "About four years ago the combination on the legation safe +was changed. This man was sent here to make the change, therefore some +one besides Señor Rodriguez _does_ know the combination. I have +communicated with this man to-day, for I saw the possibility of just +such a thing as this instead of your stethoscope. By a trick and a +forged 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 at +sight of it all--do you see what must have been the temptation then? We +get out here." + +There were many unanswered questions in Mr. Grimm's mind. He repressed +them for the time, stepped out and assisted Miss Thorne to alight. The +carriage had turned out of Pennsylvania Avenue, and at the moment he +didn't quite place himself. A narrow passageway opened before +them--evidently the rear entrance to a house possibly in the next +street. Miss Thorne led the way unhesitatingly, cautiously unlocked the +door, and together they entered a hall. Then there was a short flight of +stairs, and they stepped into a room, one of a suite. She closed the +door and turned on the lights. + +"The bags of gold are in the next room," she said with the utmost +composure. + +Mr. Grimm dragged them out of a dark closet, opened one--there were +ten--and allowed the coins to dribble through his fingers. Finally he +turned and stared at Miss Thorne, who, pallid and weary, stood looking +on. + +"Where are we?" he asked. "What house is this?" + +"The Venezuelan legation," she answered. "We are standing less than +forty 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 the +pleading eyes; and a certain tense expression about his lips passed. For +an instant her hand trembled on his arm, and he caught the fragrance of +her hair. + +"Where is she now?" he asked. + +"Playing bridge," replied Miss Thorne, with a sad little smile. "It is +always so--at least twice a week, and she rarely returns before two or +half-past." She extended both hands impetuously, entreatingly. "Please +be generous, Mr. Grimm. You have the gold; don't destroy her." + +Señor Rodriguez, the minister from Venezuela, found the gold in his safe +on the following morning, with a brief note from Mr. Grimm, in which +there was no explanation of how or where it had been found.... And two +hours later Monsieur Boisségur, ambassador from France to the United +States, disappeared from the embassy, vanished! + + + + +XII + +THE VANISHING DIPLOMATIST + + +It was three days after the ambassador's disappearance that Monsieur +Rigolot, secretary of the French embassy and temporary +_chargé-d'affaires_, reported the matter to Chief Campbell in the Secret +Service Bureau, adding thereto a detailed statement of several singular +incidents following close upon it. He told it in order, concisely and to +the point, while Grimm and his chief listened. + +"Monsieur Boisségur, the ambassador, you understand, is a man whose +habits are remarkably regular," he began. "He has made it a rule to be +at his desk every morning at ten o'clock, and between that time and one +o'clock he dictates his correspondence, and clears up whatever routine +work there is before him. I have known him for many years, and have +been secretary of the embassy under him in Germany and Japan and this +country. I have never known him to vary this general order of work +unless because of illness, or necessary absence. + +"Well, Monsieur, last Tuesday--this is Friday--the ambassador was at his +desk as usual. He dictated a dozen or more letters, and had begun +another--a private letter to his sister in Paris. He was well along in +this letter when, without any apparent reason, he rose from his desk and +left the room, closing the door behind him. His stenographer's +impression was that some detail of business had occurred to him, and he +had gone into the general office farther down the hall to attend to it. +I may say, Monsieur, that this impression seemed strengthened by the +fact that he left a fresh cigarette burning in his ash tray, and his pen +was behind his ear. It was all as if he had merely stepped out, +intending to return immediately--the sort of thing, Monsieur, that any +man might have done. + +"It so happened that when he went out he left a sentence of his letter +incomplete. I tell you this to show that the impulse to go must have +been a sudden one, yet there was nothing in his manner, so his +stenographer says, to indicate excitement, or any other than his usual +frame of mind. It was about five minutes of twelve o'clock--high +noon--when he went out. When he didn't return immediately the +stenographer began transcribing the letters. At one o'clock Monsieur +Boisségur 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 regain +control of himself. Incidentally he wondered if Mr. Grimm was taking the +slightest interest in what he was saying. Certainly there was nothing in +his impassive face to indicate it. + +"Understand, Monsieur," the secretary continued, after a moment, "that I +knew nothing whatever of all this until late that afternoon--that is, +Tuesday afternoon about five o'clock. I was engaged all day upon some +important work in my own office, and had had no occasion to see Monsieur +Boisségur since a word or so when he came in at ten o'clock. My +attention was called to the affair finally by his stenographer, Monsieur +Netterville, who came to me for instructions. He had finished the +letters and the ambassador had not returned to sign them. At this point +I began an investigation, Monsieur, and the further I went the more +uneasy I grew. + +"Now, Monsieur, there are only two entrances to the embassy--the front +door, where a servant is in constant attendance from nine in the morning +until ten at night, and the rear door, which can only be reached through +the kitchen. Neither of the two men who had been stationed at the front +door had seen the ambassador since breakfast, therefore he could not +have gone out that way. _Comprenez_? It seemed ridiculous, Monsieur, but +then I went to the kitchen. The _chef_ had been there all day, and he +had not seen the ambassador at all. I inquired further. No one in the +embassy, not a clerk, nor a servant, nor a member of the ambassador's +family 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, "the +ambassador of France had disappeared, gone, vanished! We searched the +house from the cellar to the servants' quarters, even the roof, but +there was no trace of him. The hat he usually wore was in the hall, and +all his other hats were accounted for. You may remember, Monsieur, that +Tuesday was cold, but all his top-coats were found in their proper +places. So it seems, Monsieur," and repression ended in a burst of +excitement, "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 the +benevolent face of the chief and the expressionless countenance of Mr. +Grimm. + +"_If_ he left the embassy?" Mr. Grimm repeated. "If your search of the +house 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 I +understand it, Monsieur, no one except you and the stenographer saw the +ambassador after ten o'clock in the morning?" + +"_Oui, Monsieur. C'est--_" Monsieur Rigolot began excitedly. "I beg +pardon. I believe that is correct." + +"You saw him about ten, you say; therefore no one except the +stenographer 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 have +the words of the servants at the door and of the stenographer that there +were no callers, and the statement of the stenographer that there were +no telephone calls or telegrams. There were only four letters for him +personally. 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 the +disappearance. + +"The letters Monsieur Boisségur had dictated were laid on his desk by +the stenographer," Monsieur Rigolot rushed on volubly, excitedly. "In +the anxiety and uneasiness following the disappearance they were allowed +to remain there overnight. On Wednesday morning, Monsieur"--and he +hesitated impressively--"_those letters bore his signature in his own +handwriting_!" + +Mr. Grimm turned his listless eyes full upon Monsieur Rigolot's +perturbed face for one scant instant. + +"No doubt of it being his signature?" he queried. + +"_Non, Monsieur, non!_" the secretary exclaimed emphatically. "_Vous +avez_--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 at +copies 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. Grimm +nodded, and Monsieur Rigolot resumed: + +"And Wednesday night, Monsieur, another strange thing happened. Monsieur +Boisségur smokes many cigarettes, of a kind made especially for him in +France, and shipped to him here. He keeps them in a case on his +dressing-table. On Thursday morning his valet reported to me that _this +case of cigarettes had disappeared_!" + +"Of course," observed Mr. Grimm, "Monsieur Boisségur has a latch-key to +the 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 on +his finger. Mr. Campbell turned around and moved a paper weight one inch +to the left, where it belonged, while Monsieur Rigolot, disappointed at +their amazing apathy, squirmed uneasily in his chair. + +"It would appear, then," Mr. Grimm remarked musingly, "that after his +mysterious disappearance the ambassador has either twice returned to his +house at night, or else sent some one there, first to bring the letters +to him for signature, and later to get his cigarettes?" + +"_Certainement, Monsieur_--I mean, that seems to be true. But where is +he? Why should he not come back? What does it mean? Madame Boisségur is +frantic, prostrated! She wanted me to go to the police, but I did not +think it wise that it should become public, so I came here." + +"Very well," commented Mr. Grimm. "Let it rest as it is. Meanwhile you +may reassure madame. Point out to her that if Monsieur Boisségur signed +the letters Tuesday night he was, at least, alive; and if he came or +sent for the cigarettes Wednesday night, he was still alive. I shall +call at the embassy this afternoon. No, it isn't advisable to go with +you 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 the +revolvers that may be in the house and take charge of them yourself. If +any one, by chance, heard a burglar prowling around there to-night he +might shoot, and in that event either kill Monsieur Boisségur or--or +me!" + +When the secretary had gone Mr. Campbell idly drummed on his desk as he +studied 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 capitals +may aid you in dispelling that mystery," Campbell suggested, and Mr. +Grimm turned to them eagerly. "Meanwhile our royal visitor, Prince +Benedetto 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 find +him--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-drawn +velvet hangings and laid a faintly illumined path across the +ambassador's desk; the heavy leather chairs were mere impalpable +splotches in the shadows; the cut-glass knobs of a mahogany cabinet +caught the glint of light and reflected it dimly. Outside was the vague, +indefinable night drone of a city asleep, unbroken by any sound that was +distinguishable, 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 on +the seat, thoughtfully nursing his knees. If his attitude indicated +anything except sheer comfort, it was that he was listening. He had been +there for two hours, wide-awake, and absolutely motionless. Five, ten, +fifteen minutes more passed, and then Mr. Grimm heard the grind and whir +of an automobile a block or so away, coming toward the embassy. Now it +was in front. + +"Honk! Hon-on-onk!" it called plaintively. "Hon-on-onk! Honk!" + +The signal! At last! The automobile went rushing on, full tilt, while +Mr. Grimm removed his feet from the seat and dropped them noiselessly to +the floor. Thus, with his hands on his knees, and listening, listening +with every faculty strained, he sat motionless, peering toward the open +door that led into the hall. The car was gone now, the sound of it was +swallowed up in the distance, still he sat there. It was obviously some +noise in the house for which he was waiting. + +Minute after minute passed, and still nothing. There was not even the +whisper 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, the +electric lights in the room blazed up brilliantly. The glare dazzled Mr. +Grimm with its blinding flood, but he didn't move. Then softly, almost +in 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--there +was not another quite like it in the wide, wide world--and though he was +still 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 were +curled the least bit, as if she might have been smiling, and her +wonderful eyes reflected a glint of--of--was it amusement? The folds of +her evening dress fell away from her, and one bare, white arm was +extended, as her hand still rested on the switch. + +"And you didn't hear me?" still in the half whisper. "I didn't think you +would. Now I'm going to put out the lights for an instant, while you +pull 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 in +turn. Then the lights blazed brilliantly again. + +"Just for a moment," Miss Thorne explained to him quietly, and she +handed him a sheet of paper. "I want you to read this--read it +carefully--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 his +impassive face. At length he looked up indolently, listlessly, and the +switch snapped. She crossed the room and sat down; Mr. Grimm sat beside +her. + +"I think," Miss Thorne suggested tentatively, "that that accounts +perfectly for Monsieur Boisségur's disappearance." + +"It gives one explanation, at least," Mr. Grimm assented musingly. +"Kidnapped--held prisoner--fifty thousand dollars demanded for his +safety and release." A pause. "And to whom, may I ask, was this demand +addressed?" + +"To Madame Boisségur," replied Miss Thorne. "I have the envelope in +which it came. It was mailed at the general post-office at half-past one +o'clock this afternoon, so the canceling stamp shows, and the envelope +was addressed, as the letter was written, on a typewriter." + +"And how," inquired Mr. Grimm, after a long pause, "how did it come into +your possession?" He waited a little. "Why didn't Monsieur Rigolot +report this development to me this afternoon when I was here?" + +"Monsieur Rigolot did not inform you of it because he didn't know of it +himself," she replied, answering the last question first. "It came into +my possession directly from the hands of Madame Boisségur--she gave it +to me." + +"Why?" + +Mr. Grimm was peering through the inscrutable darkness, straight into +her face--a white daub in the gloom, shapeless, indistinct. + +"I have known Madame Boisségur for half a dozen years," Miss Thorne +continued, in explanation. "We have been friends that long. I met her +first in Tokio, later in Berlin, and within a few weeks, here in +Washington. You see I have traveled in the time I have been an agent for +my government. Well, Madame Boisségur received this letter about +half-past four o'clock this afternoon; and about half-past five she sent +for me and placed it in my hands, together with all the singular details +following upon the ambassador's disappearance. So, it would seem that +you 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 see +for myself if the--the person who twice came here at night--once for the +ambassador'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 house +a few minutes ago," she interrupted. "The automobile horn outside was a +signal, 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 queried +instead. "Weren't you afraid I might shoot?" + +"No." + +There was a long silence. Mr. Grimm still sat with his elbows on his +knees, staring, staring at the vague white splotch which was Miss +Thorne's face and bare neck. One of her white arms hung at her side like +a 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 we +have 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 by +side toward a conclusion. I am wondering now if this singular affair +will take a similar course." + +He paused. Miss Thorne started to speak, but he silenced her with a +slight gesture of his hand. + +"It is only fair to you to say that we--that is, the Secret +Service--have learned many things about you," he resumed in the same +casual tone. "We have, through our foreign agents, traced you step by +step from Rome to Washington. We know that you are, in a way, a +representative of a sovereign of Europe; we know that you were on a +secret mission to the Spanish court, perhaps for this sovereign, and +remained in Madrid for a month; we know that from there you went to +Paris, also on a secret mission--perhaps the same--and remained there +for three weeks; we know that you met diplomatic agents of those +governments later in London. We know all this; we know the manner of +your coming to this country; of your coming to Washington. But we don't +know _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_ know +that in Spain you were Señora Cassavant, in Paris Mademoiselle +d'Aubinon, in London Miss Jane Kellog, and here Miss Isabel Thorne. We +realize that exigencies arise in your calling, and mine, which make +changes of name desirable, necessary even, and there is no criticism of +that. Now as the representative of your government--rather _a_ +government--you have a right to be here, although unaccredited; you have +a right to remain here as long as your acts are consistent with our +laws; you have a right to your secrets as long as they do not, directly +or indirectly, threaten the welfare of this country. Now, why are you +here?" + +He received no answer; he expected none. After a moment he went on: + +"Admitting that you are a secret agent of Italy, admitting everything +that you claim to be, you haven't convinced me that you are not the +person who came here for the letters and cigarettes. You have said +nothing to prove to my satisfaction that you are not the individual I +was 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 merely +that you haven't convinced me. There's nothing inconsistent in the fact +that you are what you say you are, and that in spite of that, you came +to-night for--" + +He was interrupted by a laugh, a throaty, silvery note that he +remembered well. His idle hands closed spasmodically, only to be +instantly relaxed. + +"Suppose, Mr. Grimm, I should tell you that immediately after Madame +Boisségur placed the matter in my hands this afternoon I went straight +to 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 on +being informed that you were out--remember I knew you were on the case +from Madame Boisségur--would that indicate anything except that I wanted +to 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 you +will find at your office, will show that. And when I left your office I +went to the hotel where you live, with the same purpose. You were not +there, and I left a card for you. And _that_ is a statement of fact. It +was not difficult, owing to the extraordinary circumstances, to imagine +that you would be here to-night--just as you are--and I came here. My +purpose, 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, at +my suggestion, left the French window in the hall there unfastened, and +I 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 owe +you an apology, Miss Thorne--another one. The circumstances now, as +they were at our previous meetings, are so unusual that--is it necessary +to go on?" There was a certain growing deference in his tone. "I wonder +if you account for Monsieur Boisségur's disappearance as I do?" he +inquired. + +"I dare say," and Miss Thorne leaned toward him with sudden eagerness in +her manner and voice. "Your theory is--?" she questioned. + +"If we believe the servants we know that Monsieur Boisségur did not go +out either by the front door or rear," Mr. Grimm explained. "That being +true the French window by which you entered seems to have been the way." + +"Yes, yes," Miss Thorne interpolated. "And the circumstances attending +the 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 situation +here as I have," responded Mr. Grimm. "For instance, sitting at his desk +there"--and he turned to indicate it--"he could readily see out the +windows overlooking the street. There is only a narrow strip of lawn +between 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 his +attention--some one he knew--it is not at all unlikely that he rose, for +no apparent reason, as he did do, passed along the hall--" + +"And through the French window, across the lawn to the carriage, and not +a person in the house would have seen him go out? Precisely! There seems +no doubt that was the way," she mused. "And, of course, he must have +entered the carriage of his own free will?" + +"In other words, on some pretext or other, he was lured in, then made +prisoner, and--!" + +He paused suddenly and his hand met Miss Thorne's warningly. The silence +of the night was broken by the violent clatter of footsteps, apparently +approaching the embassy. The noise was unmistakable--some one was +running. + +"The window!" Miss Thorne whispered. + +She rose quickly and started to cross the room, to look out; Mr. Grimm +sat motionless, listening. An instant later and there came a tremendous +crash of glass--the French window in the hallway by the sound--then +rapid footsteps, still running, along the hall. Mr. Grimm moved toward +the door unruffled, perfectly self-possessed; there was only a narrowing +of his eyes at the abruptness and clatter of it all. And then the +electric lights in the hall flashed up. + +Before Mr. Grimm stood a man, framed by the doorway, staring unseeingly +into the darkened room. His face was haggard and white as death; his +mouth agape as if from exertion, and the lips bloodless; his eyes were +widely distended as if from fright--clothing disarranged, collar +unfastened 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 enframed +figure when, without any apparent reason, the ambassador turned and ran +along the hall; and at that instant the lights went out again. For one +moment Grimm stood still, dazed and blinded by the sudden blackness, and +again 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 out +into the hall, feeling with both his hands along the wall. A few feet +away, in the direction the ambassador had gone, there seemed to be a +violent struggle in progress--there was the scuffling of feet, and +quick-drawn breaths as muscle strained against muscle. The lights! If he +could only find the switch! Then, as his hands moved along the wall, +they came in contact with another hand--a hand pressed firmly against +the plastering, barring his progress. A light blow in the face caused +him to step back quickly. + +The scuffling sound suddenly resolved itself into moving footsteps, and +the front door opened and closed with a bang. Mr. Grimm's listless eyes +snapped, and his white teeth came together sharply as he started toward +the front door. But fate seemed to be against him still. He stumbled +over a chair, and his own impetus forward sent him sprawling; his head +struck the wall with a resounding whack; and then, over the house, came +utter silence. From outside he heard the clatter of a cab. Finally that +died away in the distance. + +"Miss Thorne?" he inquired quietly. + +"I'm here," she answered in a despairing voice. "But I can't find the +switch." + +"Are you hurt?" + +"No." + +And then she found the switch; the lights flared up. Mr. Grimm was +sitting thoughtfully on the floor. + +"That simplifies the matter considerably," he observed complacently, as +he rose. "The men who signaled to me when you entered the embassy will +never let that cab get out of their sight." + +Miss Thorne stood leaning forward a little, eagerly gazing at him with +those wonderful blue-gray eyes, and an expression of--of--perhaps it was +admiration 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 an +inquisitive head timidly around the corner of the stairs. The crash of +glass had aroused him. + +"What happened?" he asked breathlessly. + +"We don't know just yet," replied Mr. Grimm. "If the noise aroused any +one else please assure them that there's nothing the matter. And you +might inform Madame Boisségur that the ambassador will return home +to-morrow. Good night!" + +At his hotel, when he reached there, Mr. Grimm found Miss Thorne's +card--and he drew a long breath; at his office he found another of her +cards, and he drew another long breath. He did like corroborative +details, did Mr. Grimm, and, of course, this--! On the following day +Miss Thorne accompanied him to Alexandria, and they were driven in a +closed carriage out toward the western edge of the city. Finally the +carriage stopped at a signal from Mr. Grimm, and he assisted Miss Thorne +out, after which he turned and spoke to some one remaining inside--a +man. + +"The house is two blocks west, along that street there," he explained, +and he indicated an intersecting thoroughfare just ahead. "It is number +ninety-seven. Five minutes after we enter you will drive up in front of +the door and wait. If we don't return in fifteen minutes--come in after +us!" + +"Do you anticipate danger?" Miss Thorne queried quickly. + +"If I had anticipated danger," replied Mr. Grimm, "I should not have +permitted you to come with me." + +They entered the house--number ninety-seven--with a key which Mr. Grimm +produced, and a minute or so later walked into a room where three men +were sitting. One of them was of a coarse, repulsive type, large and +heavy; another rather dapper, of superficial polish, evidently a +foreigner, 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 the +heavy face--drew a revolver. Mr. Grimm faced him placidly. + +"Do you know what would happen to you if you killed me?" he inquired +pleasantly. "You wouldn't live three minutes. Do you imagine I came in +here blindly? There are a dozen men guarding the entrances to the +house--a pistol shot would bring them in. Put down the gun!" + +Eyes challenged eyes for one long tense instant, and the man carefully +laid the weapon on the table. Mr. Grimm strolled over and picked it up, +after which he glanced inquiringly at the other man--the ambassador's +second guard. + +"And you are the gentleman, I dare say, who made the necessary trips to +the ambassador's house, probably using his latch-key?" he remarked +interrogatively. "First for the letters to be signed, and again for the +cigarettes?" + +There was no answer and Mr. Grimm turned questioningly to Monsieur +Boisségur, silent, white of face, motionless. + +"Yes, Monsieur," the ambassador burst out suddenly. His eyes were fixed +unwaveringly on Miss Thorne. + +"And your escape, Monsieur?" continued Mr. Grimm. + +"I did escape, Monsieur, last night," the ambassador explained, "but +they knew it immediately--they pursued me into my own house, these two +and another--and dragged me back here! _Mon Dieu, Monsieur, c'est--!_" + +"That's all that's necessary," remarked Mr. Grimm. "You are free to go +now." + +"But there are others," Monsieur Boisségur interposed desperately, "two +more somewhere below, and they will not allow--they will attack--!" + +Mr. Grimm's listless eyes narrowed slightly and he turned to Miss +Thorne. She was a little white, but he saw enough in her face to satisfy +him. + +"I shall escort Monsieur Boisségur to his carriage, Miss Thorne," he +said calmly. "These men will remain here until I return. Take the +revolver. If either of them so much as wags his head--_shoot_! You are +not--not afraid?" + +"No." She smiled faintly. "I am not afraid." + +Mr. Grimm and the ambassador went down the stairs, and out the front +door. Mr. Grimm was just turning to reenter the house when from above +came a muffled, venomous cra-as-ash!--a shot! He took the steps going +up, 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 stood +open; and the clatter of footsteps echoed through the house. + +"One of them leaped at me and I fired," she gasped in explanation. "He +struck me, but I'm--I'm not hurt." + +She stooped quickly, picked up the revolver and made as if to follow the +dying 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 should +never have consented to allow you--" + +"I understand," she interrupted, and for one instant her outstretched +hand 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 their +coffee and cigars, Miss Thorne paused at the door and the blue-gray eyes +flashed some subtle message to the French ambassador who, after an +instant, nodded comprehendingly, then resumed his conversation. As he +left the room a few minutes later he noticed that Mr. Grimm had joined a +group of automaniacs of which Mr. Cadwallader was the enthusiastic +center. 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 beside +her. 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 to +the 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 were +sparkling as if something amusing had been said. "One of my agents +stopped 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 in +Washington at this moment," she replied positively. The smile on her +lips and the tone of her voice were strangely at variance. "From the +beginning I let you understand that ultimately you would receive your +instructions from Paris; now I know they will reach you by cable +to-morrow. Within a week the compact will be signed. Whether you approve +of it or not it will be signed for your country by a special envoy whose +authority is greater than yours--his Highness, the Prince Benedetto +d'Abruzzi." + +"Has he reached Washington?" + +"He is in Washington. He has been here for some time, incognito." She +was 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 been +comfortably kept out in Alexandria where Mr. Grimm and I found you. +Please remember, Monsieur, that we will accomplish what we set out to +do. Nothing can stop us--nothing." + +At just about the same moment the name of Prince d'Abruzzi had been used +in the dining-room, but in a different connection. Mr. Cadwallader was +reciting some incident of an automobile trip in Italy when he had been +connected 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 of +thing. He was one scion of royalty who didn't mind soiling his hands by +diving in under a car and fixing it himself. At that time he was +inclined to be wild--that was eight or nine years ago--but they say now +he has settled down to work, and is one of the real diplomatic powers of +Italy. 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-bloods +and all that sort of thing one can find knocking about in Italy and +Germany and Spain. One never hears of half of them. I never had heard +of the Prince d'Abruzzi until I went to Italy, and I've heard jolly well +little of him since, except indirectly." + +Mr. Cadwallader lapsed into silence as he sat staring at a large group +photograph which was framed on a wall of the dining-room. + +"Isn't that the royal family of Italy?" he asked. He rose and went over +to it. "By Jove, it is, and here is the prince in the group. The picture +was taken, I should say, about the time I knew him." + +Mr. Grimm strolled over idly and stood for a long time staring at the +photograph. + +"He can drive a motor, you know," said Mr. Cadwallader admiringly. "And +Italy is the place to drive them. They forgot to make any speed laws +over there, and if a chap gets in your way and you knock him silly they +arrest him for obstructing traffic, you know. Over here if a chap really +starts 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 new +motor, you know, and I've never been able to see how fast it is. The +other evening I ran up to Baltimore with it in an hour and thirty-seven +minutes from Alexandria to Druid Hill Park, and that's better than forty +miles. I never did let the motor out, you know, because we ran in the +dark 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 with +me. Charming girl, what?" + +A little while later Mr. Grimm sauntered out into the drawing-room and +made his way toward Miss Thorne and the French ambassador. Monsieur +Boisségur rose, and offered his hand cordially. + +"I hope, Monsieur," said Mr. Grimm, "that you are no worse off for +your--your unpleasant experience?" + +"Not at all, thanks to you," was the reply. "I have just thanked Miss +Thorne 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 dropped +into 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 conspicuous +because of the constant espionage of your Mr. Blair and your Mr. Johnson +and your Mr. Hastings," she explained, still laughing. "So I have moved +to 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. "You +see it's necessary to--" + +"No explanation," Miss Thorne interrupted. "I understand." + +"I'm glad you do," he replied seriously. "How long do you intend to +remain 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, to +make the four. Come. I hate to take her away, Mr. Grimm." + +Mr. Grimm and Miss Thorne rose together. For an instant her slim white +hand rested on Mr. Grimm's sleeve and she stared into his eyes +understandingly 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 as +an unaccredited agent of the Italian government, and the self-confessed +assailant of Señor Alvarez of the Mexican legation, had been taking his +ease in a cell. He had been formally arraigned and committed without +bail to await the result of the bullet wound which had been inflicted +upon the diplomatist from Mexico at the German Embassy Ball, and, since +then, undisturbed and apparently careless of the outcome, he had spent +his time in reading and smoking. He had answered questions with only a +curt yes or no when he deigned to answer them at all; and there had been +no callers or inquiries for him. He had abruptly declined a suggestion +of counsel. + +Twice each day, morning and night, he had asked a question of the +jailer 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 shadow +of uneasiness or concern on his face. + +Occasionally there came a courteous little note from Miss Thorne, which +he read without emotion, afterward casting them aside or tearing them +up. He never answered them. And then one day there came another note +which, for no apparent reason, seemed to stir him from his lethargy. +Outwardly it was like all the others, but when Signor Petrozinni scanned +the sheet his eyes lighted strangely, and he stood staring down at it as +though to hide a sudden change of expression in his face. His gaze was +concentrated on two small splotches of ink where, it seemed, the pen +had scratched as Miss Thorne signed her name. + +The guard stood at the barred door for a moment, then started to turn +away. The prisoner stopped him with a quick gesture. + +"Oh, Guard, may I have a glass of milk, please?" he asked. "No ice. I +prefer it tepid." + +He thrust a small coin between the bars; the guard accepted it and +passed on. Then, still standing at the door, the prisoner read the note +again: + +"MY DEAR FRIEND: + +"I understand, from an indirect source, that there has been a marked +improvement in Señor Alvarez's condition, and I am hastening to send you +the good news. There is every hope that within a short while, if he +continues to improve, we can arrange a bail bond, and you will be free +until the time of trial anyway. + +"Might it not be well for you to consult an attorney at once? Drop me a +line to let me know you received this. + +"Sincerely, + +"ISABEL THORNE." + +Finally the prisoner tossed the note on a tiny table in a corner of his +cell, and resumed his reading. After a time the guard returned with the +milk. + +"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 the +signor and he smiled a little. "Believe me, I would prefer to get them +for 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 twice +and permitted the light to die. After a little there came again the +clatter of the guard's feet on the cement pavement, and the writing +materials were thrust through the bars. + +"Thank you," said the prisoner. + +The guard went on, with a nod, and a moment later the signor heard the +clangor 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 a +long time, then rose and noiselessly approached the cell door. Again he +listened intently, after which he resumed his seat. He tossed away the +cigarette he had and lighted a fresh one, afterward holding the note +over the flame of the match. Here and there, where the paper charred in +the heat, a letter or word stood out from the bare whiteness of the +paper, and finally, a message complete appeared between the innocuous +ink-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? Would +advise former, as the other might take months, and meeting to sign +treaty 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 scrap +dropped on the floor, burned out, and he crushed the ashes under his +heel. Then he began to write: + +"My Dear Miss Thorne: + +"Many thanks for your courteous little note. I am delighted to know of +the improvement in Señor Alvarez's condition. I had hoped that my +impulsive act in shooting him would not end in a tragedy. Please keep me +informed of any further change in his condition. As yet I do not see the +necessity of consulting an attorney, but later I may be compelled to do +so. + +"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 empty +glass of milk. The fluid clung to the steel nib thinly; he went on +writing with it, between the lines of ink: + +"I am in no danger. I hold credentials to United States, which, when +presented, will make me responsible only to the Italian government as +special envoy, according to international law. Arrange escape for one +week from to-night; use any money necessary. Make careful arrangements +for the test and signing of compact for two nights after." + +Again the prisoner cleaned the steel nib, after which he put it back in +the bottle of ink, leaving it there. He waved the sheet of paper back +and forth to dry it, and at last scrutinized it minutely, standing under +the light from the high-up window of his cell. Letter by letter the milk +evaporated, leaving the sheet perfectly clean and white except for the +ink-written message. This sheet he folded, placed in an envelope, and +addressed. + +Later the guard passed along the corridor, and Signor Petrozinni thrust +the letter out to him. + +"Be good enough to post that, please," he requested. "It isn't sealed. I +don't know if your prison rules require you to read the letters that go +out. 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 down +again, and sipped his milk meditatively. + +One hour later Mr. Grimm, accompanied by Johnson, came out of a +photographer's dark room in Pennsylvania Avenue with a developed +negative which he set on a rack to dry. At the end of another hour he +was sitting at his desk studying, under a magnifying glass, a finished +print of the negative. Word by word he was writing on a slip of paper +what his magnifying glass gave him and so, curiously enough, it came to +pass that Miss Thorne and Chief Campbell of the Secret Service were +reading the hidden, milk-written message at almost the identical moment. + +"Johnson got Petrozinni's letter from the postman," Mr. Grimm was +explaining. "I opened it, photographed it, sealed it again and remailed +it. There was not more than half an hour's delay; and Miss Thorne can +not possibly know of it." He paused a moment. "It's an odd thing that +writing such as that is absolutely invisible to the naked eye, and yet +when photographed becomes decipherable in the negative." + +"What do you make of it?" Mr. Campbell asked. The guileless blue eyes +were 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 government +must respect them, even if Señor Alvarez dies, and leave it to his own +government to punish him. If we were officially aware that he has such +credentials I doubt if we would have the right to keep him confined; we +would merely have to hand him over to the Italian embassy and demand his +punishment. And, of course, all that makes him more dangerous than +ever." + +"Yes, I know that," said the chief a little impatiently. "But who is +this 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 found +him." + +Mr. Campbell's clock-like brain ticked over the situation in detail. + +"It's like this," Mr. Grimm elucidated. "He has credentials which he +knows will free him if he is forced to present them, but I imagine they +were given to him more for protection in an emergency like this than for +introducing him to our government. As the matter stands he can't afford +to discover himself by using those credentials, and yet, if the Latin +compact is signed, he must be free. Remember, too, that he is accredited +from three countries--Italy, France and Spain." He was silent for a +moment. "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. Campbell +slowly. "The special envoy of three great powers held for attempted--!" + +"Officially we are not aware of his purpose, or his identity," Mr. Grimm +reminded him. "If he escaped it would clarify the situation +tremendously." + +"If he escaped!" repeated Mr. Campbell musingly. + +"But, of course, the compact would not be signed, at least in this +country," Mr. Grimm went on tentatively. + +Mr. Campbell gazed straight into the listless eyes of the young man for +a 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 there +in 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 at +his desk, poring over a report. Once he glanced up at the clock--it was +five 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 the +first sharp stroke of the hour; and at just that moment the door from +the street opened and a man entered. He was rather tall and slender, and +a sinister black mask hid his face from the quickly raised eyes of the +warden. For a bare fraction of a second the two men stared at each +other, then, instinctively, the warden's right hand moved toward the +open drawer of his desk where a revolver lay, and his left toward +several 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 a +pleasant voice. "I have come to demand his release." + +The warden's right hand was raised above the desk top, and the revolver +in it clicked warningly. + +"You have come to demand his release, eh?" he queried. He still sat +motionless, with his eyes fixed on the black mask. "How did you pass the +outside guard?" + +"He was bribed," was the ready response. "Now, Warden," the masked +intruder continued pacifically, "it would be much more pleasant all +around and there would be less personal danger in it for both of us if +you would release Signor Petrozinni without question. I may add that no +bribe was offered to you because your integrity was beyond question." + +"Thank you," said the warden grimly, "and it shall remain so as long as +I 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 had +been drawn! His teeth closed with a snap at the treachery of it, and +with his left hand he pulled back one of the levers--that which should +arouse the jailers, turnkeys and guards. Instead of the insistent +clangor 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 the +palms of his hands. He still held the revolver as he advanced upon the +masked man threateningly. + +"Not too close, now," warned the intruder, with a sudden hardening of +his 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 to +injure you, still less do I intend that you shall injure me; and it +would be needless for either of us to make a personal matter of it. I +want your prisoner, Signor Petrozinni--you will release him at once! +That's all!" + +The warden paused, dazed, incredulous before the audacity of it, while +he studied two calm eyes which peered at him through the slits of the +mask. + +"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 for +you to give an alarm," the stranger went on. "The very men on whom you +most depended have been bought, and even if they were within sound of +your voice now they wouldn't respond. One of your assistants who has +been here for years unloaded the revolver in the desk there, and less +than an hour ago cut the prison alarm wire. I, personally, cut the +police alarm outside the building. So you see!" + +As yet there was no weapon in sight, save the unloaded revolver in the +warden's hand; at no time had the stranger's voice been raised. His tone +was a perfectly normal one. + +"Besides yourself there are only five other men employed here who are +now awake," the masked man continued. "These are four inner guards and +the outer guard. They have all been bought--the turnkeys at five +thousand dollars each, and the outer guard at seven thousand. The +receipt of all of this money is conditional upon the release of Signor +Petrozinni, 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 how +futile any resistance would be." + +"But who--who is this Signor Petrozinni, that such powerful influences +should be brought to bear in his behalf?" demanded the bewildered +warden. + +"He is a man who can command a vast fortune--and Señor Alvarez is at the +point 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 step +forward and raised the empty revolver to strike. The masked man moved +slightly to one side and his clenched fist caught the warden on the +point 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 prison +opened, and Signor Petrozinni, accompanied by one of the guards, entered +the warden's office. The masked man glanced around at them, and with a +motion of his head indicated the door leading to the street. They +passed 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 send +some of your men up to investigate." + +"Who is that?" came the answering question. + +The stranger replaced the receiver on the hook, stripped off his black +mask, dropped it on the floor beside the motionless warden, and went +out. It was Mr. Grimm! + + + + +XVIII + +NOTICE TO LEAVE + + +At fifteen minutes of midnight when Miss Thorne, followed by Signor +Petrozinni, entered the sitting-room of her apartments in the hotel and +turned up the light they found Mr. Grimm already there. He rose +courteously. At sight of him Miss Thorne's face went deathly white, and +the 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 to +the humiliation of arrest if you attempt to leave. The house is guarded +by a dozen men." + +"Your Highness?" Miss Thorne repeated blankly. "You are assuming a +great deal, aren't you, Mr. Grimm?" + +"I don't believe," and Mr. Grimm's listless eyes were fixed on those of +the escaped prisoner, "I don't believe that Prince Benedetto d'Abruzzi +will deny his identity?" + +There was one of those long tense silences when eye challenges eye, when +wit is pitted against wit, and mind is hauled around to a new, and +sometimes unattractive, view of a situation. Miss Thorne stood silent +with rigid features, colorless as marble; but slowly a sneer settled +about 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. Grimm +was still standing. "I know, for instance, that one week ago the plot +which had your freedom for its purpose was born; I know the contents of +every letter that passed between you and Miss Thorne here, +notwithstanding the invisible ink; I know that four days ago several +thousand 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 or +one of her agents bribed the guard in front; I know that the escape was +planned for to-night, and that the man who was delegated to take charge +of it is now locked in my office under guard. It may interest you to +know that it was I who took his place and made the escape possible. I +know that much!" + +"You--_you_--!" the prince burst out suddenly. "_You_ aided me to +escape?" + +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 utmost +courtesy. "There is one other thing I know--that the Latin compact will +not be signed in the United States." + +The prince's eyes met Miss Thorne's inquiringly, and she shook her +head. 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 the +Latin compact is signed anywhere, the English-speaking countries of the +world might construe it as a _casus belli_ and strike soon enough, and +hard enough, to put an end to it once for all." + +Again there was silence for a little while. Slowly the prince's eyes +were darkening, and a shadow flitted across Miss Thorne's face. The +prince rose impatiently. + +"Well, what is the meaning of all this? Are you going to take me back to +prison?" + +"No," said Mr. Grimm. He glanced at his watch. "I will give each of you +one-half hour to pack your belongings. We must catch a train at one +o'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 those +wonderful blue-gray eyes now. "A special car with private compartments +will be attached to the regular train, and the only inconvenience to you +will be the fact that the three of us will be compelled to sit up all +night. Half a dozen other Secret Service men will be on the train with +us." + +And then the prince's entire manner underwent a change. + +"Mr. Grimm," he said earnestly, "it is absolutely necessary that I +remain in Washington for another week--remain here even if I am locked +up again--lock me up again if you like. I can't sign compacts in +prison." + +"Twenty-five minutes," replied Mr. Grimm quietly. + +"But here," exclaimed the prince explosively, "I have credentials which +will insure my protection in spite of your laws." + +"I know that," said Mr. Grimm placidly. "Credentials of that nature can +not be presented at midnight, and you will not be here to-morrow to +present 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 was +giving some instructions as to her baggage the prince went over to the +telegraph booth and began to write a message on a blank. Mr. Grimm +appeared 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. Grimm +informed him quietly. + +"Why, it's an outrage!" flamed the prince. + +"It depends altogether on the view-point, your Highness," said Mr. Grimm +courteously. "If you will pardon me I might suggest that it is needless +to attract attention by your present attitude. You may--I say you +_may_--compel me to humiliate you." The prince glared at him angrily. "I +mean 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 started +out. At the door Mr. Grimm stopped and turned back to the desk, as if +struck by some sudden thought, leaving them together. + +"Oh, Miss Thorne left a message for some one," Mr. Grimm was saying to +the clerk. "She's decided it is unnecessary." He turned and glanced +toward her, and the clerk's eyes followed his. "Please give it to me." + +It was passed over without comment. It was a sealed envelope addressed +to Mr. Charles Winthrop Rankin. Mr. Grimm glanced at the superscription, +tore the envelope into bits and dropped it into a basket. A minute +later he was assisting Miss Thorne and the prince into an automobile +that was waiting in front. As the car moved away two other automobiles +appeared 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 roar +and clatter of the moving train. Mr. Grimm, vigilant, implacable, sat at +ease; 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 was +passed, 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. Grimm +apologized to Miss Thorne as he assisted her to alight. "You must be +exhausted." + +"If it were only that!" she replied, with a slight smile. "And is it +too 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. Grimm +obligingly. "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 later +they steamed out into the stream and threaded their way down the bay. +Miss Thorne stood at the rail gazing back upon the city they were +leaving. Mr. Grimm stood beside her; the prince, still sullen, still +scowling, sat a dozen feet away. + +"This is a wonderful thing you have done, Mr. Grimm," said Miss Thorne +at last. + +"Thank you," he said simply. "It was a destructive thing that you +intended to do. Did you ever see a more marvelous thing than that?" and +he indicated the sky-line of New York. "It's the most marvelous bit of +mechanism in the world; the dynamo of the western hemisphere. You would +have destroyed it, because in the world-war that would have been the +first point of attack." + +She raised her eyebrows, but was silent. + +"Somehow," he went on after a moment, "I could never associate a woman +with 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? And +now your remark makes me feel that you alone have stood for peace and +the general good, and I for destruction and evil." + +"I didn't mean that," Mr. Grimm said quickly. "You have done your duty +as 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 you +and I might have been excellent friends if it had not been for all +this." + +"I know we should have," said Mr. Grimm, almost eagerly. "I wonder if +you will ever forgive me for--for--?" + +"Forgive you?" she repeated. "There is nothing to forgive. One must do +one'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 time +there was a tense, strained note in his voice. + +Miss Thorne's blue-gray eyes had grown mistily thoughtful; the words +startled 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 smile +curled 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 about +Sandy Hook put toward them, flying some signal at her masthead. Slowly +the great boat on which they stood crept along, then the clang of a bell +in the engine-room brought her to a standstill, and the revenue cutter +came 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 staring +into the limpid gray eyes, then, turning, went below. From the revenue +cutter 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 scowl +was still on his face. + +"And now what?" he demanded abruptly. "This man has treated us as if we +were 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--we +are not beaten yet." + +The _Lusitania_ was rounding Montauk Point when the wireless brought her +to half-speed with a curt message: + +"Isabel Thorne and Pietro Petrozinni aboard _Lusitania_ wanted on +warrants charging conspiracy. Tug-boat will take them off, intercepting +you 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 aid +of one of the maids in the depot at Jersey City I managed to get a +telegram of explanation and instruction to De Foe in New York, and this +is the result. He signed Mr. Campbell's name, I suppose, to give weight +to 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 upon +the 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 and +amusement; automobiles, carriages, cabs, cars flowed past endlessly; and +yet Mr. Grimm saw naught of it. In the distance, at one end of the +avenue the dome of the capitol cleft the shadows of night, and a single +light sparkled at its apex; in the other direction, at the left of the +treasury building which abruptly blocks the wide thoroughfare, were the +shimmering windows of the White House. + +Motionless, moody, thoughtful, Mr. Grimm sat staring, staring straight +ahead, comprehending none of these things which lay before him as in a +panorama. Instead, his memory was conjuring up a pair of subtle, +blue-gray eyes, now pleading, now coquettish, now frankly defiant; two +slim, white, wonderful hands; the echo of a pleasant, throaty laugh; a +splendid, elusive, radiant-haired phantom. Truly, a woman of mystery! +Who was this Isabel Thorne who, for months past, had been the +storm-center and directing mind of a vast international intrigue which +threatened the world with war? Who, this remarkable young woman who with +ease and assurance commanded ambassadors and played nations as pawns? + +Now that she was safely out of the country Mr. Grimm had leisure to +speculate. Upon him had devolved the duty of blocking her plans, and he +had done so--merciless alike of his own feeling and of hers. Hesitation +or evasion had never occurred to him. It was a thing to be done, and he +did it. He wondered if she had understood, there at the last beside the +rail? He wondered if she knew the struggle it had cost him deliberately +to send her out of his life? Or had even surmised that her expulsion +from the country, by his direct act, was wholly lacking in the +exaltation of triumph to him; that it struck deeper than that, below the +listless, 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. He +didn't heed. The waiter poured a demi-tasse, and inquiringly lifted a +lump of sugar in the silver tongs. Still Mr. Grimm didn't heed. At last +the waiter deposited the sugar on the edge of the fragile saucer, and +moved away as silently as he had come. A newspaper which Mr. Grimm had +placed on the end of the table when he sat down, rattled a little as a +breeze from the open window caught it, then the top sheet slid off and +fell to the floor. Mr. Grimm was still staring out the window. + +Slowly the room behind him was thinning of its crowd as the +theater-bound diners went out in twos and threes. The last of these +disappeared finally, and save for Mr. Grimm there were not more than a +dozen persons left in the place. Thus for a few minutes, and then the +swinging doors leading from the street clicked, and a gentleman entered. +He glanced around, as if seeking a seat near a window, then moved along +in Mr. Grimm's direction, between the rows of tables. His gaze lingered +on Mr. Grimm for an instant, and when he came opposite he stooped and +picked 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 paper +once and replaced it on the table. One hand lingered for just the +fraction 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 three +tables down. + +Apparently this trifling courtesy had broken the spell of reverie, for +Mr. Grimm squared around to the table again, drew his coffee-cup toward +him, and dropped in the single lump of sugar. He idly stirred it for a +moment, as his eyes turned again toward the open window, then he lifted +the tiny cup and emptied it. + +Again he sat motionless for a long time, and thrice the new-comer, only +a few feet away, glanced at him narrowly. And now, it seemed, a peculiar +drowsiness was overtaking Mr. Grimm. Once he caught himself nodding and +raised his head with a jerk. Then he noticed that the arc lights in the +street were wobbling curiously, and he fell to wondering why that +single flame sparkled at the apex of the capitol dome. Things around him +grew hazy, vague, unreal, and then, as if realizing that something was +the 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 everything +grew black about him, and he pitched forward on the floor. His face was +dead white; his fingers moved a little, nervously, weakly, then they +were still. + +Several people rose at the sound of the falling body, and the new-comer +hurried forward. His coat sleeve caught the empty demi-tasse, as he +stooped, and swept it to the floor, where it was shattered. The head +waiter and another came, pell-mell, and those diners who had risen came +more slowly. + +"What's the matter?" asked the head waiter anxiously. + +Already the new-comer was supporting Mr. Grimm on his knee, and +flicking water in his face. + +"Nothing serious, I fancy," he answered shortly. "He's subject to these +little attacks." + +"What are they? Who is he?" + +The stranger tore at Mr. Grimm's collar until it came loose, then he +fell to chafing the still hands. + +"He is a Mr. Grimm, a government employee--I know him," he answered +again. "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 call +a cab, and I'll see that he's taken home. It happens that we live in the +same apartment house, just a few blocks from here." + +Obedient to the crisply-spoken directions, a cab was called, and five +minutes later Mr. Grimm, still insensible, was lifted into it. The +stranger took a seat beside him, the cabby touched his horse with a +whip, and the vehicle fell into the endless, moving line. + + + + +XXI + +A SLIP OF PAPER + + +When the light of returning consciousness finally pierced the black +lethargy that enshrouded him, Mr. Grimm's mind was a chaos of vagrant, +absurd fantasies; then slowly, slowly, realization struggled back to its +own, and he came to know things. First was the knowledge that he was +lying flat on his back, on a couch, it seemed; then, that he was in the +dark--an utter, abject darkness. And finally came an overwhelming sense +of silence. + +For a while he lay motionless, with not even the movement of an eye-lash +to indicate consciousness, wrapped in a delicious languor. Gradually +this passed and the feeble flutter of his heart grew into a steady, +rhythmic beat. The keen brain was awakening; he was beginning to +remember. What had happened? He knew only that in some manner a drug had +been administered to him, a bitter dose tasting of opium; that +speechlessly, he had fought against it, that he had risen from the table +in the restaurant, and that he had fallen. All the rest was blank. + +With eyes still closed, and nerveless hands inert at his sides he +listened, the while he turned the situation over in speculative mood. +The waiter had administered the drug, of course, unless--unless it had +been the courteous stranger who had replaced the newspaper on the table! +That thought opened new fields of conjecture. Mr. Grimm had no +recollection of ever having seen him before; and he had paid only the +enforced attention of politeness to him. And why had the drug been +administered? Vaguely, incoherently, Mr. Grimm imagined that in some way +it had to do with the great international plot of war in which Miss +Thorne was so delicate and vital an instrument. + +Where was he? Conjecture stopped there. Evidently he was where the +courteous gentleman in the restaurant wanted him to be. A prisoner? +Probably. In danger? Long, careful attention to detail work in the +Secret Service had convinced Mr. Grimm that he was always in danger. +That was one reason--and the best--why he had lain motionless, without +so much as lifting a finger, since that first glimmer of consciousness +had entered his brain. He was probably under scrutiny, even in the +darkness, and for the present it was desirable to accommodate any chance +watcher by remaining apparently unconscious. + +And so for a long time he lay, listening. Was there another person in +the room? Mr. Grimm's ears were keenly alive for the inadvertent +shuffling of a foot; or the sound of breathing. Nothing. Even the night +roar of the city was missing; the silence was oppressive. At last he +opened his eyes. A pall of gloom encompassed him--a pall without one +rift of light. His fingers, moving slowly, explored the limits of the +couch whereon he lay. + +Confident, at last, that wherever he was, he was unwatched, Mr. Grimm +was on the point of concluding that further inaction was useless, when +his straining ears caught the faint grating of metal against +metal--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 its +hinges, 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's +nerveless hands closed involuntarily, and his lips were set together +tightly. Was it to be a knife thrust in the dark? If not--then what? He +expected the flare of a match; instead there was a soft tread, and the +rustle of skirts. A woman! Mr. Grimm's caution was all but forgotten in +his surprise. As the steps drew nearer his clenched fingers loosened; he +waited. + +Two hands stretched forward in the dark, touched him +simultaneously--one on the face, one on the breast. A singular thrill +shot through him, but there was not the flicker of an eye or the +twitching of a finger. The woman--it _was_ a woman--seemed now to be +bending over him, then he heard her drop on her knees beside him, and +she 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 and +inert, for a strange fragrance was enveloping him--a fragrance he well +knew. + +The hands were fumbling at his breast again, and there was the sharp +crackle of paper. At first he didn't understand, then he knew that the +woman had pinned a paper to the lapel of his coat. Finally she +straightened up, and took two steps away from him, after which came a +pause. His keenly attuned ears caught her faint breathing, then the +rustle of her skirts as she turned back. She was leaning over him +again--her lips touched his forehead, barely; again there was a quick +rustling of skirts, the door creaked, and--silence, deep, oppressive, +overwhelming silence. + +Isabel! Was he dreaming? And then he ceased wondering and fell to +remembering 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. Grimm +straightened up suddenly on the couch, himself again. He touched the +slip of paper which she had pinned to his coat to make sure it was not +all a dream, after which he recalled the fact that while he had heard +the 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 was +beside 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 knew +the answer. The compact was to be signed--the alliance which would array +the civilized world in arms. He had failed to block that, as he thought. +If Miss Thorne had returned, then Prince Benedetto d'Abruzzi, who held +absolute power to sign the compact for Italy, France and Spain, had also +returned. + +Stealthily, feeling his way as he went, Mr. Grimm moved toward the door +leading to freedom, guided by the fresh draft of air. He reached the +door--it was standing open--and a moment later stepped out into the +star-lit night. It was open country here, with a thread of white road +just ahead, and farther along a fringe of shrubbery. Mr. Grimm reached +the road. Far down it, a pin point in the night, a light flickered +through interlacing branches. The tail lamp of an automobile, of course! + +Mr. Grimm left the road and skirted a sparse hedge in the direction of +the light. After a moment he heard the engine of an automobile, and saw +a woman--barely discernible--step into the car. As it started forward he +staked everything on one bold move, and won, his reward being a narrow +sitting space in the rear of the car, hidden from its occupants by the +tonneau. One mile, two miles, three miles they charged through the +night, 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 behind +some convenient bushes. And the first thing he did there was to light a +match, and read what was written on the slip of paper pinned to his +coat. It was, simply: + +"My Dear Mr. Grimm: + +"By the time you read this the compact will have been signed, and your +efforts to prevent it, splendid as they were, futile. It is a tribute to +you that it was unanimously agreed that you must be accounted for at +the time of the signing, hence the drugging in the restaurant; it was +only an act of kindness that I should come here to see that all was well +with you, and leave the door open behind me. + +"Believe me when I say that you are one man in whom I have never been +disappointed. Accept this as my farewell, for now I assume again the +name and position rightfully mine. And know, too, that I shall always +cherish 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 a +tug-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, writing +materials and a metal spheroid a shade larger than a one-pound shell; +and around it a semicircle of silent, masked and cowled figures. There +were twelve of them, eleven men and a woman. In the shadows, which grew +denser at the far end of the room, was a squat, globular object, a +massive, smooth-sided, black, threatening thing of iron. + +One of the men glanced at his watch--it was just two o'clock--then rose +and took a position beside the table, facing the semicircle. He placed +the timepiece on the table in front of him. + +"Gentlemen," he said, and there was the faintest trace of a foreign +accent, "I shall speak English because I know that whatever your +nationality all of you are familiar with that tongue. And now an apology +for the theatric aspect of all this--the masks, the time and place of +meeting, and the rest of it." He paused a moment. "There is only one +person living who knows the name and position of all of you," and by a +sweep of his hand he indicated the motionless figure of the woman. "It +was by her decision that masks are worn, for, while we all know the +details of the Latin compact, there is a bare chance that some one will +not sign, and it is not desirable that the identity of that person be +known to all of us. The reason for the selection of this time and place +is obvious, for an inkling of the proposed signing has reached the +Secret Service. I will add the United States was chosen as the +birthplace of this new epoch in history for several reasons, one being +the proximity to Central and South America; and another the inadequate +police system which enables greater freedom of action." + +He stopped and drew from his pocket a folded parchment. He tapped the +tips 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 a +decade. As long as fifty years ago it was suggested, and whatever +differences the Latin countries of the world have had among themselves, +they have always realized that ultimately they must stand together +against--against the other nations of the world. This idea germinated +into action three years ago, and since that time agents have covered the +world in its interest. This meeting is the fruition of all that work, +and this," he held the parchment aloft, "is the instrument that will +unite us. Never has a diplomatic secret been kept as this has been kept; +never has a greater reprisal been planned. It means, gentlemen, the +domination of the world--socially, spiritually, commercially and +artistically; it means that England and the United States, whose sphere +of influence has extended around the globe, will be beaten back, that +the 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 with +enthusiasm; and his hands pointed his remarks with quick, sharp +gestures. + +"All this," he went on, "was never possible until three years ago, when +the navies of the world were given over into the hands of one nation--my +country. Five years ago a fellow-countryman of mine happened to be +present at an electrical exhibition in New York City, and there he +witnessed an interesting experiment--practical demonstration of the fact +that a submarine mine may be exploded by the use of the Marconi wireless +system. He was a practical electrician himself, and the idea lingered in +his mind. For two years he experimented, and finally this resulted." He +picked up the metal spheroid and held it out for their inspection. "As +it stands it is absolutely perfect and gives a world's supremacy to the +Latin countries because it places all the navies of the world at our +mercy. It is a variation of the well-known percussion cap or fuse by +which mines and torpedoes are exploded. + +"The theory of it is simple, as are the theories of all great +inventions; the secret of its construction is known only to its +inventor--a man of whom you never heard. It is merely that the mechanism +of 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 may +use the word, to a certain number of vibrations and half-vibrations; a +wireless instrument of high power, with a modifying addition which the +inventor has added, has only to be set in motion to discharge it at any +distance up to twenty-five miles. High power wireless waves recognize no +obstacle, so the explosion of a submarine mine is as easily brought +about as would be the explosion of a mine on dry land. You will readily +see 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 to +the Latin compact, gentlemen, is that the United States and England are +now concluding negotiations, unknown to each other, by which _they_ will +protect _their_ seaports by means of mines primed with this cap. The +tuning of the caps which we will use is known only to us; _the tuning of +the caps which they will use is also known to us_! The addition to the +wireless apparatus which they will use is such that they _can not_, even +by accident, explode a mine guarding our seaports; but, on the other +hand, the addition to the wireless apparatus which _we_ will use permits +of the extreme high charge which will explode their mines. To make it +clearer, we could send a navy against such a city as New York or +Liverpool, and explode every mine in front of us as we went; and +meanwhile our mines are impervious. + +"Another word, and I have finished. Five gentlemen, whom I imagine are +present now, have witnessed a test of this cap, by direct command of +their home governments. For the benefit of the others of you a simple +test has been arranged for to-night. This cap on the table is charged; +its inventor is at his wireless instrument, fifteen miles away. At three +o'clock he will turn on the current that will explode it." Four of the +eleven men looked at their watches. "It is now seventeen minutes past +two. I am instructed, for the purposes of the test, to place this cap +anywhere you may select--in this house or outside of it, in a box, +sealed, or under water. The purpose is merely to demonstrate its +efficacy; to prove to your complete satisfaction that it can be exploded +under 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 and +Italian. I shall ask you to sign, after reading either or all, precisely +as the directions you have received from your home government instruct. +On behalf of the three greatest Latin countries, as special envoy of +each, I will sign first." + +He dropped into the chair, signed each of the three parchment pages +three times, then rose and offered the pen to the cowled figure at one +end of the semicircle. The man came forward, read the English +transcript, studied the three signatures already there with a certain +air of surprise, then signed. The second man signed, the third man, and +the fourth. + +The fifth had just risen to go forward when the door opened silently and +Mr. Grimm entered. Without a glance either to right or left, he went +straight toward the table, and extended a hand to take the compact. + +For an instant there had come amazement, a dumb astonishment, at the +intrusion. It passed, and the hand of the man who had done the talking +darted 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 eyes +of 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 me +that document." + +He backed away as he spoke, kicked the door closed with one heel, then +leaned against it, facing them. + +"Or better yet," he went on after a moment, "burn it. There is a lamp in +front of you." He paused for an answer. "It would be absurd of me to +attempt 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 palms +fiercely, 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 locked +him in the coal-bin," replied Mr. Grimm tersely. "I am waiting for you +to 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 prince +gazed straight into his inscrutable face, then turned accusing eyes on +the masked figures about him. + +"Is there a traitor?" he demanded suddenly. His gaze settled on Miss +Thorne and lingered there. + +"I can relieve your mind on that point--there is not," Mr. Grimm assured +him. "Just a final word, your Highness, if you will permit me. I have +heard everything that has been said here for the last fifteen minutes. +The details of your percussion cap are interesting. I shall lay them +before my government and my government may take it upon itself to lay +them before the British government. You yourself said a few minutes ago +that this compact was not possible before this cap was invented and +perfected. It isn't possible the minute my government is warned against +its use. That will be my first duty." + +"You are giving some very excellent reasons, Mr. Grimm," was the +deliberate reply, "why you should not be permitted to leave this room +alive." + +"Further," Mr. Grimm resumed in the same tone, "I have been ordered to +prevent the signing of that compact, at least in this country. It seems +that I am barely in time. If it is signed--and it will be useless now on +your own statement unless you murder me--every man who signs it will +have to reckon with the highest power of this country. Will you destroy +it? I don't want to know what countries already stand committed by the +signatures 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, will +receive 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. Her +cheeks 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 make +him turn traitor." She stared coldly into the prince's eyes. "And we are +not 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 face +of this woman who, in a way, was defending him. "But there is only one +thing to do, Miss Thorne." He was talking to her now. "There is no +middle course. It is a problem that has only one possible answer--the +destruction of that document, and the departure of you, and you, your +Highness, for Italy under my personal care all the way. I imagined this +matter had ended that day on the steamer; it _will_ end here, now, +to-night." + +The prince glanced again at his watch, then thoughtfully weighed the +percussion cap in his hand, after which, with a curious laugh, he walked +over to the squat iron globe in an opposite corner of the room. He bent +over it half a minute, then straightened up. + +"That cap, Mr. Grimm, has one disadvantage," he remarked casually. "When +it is attached to a mine or torpedo it can not be disconnected without +firing it. It is attached." He turned to the others. "It is needless to +discuss the matter further just now. If you will follow me? We will +leave Mr. Grimm here." + +With a strange little cry, neither anger nor anguish, yet oddly +partaking 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 the +prince coldly. "It has all passed beyond the point where the feelings +of any one person, even the feelings of the woman who has engineered the +compact, can be considered. A single life can not be permitted to stand +in the way of the consummation of this world project. Mr. Grimm alive +means the compact would be useless, if not impossible; Mr. Grimm dead +means the fruition of all our plans and hopes. You have done your duty +and you have done it well; but now your authority ends, and I, the +special envoy of--" + +"Just a moment, please," Mr. Grimm interrupted courteously. "As I +understand 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 a +wireless 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 chair +up against the door and sat down, crossing his legs. On his knees rested +the barrel of a revolver, glittering, fascinating, in the semi-darkness. +"Now, gentlemen," and he glanced at his watch, "it's twenty-one minutes +of three o'clock. At three that mine will explode. We will all be in the +room when it happens, unless his Highness sees fit to destroy the +compact." + +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 should +say, _any person_, attempts to leave this room I _know_ he will die; and +there's a bare chance that the percussion cap will fail to work. I can +account for six of you, if there is a rush." + +"But, man, if that mine explodes we shall all be killed--blown to +pieces!" 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 studied +Mr. Grimm's impassive countenance. + +"I have never disappointed you yet, Miss Thorne," he remarked as if it +were an explanation. "I shall not now." + +She turned to the prince. + +"Your Highness, I think it needless to argue further," she said. "We +have no choice in the matter; there is only one course--destroy the +compact." + +"No!" was the curt answer. + +"I believe I know Mr. Grimm better than you do," she argued. "You think +he will weaken; I know he will not. I am not arguing for him, nor for +myself; I am arguing against the frightful loss that will come here in +this 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 prince +angrily. + +"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 in +the way?" + +A quick change came over Miss Thorne's face. The eyes hardened, the lips +were set, and lines Mr. Grimm had never seen appeared about the mouth. +Here, in a flash, the cloak of dissimulation was cast aside, and the +woman stood forth, this keen, brilliant, determined woman who did +things. + +"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 bosom +and cast it upon the table; the prince stared at it. "In the name of +your sovereign--_must_!" she said again. + +The prince turned away and began pacing, back and forth across the room +with the parchment crumpled in his hand. For a minute or more Isabel +stood 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 for +so long all began talking at once. One of them snatched at the crumpled +compact 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-distorted +face. + +"Do you know what it means to you if I do as you say?" he demanded +savagely. "It means you will be branded as traitor, that your name, +your property--" + +"If you will pardon me, your Highness," she interrupted, "the power that +I have used was given to me to use; I have used it. It is a matter to be +settled between me and my government, and as far as it affects my person +is 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 cowled +men 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, is +that the compact?" + +She glanced at it, nodded her head, and then the flame caught the +fringed edge of paper. It crackled, flashed, flamed, and at last, a +thing 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. The +prince and Miss Thorne waited until the last. + +"And, Miss Thorne, if you will give us a lift in your car?" Mr. Grimm +suggested. "It is now four minutes of three." + +The automobile came in answer to a signal and the three in silence +entered it. The car trembled and had just begun to move when Mr. Grimm +remembered 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 horror +sank back in her seat with face like chalk. The prince glanced uneasily +at his watch, then spoke curtly to the chauffeur. + +"Run the car up out of danger; there'll be an explosion there in a +moment." + +They had gone perhaps a hundred feet when the building they had just +left seemed to be lifted bodily from the ground by a great spurt of +flame which tore through its center, then collapsed like a thing of +cards. The prince, unmoved, glanced around at Miss Thorne; she lay in a +dead faint beside him. + +"Go ahead," he commanded. "Baltimore." + + + + +XXIV + +THE PERSONAL EQUATION + + +Mr. Campbell ceased talking and the deep earnestness that had settled on +his face passed, leaving instead the blank, inscrutable mask of +benevolence behind which his clock-like genius was habitually hidden. +The choleric blue eyes of the president of the United States shifted +inquiringly to the thoughtful countenance of the secretary of state at +his right, thence along the table around which the official family was +gathered. It was a special meeting of the cabinet called at the +suggestion of Chief Campbell, and for more than an hour he had done the +talking. There had been no interruption. + +"So much!" he concluded, at last. "If there is any point I have not made +clear Mr. Grimm is here to explain it in person." + +Mr. Grimm rose at the mention of his name and stood with his hands +clasped behind his back. His eyes met those of the chief executive +listlessly. + +"We understand, Mr. Grimm," the president began, and he paused for an +instant to regard the tall, clean-cut young man with a certain +admiration, "we understand that there does not actually exist such a +thing 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 several +signatures had been attached," Mr. Grimm amended. "Throughout I have +acted 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 his +shoulders. + +"You are certain, Mr. Grimm," and the president spoke with great +deliberation, "you are certain that the representatives of the Latin +countries 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 excuse +for existence destroyed--when they permitted me to learn of the wireless +percussion cap which would have placed the navies of the world at their +mercy. Believe me, gentlemen, if they had kept their secret it would +have given them dominion of the earth. They made one mistake," he added +in a most matter-of-fact tone. "They should have killed me; it was their +only 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 they +should have permitted the life of one man to stand between them and the +world power for which they had so long planned and schemed. His +Highness, Prince Benedetto d'Abruzzi believed as I do, and so expressed +himself." He paused a moment; there was a hint of surprise in his +manner. "I expected to be killed, of course. It seemed to me the only +thing that could happen." + +"They must have known of the far-reaching consequences which would +follow 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 gain +by killing me there as I stood in the room where I had interrupted the +signing of the compact, because that would have been before I had placed +the facts in the hands of my government. I was the only person outside +of their circle who knew all of them. Only the basest motive could +inspire 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 prince +under--that is, you detained them?" he queried. "If so, where are they +now?" + +"I don't know," was the reply. "Just before the explosion the three of +us entered an automobile together, and then as we were starting away I +remembered something which made it necessary for me to reenter the +house. 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 to +their 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 go +back to save his life, otherwise--" + +"Oh, the guard at the door, you mean?" came the interruption. "Who was +it?" + +Mr. Grimm glanced at his chief, who nodded. + +"It was Mr. Charles Winthrop Rankin of the German embassy," said the +young man. + +"Mr. Rankin of the German embassy was on guard at the door?" demanded +the president quickly. + +"Yes. We got out safely." + +"And that means that Germany was--!" + +The president paused and startled glances passed around the table. After +a 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 listless +eyes, and his lips were set. "Perhaps I had better explain here that the +personal equation enters largely into an affair of this kind," he said +at last, slowly. "It happens that it entered into this. Unless I am +ordered to pursue the matter further I think it would be best for all +concerned to accept the fact of Miss Thorne's escape, and--" He stopped. + +There was a long, thoughtful silence. Every man in the room was studying +Mr. Grimm's impassive face. + +"Personal equation," mused the president. "Just how, Mr. Grimm, does the +personal 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 us +and yet are not enemies. It is merely that our paths of duty cross. We +may have the greatest respect for them and they for us, but purposes are +unalterably different. In other words there is a personal enmity and a +political enmity. You, for instance, might be a close personal friend of +the man whom you defeated for president. There might"--he stopped +suddenly. + +"Go on," urged the president. + +"I think every man meets once in his life an individual with whom he +would like to reckon personally," the young man continued. "That +reckoning may not be a severe one; it may be less severe than the law +would provide; but it would be a personal reckoning. There is one +individual in this affair with whom I should like to reckon, hence the +personal equation enters very largely into the case." + +For a little while the silence of the room was unbroken, save for the +steady tick-tock of a great clock in one corner. Mr. Grimm's eyes were +fixed unwaveringly upon those of the chief executive. At last the +secretary of war crumpled a sheet of paper impatiently and hitched his +chair up to the table. + +"Coming down to the facts it's like this, isn't it?" he demanded +briskly. "The Latin countries, by an invention of their own which the +United States and England were to be duped into purchasing, would have +had power to explode every submarine mine before attacking a port? Very +well. This thing, of course, would have given them the freedom of the +seas as long as we were unable to explode their submarines as they were +able to explode ours. And this is the condition which made the Latin +compact possible, isn't it?" + +He looked straight at Mr. Grimm, who nodded. + +"Therefore," he went on, "if the Latin compact is not a reality on +paper; if the United States and England do not purchase this--this +wireless percussion cap, we are right back where we were before it all +happened, aren't we? Every possible danger from that direction has +passed, hasn't it? The world-war of which we have been talking is +rendered impossible, isn't it?" + +"That's a question," answered Mr. Grimm. "If you will pardon me for +suggesting it, I would venture to say that as long as there is an +invention of that importance in the hands of nations whom we now know +have 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 peace +we must either get complete control of that invention or else understand +it so well that there can be no further danger. And again, please let me +call your attention to the fact that the brain which brought this thing +into existence is still to be reckoned with. There may, some day, come a +time when our submarines may be exploded at will regardless of this +percussion cap." + +The secretary of war turned flatly upon Chief Campbell. + +"This woman who is mixed up in this affair?" he demanded. "This Miss +Thorne. Who is she?" + +"Who is she?" repeated the chief. "She's a secret agent of Italy, one of +the most brilliant, perhaps, that has ever operated in this or any other +country. She is the pivot around which the intrigue moved. We know her +by a dozen names; any one of them may be correct." + +The brows of the secretary of war were drawn down in thought as he +turned to the president. + +"Mr. Grimm was speaking of the personal equation," he remarked +pointedly. "I think perhaps his meaning is clear when we know there is a +woman in the case. We know that Mr. Grimm has done his duty to the last +inch in this matter; we know that alone and unaided, practically, he has +done a thing that no living man of his relative position has ever done +before--prevented a world-war. But there is further danger--he himself +has called our attention to it--therefore, I would suggest that Mr. +Grimm be relieved of further duty in this particular case. This is not a +moment when the peace of the world may be imperiled by personal feelings +of--of kindliness for an individual." + +Mr. Grimm received the blow without a tremor. His hands were still idly +clasped behind his back; the eyes fastened upon the president's face +were still listless; the mouth absolutely without expression. + +"As Mr. Grimm has pointed out," the secretary went on, "we have been +negotiating for this wireless percussion cap. I have somewhere in my +office the name and address of the individual with whom these +negotiations have been conducted. Through that it is possible to reach +the inventor, and then--! I suggest that we vote our thanks to Mr. Grimm +and relieve him of this particular case." + +The choleric eyes of the president softened a little, and grew grave as +they studied the impassive face of the young man. + +"It's a strange situation, Mr. Grimm," he said evenly. "What do you say +to withdrawing?" + +"I am at your orders, Mr. President," was the reply. + +"No one knows better what you have done than the gentlemen here at this +table," the president went on slowly. "No one questions that you have +done more than any other man could have done under the circumstances. We +understand, I think, that indirectly you are asking immunity for an +individual. I don't happen to know the liability of that individual +under our law, but we can't make any mistake now, Mr. Grimm, and so--and +so--" He stopped and was silent. + +"I had hoped, Mr. President, that what I have done so far--and I don't +underestimate it--would have, at least, earned for me the privilege of +remaining 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 justice +fairly, severely if necessary, to one for whom he has a personal +regard?" + +"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 again +summoned into the cabinet chamber. The president met him with +outstretched hand. There was more than mere perfunctory thanks in +this--there was the understanding of man and man. + +"You will proceed with the case to the end, Mr. Grimm," he instructed +abruptly. "If you need assistance ask for it; if not, proceed alone. +You will rely upon your own judgment entirely. If there are +circumstances which make it inadvisable to move against an individual by +legal process, even if that individual is amenable to our laws, you are +not constrained so to do if your judgment is against it. There is one +stipulation: You will either secure the complete rights of the wireless +percussion cap to this government or learn the secret of the invention +so 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 president +brought one vigorous hand down on the young man's shoulder, "that our +government 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, walked +along half a block or so, climbed a short flight of stairs and entered +an 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 imprint +of the Department of War in the upper left hand corner; and the boy +disappeared into a room beyond. A moment later he emerged and held open +the door for Mr. Grimm. A gentleman--Mr. Howard--rose from his seat and +stared 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 to +meet the inventor of the wireless percussion cap," Mr. Grimm explained +carelessly. "The negotiations have reached a point where the War +Department must have one or two questions answered directly by the +inventor. Simple enough, you see." + +"But it has been understood, and I have personally impressed it upon the +secretary of war that such a meeting is impossible," objected Mr. +Howard. "All negotiations have been conducted through me, and I have, as +attorney for the inventor, the right to answer any question that may +properly be answered. This now is a request for a personal interview +with the inventor." + +"The necessity for such an interview has risen unexpectedly, because of +a 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 entirely +on this interview." + +Mr. Howard was leaning forward in his chair with wrinkled brow intently +studying the calm face of the young man. Innocent himself of all the +intrigue and international chicanery back of the affair, representing +only an individual in these secret negotiations, he saw in the +statement, as Mr. Grimm intended that he should, the possible climax of +a great business contract. His greed was aroused; it might mean hundreds +of 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 between +the inventor and myself at once--this afternoon." + +Mr. Howard thoughtfully drummed on his desk for a little while. From the +first, save in so far as the patent rights were concerned, he had seen +no reasons for the obligations of utter secrecy which had been enforced +upon 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 shall +have to put it to my client, of course. Can you give me, say, half an +hour to communicate with him?" + +"Certainly," and Mr. Grimm rose obligingly. "Shall I wait outside here +or call again?" + +"You may wait if you don't mind," said Mr. Howard. "I'll be able to let +you know in a few minutes, I hope." + +Mr. Grimm bowed and passed out. At the end of twenty-five minutes the +door of Mr. Howard's private office opened and he appeared. His face was +violently red, evidently from anger, and perspiration stood on his +forehead. + +"I can't do anything with him," he declared savagely. "He says simply +that 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 note +says, 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 stepped +into 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 Secret +Service. 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 the +old Baltimore Road," came the crisp, business-like answer. "The name is +Murdock Williams." + +"Thank you," said Mr. Grimm. "Good-by." + +A moment later he was standing by the curb waiting for a car, when +Howard, still angry, and with an expression of deep chagrin on his +face, 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 head +summoned 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 solitary +confinement until you hear from me. Don't talk to him, don't let any one +else talk to him, and don't let him talk. If any person speaks to him +before he is locked up, take that person in charge also. He is guilty of +no 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 away +without a protest. Mr. Grimm, musing gently on the stupidity of mankind +in general and the ease with which it is possible to lead even a clever +individual into a trap, if the bait appeals to greed, took a car and +went up town. + +Some three hours later he walked briskly along a narrow path strewn with +pine needles, which led tortuously up to an old colonial farmhouse. +Outwardly the place seemed to be deserted. The blinds, battered and +stripped of paint by wind and rain, were all closed and one corner of +the small veranda had crumbled away from age and neglect. In the rear of +the house, rising from an old barn, a thin pole with a cup-like +attachment 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 to +rap on the door when it was opened from within, and Miss Thorne stood +before him. He was not surprised; intuition had told him he would meet +her again, perhaps here in hiding. A sudden quick tenderness lighted the +listless eyes. For an instant she stood staring, her face pallid against +the 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 by +drooping lids, then she recovered herself and they opened into his. In +them he saw anxiety, apprehension, fear even. + +"Miss Thorne!" he greeted, and he bowed low over the white hand which +she impulsively thrust toward him. + +"I--I knew some one was coming," she stammered in a half whisper. "I +didn't know it was you; I hadn't known definitely until this instant +that you were safe from the explosion. I am glad--glad, you understand; +glad that you were not--" She stopped and fought back her emotions, then +went on: "But you must not come in; you must go away at once. Your--your +life 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 be +some one from your bureau, and I hoped that it was you. I saw how you +forced him to call us up here, and that was all you needed. It was +simple, of course, to trace the telephone call." Both of her hands +closed over one of his desperately. "Now, go, please. The Latin compact +is at an end; you merely invite death here. Now, go!" + +Her eyes were searching the listless face with entreaty in them; the +slender fingers were fiercely gripping one of Mr. Grimm's nerveless +hands. For an instant some strange, softening light flickered in the +young man's eyes, then it passed. + +"I have no choice, Miss Thorne," he said gravely at last. "I am honor +bound by my government to do one of two things. If I fail in the first +of those--the greater--it can only be because--" + +He stopped; hope flamed up in her eyes and she leaned forward eagerly +studying the impassive face. + +"Because--?" she repeated. + +"It can only be because I am killed," he added quietly. Suddenly his +whole 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 began +tensely. + +"May I see the inventor, please?" Mr. Grimm interrupted. + +For a little time she stood, white and rigid, staring at him. Then her +lids fluttered down wearily, as if to veil some crushing agony within +her, and she stepped aside. Mr. Grimm entered and the door closed +noiselessly behind him. After a moment her hand rested lightly on his +arm, 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 low +tone. Her voice was quite calm now. "If you will be--?" + +"Please understand, Miss Thorne," he interposed mercilessly, "that I +must see the inventor, whoever he is. What assurance have I that this +is 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 had +not come to him he would have gone to you." She swayed a little and +pressed one hand to her eyes. "I would to God it were in my power to +prevent that meeting!" she exclaimed desperately. Then, with an effort: +"There are some things I want to explain to you. It may be that you will +be willing to go then of your own free will. If I lay bare to you every +step I have taken since I have been in Washington; if I make clear to +you every obscure point in this hideous intrigue; if I confess to you +that the Latin compact has been given up for all time, won't that be +enough? 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 saying +that 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 been +disappointed in you. I will not permit you to disappoint me now. The +secrets of your government are mine if I can get them--but I won't allow +you to tell them to me." + +"My government!" Miss Thorne repeated, and her lips curled sadly. "I--I +have no government. I have been cast off by that government, stripped of +my 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 of +failure. Prince d'Abruzzi went on to New York that night, cabled a full +account of the destruction of the compact to my government, and sailed +home on the following day. I was the responsible one, and now it all +comes 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 face +like chalk. For a minute or more he sat there turning it all over in his +mind. Truly the triumph had been robbed of its splendor when the blow +fell here--here upon a woman he loved. + +"There's no shame in the confession of one who is fairly beaten," Isabel +went on softly, after a little. "There are many things that you don't +understand. I came to Washington with an authority from my sovereign +higher even than that vested in the ambassador; I came _as_ I did and +compelled Count di Rosini to obtain an invitation to the state ball for +me in order that I might meet a representative of Russia there that +night and receive an answer as to whether or not they would join the +compact. I received that answer; its substance is of no consequence now. + +"And you remember where I first met you? It was while you were +investigating the shooting of Señor Alvarez in the German embassy. That +shooting, as you know, was done by Prince d'Abruzzi, so almost from the +beginning my plans went wrong because of the assumption of authority by +the prince. The paper he took from Señor Alvarez after the shooting was +supposed to bear vitally upon Mexico's attitude toward our plan, but, as +it 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 Germany +agreed to join the compact upon conditions. Mr. Rankin, who was attached +to the German embassy in an advisory capacity, delivered the answer to +me, and I pretended to faint in order that I might reasonably avoid +you." + +"I surmised that much," remarked Mr. Grimm. + +"The telegraphing I did with my fan was as much to distract your +attention as anything else, and at the same time to identify myself to +Mr. 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 were +investigating the theft of the fifty thousand dollars in gold from the +safe. I thrust myself into that case, because I was afraid of you; and +mercilessly destroyed a woman's name in your eyes to further my plans. I +made you believe that Señorita Rodriguez stole that fifty thousand +dollars, and I returned it to you, presumably, while we stood in her +room that night. Only it was not her room--it was _mine!_ _I_ stole the +fifty thousand dollars! All the details, even to her trip to see Mr. +Griswold in Baltimore in company with Mr. Cadwallader, had been +carefully worked out; and she _did_ bring me the combination of the safe +from Mr. Griswold on the strength of a forged letter. But she didn't +know it. There was no theft, of course. I had no intention of keeping +the money. It was necessary to take it to distract attention from the +thing I _did_ do--break a lock inside the safe to get a sealed packet +that contained Venezuela's answer to our plan. I sealed that packet +again, 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. I +plunged into that case as I did in the other because I was afraid of you +and had to know just how much you knew. It was explained to you as an +attempt at extortion with details which I carefully supplied. As a +matter of fact, Monsieur Boisségur opposed our plans, even endangered +them; and it was not advisable to have him recalled or even permit him +to resign at the moment. So we abducted him, intending to hold him +until direct orders could reach him from Paris. Understand, please, that +all these things were made possible by the aid and cooperation of +dozens, scores, of agents who were under my orders; every person who +appeared in that abduction was working at my direction. The ambassador's +unexpected escape disarranged our plans; but he was taken out of the +embassy by force the second time under your very eyes. The darkness +which made this possible was due to the fact that while you were looking +for the switch, and I was apparently aiding, I was holding my hand over +it all the time to keep you from turning on the light. You remember +that?" + +Mr. Grimm nodded. + +"All the rest of it you know," she concluded wearily. "You compelled me +to leave the Venezuelan legation by your espionage, but in the crowded +hotel to which I moved I had little difficulty avoiding your Mr. +Hastings, your Mr. Blair and your Mr. Johnson, so I came and went +freely without your knowledge. The escape of the prince from prison you +arranged, so you understand all of that, as well as the meeting and +attempted signing of the compact, and the rapid recovery of Señor +Alvarez. And, after all, it was my fault that our plans failed, because +if I had not been--been uneasy as to your condition and had not made the +mistake 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 act +of--consideration and kindness to me--" + +"We would have succeeded in spite of you," explained Isabel. "We were +afraid of you, Mr. Grimm. It was a compliment to you that we considered +it necessary to account for your whereabouts at the time of the signing +of the compact." + +"And if you had succeeded," remarked Mr. Grimm, "the whole civilized +world 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 is +exaltation, stimulation, excitement in it. It has always possessed the +greatest fascination for me. I have always won, you know, until now. I +failed! And my reward is 'Traitor!'" + +"Just a word of assurance now," she went on after a moment. "The Latin +compact 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 know +you have wondered; I know your agents have scoured the world to find +out. I am the daughter of a former Italian ambassador to the Court of +St. James. My mother was an English woman. I was born and received my +early 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 am +an exile with a price on my head. That is all, except for several years +I was a trusted agent of my government, and a friend of my queen." + +She rose and extended both hands graciously. Mr. Grimm seized the +slender white fingers and stood with eyes fixed upon hers. Slowly a +flush 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 that +you have learned take the place of whatever you expected to learn, and +go. Believe me, there can only be one result if you meet--if you meet +the inventor of the wireless cap upon which so much was staked, and so +much lost." She shuddered a little, then raised the blue-gray eyes +beseechingly to his face. "Please go." + +Go! The word straightened Mr. Grimm in his tracks and he allowed her +hands to fall limply. Suddenly his face grew hard. In the ecstasy of +adoration he had momentarily forgotten his purpose here. His eyes lost +their 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? You +can't; no man can. No one knows the inventor more intimately than I, and +even 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 have +accepted a fortune at the hands of Prince d'Abruzzi to remain silent. +The compact has failed; you did that. The agents have scattered--gone to +other duties. That is enough." + +"No," said Mr. Grimm. There was a strange fear tearing at his +heart,--"No one knows the inventor more intimately than I." "No," he +said again. "I won from my government a promise to be made good upon a +condition--I must fulfil that condition." + +"But there is nothing, promotion, honor, reward, that would compensate +you for the loss of your life," she entreated. "There is still time." +She was pleading now, with her slim white hands resting on his +shoulders, and the blue-gray eyes fixed upon his face. + +"It's more than all that," he said. "That condition is you--your +safety." + +"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 face +turned 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 with +disappointment and anger," she rushed on desperately. "Remember that a +vast fortune, honor, fame were at his finger tips when you--you placed +them beyond his reach by the destruction of the compact. He has sworn to +kill 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. Grimm +disengaged his right hand and drew his revolver; the barrel clicked +under his fingers as it spun. + +"If I tell you that of the two human beings in this world whom I love +this man is one?" + +"No." + +A shuffling step sounded in the hallway just outside. Mr. Grimm stepped +back from the kneeling figure, and turned to face the door with his +revolver ready. + +"Great God!" It was a scream of agony. "He is my brother! Don't you +see?" + +She came to her feet and went staggering across to the door. The key +clicked 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 to +Mr. Grimm mutely, with arms outstretched. The revolver barrel clicked +under his hand, then, after a moment, he replaced the weapon in his +pocket. + +"Please open the door," he requested quietly. + +"He'll kill you!" she screamed. + +Exhausted, helpless, she leaned against a chair with her face in her +hands. Mr. Grimm went to her suddenly, tore the hands from her face, and +met 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 it +open. 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. There +was a short, sharp struggle, and both went down. The revolver! He must +get 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 his +head, and then came a second flash. Instantly he felt the figure in his +arms grow limp; and after a moment he rose. The face of the man on the +floor was pearly gray; and a thin, scarlet thread flowed from his +temple. + +[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. The +blue-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. He +lifted her gently and placed her on a couch, after which he disappeared +into another room. In a little while there came the cheerful ting-a-ling +of a telephone bell. + +"Is this the county constable's office?" he inquired. "Well, there's +been a little shooting accident at the Murdock Williams' place, five +miles out from Alexandria on the old Baltimore Road. Please send some of +your men over to take charge. Two hours from now call up Mr. Grimm at +Secret Service headquarters in Washington and he will explain. Good-by." + +And a few minutes later Mr. Grimm walked along the road toward an +automobile a hundred yards away, bearing Miss Thorne in his arms. The +chauffeur cranked the machine and climbed to his seat. + +"Washington!" directed Mr. Grimm. "Never mind the speed laws." + + + +THE END + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Elusive Isabel, by Jacques Futrelle + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ELUSIVE ISABEL *** + +***** This file should be named 10943-8.txt or 10943-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/0/9/4/10943/ + +Produced by Steven desJardins and PG Distributed Proofreaders + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Elusive Isabel + +Author: Jacques Futrelle + +Release Date: February 4, 2004 [EBook #10943] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ELUSIVE ISABEL *** + + + + +Produced by Steven desJardins and PG Distributed Proofreaders + + + + + +</pre> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<h1>ELUSIVE ISABEL</h1> +<h2>BY JACQUES FUTRELLE </h2> +<h3> +WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY ALONZO KIMBALL +</h3> +<p> </p> + +<h3> + 1908 +</h3> + +<p> </p> + +<h3> +TO +</h3> +<h3> +THE WONDERFUL WOMAN +</h3> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<a name="TOC"><!-- TOC --></a> +<p> +<b> + CONTENTS +</b></p> + +<p> </p> +<p> +<a href="#CH1">CHAPTER I</a> — MISS ISABEL THORNE +</p> +<p> +<a href="#CH2">CHAPTER II</a> — MR. CAMPBELL AND THE CABLE +</p> +<p> +<a href="#CH3">CHAPTER III</a> — THE LANGUAGE OF THE FAN +</p> +<p> +<a href="#CH4">CHAPTER IV</a> — THE FLEEING WOMAN +</p> +<p> +<a href="#CH5">CHAPTER V</a> — A VISIT TO THE COUNT +</p> +<p> +<a href="#CH6">CHAPTER VI</a> — REVELATIONS +</p> +<p> +<a href="#CH7">CHAPTER VII</a> — THE SIGNAL +</p> +<p> +<a href="#CH8">CHAPTER VIII</a> — MISS THORNE AND NOT MISS THORNE +</p> +<p> +<a href="#CH9">CHAPTER IX</a> — FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS +</p> +<p> +<a href="#CH10">CHAPTER X</a> — A SAFE OPENING +</p> +<p> +<a href="#CH11">CHAPTER XI</a> — THE LACE HANDKERCHIEF +</p> +<p> +<a href="#CH12">CHAPTER XII</a> — THE VANISHING DIPLOMATIST +</p> +<p> +<a href="#CH13">CHAPTER XIII</a> — A CONFERENCE IN THE DARK +</p> +<p> +<a href="#CH14">CHAPTER XIV</a> — A RESCUE AND AN ESCAPE +</p> +<p> +<a href="#CH15">CHAPTER XV</a> — MASTER OF THE SITUATION +</p> +<p> +<a href="#CH16">CHAPTER XVI</a> — LETTERS FROM JAIL +</p> +<p> +<a href="#CH17">CHAPTER XVII</a> — A CALL ON THE WARDEN +</p> +<p> +<a href="#CH18">CHAPTER XVIII</a> — NOTICE TO LEAVE +</p> +<p> +<a href="#CH19">CHAPTER XIX</a> — BY WIRELESS +</p> +<p> +<a href="#CH20">CHAPTER XX</a> — THE LIGHT IN THE DOME +</p> +<p> +<a href="#CH21">CHAPTER XXI</a> — A SLIP OF PAPER +</p> +<p> +<a href="#CH22">CHAPTER XXII</a> — THE COMPACT +</p> +<p> +<a href="#CH23">CHAPTER XXIII</a> — THE PERCUSSION CAP +</p> +<p> +<a href="#CH24">CHAPTER XXIV</a> — THE PERSONAL EQUATION +</p> +<p> +<a href="#CH25">CHAPTER XXV</a> — WE TWO +</p> +<p> +<a href="#CH26">CHAPTER XXVI</a> — IN WHICH THEY BOTH WIN +</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> +<b>ILLUSTRATIONS</b> +</p> +<p>1. <a href="#image-1"> +The Handwriting Was Unmistakably That of a Woman. +</a></p> +<p>2. <a href="#image-2"> +He Found Himself inspecting the Weapon from the Barrel End. +</a></p> +<p>3. <a href="#image-3"> +A Long Tense Silence when Eye Challenges Eye. +</a></p> +<p>4. <a href="#image-4"> +'You Think He Will Weaken; I Know He Will Not.' +</a></p> +<p>5. <a href="#image-5"> +In a Stride Mr. Grimm Was Beside Her. +</a></p> +<p> </p> +<hr> + + +<p> </p> + +<h2> + ELUSIVE ISABEL +</h2> + +<a name="CH1"><!-- CHAPTER 1 --></a> +<h3> + I +</h3> +<h3> +MISS ISABEL THORNE +</h3> +<p> +All the world rubs elbows in Washington. +Outwardly it is merely a city of evasion, +of conventionalities, sated with the commonplace +pleasures of life, listless, blasé even, +and always exquisitely, albeit frigidly, courteous; +but beneath the still, suave surface strange +currents play at cross purposes, intrigue is endless, +and the merciless war of diplomacy goes +on unceasingly. Occasionally, only occasionally, +a bubble comes to the surface, and when it bursts +the echo goes crashing around the earth. Sometimes +a dynasty is shaken, a nation trembles, a +ministry topples over; but the ripple moves and +all is placid again. No man may know all that +happens there, for then he would be diplomatic +master of the world. +</p> +<p> +"There is plenty of red blood in Washington," +remarked a jesting legislative gray-beard, +once upon a time, "but it's always frozen before +they put it in circulation. Diplomatic negotiations +are conducted in the drawing-room, but +long before that the fight is fought down cellar. +The diplomatists meet at table and there isn't +any broken crockery, but you can always tell +what the player thinks of the dealer by the way +he draws three cards. Everybody is after results; +and lots of monarchs of Europe sit up +nights polishing their crowns waiting for word +from Washington." +</p> +<p> +So, this is Washington! And here at dinner +are the diplomatic representatives of all the nations. +That is the British ambassador, that +stolid-faced, distinguished-looking, elderly man; +and this is the French ambassador, dapper, volatile, +plus-correct; here Russia's highest representative +wags a huge, blond beard; and yonder +is the phlegmatic German ambassador. Scattered +around the table, brilliant splotches of +color, are the uniformed envoys of the Orient—the +smaller the country the more brilliant the +splotch. It is a state dinner, to be followed by +a state ball, and they are all present. +</p> +<p> +The Italian ambassador, Count di Rosini, was +trying to interpret a French <i>bon mot</i> into English +for the benefit of the dainty, doll-like wife +of the Chinese minister—who was educated at +Radcliffe—when a servant leaned over him and +laid a sealed envelope beside his plate. The +count glanced around at the servant, excused +himself to Mrs. Quong Li Wi, and opened the +envelope. Inside was a single sheet of embassy +note paper, and a terse line signed by his secretary: +</p> +<blockquote><p>"A lady is waiting for you here. She says +she must see you immediately, on a matter of the +greatest importance."</p></blockquote> +<p> +The count read the note twice, with wrinkled +brow, then scribbled on it in pencil: +</p> +<blockquote><p>"Impossible to-night. Tell her to call at the +embassy to-morrow morning at half-past ten +o'clock."</p></blockquote> +<p> +He folded the note, handed it to the servant, +and resumed his conversation with Mrs. Wi. +</p> +<p> +Half an hour later the same servant placed a +second sealed envelope beside his plate. Recognizing +the superscription, the ambassador impatiently +shoved it aside, intending to disregard +it. But irritated curiosity finally triumphed, +and he opened it. A white card on which was +written this command was his reward: +</p> +<blockquote><p>"It is necessary that you come to the embassy +at once."</p></blockquote> +<p> +There was no signature. The handwriting +was unmistakably that of a woman, and just as +unmistakably strange to him. He frowned a +little as he stared at it wonderingly, then idly +turned the card over. There was no name on +the reverse side—only a crest. Evidently the +count recognized this, for his impassive face reflected +surprise for an instant, and this was followed +by a keen, bewildered interest. Finally +he arose, made his apologies, and left the room. +His automobile was at the door. +</p> + +<a name="image-1"><!-- Image 1 --></a> +<p class="figure"> +<a href="images/img1.jpg"> +<img width="60%" src="images/img1.jpg" +alt="The Handwriting Was Unmistakably That of a Woman." +/></a><br /> +<b>"The Handwriting Was Unmistakably That of a Woman."</b> +</p> + +<p> +"To the embassy," he directed the chauffeur. +</p> +<p> +And within five minutes he was there. His +secretary met him in the hall. +</p> +<p> +"The lady is waiting in your office," he explained +apologetically. "I gave her your message, +but she said she must see you and would +write you a line herself. I sent it." +</p> +<p> +"Quite correct," commented the ambassador. +"What name did she give?" +</p> +<p> +"None," was the reply. "She said none was +necessary." +</p> +<p> +The ambassador laid aside hat and coat and +entered his office with a slightly puzzled expression +on his face. Standing before a window, +gazing idly out into the light-spangled night, +was a young woman, rather tall and severely +gowned in some rich, glistening stuff which fell +away sheerly from her splendid bare shoulders. +She turned and he found himself looking into a +pair of clear, blue-gray eyes, frank enough and +yet in their very frankness possessing an alluring, +indefinable subtlety. He would not have +called her pretty, yet her smile, slight as it was, +was singularly charming, and there radiated +from her a something—personality, perhaps—which +held his glance. He bowed low, and closed +the door. +</p> +<p> +"I am at your service, Madam," he said in a +tone of deep respect. "Please pardon my delay +in coming to you." +</p> +<p> +"It is unfortunate that I didn't write the first +note," she apologized graciously. "It would at +least have saved a little time. You have the +card?" +</p> +<p> +He produced it silently, crest down, and +handed it to her. She struck a match, lighted +the card, and it crumbled up in her gloved hand. +The last tiny scrap found refuge in a silver +tray, where she watched it burn to ashes, then +she turned to the ambassador with a brilliant +smile. He was still standing. +</p> +<p> +"The dinner isn't over yet?" she inquired. +</p> +<p> +"No, Madam, not for another hour, perhaps." +</p> +<p> +"Then there's no harm done," she went on +lightly. "The dinner isn't of any consequence, +but I should like very much to attend the ball +afterward. Can you arrange it for me?" +</p> +<p> +"I don't know just how I would proceed, +Madam," the ambassador objected diffidently. +"It would be rather unusual, difficult, I may +say, and—" +</p> +<p> +"But surely you can arrange it some way?" +she interrupted demurely. "The highest diplomatic +representative of a great nation should +not find it difficult to arrange so simple a matter +as—as this?" She was smiling. +</p> +<p> +"Pardon me for suggesting it, Madam," the +ambassador persisted courteously, "but anything +out of the usual attracts attention in +Washington. I dare say, from the manner of +your appearance to-night, that you would not +care to attract attention to yourself." +</p> +<p> +She regarded him with an enigmatic smile. +</p> +<p> +"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 to +herself." She laughed—a throaty, silvery note +that was charming. "And if you hesitate now, +then to-morrow—why, to-morrow I am going to +ask that you open to me all this Washington +world—this brilliant world of diplomatic society. +You see what I ask now is simple." +</p> +<p> +The ambassador was respectfully silent and +deeply thoughtful for a time. There was, perhaps, +something of resentment struggling within +him, and certainly there was an uneasy feeling +of rebellion at this attempt to thrust him +forward against all precedent. +</p> +<p> +"Your requests are of so extraordinary a nature +that—" he began in courteous protestation. +</p> +<p> +There was no trace of impatience in the woman's +manner; she was still smiling. +</p> +<p> +"It is necessary that I attend the ball to-night," +she explained, "you may imagine how +necessary when I say I sailed from Liverpool +six days ago, reaching New York at half-past +three o'clock this afternoon; and at half-past +four I was on my way here. I have been here +less than one hour. I came from Liverpool +especially that I might be present; and I even +dressed on the train so there would be no delay. +Now do you see the necessity of it?" +</p> +<p> +Diplomatic procedure is along well-oiled +grooves, and the diplomatist who steps out of +the rut for an instant happens upon strange +and unexpected obstacles. Knowing this, the +ambassador still hesitated. The woman apparently +understood. +</p> +<p> +"I had hoped that this would not be necessary," +she remarked, and she produced a small, +sealed envelope. "Please read it." +</p> +<p> +The ambassador received the envelope with +uplifted brows, opened it and read what was +written on a folded sheet of paper. Some subtle +working of his brain brought a sudden change +in the expression of his face. There was wonder +in it, and amazement, and more than these. +Again he bowed low. +</p> +<p> +"I am at your service, Madam," he repeated. +"I shall take pleasure in making any arrangements +that are necessary. Again, I beg your +pardon." +</p> +<p> +"And it will not be so very difficult, after all, +will it?" she inquired, and she smiled tauntingly. +</p> +<p> +"It will not be at all difficult, Madam," the +ambassador assured her gravely. "I shall take +steps at once to have an invitation issued to you +for to-night; and to-morrow I shall be pleased +to proceed as you may suggest." +</p> +<p> +She nodded. He folded the note, replaced it +in the envelope and returned it to her with another +deep bow. She drew her skirts about her +and sat down; he stood. +</p> +<p> +"It will be necessary for your name to appear +on the invitation," the ambassador went on to +explain. "If you will give me your name I'll +have my secretary—" +</p> +<p> +"Oh, yes, my name," she interrupted gaily. +"Why, Count, you embarrass me. You know, +really, I have no name. Isn't it awkward?" +</p> +<p> +"I understand perfectly, Madam," responded +the count. "I should have said <i>a</i> name." +</p> +<p> +She meditated a moment. +</p> +<p> +"Well, say—Miss Thorne—Miss Isabel +Thorne," she suggested at last. "That will +do very nicely, don't you think?" +</p> +<p> +"Very nicely, Miss Thorne," and the ambassador +bowed again. "Please excuse me a moment, +and I'll give my secretary instructions +how to proceed. There will be a delay of a few +minutes." +</p> +<p> +He opened the door and went out. For a +minute or more Miss Thorne sat perfectly still, +gazing at the blank wooden panels, then she +rose and went to the window again. In the +distance, hazy in the soft night, the dome of the +capitol rose mistily; over to the right was the +congressional library, and out there where the +lights sparkled lay Pennsylvania Avenue, a +thread of commerce. Miss Thorne saw it all, +and suddenly stretched out her arms with an all-enveloping +gesture. She stood so for a minute, +then they fell beside her, and she was motionless. +</p> +<p> +Count di Rosini entered. +</p> +<p> +"Everything is arranged, Miss Thorne," he +announced. "Will you go with me in my automobile, +or do you prefer to go alone?" +</p> +<p> +"I'll go alone, please," she answered after a +moment. "I shall be there about eleven." +</p> +<p> +The ambassador bowed himself out. +</p> +<p> +And so Miss Isabel Thorne came to Washington! +</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<a name="CH2"><!-- CHAPTER 2 --></a> +<h3> + II +</h3> + +<h3> +MR. CAMPBELL AND THE CABLE +</h3> +<p> </p> +<p> +Just as it is one man's business to manufacture +watches, and another man's business +to peddle shoe-strings, so it was Mr. +Campbell's business to know things. He was +a human card index, a governmental ready reference +posted to the minute and backed by all the +tremendous resources of a nation. From the little +office in the Secret Service Bureau, where he +sat day after day, radiating threads connected +with the huge outer world, and enabled him to +keep a firm hand on the diplomatic and departmental +pulse of Washington. Perhaps he came +nearer knowing everything that happened there +than any other man living; and no man realized +more perfectly than he just how little of all of +it he did know. +</p> +<p> +In person Mr. Campbell was not unlike a retired +grocer who had shaken the butter and +eggs from his soul and settled back to enjoy a +life of placid idleness. He was a little beyond +middle age, pleasant of face, white of hair, and +blessed with guileless blue eyes. His genius +had no sparkle to it; it consisted solely of detail +and system and indefatigability, coupled with a +memory that was well nigh infallible. His brain +was as serene and orderly as a cash register; one +almost expected to hear it click. +</p> +<p> +He sat at his desk intently studying a cable +despatch which lay before him. It was in the +Secret Service code. Leaning over his shoulder +was Mr. Grimm—<i>the</i> Mr. Grimm of the bureau. +Mr. Grimm was an utterly different type from +his chief. He was younger, perhaps thirty-one +or two, physically well proportioned, a little +above the average height, with regular features +and listless, purposeless eyes—a replica of a +hundred other young men who dawdle idly in +the windows of their clubs and watch the world +hurry by. His manner was languid; his dress +showed fastidious care. +</p> +<p> +Sentence by sentence the bewildering intricacies +of the code gave way before the placid understanding +of Chief Campbell, and word by +word, from the chaos of it, a translation took +intelligible form upon a sheet of paper under +his right hand. Mr. Grimm, looking on, exhibited +only a most perfunctory interest in the +extraordinary message he was reading; the listless +eyes narrowed a little, that was all. It was +a special despatch from Lisbon dated that morning, +and signed simply "Gault." Completely +translated it ran thus: +</p> +<blockquote><p>"Secret offensive and defensive alliance of the +Latin against the English-speaking nations of +the world is planned. Italy, France, Spain and +two South American republics will soon sign +compact in Washington. Proposition just made +to Portugal, and may be accepted. Special envoys +now working in Mexico and Central and +South America. Germany invited to join, but +refuses as yet, giving, however, tacit support; +attitude of Russia and Japan unknown to me. +Prince Benedetto d'Abruzzi, believed to be in +Washington at present, has absolute power to +sign for Italy, France and Spain. Profound secrecy +enjoined and preserved. I learned of it by +underground. Shall I inform our minister? Cable +instructions."</p></blockquote> +<p> +"So much!" commented Mr. Campbell. +</p> +<p> +He clasped his hands behind his head, lay +back in his chair and sat for a long time, staring +with steadfast, thoughtful eyes into the impassive +face of his subordinate. Mr. Grimm +perched himself on the edge of the desk and with +his legs dangling read the despatch a second +time, and a third. +</p> +<p> +"If," he observed slowly, "if any other man +than Gault had sent that I should have said he +was crazy." +</p> +<p> +"The peace of the world is in peril, Mr. +Grimm," said Campbell impressively, at last. +"It had to come, of course, the United States +and England against a large part of Europe +and all of Central and South America. It had +to come, and yet—!" +</p> +<p> +He broke off abruptly, and picked up the receiver +of his desk telephone. +</p> +<p> +"The White House, please," he requested +curtly, and then, after a moment: "Hello! +Please ask the president if he will receive Mr. +Campbell immediately. Yes, Mr. Campbell of +the Secret Service." There was a pause. Mr. +Grimm removed his immaculate person from the +desk, and took a chair. "Hello! In half an +hour? So much!" +</p> +<p> +The pages of the Almanac de Gotha fluttered +through his fingers, and finally he leaned forward +and studied a paragraph of it closely. +When he raised his eyes again there was that in +them which Mr. Grimm had never seen before—a +settled, darkening shadow. +</p> +<p> +"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 +American countries, taken separately, are inconsequential, +and that is true, too, of the Latin +countries of Europe, except France, but taken +in combination, under one directing mind, the +allied navies would be—would be formidable, at +least. Backed by the moral support of Germany, +and perhaps Japan—! Don't you see? +Don't you see?" +</p> +<p> +He lapsed into silence. Mr. Grimm opened his +lips to ask a question: Mr. Campbell anticipated +it unerringly: +</p> +<p> +"The purpose of such an alliance? It is not +too much to construe it into the first step toward +a world-war—a war of reprisal and conquest +beside which the other great wars of the world +would seem trivial. For the fact has at last +come home to the nations of the world that ultimately +the English-speaking peoples will dominate +it—dominate it, because they are the practical +peoples. They have given to the world all +its great practical inventions—the railroad, the +steamship, electricity, the telegraph and cable—all +of them; they are the great civilizing forces, +rounding the world up to new moral understanding, +for what England has done in Africa and +India we have done in a smaller way in the Philippines +and Cuba and Porto Rico; they are the +great commercial peoples, slowly but surely winning +the market-places of the earth; wherever +the English or the American flag is planted +there the English tongue is being spoken, and +there the peoples are being taught the sanity +of right living and square dealing. +</p> +<p> +"It requires no great effort of the imagination, +Mr. Grimm, to foresee that day when the +traditional power of Paris, and Berlin, and St. +Petersburg, and Madrid will be honey-combed +by the steady encroachment of our methods. +This alliance would indicate that already that +day has been foreseen; that there is now a resentment +which is about to find expression in +one great, desperate struggle for world supremacy. +A few hundred years ago Italy—or +Rome—was stripped of her power; only recently the +United States dispelled the illusion that Spain +was anything but a shell; and France—! One +can't help but wonder if the power she boasts is +not principally on paper. But if their forces +are combined? Do you see? It would be an +enormous power to reckon with, with a hundred +bases of supplies right at our doors." +</p> +<p> +He rose suddenly and walked over to the +window, where he stood for a moment, staring +out with unseeing eyes. +</p> +<p> +"Given a yard of canvas, Mr. Grimm," he +went on finally, "a Spanish boy will waste it, a +French boy will paint a picture on it, an English +boy will built a sail-boat, and an American +boy will erect a tent. That fully illustrates the +difference in the races." +</p> +<p> +He abandoned the didactic tone, and returned +to the material matter in hand. Mr. Grimm +passed him the despatch and he sat down again. +</p> +<p> +"'Will soon sign compact in Washington,'" +he read musingly. "Now I don't know that the +signing of that compact can be prevented, but +the signing of it on United States soil can be +prevented. You will see to that, Mr. Grimm." +</p> +<p> +"Very well," the young man agreed carelessly. +The magnitude of such a task made, apparently, +not the slightest impression on him. +He languidly drew on his gloves. +</p> +<p> +"And meanwhile I shall take steps to ascertain +the attitude of Russian and Japanese representatives +in this city." +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm nodded. +</p> +<p> +"And now, for Prince Benedetto d'Abruzzi," +Mr. Campbell went on slowly. "Officially he is +not in Washington, nor the United States, for +that matter. Naturally, on such a mission, he +would not come as a publicly accredited agent, +therefore, I imagine, he is to be sought under +another name." +</p> +<p> +"Of course," Mr. Grimm acquiesced. +</p> +<p> +"And he would avoid the big hotels." +</p> +<p> +"Certainly." +</p> +<p> +Mr. Campbell permitted his guileless blue eyes +to linger inquiringly upon those of the young +man for half a minute. He caught himself wondering, +sometimes, at the perfection of the deliberate +indifference with which Mr. Grimm masked +his emotions. In his admiration of this quality +he quite overlooked the remarkable mask of benevolence +behind which he himself hid. +</p> +<p> +"And the name, D'Abruzzi," he remarked, +after a time. "What does it mean to you, Mr. +Grimm?" +</p> +<p> +"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 Gotha and glanced at the open page. "Of +course, the first thing to do is to find him; the +rest will be simple enough." He perused the +page carelessly. "I will begin work at once." +</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<a name="CH3"><!-- CHAPTER 3 --></a> +<h3> + III +</h3> + +<h3> +THE LANGUAGE OF THE FAN +</h3> +<p> </p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm was chatting idly with +Señorita Rodriguez, daughter of the +minister from Venezuela, the while he +permitted his listless eyes to wander aimlessly +about the spacious ball-room of the German embassy, +ablaze with festooned lights, and brilliant +with a multi-colored chaos of uniforms. Gleaming +pearl-white, translucent in the mass, were +the bare shoulders of women; and from far off +came the plaintive whine of an orchestra, a pulsing +sense rather than a living sound, of music, +pointed here and there by the staccato cry of a +flute. A zephyr, perfumed with the clean, fresh +odor of lilacs, stirred the draperies of the archway +which led into the conservatory and rustled +the bending branches of palms and ferns. +</p> +<p> +For a scant instant Mr. Grimm's eyes rested +on a young woman who sat a dozen feet away, +talking, in playful animation, with an undersecretary +of the British embassy—a young +woman severely gowned in some glistening stuff +which fell away sheerly from her splendid bare +shoulders. She glanced up, as if in acknowledgment +of his look, and her eyes met his. +Frank, blue-gray eyes they were, stirred to their +depths now by amusement. She smiled at Señorita +Rodriguez, in token of recognition. +</p> +<p> +"Aren't they wonderful?" asked Señorita +Rodriguez with the quick, bubbling enthusiasm +of her race. +</p> +<p> +"What?" asked Mr. Grimm. +</p> +<p> +"Her eyes," was the reply. "Every person +has one dominant feature—with Miss Thorne it +is her eyes." +</p> +<p> +"Miss Thorne?" Mr. Grimm repeated. +</p> +<p> +"Haven't you met her?" the señorita went on. +"Miss Isabel Thorne? She only arrived a few +days ago—the night of the state ball. She's +my guest at the legation. When an opportunity +comes I shall present you to her." +</p> +<p> +She ran on, about other things, with only an +occasional remark from Mr. Grimm, who was +thoughtfully nursing his knee. Somewhere +through the chatter and effervescent gaiety, +mingling with the sound of the pulsing music, +he had a singular impression of a rhythmical +beat, an indistinct tattoo, noticeable, perhaps, +only because of its monotony. After a moment +he shot a quick glance at Miss Thorne and understood; +it was the tapping of an exquisitely +wrought ivory fan against one of her tapering, +gloved fingers. She was talking and smiling. +</p> +<p> +"Dot-dash-dot! Dot-dash-dot! Dot-dash-dot!" +said the fan. +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm twisted around in his seat and regaled +his listless eyes with a long stare into the +señorita's pretty face. Behind the careless ease +of repose he was mechanically isolating the faint +clatter of the fan. +</p> +<p> +"Dot-dash-dot! Dot-dash-dot! Dot-dash-dot!" +</p> +<p> +"Did any one ever accuse you of staring, Mr. +Grimm?" demanded the señorita banteringly. +</p> +<p> +For an instant Mr. Grimm continued to stare, +and then his listless eyes swept the ball-room, +pausing involuntarily at the scarlet splendor of +the minister from Turkey. +</p> +<p> +"I beg your pardon," he apologized contritely. +There was a pause. "The minister +from Turkey looks like a barn on fire, doesn't +he?" +</p> +<p> +Señorita Rodriguez laughed, and Mr. Grimm +glanced idly toward Miss Thorne. She was still +talking, her face alive with interest; and the fan +was still tapping rhythmically, steadily, now on +the arm of her chair. +</p> +<p> +"Dot-dash-dot! Dot-dash-dot! Dot-dash-dot! +Dot-dash-dot!" +</p> +<p> +"Pretty women who don't want to be stared +at should go with their faces swathed," Mr. +Grimm suggested indolently. "Haroun el Raschid +there would agree with me on that point, I +have no doubt. What a shock he would get if +he should happen up at Atlantic City for a +week-end in August!" +</p> +<p> +"Dot-dash-dot! Dot-dash-dot! Dot-dash-dot!" +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm read it with perfect understanding; +it was "F—F—F" in the Morse code, the +call of one operator to another. Was it accident? +Mr. Grimm wondered, and wondering he +went on talking lazily: +</p> +<p> +"Curious, isn't it, the smaller the nation the +more color it crowds into the uniforms of its +diplomatists? The British ambassador, you will +observe, is clothed sanely and modestly, as befits +the representative of a great nation; but coming +on down by way of Spain and Italy, they +get more gorgeous. However, I dare say as +stout a heart beats beneath a sky-blue sash as +behind the unembellished black of evening +dress." +</p> +<p> +"F—F—F," the fan was calling insistently. +</p> +<p> +And then the answer came. It took the unexpectedly +prosaic form of a violent sneeze, a +vociferous outburst on a bench directly behind +Mr. Grimm. Señorita Rodriguez jumped, then +laughed nervously. +</p> +<p> +"It startled me," she explained. +</p> +<p> +"I think there must be a draft from the +conservatory," said a man's voice apologetically. +"Do you ladies feel it? No? Well, if +you'll excuse me—?" +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm glanced back languidly. The +speaker was Charles Winthrop Rankin, a brilliant +young American lawyer who was attached +to the German embassy in an advisory capacity. +Among other things he was a Heidelberg man, +having spent some dozen years of his life in +Germany, where he established influential connections. +Mr. Grimm knew him only by sight. +</p> +<p> +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 fan tapped steadily. +</p> +<p> +"Dot-dot-dot! Dash! Dash-dash-dash! Dot-dot-dash! +Dash!" +</p> +<p> +"S—t—5—u—t," Mr. Grimm read in Morse. +He laughed pleasantly at some remark of his +companion. +</p> +<p> +"Dash-dash! Dot-dash! Dash-dot!" said the +fan. +</p> +<p> +"M—a—n," Mr. Grimm spelled it out, the +while his listless eyes roved aimlessly over the +throng. "S—t—5—u—t m—a—n!" Was it +meant for "stout man?" Mr. Grimm wondered. +</p> +<p> +"Dot-dash-dot! Dot! Dash-dot-dot!" +</p> +<p> +"F—e—d," that was. +</p> +<p> +"Dot-dot-dash-dot! Dot-dash! Dash-dot-dash-dot! +Dot!" +</p> +<p> +"Q—a—j—e!" Mr. Grimm was puzzled a +little now, but there was not a wrinkle, nor the +tiniest indication of perplexity in his face. Instead +he began talking of Raphael's cherubs, the +remark being called into life by the high complexion +of a young man who was passing. Miss +Thorne glanced at him once keenly, her splendid +eyes fairly aglow, and the fan rattled on in the +code. +</p> +<p> +"Dash-dot! Dot! Dot-dash! Dot-dash-dot!" +</p> +<p> +"N—e—a—f." Mr. Grimm was still spelling +it out. +</p> +<p> +Then came a perfect jumble. Mr. Grimm +followed it with difficulty, a difficulty utterly +belied by the quizzical lines about his mouth. +As he caught 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!" +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm carefully stored that jumble +away in some recess of his brain, along with the +unknown signal. +</p> +<p> +"D—5—5—f," he read, and then, on to the +end: "B—f—i—n—g 5—v—e—f w—h—e—n +g g—5—e—s." +</p> +<p> +That was all, apparently. The soft clatter +of the fan against the arm of the chair ran on +meaninglessly after that. +</p> +<p> +"May I bring you an ice?" Mr. Grimm asked +at last. +</p> +<p> +"If you will, please," responded the señorita, +"and when you come back I'll reward you by +presenting you to Miss Thorne. You'll find her +charming; and Mr. Cadwallader has monopolized +her long enough." +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm bowed and left her. He had +barely disappeared when Mr. Rankin lounged +along in front of Miss Thorne. He glanced +at her, paused and greeted her effusively. +</p> +<p> +"Why, Miss Thorne!" he exclaimed. "I'm +delighted to see you here. I understood you +would not be present, and—" +</p> +<p> +Their hands met in a friendly clasp as she +rose and moved away, with a nod 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 the little paper, +still folded, inside the palm. +</p> +<p> +"Is it yes, or no?" Miss Thorne asked in a +low tone. +</p> +<p> +"Frankly, I can't say," was the reply. +</p> +<p> +"He read the message," she explained hastily, +"and now he has gone to decipher it." +</p> +<p> +She gathered up her trailing skirts over one +arm, and together they glided away through the +crowd to the strains of a Strauss waltz. +</p> +<p> +"I'm going to faint in a moment," she said +quite calmly to Mr. Rankin. "Please have me +sent to the ladies' dressing-room." +</p> +<p> +"I understand," he replied quietly. +</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<a name="CH4"><!-- CHAPTER 4 --></a> +<h3> + IV +</h3> + +<h3> +THE FLEEING WOMAN +</h3> +<p> </p> +<p> +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 the chief's face +was disturbed by the slightest questioning uplift +of his brows as he dropped into a seat opposite +Mr. Grimm, and lighted a cigar. Mr. +Grimm raised his hand, and a servant who stood +near, approached them. +</p> +<p> +"An ice—here," Mr. Grimm directed tersely. +</p> +<p> +The servant bowed and disappeared, and Mr. +Grimm hastily scribbled something on a sheet +of paper and handed it to his chief. +</p> +<p> +"There is a reading, in the Morse code, of a +message that seems to be unintelligible," Mr. +Grimm explained. "I have reason to believe it +is in the Continental code. You know the Continental—I +don't." +</p> +<p> +Mr. Campbell read this: +</p> +<p> +"St5ut man fed qaje neaf j5nsefvat5f," and +then came the unknown, dash-dot-dash-dash. +"That," he explained, "is Y in the Continental +code." It went on: "d55f bfing 5vef when g +g5es." +</p> +<p> +The chief read it off glibly: +</p> +<p> +"Stout man, red face, near conservatory door. +Bring over when G goes." +</p> +<p> +"Very well!" commented Mr. Grimm ambiguously. +</p> +<p> +With no word of explanation, he rose and +went out, pausing at the door to take the ice +which the servant was bringing in. The seat +where he had left Señorita Rodriguez was vacant; +so was the chair where Miss Thorne had +been. He glanced about inquiringly, and a +servant who stood stolidly near the conservatory +door approached him. +</p> +<p> +"Pardon, sir, but the lady who was sitting +here," and he indicated the chair where Miss +Thorne had been sitting, "fainted while dancing, +and the lady who was with you went along when +she was removed to the ladies' dressing-room, +sir." +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm's teeth closed with a little snap. +</p> +<p> +"Did you happen to notice any time this evening +a stout gentleman, with red face, near the +conservatory door?" he asked. +</p> +<p> +The servant pondered a moment, then shook +his head. +</p> +<p> +"No, sir." +</p> +<p> +"Thank you." +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm was just turning away, when +there came the sharp, vibrant cra-a-sh! of a revolver, +somewhere off to his left. The president! +That was his first thought. One glance +across the room to where the chief executive +stood, in conversation with two other gentlemen, +reassured him. The choleric blue eyes of +the president had opened a little at the sound, +then he calmly resumed the conversation. Mr. +Grimm impulsively started toward the little +group, but already a cordon was being drawn +there—a cordon of quiet-faced, keen-eyed men, +unobstrusively forcing their way through the +crowd. There was Johnson, and Hastings, and +Blair, and half a dozen others. +</p> +<p> +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 in which white-faced +women clung to the arms of their escorts, +and the brilliant galaxy of colors halted. Then, +after a moment, there came clearly through the +stillness, the excited, guttural command of the +German ambassador. +</p> +<p> +"Keep on blaying, you tam fools! Keep on +blaying!" +</p> +<p> +The orchestra started again tremulously. +Mr. Grimm nodded a silent approval of the +ambassador's command, then turned away toward +his left, in the direction of the shot. After +the first dismay, there was a general movement +of the crowd in that direction, a movement which +was checked by Mr. Campbell's appearance upon +a chair, with a smile on his bland face. +</p> +<p> +"No harm done," he called. "One of the officers +present dropped his revolver, and it was +accidently discharged. No harm done." +</p> +<p> +There was a moment's excited chatter, deep-drawn +breaths of relief, the orchestra swung +again into the interrupted rhythm, and the +dancers moved on. Mr. Grimm went straight to +his chief, who had stepped down from the chair. +Two other Secret Service men stood behind him, +blocking the doorway that opened into a narrow +hall. +</p> +<p> +"This way," directed the chief tersely. +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm walked along beside him. They +skirted the end of the ball-room until they came +to another door opening into the hall. Chief +Campbell pushed it open, and entered. One of +his men stood just inside. +</p> +<p> +"What was it, Gray?" asked the chief. +</p> +<p> +"Señor Alvarez, of the Mexican legation, was +shot," was the reply. +</p> +<p> +"Dead?" +</p> +<p> +"Only wounded. He's in that room," and he +indicated a door a little way down the hall. +"Fairchild, two servants, and a physician are +with him." +</p> +<p> +"Who shot him?" +</p> +<p> +"Don't know. We found him lying in the +hall here." +</p> +<p> +Still followed by Mr. Grimm, the chief entered +the room, and together they bent over the +wounded man. The bullet had entered the torso +just below the ribs on the left side. +</p> +<p> +"It's a clean wound," the physician was explaining. +"The bullet passed through. There's +no immediate danger." +</p> +<p> +Señor Alvarez opened his eyes, and stared +about him in bewilderment; then alarm overspread +his face, and he made spasmodic efforts +to reach the inside breast pocket of his coat. +Mr. Grimm obligingly thrust his hand into the +pocket and drew out its contents, the while +Señor Alvarez struggled frantically. +</p> +<p> +"Just a moment," Mr. Grimm advised quietly. +"I'm only going to let you see if it is here. +Is it?" +</p> +<p> +He held the papers, one by one, in front of +the wounded man, and each time a shake of the +head was his answer. At the last Señor Alvarez +closed his eyes again. +</p> +<p> +"What sort of paper was it?" inquired Mr. +Grimm. +</p> +<p> +"None of your business," came the curt answer. +</p> +<p> +"Who shot you?" +</p> +<p> +"None of your business." +</p> +<p> +"A man?" +</p> +<p> +Señor Alvarez was silent. +</p> +<p> +"A woman?" +</p> +<p> +Still silence. +</p> +<p> +With some new idea Mr. Grimm turned away +suddenly and started out into the hall. He met +a maid-servant at the door, coming in. Her +face was blanched, and she stuttered through +sheer excitement. +</p> +<p> +"A lady, sir—a lady—" she began babblingly. +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm calmly closed the door, shutting +in the wounded man, Chief Campbell and the +others. Then he caught the maid sharply by +the arm and shook some coherence into her disordered +brain. +</p> +<p> +"A lady—she ran away, sir," the girl went +on, in blank surprise. +</p> +<p> +"What lady?" demanded Mr. Grimm coldly. +"Where did she run from? Why did she run?" +The maid stared at him with mouth agape. "Begin +at the beginning." +</p> +<p> +"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't know—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 indicated the rear of the house. "Then I +came to the door and looked out to see who it +was, and what was the matter, sir. I was standing +there when a man—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 excited I couldn't open it right +away, sir, and—and when I did I came here to +see what was the matter." She drew a deep +breath and stopped. +</p> +<p> +"That all?" demanded Mr. Grimm. +</p> +<p> +"Yes, sir, except—except the lady had a pistol +in her hand, sir—" +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm regarded her in silence for a +moment. +</p> +<p> +"Who was the lady?" he asked at last. +</p> +<p> +"I forget her name, sir. She was the lady +who—who fainted in the ball-room, sir, just a +few minutes ago." +</p> +<p> +Whatever emotion may have been aroused +within Mr. Grimm it certainly found no expression +in his face. When he spoke again his +voice was quite calm. +</p> +<p> +"Miss Thorne, perhaps?" +</p> +<p> +"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 one called +her name." +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm took the girl, still a-quiver with +excitement, and led her along the hall to where +Gray stood. +</p> +<p> +"Take this girl in charge, Gray," he directed. +"Lock her up, if necessary. Don't permit her +to say one word to anybody—<i>anybody</i> you understand, +except the chief." +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm left them there. He passed along +the hall, glancing in each room as he went, +until he came to a short flight of stairs leading +toward the kitchen. He went on down +silently. The lights were burning, but the place +was still, deserted. All the servants who belonged +there were evidently, for the moment, +transferred to other posts. He passed on +through the kitchen and out the back door into +the street. +</p> +<p> +A little distance away, leaning against a +lamp-post, a man was standing. He might +have been waiting for a car. Mr. Grimm approached +him. +</p> +<p> +"Beg pardon," he said, "did you see a woman +come out of the back door, there?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes, just a moment or so ago," replied the +stranger. "She got into an automobile at the +corner. I imagine this is hers," and he extended +a handkerchief, a dainty, perfumed trifle +of lace. "I picked it up immediately after she +passed." +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm took the handkerchief and examined +it under the light. For a time he was +thoughtful, with lowered eyes, which, finally +raised, met those of the stranger with a scrutinizing +stare. +</p> +<p> +"Why," asked Mr. Grimm slowly and distinctly, +"why did you slam the door in the girl's +face?" +</p> +<p> +"Why did I—what?" came the answering +question. +</p> +<p> +"Why did you slam the door in the girl's +face?" Mr. Grimm repeated slowly. +</p> +<p> +The stranger stared in utter amazement—an +amazement so frank, so unacted, so genuine, +that Mr. Grimm was satisfied. +</p> +<p> +"Did you see a man come out the door?" Mr. +Grimm pursued. +</p> +<p> +"No. Say, young fellow, I guess you've had +a little too much to drink, haven't you?" +</p> +<p> +But by that time Mr. Grimm was turning the +corner. +</p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<a name="CH5"><!-- CHAPTER 5 --></a> +<h3> + V +</h3> +<h3> +A VISIT TO THE COUNT +</h3> +<p> </p> +<p> +The bland serenity of Mr. Campbell's +face was disturbed by thin, spidery lines +of perplexity, and the guileless blue eyes +were vacant as he stared at the top of his desk. +Mr. Grimm was talking. +</p> +<p> +"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 +lucky enough to find one immediately she came +out. She did not return to the embassy ball last +night—that much is certain." He paused reflectively. +"She is a guest of Señorita Inez +Rodriguez at the Venezuelan legation," he added. +</p> +<p> +"Yes, I know," his chief nodded. +</p> +<p> +"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 fact +that she is suspected, unless perhaps the man +who slammed the door—" He paused. "Anyway, +she will not attempt to leave Washington; +I am confident of that. Again, it didn't seem +wise to me to employ the ordinary crude police +methods in the case—that is, go to the Venezuelan +legation and kick up a row." +</p> +<p> +For a long time Campbell was silent; the perplexed +lines still furrowed his benevolent forehead. +</p> +<p> +"The president is very anxious that we get +to facts in this reported Latin alliance as soon +as possible," he said at last, irrelevantly. "He +mentioned the matter last night, and he has been +keeping in constant communication with Gault, +in Lisbon, who, however, has not been able to +add materially to the original despatch. Under +all the circumstances don't you think it would +be best for me to relieve you of the investigation +of this shooting affair so that you can concentrate +on this greater and more important +thing?" +</p> +<p> +"Will Señor Alvarez die?" asked Mr. Grimm +in turn. +</p> +<p> +"His condition is serious, although the wound +is not necessarily fatal," was the reply. +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm arose, stretched his long legs and +stood for a little while gazing out the window. +Finally he turned to his chief: +</p> +<p> +"What do we know, here in the bureau, about +Miss Thorne?" +</p> +<p> +"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 +and glanced at it. "She arrived in Washington +two weeks and two days ago from New York, +off the <i>Lusitania</i>, from Liverpool. She brought +some sort of an introduction to Count di Rosini, +the Italian ambassador, and he obtained for her +a special invitation to the state ball, which was +held that night. Until four days ago she was +a guest at the Italian embassy, but now, as you +know, is a guest at the Venezuelan legation. +Since her arrival here she has been prominently +pushed forward into society; she has gone +everywhere, and been received everywhere in the +diplomatic set. We have no knowledge of her +beyond this." +</p> +<p> +There was a question in Mr. Grimm's listless +eyes as they met those of his chief. The same +line of thought was running in both their minds, +born, perhaps, of the association of ideas—Italy +as one of three great nations known to be +in the Latin compact; Prince Benedetto d'Abruzzi, +of Italy, the secret envoy of three countries; +the sudden appearance of Miss Thorne +at the Italian embassy. And in the mind of the +younger man there was more than this—a definite +knowledge of a message cunningly transmitted +to Mr. Rankin, of the German embassy, +by Miss Thorne there in the ball-room. +</p> +<p> +"Can you imagine—" he asked slowly, "can +you imagine a person who would be of more +value to the Latin governments in Washington +right at this stage of the negotiations than a +brilliant woman agent?" +</p> +<p> +"I most certainly can not," was the chief's unhesitating +response. +</p> +<p> +"In that case I <i>don't</i> think it would be wise to +transfer the investigation of the shooting affair +to another man," said Mr. Grimm emphatically, +reverting to his chief's question. "I think, on +the contrary, we should find out more about Miss +Thorne." +</p> +<p> +"Precisely," Campbell agreed. +</p> +<p> +"Ask all the great capitals about her—Madrid, +Paris and Rome, particularly; then, perhaps, +London and Berlin and St. Petersburg." +</p> +<p> +Mr. Campbell thoughtfully scribbled the +names of the cities on a slip of paper. +</p> +<p> +"Do you intend to arrest Miss Thorne for the +shooting?" he queried. +</p> +<p> +"I don't know," replied Mr. Grimm frankly. +"I don't know," he repeated musingly. "If I +<i>do</i> arrest her immediately I may cut off a clue +which will lead to the other affair. I don't +know," he concluded. +</p> +<p> +"Use your own judgment, and bear in mind +that a man—<i>a man</i> slammed the door in the +maid's face." +</p> +<p> +"I shall not forget him," Mr. Grimm answered. +"Now I'm going over to talk to Count +di Rosini for a while." +</p> +<p> +The young man went out, thoughtfully tugging +at his gloves. The Italian ambassador received +him with an inquiring uplift of his dark +brows. +</p> +<p> +"I came to make some inquiries in regard to +Miss Thorne—Miss Isabel Thorne," Mr. Grimm +informed him frankly. +</p> +<p> +The count was surprised, but it didn't appear +in his face. +</p> +<p> +"As I understand it," the young man pursued, +"you are sponsor for her in Washington?" +</p> +<p> +The count, evasively diplomatic, born and +bred in a school of caution, considered the question +from every standpoint. +</p> +<p> +"It may be that I am so regarded," he admitted +at last. +</p> +<p> +"May I inquire if the sponsorship is official, +personal, social, or all three?" Mr. Grimm continued. +</p> +<p> +There was silence for a long time. +</p> +<p> +"I don't see the trend of your questioning," +said the ambassador finally. "Miss Thorne is +worthy of my protection in every way." +</p> +<p> +"Let's suppose a case," suggested Mr. Grimm +blandly. "Suppose Miss Thorne had—had, let +us say, shot a man, and he was about to die, +would you feel justified in withdrawing that—that +protection, as you call it?" +</p> +<p> +"Such a thing is preposterous!" exclaimed +the ambassador. "The utter absurdity of such +a charge would impel me to offer her every assistance." +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm nodded. +</p> +<p> +"And if it were proved to your satisfaction +that she <i>did</i> shoot him?" he went on evenly. +</p> +<p> +The count's lips were drawn together in a +straight line. +</p> +<p> +"Whom, may I ask," he inquired frigidly, +"are we supposing that Miss Thorne shot?" +</p> +<p> +"No one, particularly," Mr. Grimm assured +him easily. "Just suppose that she <i>had</i> shot +anybody—me, say, or Señor Alvarez?" +</p> +<p> +"I can't answer a question so ridiculous as +that." +</p> +<p> +"And suppose we go a little further," Mr. +Grimm insisted pleasantly, "and assume that +you <i>knew</i> she <i>had</i> shot some one, say Señor Alvarez, +and you <i>could</i> protect her from the consequences, +<i>would</i> you?" +</p> +<p> +"I decline to suppose anything so utterly absurd," +was the rejoinder. +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm sat with his elbows on his knees, +idly twisting a seal ring on his little finger. +The searching eyes of the ambassador found his +face blankly inscrutable. +</p> +<p> +"Diplomatic representatives in Washington +have certain obligations to this government," +the young man reminded him. "We—that is, +the government of the United States—undertake +to guarantee the personal safety of every +accredited representative; in return for that protection +we must insist upon the name and identity +of a dangerous person who may be known +to any foreign representative. Understand, +please, I'm not asserting that Miss Thorne is +a dangerous person. You are sponsor for her +here. Is she, in every way, worthy of your protection?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes," said the ambassador flatly. +</p> +<p> +"I can take it, then, that the introduction she +brought to you is from a person whose position +is high enough to insure Miss Thorne's position?" +</p> +<p> +"That is correct." +</p> +<p> +"Very well!" +</p> +<p> +And Mr. Grimm went away. +</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<a name="CH6"><!-- CHAPTER 6 --></a> +<h3> + VI +</h3> + +<h3> +REVELATIONS +</h3> +<p> </p> +<p> +Some vague, indefinable shadow darkened +Miss Thorne's clear, blue-gray eyes, in +sharp contrast to the glow of radiant +health in her cheeks, as she stepped from an automobile +in front of the Venezuelan legation, +and ran lightly up the steps. A liveried servant +opened the door. +</p> +<p> +"A gentleman is waiting for you, Madam," +he announced. "His card is here on the—" +</p> +<p> +"I was expecting him," she interrupted. +</p> +<p> +"Which room, please?" +</p> +<p> +"The blue room, Madam." +</p> +<p> +Miss Thorne passed along the hallway which +led to a suite of small drawing-rooms opening +on a garden in the rear, pushed aside the portières, +and entered. +</p> +<p> +"I'm sorry I've kept you—" she began, and +then, in a tone of surprise: "I beg your pardon." +</p> +<p> +A gentleman rose and bowed gravely. +</p> +<p> +"I am Mr. Grimm of the Secret Service," he +informed her with frank courtesy. "I am afraid +you were expecting some one else; I handed my +card to the footman." +</p> +<p> +For an instant the blue-gray eyes opened +wide in astonishment, and then some quick, +subtle change swept over Miss Thorne's face. +She smiled graciously and motioned him to a +seat. +</p> +<p> +"This is quite a different meeting from the +one Señorita Rodriguez had planned, isn't it?" +she asked. +</p> +<p> +There was a taunting curve on her scarlet +lips; the shadow passed from her eyes; her slim, +white hands lay idle in her lap. Mr. Grimm regarded +her reflectively. There was a determination +of steel back of this charming exterior; +there was an indomitable will, a keen brain, and +all of a woman's intuition to reckon with. She +was silent, with a questioning upward slant of +her arched brows. +</p> +<p> +"I am not mistaken in assuming that you are +a secret agent of the Italian government, am I?" +he queried finally. +</p> +<p> +"No," she responded readily. +</p> +<p> +"In that event I may speak with perfect +frankness?" he went on. "It would be as useless +as it would be absurd to approach the matter in +any other manner?" It was a question. +</p> +<p> +Miss Thorne was still smiling, but again the +vague, indefinable shadow, momentarily lifted, +darkened her eyes. +</p> +<p> +"You may be frank, of course," she said +pleasantly. "Please go on." +</p> +<p> +"Señor Alvarez was shot at the German Embassy +Ball last night," Mr. Grimm told her. +</p> +<p> +Miss Thorne nodded, as if in wonder. +</p> +<p> +"Did you, or did you not, shoot him?" +</p> +<p> +It was quite casual. She received the question +without change of countenance, but involuntarily +she caught her breath. It might have been +a sigh of relief. +</p> +<p> +"Why do you come to me with such a query?" +she asked in turn. +</p> +<p> +"I beg your pardon," interposed Mr. Grimm +steadily. "Did you, or did you not, shoot him?" +</p> +<p> +"No, of course I didn't shoot him," was the +reply. If there was any emotion in the tone it +was merely impatience. "Why do you come to +me?" she repeated. +</p> +<p> +"Why do I come to you?" Mr. Grimm echoed +the question, while his listless eyes rested on +her face. "I will be absolutely frank, as I feel +sure you would be under the same circumstances." +He paused a moment; she nodded. +"Well, immediately after the shooting you ran +along the hallway with 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 is not conjecture; it is susceptible +of proof by eye witnesses." +</p> +<p> +Miss Thorne rose suddenly with a queer, helpless +little gesture of her arms, and walked to the +window. She stood there for a long time with +her hands clasped behind her back. +</p> +<p> +"That brings us to another question," Mr. +Grimm continued mercilessly. "If you did not +shoot Señor Alvarez, do you know who did?" +</p> +<p> +There was another long pause. +</p> +<p> +"I want to believe you, Miss Thorne," he supplemented. +</p> +<p> +She turned quickly with something of defiance +in her attitude. +</p> +<p> +"Yes, I know," she said slowly. "It were useless +to deny it." +</p> +<p> +"Who was it?" +</p> +<p> +"I won't tell you." +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm leaned forward in his chair, and +spoke earnestly. +</p> +<p> +"Understand, please, that by that answer you +assume equal guilt with the person who actually +did the shooting," he explained. "If you adhere +to it you compel me to regard you as an accomplice." +His questioning took a different line. +</p> +<p> +"Will you explain how the revolver came into +your possession?" +</p> +<p> +"Oh, I—I picked it up in the hallway there," +she replied vaguely. +</p> +<p> +"I want to believe you, Miss Thorne," Mr. +Grimm said again. +</p> +<p> +"You may. I picked it up in the hallway," +she repeated. "I saw it lying there and picked +it up." +</p> +<p> +"Why that, instead of giving an alarm?" +</p> +<p> +"No alarm was necessary. The shot itself +was an alarm." +</p> +<p> +"Then why," Mr. Grimm persisted coldly, +"did you run along the hallway and escape by +way of the kitchen? If you did not do the +shooting, why the necessity of escape, carrying +the revolver?" +</p> +<p> +There was that in the blue-gray eyes which +brought Mr. Grimm to his feet. His hands +gripped each other cruelly; his tone was calm as +always. +</p> +<p> +"Why did you take the revolver?" he asked. +</p> +<p> +Miss Thorne's head drooped forward a little, +and she was silent. +</p> +<p> +"There are only two possibilities, of course," +he went on. "First, that you, in spite of your +denial, did the shooting." +</p> +<p> +"I did not!" The words fairly burst from +her tightly closed lips. +</p> +<p> +"Or that you knew the revolver, and took it +to save the person, man or woman, who fired the +shot. I will assume, for the moment, that this +is correct. Where is the revolver?" +</p> +<p> +From the adjoining room there came a slight +noise, a faint breath of sound; or it might have +been only an echo of silence. Their eyes were +fixed each upon the others unwaveringly, with +not a flicker to indicate that either had heard. +After a moment Miss Thorne returned to her +chair and sat down. +</p> +<p> +"It's rather a singular situation, isn't it, Mr. +Grimm?" she inquired irrelevantly. "You, Mr. +Grimm of the Secret Service of the United +States; I, Isabel Thorne, a secret agent of Italy +together here, one accusing the other of a crime, +and perhaps with good reason." +</p> +<p> +"Where is the revolver?" Mr. Grimm insisted. +</p> +<p> +"If you were any one else <i>but</i> you! I could +not afford to be frank with you and—" +</p> +<p> +"If you had been any one else but <i>you</i> I +should have placed you under arrest when I entered +the room." +</p> +<p> +She smiled, and inclined her head. +</p> +<p> +"I understand," she said pleasantly. "For +the reason that you are Mr. Grimm of the Secret +Service I shall tell you the truth. I <i>did</i> take +the revolver because I knew who had fired the +shot. Believe me when I tell you that that person +did not act with my knowledge or consent. +You do believe that? You do?" She was pleading, +eager to convince him. +</p> +<p> +After a while Mr. Grimm nodded. +</p> +<p> +"The revolver is beyond your reach and shall +remain so," she resumed. "According to your +laws I suppose I am an accomplice. That is my +misfortune. It will in no way alter my determination +to keep silent. If I am arrested I can't +help it." She studied his face with hopeful eyes. +"Am I to be arrested?" +</p> +<p> +"Where is the paper that was taken from +Señor Alvarez immediately after he was shot?" +Mr. Grimm queried. +</p> +<p> +"I don't know," she replied frankly. +</p> +<p> +"As I understand it, then, the motive for the +shooting was to obtain possession of that paper? +For your government?" +</p> +<p> +"The individual who shot Señor Alvarez <i>did</i> +obtain the paper, yes. And now, please, am I +to be arrested?" +</p> +<p> +"And just what was the purpose, may I inquire, +of the message you telegraphed with your +fan in the ball-room?" +</p> +<p> +"You read that?" exclaimed Miss Thorne in +mock astonishment. "You read that?" +</p> +<p> +"And the man who read that message? Perhaps +he shot the señor?" +</p> +<p> +"Perhaps," she taunted. +</p> +<p> +For a long time Mr. Grimm stood staring at +her, staring, staring. She, too, rose, and faced +him quietly. +</p> +<p> +"Am I to be arrested?" she asked again. +</p> +<p> +"Why do you make me do it?" he demanded. +</p> +<p> +"That is my affair." +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm laid a hand upon her arm, a hand +that had never known nervousness. A moment +longer he stared, and then: +</p> +<p> +"Madam, you are my prisoner for the attempted +murder of Señor Alvarez!" +</p> +<p> +The rings on the portières behind him clicked +sharply, and the draperies parted. Mr. Grimm +stood motionless, with his hand on Miss Thorne's +arm. +</p> +<p> +"You were inquiring a moment ago for a revolver," +came in a man's voice. "Here it is!" +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm found himself inspecting the +weapon from the barrel end. After a moment +his glance shifted to the blazing eyes of the man +who held it—a young man, rather slight, with +clean-cut, aristocratic features, and of the pronounced +Italian type. +</p> + +<a name="image-2"><!-- Image 2 --></a> +<p class="figure"> +<a href="images/img2.jpg"> +<img width="60%" src="images/img2.jpg" +alt="He Found Himself inspecting the Weapon from the Barrel End."/></a><br /> +<b>"He Found Himself inspecting the Weapon from the Barrel End."</b> +</p> + +<p> +"My God!" The words came from Miss +Thorne's lips almost in a scream. "Don't—!" +</p> +<p> +"I did make some inquiries about a revolver, +yes," Mr. Grimm interrupted quietly. "Is this +the one?" +</p> +<p> +He raised his hand quite casually, and his +fingers closed like steel around the weapon. Behind +his back Miss Thorne made some quick emphatic +gesture, and the new-comer released the +revolver. +</p> +<p> +"I shall ask you, please, to free Miss Thorne," +he requested courteously. "I shot Señor Alvarez. +I, too, am a secret agent of the Italian government, +willing and able to defend myself. Miss +Thorne has told you the truth; she had nothing +whatever to do with it. She took the weapon +and escaped because it was mine. Here is the +paper that was taken from 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 my compliments." +</p> +<p> +After a moment Mr. Grimm's hand fell away +from Miss Thorne's arm, and he regarded the +new-comer with an interest in which admiration, +even, played a part. +</p> +<p> +"Your name?" he asked finally. +</p> +<p> +"Pietro Petrozinni," was the ready reply. +"As I say, I accept all responsibility." +</p> +<p> +A few minutes later Mr. Grimm and his prisoner +passed out of the legation side by side, and +strolled down the street together, in amicable +conversation. Half an hour later Señor Alvarez +identified Pietro Petrozinni as the man who shot +him; and the maid servant expressed a belief +that he was the man who slammed the door in her +face. +</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<a name="CH7"><!-- CHAPTER 7 --></a> +<h3> + VII +</h3> + +<h3> +THE SIGNAL +</h3> +<p> </p> +<p> +"And the original question remains unanswered," +remarked Mr. Campbell. +</p> +<p> +"The original question?" repeated +Mr. Grimm. +</p> +<p> +"<i>Where</i> is Prince Benedetto d'Abruzzi, the +secret envoy?" his chief reminded him. +</p> +<p> +"I wonder!" mused the young man. +</p> +<p> +"If the Latin compact is signed in the United +States—?" +</p> +<p> +"The Latin compact will <i>not</i> be signed in the +United States," Mr. Grimm interrupted. And +then, after a moment: "Have we received any +further reports on Miss Thorne? I mean reports +from our foreign agents?" +</p> +<p> +The chief shook his head. +</p> +<p> +"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 becomes +plain sailing. We know she <i>is</i> a secret agent—I expected +a denial, but she was quite frank +about it. And I had no intention whatever of +placing her under arrest. I knew some one was +in the adjoining room because of a slight noise +in there, and I knew she knew it. She raised her +voice a little, obviously for the benefit of whoever +was there. From that point everything I +said and did was to compel that person, whoever +it was, to show himself." +</p> +<p> +His chief nodded, understandingly. Mr. +Grimm was silent for a little, then went on: +</p> +<p> +"The last possibility in my mind at that moment," +he confessed, "was that the person in +there was the man who shot Señor Alvarez. +Frankly I had half an idea that—that it might +be the prince in person." Suddenly his mood +changed: "And now our lady of mystery may +come and go as she likes because I know, even if +a dozen of our men have ransacked Washington +in vain for the prince, she will inevitably lead +us to him. And that reminds me: I should like +to borrow Blair, and Hastings, and Johnson. +Please plant them so they may keep constant +watch on Miss Thorne. Let them report to you, +and, wherever I am, I will reach you over the +'phone." +</p> +<p> +"By the way, what was in that sealed packet +that was taken from Señor Alvarez?" Campbell +inquired curiously. +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +For a little while the two men gazed thoughtfully, +each into the eyes of the other, then Mr. +Grimm entered his private office where he sat for +an hour with his immaculate boots on his desk, +thinking. A world-war—he had been thrust +forward by his government to prevent it—subtle +blue-gray eyes—his Highness, Prince Benedetto +d'Abruzzi—a haunting smile and scarlet lips. +</p> +<p> +At about the moment he rose to go out, Miss +Thorne, closely veiled, left the Venezuelan legation +and walked rapidly down the street to a +corner, where, without a word, she entered a +waiting automobile. The wheels spun and the car +leaped forward. For a mile or more it wound +aimlessly in and out, occasionally bisecting its +own path; finally Miss Thorne leaned forward +and touched the chauffeur on the arm. +</p> +<p> +"Now!" she said. +</p> +<p> +The car straightened out into a street of +stately residences and scuttled along until the +placid bosom of the Potomac came into view; +beside that for a few minutes, then over the +bridge to the Virginia side, in the dilapidated +little city of Alexandria. The car did not slacken +its speed, but wound in and out through +dingy streets, past tumble-down negro huts, for +half an hour before it came to a standstill in +front of an old brick mansion. +</p> +<p> +"This is number ninety-seven," the chauffeur +announced. +</p> +<p> +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 into the car silently. Again it moved +forward, on to the end of the dingy street, and +finally into the open country. Three, four, five +miles, perhaps, out the old Baltimore Road, and +again the car stopped, this time in front of an +ancient colonial farm-house. +</p> +<p> +Outwardly the place seemed to be deserted. +The blinds, battered and stripped of paint by +wind and rain, were all closed, and one corner +of the 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 of the house, rising from an old barn, a +thin pole with a cup-like attachment at the apex, +thrust its point into the open above the dense, +odorous pines. It appeared to be a wireless +mast. Miss Thorne passed around the house, +and entered the barn. +</p> +<p> +A man came forward and kissed her—a thin, +little man of indeterminate age—drying his +hands on a piece of cotton waste. His face was +pale with the pallor of one who knows little outdoor +life, his eyes deep-set and a-glitter with +some feverish inward fire, and the thin lips were +pressed together in a sharp line. Behind him +was a long bench on which were scattered tools +of various sorts, fantastically shaped chemical +apparatus, two or three electric batteries of odd +sizes, and ranged along one end of it, in a row, +were a score or more metal spheroids, a shade +larger than a one-pound shell. From somewhere +in the rear came the clatter of a small gasoline +engine, and still farther away was an electric +dynamo. +</p> +<p> +"Is the test arranged, Rosa?" the little man +queried eagerly in Italian. +</p> +<p> +"The date is not fixed yet," she replied in the +same language. "It will be, I hope, within the +next two weeks. And then—" +</p> +<p> +"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 will come, and with it the dominion of the +world again by our country. How will I know +when the date is fixed? It would not be well to +write me here." +</p> +<p> +My lady of mystery stroked the slender, +nervous hand caressingly, and a great affection +shone in the blue-gray eyes. +</p> +<p> +"At eight o'clock on the night of the test," +she explained, still speaking Italian, "a single +light will appear at the apex of the capitol dome +in Washington. That is the signal agreed +upon; it can be seen by all in the city, and is +visible here from the window of your bedroom." +</p> +<p> +"Yes, yes," he exclaimed. The feverish glitter +in his eyes deepened. +</p> +<p> +"If there is a fog, of course you will not attempt +the test," she went on. +</p> +<p> +"No, not in a fog," he put in quickly. "It +must be clear." +</p> +<p> +"And if it is clear you can see the light in the +dome without difficulty." +</p> +<p> +"And all your plans are working out well?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes. And yours?" +</p> +<p> +"I don't think there is any question but that +both England and the United States will buy. +Do you know what it means? Do you know what +it means?" He was silent a moment, his hands +working nervously. Then, with an effort: "And +his Highness?" +</p> +<p> +"His Highness is safe." The subtle eyes +grew misty, thoughtful for a moment, then +cleared again. "He is safe," she repeated. +</p> +<p> +"Mexico and Venezuela were—?" he began. +</p> +<p> +"We don't know, yet, what they will do. The +Venezuelan answer is locked in the safe at the +legation; I will know what it is within forty-eight +hours." She was silent a little. "Our difficulty +now, our greatest difficulty, is the hostility +of the French ambassador to the compact. +His government has not yet notified him of the +presence of Prince d'Abruzzi; he does not believe +in the feasibility of the plan, and we have +to—to proceed to extremes to prevent him working +against us." +</p> +<p> +"But they <i>must</i> see the incalculable advantages +to follow upon such a compact, with the +vast power that will be given to them over the +whole earth by this." He indicated the long, +littered work-table. "They <i>must</i> see it." +</p> +<p> +"They will see it, Luigi," said Miss Thorne +gently. "And now, how are you? Are you +well? Are you comfortable? It's such a dreary +old place here." +</p> +<p> +"I suppose so," he replied, and he met the solicitous +blue-gray eyes for an instant. "Yes, I +am quite comfortable," he added. "I have no +time to be otherwise with all the work I must do. +It will mean so much!" +</p> +<p> +They were both silent for a time. Finally +Miss Thorne walked over to the long table and +curiously lifted one of the spheroids. It was a +sinister looking thing, nickeled, glittering. At +one end of it was a delicate, vibratory apparatus, +not unlike the transmitter of a telephone, +and the other end was threaded, as if the +spheroid was made as an attachment to some +other device. +</p> +<p> +"With that we control the world!" exclaimed +the man triumphantly. "And it's mine, Rosa, +mine!" +</p> +<p> +"It's wonderful!" she mused softly. "Wonderful! +And now I must go. I may not see you +again until after the test, because I shall be +watched and followed wherever I go. If I get an +opportunity I shall reach you by telephone, but +not even that unless it is necessary. There is +always danger, always danger!" she repeated +thoughtfully. She was thinking of Mr. Grimm. +</p> +<p> +"I understand," said the man simply. +</p> +<p> +"And look out for the signal—the light in +the apex of the capitol dome," she went on. "I +understand the night must be perfectly clear; +and <i>you</i> understand that the test is to be made +promptly at three o'clock by your chronometer?" +</p> +<p> +"At three o'clock," he repeated. +</p> +<p> +For a moment they stood with their arms +around each other, then tenderly his visitor +kissed him, and went out. He remained looking +after her vacantly until the chug-chug of her +automobile, as it moved off down the road, was +lost in the distance, then turned again to the +long work-table. +</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<a name="CH8"><!-- CHAPTER 8 --></a> +<h3> + VIII +</h3> + +<h3> +MISS THORNE AND NOT MISS THORNE +</h3> +<p> </p> +<p> +From a pleasant, wide-open bay-window +of her apartments on the second floor, +Miss Thorne looked out upon the avenue +with inscrutable eyes. Behind the closely +drawn shutters of another bay-window, farther +down the avenue, on the corner, she knew a man +named Hastings was hiding; she knew that for +an hour or more he had been watching her as +she wrote. In the other direction, in a house +near the corner, another man named Blair was +similarly ensconced, and he, too, had been watching +as she wrote. There should be a third man, +Johnson. Miss Thorne curiously studied the +face of each passer-by, seeking therein something +to remember. +</p> +<p> +She sat at the little mahogany desk and a +note with the ink yet wet upon it lay face up before +her. It was addressed to Signor Pietro +Petrozinni in the district prison, and read: +</p> +<blockquote><p>"My Dear Friend: +</p> +<p> +"I have been waiting to write you with the +hope that I could report Señor Alvarez out of +danger, but his condition, I regret to say, remains +unchanged. Shall I send an attorney to +you? Would you like a book of any kind? Or +some delicacy sent in from a restaurant? Can +I be of any service to you in any way? If I can +please drop me a line. +</p> +<p> +"Sincerely, +</p> +<p> +"Isabel Thorne."</p></blockquote> +<p> +At last she rose and standing in the window +read the note over, folded it, placed it in an envelope +and sealed it. A maid came in answer to her +ring, and there at the window, under the watchful +eyes of Blair and Hastings—and, perhaps, +Johnson—she handed the note to the maid with +instructions to mail it immediately. Two minutes +later she saw the maid go out along the +avenue to a post-box on the corner. +</p> +<p> +Then she drew back into the shadow of the +room, slipped on a dark-colored wrap, and, +standing away from the window, safe beyond the +reach of prying eyes, waited patiently for the +postman. He appeared about five o'clock and +simultaneously another man turned the corner +near the post-box and spoke to him. Then, together, +they disappeared from view around the +corner. +</p> +<p> +"So that's Johnson, is it?" mused Miss +Thorne, and she smiled a little. "Mr. Grimm +certainly pays me the compliment of having me +carefully watched." +</p> +<p> +A few minutes later she dropped into the seat +at the desk again. The dark wrap had been +thrown aside and Hastings and Blair from their +hiding-places could see her distinctly. After +a while they saw her rise quickly, as an automobile +turned into the avenue, and lean toward the +window eagerly looking out. The car came to +a standstill in front of the legation, and Mr. +Cadwallader, an under-secretary of the British +embassy, who was alone in the car, raised his +cap. She nodded and smiled, then disappeared +in the shadows of the room again. +</p> +<p> +Mr. Cadwallader went to the door, spoke to +the servant there, then returned and busied himself +about the car. Hastings and Blair watched +intently both the door and the window for a +long time; finally a closely veiled and muffled +figure appeared at the bay-window, and waved +a gloved hand at Mr. Cadwallader, who again +lifted his cap. A minute later the veiled woman +came out of the front door, shook hands with +Mr. Cadwallader, and got in the car. He also +climbed in, and the car moved slowly away. +</p> +<p> +Simultaneously the front door of the house +on the corner, where Hastings had been hiding, +and the front door of the house near the corner, +where Blair had been hiding, opened and two +heads peered out. As the car approached Hastings' +hiding-place he withdrew into the hallway; +but Blair came out and hurried past the legation +in the direction of the rapidly disappearing +motor. Hastings joined him; they spoke together, +then turned the corner. +</p> +<p> +It was about ten o'clock that night when +Hastings reported to Mr. Campbell at his home. +</p> +<p> +"We followed the car in a rented automobile +from the time it turned the corner, out through +Alexandria, and along the old Baltimore Road +into the city of Baltimore," he explained. "It +was dark by the time we reached Alexandria, +but we stuck to the car ahead, running without +lights until we came in sight of Druid Hill Park, +and then we had to show lights or be held up. +We covered those forty miles going in less than +two hours. +</p> +<p> +"After the car passed Druid Hill it slowed up +a little, and ran off the turnpike into North Avenue, +then into North Charles Street, and slowly +along that as if they were looking for a number. +At last it stopped and Miss Thorne got +out and entered a house. She was gone for +more than half an hour, leaving Mr. Cadwallader +with the car. While she was gone I made +some inquiries and learned that the house was +occupied by a Mr. Thomas Q. Griswold. I don't +know anything else about him; Blair may have +learned something. +</p> +<p> +"Now comes the curious part of it," and +Hastings looked a little sheepish. "When Miss +Thorne came out of the house she was not Miss +Thorne at all—<i>she was Señorita Inez Rodriguez</i>, +daughter of the Venezuelan minister. She +wore the same clothing Miss Thorne had worn +going, but her veil was lifted. Veiled and all +muffled up one would have taken oath it was the +same woman. She and Cadwallader are back in +Washington now, or are coming. That's all, +except Blair is still in Baltimore, awaiting orders. +I caught the train from the Charles Street +station and came back. Johnson, you know—" +</p> +<p> +"Yes, I've seen Johnson," interrupted Campbell. +"Are you absolutely positive that the +woman you saw get into the automobile with +Mr. Cadwallader was Miss Thorne?" +</p> +<p> +"Absolutely," replied Hastings without hesitation. +"I saw her in her own room with her +wraps on, then saw her come down and get into +the car." +</p> +<p> +"That's all," said the chief. "Good night." +For an hour or more he sat in a great, comfortable +chair in the smoking-room of his own +home, the guileless blue eyes vacant, staring, +and spidery lines in the benevolent forehead. +</p> +<hr> +<p> +On the morning of the second day following, +Señor Rodriguez, the minister from Venezuela, +reported to the Secret Service Bureau the disappearance +of fifty thousand dollars in gold from +a safe in his private office at the legation. +</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<a name="CH9"><!-- CHAPTER 9 --></a> +<h3> + IX +</h3> + +<h3> +FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS +</h3> +<p> </p> +<p> +Mr. Campbell was talking. +</p> +<p> +"For several months past," he said, +"the International Investment Company, +through its representative, Mr. Cressy, +has been secretly negotiating with Señor Rodriguez +for certain asphalt properties in Venezuela. +Three days ago these negotiations were successfully +concluded, and yesterday afternoon Mr. +Cressy, in secret, paid to Señor Rodriguez, fifty +thousand dollars in American gold, the first of +four payments of similar sums. This gold was +to have been shipped to Philadelphia by express +to-day to catch a steamer for Venezuela." +Mr. Grimm nodded. +</p> +<p> +"The fact that this gold was in Señor Rodriguez's +possession could not have been known to +more than half a dozen persons, as the negotiations +throughout have been in strict secrecy," +and Mr. Campbell smiled benignly. "So much! +Now, Señor Rodriguez has just telephoned asking +that I send a man to the legation at once. +The gold was kept there over night; or perhaps +I should say that the señor intended to +keep it there over night." Mr. Campbell stared +at Mr. Grimm for a moment, then: "Miss +Thorne, you know, is a guest at the legation, +that is why I am referring the matter to you." +</p> +<p> +"I understand," said Mr. Grimm. +</p> +<p> +And ten minutes later Mr. Grimm presented +himself to Señor Rodriguez. The minister from +Venezuela, bubbling with excitement, was pacing +forth and back across his office, ruffling his gray-black +hair with nervous, twining fingers. Mr. +Grimm sat down. +</p> +<p> +"Señor," he inquired placidly, "fifty thousand +dollars in gold would weigh nearly two +hundred pounds, wouldn't it?" +</p> +<p> +Señor Rodriguez stared at him blankly. +</p> +<p> +"<i>Si, Señor</i>," he agreed absently. And then, +in English: "Yes, I should imagine so." +</p> +<p> +"Well, was all of it stolen, or only a part of +it?" Mr. Grimm went on. +</p> +<p> +The minister gazed into the listless eyes for +a time, then, apparently bewildered, walked forth +and back across the room again. Finally he sat +down. +</p> +<p> +"All of it," he admitted. "I can't understand +it. No one, not a soul in this house, except myself, +knew it was here." +</p> +<p> +"In addition to this weight of, say two hundred +pounds, fifty thousand dollars would make +considerable bulk," mused Mr. Grimm. "Very +well! Therefore it would appear that the person, +or persons, who got it must have gone away +from here heavily laden?" +</p> +<p> +Señor Rodriguez nodded. +</p> +<p> +"And now, Señor," Mr. Grimm continued, "if +you will kindly state the circumstances immediately +preceding and following the theft?" +</p> +<p> +A slight frown which had been growing upon +the smooth brow of the diplomatist was instantly +dissipated. +</p> +<p> +"The money—fifty thousand dollars in gold +coin—was paid to me yesterday afternoon about +four o'clock," he began slowly, in explanation. +</p> +<p> +"By Mr. Cressy of the International Investment +Company," supplemented Mr. Grimm. +"Yes. Go on." +</p> +<p> +The diplomatist favored the young man with +one sharp, inquiring glance, and continued: +</p> +<p> +"The gentleman who paid the money remained +here from four until nine o'clock while +I, personally, counted it. As I counted it I +placed it in canvas bags and when he had gone +I took these bags from this room into that," he +indicated a closed door to his right, "and personally +stowed them away in the safe. I closed +and locked the door of the safe myself; I <i>know</i> +that it <i>was</i> locked. And that's all, except this +morning the money was gone—every dollar +of it." +</p> +<p> +"Safe blown?" inquired Mr. Grimm. +</p> +<p> +"No, Señor!" exclaimed the diplomatist with +sudden violence. "No, the safe was not blown! +It was <i>closed and locked</i>, exactly as I had left +it!" +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm was idly twisting the seal ring on +his little finger. +</p> +<p> +"Just as I left it!" Señor Rodriguez repeated +excitedly. "Last night after I locked the safe +door I tried it to make certain that it <i>was</i> locked. +I happened to notice then that the pointer on +the dial had stopped precisely at number forty-five. +This morning, when I unlocked the safe—and, +of course, I didn't know then that the +money had been taken—the pointer was still at +number forty-five." +</p> +<p> +He paused with one hand in the air; Mr. +Grimm continued to twist the seal ring. +</p> +<p> +"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 +had not put the money into the safe at all!" +</p> +<p> +"Did you?" inquired Mr. Grimm amiably. +</p> +<p> +"Did I?" blazed Señor Rodriguez. "Why, +Señor—! I did!" he concluded meekly. +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm believed him. +</p> +<p> +"Who else knows the combination of the +safe?" he queried. +</p> +<p> +"No one, Señor—not a living soul." +</p> +<p> +"Your secretary, for instance?" +</p> +<p> +"Not even my secretary." +</p> +<p> +"Some servant—some member of your family?" +</p> +<p> +"I tell you, Señor, not one person in all the +world knew that combination except myself," +Señor Rodriguez insisted. +</p> +<p> +"Your secretary—a servant—some member +of your family might have seen you unlock the +safe some time, and thus learned the combination?" +</p> +<p> +Señor Rodriguez did not quite know whether +to be annoyed at Mr. Grimm's persistence, or to +admire the tenacity with which he held to this +one point. +</p> +<p> +"You must understand, Señor Grimm, that +many state documents are kept in the safe," he +said finally, "therefore it is not advisable that +any one should know the combination. I have +made it an absolute rule, as did my predecessors +here, never to unlock the safe in the presence of +another person." +</p> +<p> +"State documents!" Mr. Grimm's lips silently +repeated the words. Then aloud: "Perhaps +there's a record of the combination somewhere? +If you had died suddenly, for instance, how +would the safe have been opened?" +</p> +<p> +"There would have been only one way, Señor—blow +it open. There is no record." +</p> +<p> +"Well, if we accept all that as true," observed +Mr. Grimm musingly, "it would 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 money was taken out of the +safe without it being unlocked. This last would +have been a miracle, and this is not the day of +miracles, therefore—!" +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm's well modulated voice trailed off +into silence. Señor Rodriguez came to his feet +with a blaze of anger in his eyes; Mr. Grimm +was watching him curiously. +</p> +<p> +"I understand then, Señor," said the minister +deliberately, "that you believe that I—!" +</p> +<p> +"I believe that you have told the truth," interrupted +Mr. Grimm placidly, "that is the truth +so far as you know it. But you have stated one +thing in error. Somebody besides yourself <i>does</i> +know the combination. Whether they knew it +or not at this time yesterday I can't say, but +somebody knows it now." +</p> +<p> +Señor Rodriguez drew a deep breath of relief. +The implied accusation had been withdrawn as +pleasantly and frankly as it had been put forward. +</p> +<p> +"I ran across a chap in New York once, for +instance," Mr. Grimm took the trouble to explain, +"who could unlock any safe—that is, any +safe of the kind used at that time—twelve or +fourteen years ago. So you see. I doubt if he +would be so successful with the new models, with +all their improvements, but then—! You know +he would have made an ideal burglar, that chap. +Now, Señor, who lives here in the legation with +you?" +</p> +<p> +"My secretary, Señor Diaz, my daughter +Inez, and just at the moment, a Miss Thorne—Miss +Isabel Thorne," the señor informed him. +"Also four servants—two men and two women." +</p> +<p> +"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?" +</p> +<p> +"Certainly." +</p> +<p> +Señor Rodriguez started toward the closed +door just as there came a timid knock from the +hall. He glanced at Mr. Grimm, who nodded, +then he called: +</p> +<p> +"Come in!" +</p> +<p> +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 white neck. At sight of Mr. Grimm the +blue-gray eyes opened as if in surprise, and she +paused irresolutely. +</p> +<p> +"I beg your pardon, Señor," she said, addressing +the diplomatist. "I did not know you +were engaged. And Mr. Grimm!" She extended +a slim, white hand, and the young man +bowed low over it. "We are old friends," she +explained, smilingly, to the minister. Then: +"I think I must have dropped my handkerchief +when I was in here yesterday with Inez. Perhaps +you found it?" +</p> +<p> +"<i>Si, Señorita</i>," replied Señor Rodriguez gallantly. +"It is on my desk in here. Just a moment." +</p> +<p> +He opened the door and passed into the adjoining +room. Mr. Grimm's eyes met those of +Miss Isabel Thorne, and there was no listlessness +in them now, only interest. She smiled at him +tauntingly and lowered her lids. Señor Rodriguez +appeared from the other room with the +handkerchief. +</p> +<p> +"<i>Mil gracias, Señor</i>," she thanked him. +</p> +<p> +"<i>No hay de que, Señorita</i>," he returned, as he +opened the door for her. +</p> +<p> +"<i>Monsieur Grimm, au revoir</i>!" She dropped +a little curtsey, and still smiling, went out. +</p> +<p> +"She is charming, Señor," the diplomatist assured +him enthusiastically, albeit irrelevantly. +"Such vivacity, such personality, such—such—she +is charming." +</p> +<p> +"The safe, please," Mr. Grimm reminded him. +</p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<a name="CH10"><!-- CHAPTER 10 --></a> +<h3> + X +</h3> +<h3> +A SAFE OPENING +</h3> +<p> </p> +<p> +Together they entered the adjoining +room, which was small compared to the +one they had just left. Señor Rodriguez +used it as a private office. His desk was +on their right between two windows overlooking +the same pleasant little garden which was visible +from the suite of tiny drawing-rooms farther +along. The safe, a formidable looking receptacle +of black enameled steel, stood at their left, +closed and locked. The remaining wall space of +the room was given over to oak cabinets, evidently +a storage place for the less important +legation papers. +</p> +<p> +"Has any one besides yourself been in this +room to-day?" Mr. Grimm inquired. +</p> +<p> +"Not a soul, Señor," was the reply. +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm went over and examined the windows. +They were both locked inside; and there +were no marks of any sort on the sills. +</p> +<p> +"They are just as I left them last night," explained +Señor Rodriguez. "I have not touched +them to-day." +</p> +<p> +"And there's only one door," mused Mr. +Grimm, meaning that by which they had entered. +"So it would appear that whoever was here last +night entered through that room. Very well." +</p> +<p> +He walked around the room once, opening and +shutting the doors of the cabinets as he passed, +and finally paused in front of the safe. A brief +examination of the nickeled dial and handle and +of the enameled edges of the heavy door satisfied +him that no force had been employed—the +safe had merely been unlocked. Whereupon he +sat himself down, cross-legged on the floor, in +front of it. +</p> +<p> +"What are the first and second figures of the +combination?" he asked. +</p> +<p> +"Thirty-six, then back to ten." +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm set the dial at thirty-six, and +then, with his ear pressed closely against the +polished door, turned the dial slowly back. Señor +Rodriguez stood looking on helplessly, but none +the less intently. The pointer read ten, then +nine, eight, seven, five. Mr. Grimm gazed at it +thoughtfully, after which he did it all over +again, placidly and without haste. +</p> +<p> +"Now, we'll look inside, please," he requested, +rising. +</p> +<p> +Señor Rodriguez unlocked the safe the while +Mr. Grimm respectfully turned his eyes away, +then pulled the door wide open. The books had +been piled one on top of another and thrust into +various pigeonholes at the top. Mr. Grimm +understood that this disorder was the result of +making room at the bottom for the bulk of gold, +and asked no questions. Instead, he sat down +upon the floor again. +</p> +<p> +"The lock on this private compartment at the +top is broken," he remarked after a moment. +</p> +<p> +"<i>Si, Señor</i>," the diplomatist agreed. "Evidently +the robbers were not content with only +fifty thousand dollars in gold—they imagined +that something else of value was hidden there." +</p> +<p> +"Was there?" asked Mr. Grimm naively. He +didn't look around. +</p> +<p> +"Nothing of monetary value," the señor explained. +"There were some important state papers +in there—they are there yet—but no +money." +</p> +<p> +"None of the papers was stolen?" +</p> +<p> +"No, Señor. There were only nine packets—they are there yet." +</p> +<p> +"Contents all right?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes. I personally looked them over." +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm drew out the packets of papers, +one by one. They were all unsealed save the +last. When he reached for that, Señor Rodriguez +made a quick, involuntary motion toward +it with his hand. +</p> +<p> +"This one's sealed," commented Mr. Grimm. +"It doesn't happen that you opened it and sealed +it again?" +</p> +<p> +Señor Rodriguez stood staring at him blankly +for a moment, then some sudden apprehension +was aroused, for a startled look came into his +eyes, and again he reached for the packet. +</p> +<p> +"<i>Dios mio</i>!" he exclaimed, "let me see, Señor." +</p> +<p> +"Going to open it?" asked Mr. Grimm. +</p> +<p> +"Yes, Señor. I had not thought of it before." +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm rose and walked over to the window +where the light was better. He scrutinized +the sealed packet closely. There were three +red splotches of wax upon it, each impressed +with the legation seal; the envelope was without +marks otherwise. He turned and twisted it aimlessly, +and peered curiously at the various seals, +after which he handed it to the frankly impatient +diplomatist. +</p> +<p> +Señor Rodriguez opened it, with nervous, +twitching fingers. Mr. Grimm had turned toward +the safe again, but he heard the crackle of +parchment as some document was drawn out of +the envelope, and then came a deep sigh of relief. +Having satisfied his sudden fears for the +safety of the paper, whatever it was, the señor +placed it in another envelope and sealed it again +with elaborate care. Mr. Grimm dropped into +the swivel chair at the desk. +</p> +<p> +"Señor," he inquired pleasantly, "your +daughter and Miss Thorne were in this room +yesterday afternoon?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes," replied the diplomatist as if surprised +at the question. +</p> +<p> +"What time, please?" +</p> +<p> +"About three o'clock. They were going out +driving. Why?" +</p> +<p> +"And just where, please, did you find that +handkerchief?" continued Mr. Grimm. +</p> +<p> +"Handkerchief?" repeated the diplomatist. +"You mean Miss Thorne's handkerchief?" He +paused and regarded Mr. Grimm keenly. +"Señor, what am I to understand from that +question?" +</p> +<p> +"It was plain enough," replied Mr. Grimm. +"Where did you find that handkerchief?" There +was silence for an instant. "In this room?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes," replied Señor Rodriguez at last. +</p> +<p> +"Near the safe?" Mr. Grimm persisted. +</p> +<p> +"Yes," came the slow reply, again. "Just +here," and he indicated a spot a little to the left +of the safe. +</p> +<p> +"And <i>when</i> did you find it? Yesterday afternoon? +Last night? This morning?" +</p> +<p> +"This morning," and without any apparent +reason the diplomatist's face turned deathly +white. +</p> +<p> +"But, Señor—Señor, you are mistaken! There +can be nothing—! A woman! Two hundred +pounds of gold! Señor!" +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm was still pleasant about it; his +curiosity was absolutely impersonal; his eyes, +grown listless again, were turned straight into +the other's face. +</p> +<p> +"If that handkerchief had been there last +night, Señor," he resumed quietly, "wouldn't +you have noticed it when you placed the gold in +the safe?" +</p> +<p> +Señor Rodriguez stared at him a long time. +</p> +<p> +"I don't know," he said, at last. He dropped +back into a chair with his face in his hands. +"Señor," he burst out suddenly, impetuously, +after a moment, "if the gold is not recovered I +am ruined. You understand that better than I +can tell you. It's the kind of thing that could +not be explained to my government." He rose +suddenly and faced the impassive young man, +with merciless determination in his face. "You +must find the gold, Señor," he said. +</p> +<p> +"No matter who may be—who may suffer?" +inquired Mr. Grimm. +</p> +<p> +"Find the gold, Señor!" +</p> +<p> +"Very well," commented Mr. Grimm, without +moving. "Do me the favor, please, to regain +possession of the handkerchief you just returned +to Miss Thorne, and to send to me here your secretary, +Señor Diaz, and your servants, 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." +</p> +<p> +Señor Rodriguez replaced the packet without +question, afterward locking the door, then went +out. A moment later Señor Diaz appeared. +He remained with Mr. Grimm for just eight +minutes. Señor Rodriguez entered again as his +secretary passed on, and laid a lace handkerchief +on the desk. Mr. Grimm stared at it curiously +for a long time. +</p> +<p> +"It's the same handkerchief?" +</p> +<p> +"<i>Si, Señor</i>." +</p> +<p> +"There's no doubt whatever about it?" +</p> +<p> +"No, Señor, I got it by—!" +</p> +<p> +"It's of no consequence," interrupted Mr. +Grimm. "Now the servants, please—the men +first." +</p> +<p> +The first of the men servants was in the room +two minutes; the second—the butler—was there +five minutes; one of the women was not questioned +at all; the other remained ten minutes. +Mr. Grimm followed her into the hall; Señor +Rodriguez stood there helpless, impatient. +</p> +<p> +"Well?" he demanded eagerly. +</p> +<p> +"I'm going out a little while," replied Mr. +Grimm placidly. "No one has even an intimation +of the affair—please keep the matter absolutely +to yourself until I return." +</p> +<p> +That was all. The door opened and closed, +and he was gone. +</p> +<p> +At the end of an hour he returned, passed on +through to the diplomatist's private office, sat +down in front of the locked safe again, and set +the dial at thirty-six. Señor Rodriguez looked +on, astonished, as Mr. Grimm pressed the soft +rubber sounder of a stethoscope against the +safe door and began turning the dial back toward +ten, slowly, slowly. Thirty-five minutes +later the lock clicked. Mr. Grimm rose, turned +the handle, and pulled the safe door open. +</p> +<p> +"That's how it was done," he explained to +the amazed diplomatist. "And now, please, have +a servant hand my card to Miss Thorne." +</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<a name="CH11"><!-- CHAPTER 11 --></a> +<h3> + XI +</h3> + +<h3> +THE LACE HANDKERCHIEF +</h3> +<p> </p> +<p> +Still wearing the graceful, filmy morning +gown, with an added touch, of scarlet +in her hair—a single red rose—Miss +Thorne came into the drawing-room where Mr. +Grimm sat waiting. There was curiosity in her +manner, thinly veiled, but the haunting smile +still lingered about her lips. Mr. Grimm bowed +low, and placed a chair for her, after which he +stood for a time staring down at one slim, white +hand at rest on the arm of the seat. At last, he, +too, sat down. +</p> +<p> +"I believe," he said slowly, without preliminaries, +"this is your handkerchief?" +</p> +<p> +He offered the lacy trifle, odd in design, +unique in workmanship, obviously of foreign +texture, and she accepted it. +</p> +<p> +"Yes," she agreed readily, "I must have +dropped it again." +</p> +<p> +"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?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes?" She nodded inquiringly. +</p> +<p> +"It may interest you to know that Señor +Rodriguez's butler positively identifies it as one +he restored to you twice at dinner last evening, +between seven and nine o'clock," Mr. Grimm +went on dispassionately. +</p> +<p> +"Indeed!" exclaimed Miss Thorne. +</p> +<p> +"The señor identifies it as one he found this +morning in his office," Mr. Grimm explained +obligingly. "During the night fifty thousand +dollars in gold were stolen from his safe." +</p> +<p> +There was not the slightest change of expression +in her face; the blue-gray eyes were still +inquiring in their gaze, the white hands still at +rest, the scarlet lips still curled slightly, an +echo of a smile. +</p> +<p> +"No force was used in opening the safe," Mr. +Grimm resumed. "It was unlocked. It's an old +model and I have demonstrated how it could +have been opened either with the assistance of +a stethoscope, which catches the sound of the +tumbler in the lock, or by a person of acute +hearing." +</p> +<p> +Miss Thorne sat motionless, waiting. +</p> +<p> +"All this means—what?" she inquired, at +length. +</p> +<p> +"I'll trouble you, please, to return the +money," requested Mr. Grimm courteously. +"No reason appears why you should have taken +it. But I'm not seeking reasons, nor am I seeking +disagreeable publicity—only the money." +</p> +<p> +"It seems to me you attach undue importance +to the handkerchief," she objected. +</p> +<p> +"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 is the difficulty of entrance, the weight +of the gold, the ingenious method of opening +the safe, and the assumption that not more than +six persons knew the money was in the safe; +while a person in the house <i>might</i> have learned +it in any of a dozen ways. And, in addition, is +the fact that the handkerchief is odd, therefore +noticeable. A lace expert assures me there's +probably not another like it in the world." +</p> +<p> +He stopped. Miss Thorne's eyes sparkled +and a smile seemed to be tugging at the corners +of her mouth. She spread out the handkerchief +on her knees. +</p> +<p> +"You could identify this again, of course?" +she queried. +</p> +<p> +"Yes." +</p> +<p> +She thoughtfully crumpled up the bit of lace +in both hands, then opened them. There were +two handkerchiefs now—they were identical. +</p> +<p> +"Which is it, please?" she asked. +</p> +<p> +If Mr. Grimm was disappointed there was not +a trace of it on his face. She laughed outright, +gleefully, mockingly, then, demurely: +</p> +<p> +"Pardon me! You see, it's absurd. The +handkerchief the butler restored to me at dinner, +after I lost one in the señor's office, might +have been either of these, or one of ten other +duplicates in my room, all given to me by her +Maj—I mean," she corrected quickly, "by a +friend in Europe." She was silent for a moment. +"Is that all?" +</p> +<p> +"No," replied Mr. Grimm gravely, decisively. +"I'm not satisfied. I shall insist upon +the return of the money, and if it is not forthcoming +I dare say Count di Rosini, the Italian +ambassador, would be pleased to give his personal +check rather than have the matter become +public." She started to interrupt; he went on. +"In any event you will be requested to leave the +country." +</p> +<p> +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, and there was a flash of uneasiness in her +eyes. +</p> +<p> +"But if I am innocent?" she protested. +</p> +<p> +"You must prove it," continued Mr. Grimm +mercilessly. "Personally, I am convinced, and +Count di Rosini has practically assured me +that—" +</p> +<p> +"It's unjust!" she interrupted passionately. +"It's—it's—you have proved nothing. It's unheard +of! It's beyond—!" +</p> +<p> +Suddenly she became silent. A minute, two +minutes, three minutes passed; Mr. Grimm waited +patiently. +</p> +<p> +"Will you give me time and opportunity to +prove my innocence?" she demanded finally. +"And if I <i>do</i> convince you—?" +</p> +<p> +"I should be delighted to believe that I have +made a mistake," Mr. Grimm assured her. +"How much time? One day? Two days?" +</p> +<p> +"I will let you know within an hour at your +office," she told him. +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm rose. +</p> +<p> +"And meanwhile, in case of accident, I shall +look to Count di Rosini for adjustment," he +added pointedly. "Good morning." +</p> +<p> +One hour and ten minutes later he received +this note, unsigned: +</p> +<p> +"Closed carriage will stop for you at southeast +corner of Pennsylvania Avenue and Fourteenth +Street to-night at one." +</p> +<p> +He was there; the carriage was on time; and +my lady of mystery was inside. He stepped +in and they swung out into Pennsylvania Avenue, +noiselessly over the asphalt. +</p> +<p> +"Should the gold be placed in your hands +now, within the hour," she queried solicitously, +"would it be necessary for you to know who was +the—the thief?" +</p> +<p> +"It would," Mr. Grimm responded without +hesitation. +</p> +<p> +"Even if it destroyed a reputation?" she +pleaded. +</p> +<p> +"The Secret Service rarely destroys a reputation, +Miss Thorne, although it holds itself in +readiness to do so. I dare say in this case there +would be no arrest or prosecution, because of—of +reasons which appear to be good." +</p> +<p> +"There wouldn't?" and there was a note of +eagerness in her voice. "The identity of the +guilty person would never appear?" +</p> +<p> +"It would become a matter of record in our +office, but beyond that I think not—at least in +this one instance." +</p> +<p> +Miss Thorne sat silent for a block or more. +</p> +<p> +"You'll admit, Mr. Grimm, that you have +forced me into a most remarkable position. You +seemed convinced of my guilt, and, if you'll +pardon me, without reason; then you made it +compulsory upon me to establish my innocence. +The only way for me to do that was to find the +guilty one. I have done it, and I'm sorry, because +it's a little tragedy." +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm waited. +</p> +<p> +"It's a girl high in diplomatic society. Her +father's position is an honorable rather than a +lucrative one; he has no fortune. This girl +moves in a certain set devoted to bridge, and +stakes are high. She played and won, and +played and won, and on and on, until her winnings +were about eight thousand dollars. Then +luck turned. She began to lose. Her money +went, but she continued to play desperately. +Finally some old family jewels were pawned +without her father's knowledge, and ultimately +they were lost. One day she awoke to the fact +that she owed some nine or ten thousand dollars +in bridge debts. They were pressing and there +was no way to meet them. This meant exposure +and utter ruin, and women do strange things, +Mr. Grimm, to postpone such an ending to social +aspirations. I know this much is true, for +she related it all to me herself. +</p> +<p> +"At last, in some way—a misplaced letter, +perhaps, or a word overheard—-she learned that +fifty thousand dollars would be in the legation +safe overnight, and evidently she learned the +precise night." She paused a moment. "Here +is the address of a man in Baltimore, Thomas Q. +Griswold," and she passed a card to Mr. Grimm, +who sat motionless, listening. "About four +years ago the combination on the legation safe +was changed. This man was sent here to make +the change, therefore some one besides Señor +Rodriguez <i>does</i> know the combination. I have +communicated with this man to-day, for I saw +the possibility of just such a thing as this instead +of your stethoscope. By a trick and a +forged letter this girl obtained the combination +from this man." +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm drew a long breath. +</p> +<p> +"She intended to take, perhaps, only what she +desperately needed—but at sight of it all—do +you see what must have been the temptation +then? We get out here." +</p> +<p> +There were many unanswered questions in +Mr. Grimm's mind. He repressed them for the +time, stepped out and assisted Miss Thorne +to alight. The carriage had turned out of +Pennsylvania Avenue, and at the moment he +didn't quite place himself. A narrow passageway +opened before them—evidently the rear entrance +to a house possibly in the next street. +Miss Thorne led the way unhesitatingly, cautiously +unlocked the door, and together they entered +a hall. Then there was a short flight of +stairs, and they stepped into a room, one of a +suite. She closed the door and turned on the +lights. +</p> +<p> +"The bags of gold are in the next room," she +said with the utmost composure. +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm dragged them out of a dark +closet, opened one—there were ten—and allowed +the coins to dribble through his fingers. Finally +he turned and stared at Miss Thorne, who, pallid +and weary, stood looking on. +</p> +<p> +"Where are we?" he asked. "What house is +this?" +</p> +<p> +"The Venezuelan legation," she answered. +"We are standing less than forty feet from the +safe that was robbed. You see how easy—!" +</p> +<p> +"And whose room?" inquired Mr. Grimm +slowly. +</p> +<p> +"Must I answer?" she asked appealingly. +</p> +<p> +"You must!" +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +"Yes, I know," said Mr. Grimm. +</p> +<p> +He stood looking at her in silence for a moment, +staring deeply into the pleading eyes; +and a certain tense expression about his lips +passed. For an instant her hand trembled on +his arm, and he caught the fragrance of her +hair. +</p> +<p> +"Where is she now?" he asked. +</p> +<p> +"Playing bridge," replied Miss Thorne, with +a sad little smile. "It is always so—at least +twice a week, and she rarely returns before two +or half-past." She extended both hands impetuously, +entreatingly. "Please be generous, +Mr. Grimm. You have the gold; don't destroy +her." +</p> +<p> +Señor Rodriguez, the minister from Venezuela, +found the gold in his safe on the following +morning, with a brief note from Mr. Grimm, in +which there was no explanation of how or where +it had been found.... And two hours later +Monsieur Boisségur, ambassador from France +to the United States, disappeared from the embassy, +vanished! +</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<a name="CH12"><!-- CHAPTER 12 --></a> +<h3> + XII +</h3> + +<h3> +THE VANISHING DIPLOMATIST +</h3> +<p> </p> +<p> +It was three days after the ambassador's +disappearance that Monsieur Rigolot, secretary +of the French embassy and temporary +<i>chargé-d'affaires</i>, reported the matter to +Chief Campbell in the Secret Service Bureau, +adding thereto a detailed statement of several +singular incidents following close upon it. He +told it in order, concisely and to the point, while +Grimm and his chief listened. +</p> +<p> +"Monsieur Boisségur, the ambassador, you +understand, is a man whose habits are remarkably +regular," he began. "He has made it a +rule to be at his desk every morning at ten +o'clock, and between that time and one o'clock +he dictates his correspondence, and clears up +whatever routine work there is before him. I +have known him for many years, and have been +secretary of the embassy under him in Germany +and Japan and this country. I have never +known him to vary this general order of work +unless because of illness, or necessary absence. +</p> +<p> +"Well, Monsieur, last Tuesday—this is Friday—the +ambassador was at his desk as usual. +He dictated a dozen or more letters, and had begun +another—a private letter to his sister in +Paris. He was well along in this letter when, +without any apparent reason, he rose from his +desk and left the room, closing the door behind +him. His stenographer's impression was that +some detail of business had occurred to him, and +he had gone into the general office farther down +the hall to attend to it. I may say, Monsieur, +that this impression seemed strengthened by the +fact that he left a fresh cigarette burning in +his ash tray, and his pen was behind his ear. +It was all as if he had merely stepped out, intending +to return immediately—the sort of +thing, Monsieur, that any man might have done. +</p> +<p> +"It so happened that when he went out he +left a sentence of his letter incomplete. I tell +you this to show that the impulse to go must +have been a sudden one, yet there was nothing +in his manner, so his stenographer says, to indicate +excitement, or any other than his usual +frame of mind. It was about five minutes of +twelve o'clock—high noon—when he went out. +When he didn't return immediately the stenographer +began transcribing the letters. At one +o'clock Monsieur Boisségur still had not returned +and his stenographer went to luncheon." +</p> +<p> +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 regain +control of himself. Incidentally he wondered +if Mr. Grimm was taking the slightest +interest in what he was saying. Certainly there +was nothing in his impassive face to indicate it. +</p> +<p> +"Understand, Monsieur," the secretary continued, +after a moment, "that I knew nothing +whatever of all this until late that afternoon—that +is, Tuesday afternoon about five o'clock. +I was engaged all day upon some important +work in my own office, and had had no occasion +to see Monsieur Boisségur since a word or so +when he came in at ten o'clock. My attention +was called to the affair finally by his stenographer, +Monsieur Netterville, who came to me +for instructions. He had finished the letters and +the ambassador had not returned to sign them. +At this point I began an investigation, Monsieur, +and the further I went the more uneasy I +grew. +</p> +<p> +"Now, Monsieur, there are only two entrances +to the embassy—the front door, where a servant +is in constant attendance from nine in the morning +until ten at night, and the rear door, which +can only be reached through the kitchen. +Neither of the two men who had been stationed +at the front door had seen the ambassador since +breakfast, therefore he could not have gone out +that way. <i>Comprenez</i>? It seemed ridiculous, +Monsieur, but then I went to the kitchen. The +<i>chef</i> had been there all day, and he had not seen +the ambassador at all. I inquired further. No +one in the embassy, not a clerk, nor a servant, +nor a member of the ambassador's family had +seen him since he left his office." +</p> +<p> +Again he paused and ran one hand across his +troubled brow. +</p> +<p> +"Monsieur," he went on, and there was a tense +note in his voice, "the ambassador of France +had disappeared, gone, vanished! We searched +the house from the cellar to the servants' quarters, +even the roof, but there was no trace of +him. The hat he usually wore was in the hall, +and all his other hats were accounted for. You +may remember, Monsieur, that Tuesday was +cold, but all his top-coats were found in their +proper places. So it seems, Monsieur," and repression +ended in a burst of excitement, "if he +left the embassy he did not go out by either +door, and he went without hat or coat!" +</p> +<p> +He stopped helplessly and his gaze alternated +inquiringly between the benevolent face of the +chief and the expressionless countenance of Mr. +Grimm. +</p> +<p> +"<i>If</i> he left the embassy?" Mr. Grimm repeated. +"If your search of the house proved +conclusively that he wasn't there, he <i>did</i> leave +it, didn't he?" +</p> +<p> +Monsieur Rigolot stared at him blankly for +a moment, then nodded. +</p> +<p> +"And there are windows, you know," Mr. +Grimm went on, then: "As I understand it, +Monsieur, no one except you and the stenographer +saw the ambassador after ten o'clock in +the morning?" +</p> +<p> +"<i>Oui, Monsieur. C'est—</i>" Monsieur Rigolot +began excitedly. "I beg pardon. I believe that +is correct." +</p> +<p> +"You saw him about ten, you say; therefore no +one except the stenographer saw him after ten +o'clock?" +</p> +<p> +"That is also true, as far as I know." +</p> +<p> +"Any callers? Letters? Telegrams? Telephone +messages?" +</p> +<p> +"I made inquiries in that direction, Monsieur," +was the reply. "I have the words of the +servants at the door and of the stenographer +that there were no callers, and the statement of +the stenographer that there were no telephone +calls or telegrams. There were only four letters +for him personally. He left them all on his +desk—here they are." +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm looked them over leisurely. They +were commonplace enough, containing nothing +that might be construed into a reason for the +disappearance. +</p> +<p> +"The letters Monsieur Boisségur had dictated +were laid on his desk by the stenographer," +Monsieur Rigolot rushed on volubly, excitedly. +"In the anxiety and uneasiness following the +disappearance they were allowed to remain there +overnight. On Wednesday morning, Monsieur"—and +he hesitated impressively—"<i>those +letters bore his signature in his own handwriting</i>!" +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm turned his listless eyes full upon +Monsieur Rigolot's perturbed face for one scant +instant. +</p> +<p> +"No doubt of it being his signature?" he +queried. +</p> +<p> +"<i>Non, Monsieur, non!</i>" the secretary exclaimed +emphatically. "<i>Vous avez</i>—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 at copies of +them?" +</p> +<p> +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. Grimm nodded, +and Monsieur Rigolot resumed: +</p> +<p> +"And Wednesday night, Monsieur, another +strange thing happened. Monsieur Boisségur +smokes many cigarettes, of a kind made especially +for him in France, and shipped to him +here. He keeps them in a case on his dressing-table. +On Thursday morning his valet reported +to me that <i>this case of cigarettes had disappeared</i>!" +</p> +<p> +"Of course," observed Mr. Grimm, "Monsieur +Boisségur has a latch-key to the embassy?" +</p> +<p> +"Of course." +</p> +<p> +"Anything unusual happen last night—that +is, Thursday night?" +</p> +<p> +"Nothing, Monsieur—that is, nothing we can +find." +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm was silent for a time and fell to +twisting the seal ring on his finger. Mr. Campbell +turned around and moved a paper weight +one inch to the left, where it belonged, while +Monsieur Rigolot, disappointed at their amazing +apathy, squirmed uneasily in his chair. +</p> +<p> +"It would appear, then," Mr. Grimm remarked +musingly, "that after his mysterious +disappearance the ambassador has either twice +returned to his house at night, or else sent some +one there, first to bring the letters to him for +signature, and later to get his cigarettes?" +</p> +<p> +"<i>Certainement, Monsieur</i>—I mean, that seems +to be true. But where is he? Why should he +not come back? What does it mean? Madame +Boisségur is frantic, prostrated! She wanted +me to go to the police, but I did not think it +wise that it should become public, so I came +here." +</p> +<p> +"Very well," commented Mr. Grimm. "Let +it rest as it is. Meanwhile you may reassure +madame. Point out to her that if Monsieur +Boisségur signed the letters Tuesday night he +was, at least, alive; and if he came or sent for +the cigarettes Wednesday night, he was still +alive. I shall call at the embassy this afternoon. +No, it isn't advisable to go with you now. +Give me your latch-key, please." +</p> +<p> +Monsieur Rigolot produced the key and +passed it over without a word. +</p> +<p> +"And one other thing," Mr. Grimm continued, +"please collect all the revolvers that may be in +the house and take charge of them yourself. If +any one, by chance, heard a burglar prowling +around there to-night he might shoot, and in +that event either kill Monsieur Boisségur or—or +me!" +</p> +<p> +When the secretary had gone Mr. Campbell +idly drummed on his desk as he studied the face +of his subordinate. +</p> +<p> +"So much!" he commented finally. +</p> +<p> +"It's Miss Thorne again," said the young +man as if answering a question. +</p> +<p> +"Perhaps these reports I have received to-day +from the Latin capitals may aid you in dispelling +that mystery," Campbell suggested, and +Mr. Grimm turned to them eagerly. "Meanwhile +our royal visitor, Prince Benedetto d'Abruzzi, +remains unknown?" +</p> +<p> +The young man's teeth closed with a snap. +</p> +<p> +"It's only a question of time, Chief," he said +abruptly. "I'll find him—I'll find him!" +</p> +<p> +And he sat down to read the reports. +</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<a name="CH13"><!-- CHAPTER 13 --></a> +<h3> + XIII +</h3> + +<h3> +A CONFERENCE IN THE DARK +</h3> +<p> </p> +<p> +The white rays of a distant arc light +filtered through the half-drawn velvet +hangings and laid a faintly illumined +path across the ambassador's desk; the heavy +leather chairs were mere impalpable splotches +in the shadows; the cut-glass knobs of a mahogany +cabinet caught the glint of light and +reflected it dimly. Outside was the vague, indefinable +night drone of a city asleep, unbroken +by any sound that was distinguishable, until +finally there came the distant boom of a clock. +It struck twice. +</p> +<p> +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 +on the seat, thoughtfully nursing his knees. If +his attitude indicated anything except sheer +comfort, it was that he was listening. He had +been there for two hours, wide-awake, and absolutely +motionless. Five, ten, fifteen minutes +more passed, and then Mr. Grimm heard the +grind and whir of an automobile a block or so +away, coming toward the embassy. Now it was +in front. +</p> +<p> +"Honk! Hon-on-onk!" it called plaintively. +"Hon-on-onk! Honk!" +</p> +<p> +The signal! At last! The automobile went +rushing on, full tilt, while Mr. Grimm removed +his feet from the seat and dropped them noiselessly +to the floor. Thus, with his hands on his +knees, and listening, listening with every faculty +strained, he sat motionless, peering toward the +open door that led into the hall. The car was +gone now, the sound of it was swallowed up in +the distance, still he sat there. It was obviously +some noise in the house for which he was waiting. +</p> +<p> +Minute after minute passed, and still nothing. +There was not even the whisper 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, the electric lights in +the room blazed up brilliantly. The glare dazzled +Mr. Grimm with its blinding flood, but he +didn't move. Then softly, almost in a whisper: +</p> +<p> +"Good evening, Mr. Grimm." +</p> +<p> +It was a woman's voice, pleasant, unsurprised, +perfectly modulated. Mr. Grimm certainly did +not expect it now, but he knew it instantly—there +was not another quite like it in the wide, +wide world—and though he was still blinking +a little, he came to his feet courteously. +</p> +<p> +"Good morning, Miss Thorne," he corrected +gravely. +</p> +<p> +Now his vision was clearing, and he saw her, +a graceful figure, silhouetted against the rich +green of the wall draperies. Her lips were +curled the least bit, as if she might have been +smiling, and her wonderful eyes reflected a glint +of—of—was it amusement? The folds of her +evening dress fell away from her, and one bare, +white arm was extended, as her hand still rested +on the switch. +</p> +<p> +"And you didn't hear me?" still in the half +whisper. "I didn't think you would. Now I'm +going to put out the lights for an instant, while +you pull the shades down, and then—then we +must have a—a conference." +</p> +<p> +The switch snapped. The lights died as suddenly +as they had been born, and Mr. Grimm, +moving noiselessly, visited each of the four windows +in turn. Then the lights blazed brilliantly +again. +</p> +<p> +"Just for a moment," Miss Thorne explained +to him quietly, and she handed him a sheet of +paper. "I want you to read this—read it carefully—then +I shall turn out the lights again. +They are dangerous. After that we may discuss +the matter at our leisure." +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm read the paper while Miss +Thorne's eyes questioned his impassive face. At +length he looked up indolently, listlessly, and +the switch snapped. She crossed the room and +sat down; Mr. Grimm sat beside her. +</p> +<p> +"I think," Miss Thorne suggested tentatively, +"that that accounts perfectly for Monsieur +Boisségur's disappearance." +</p> +<p> +"It gives one explanation, at least," Mr. +Grimm assented musingly. "Kidnapped—held +prisoner—fifty thousand dollars demanded for +his safety and release." A pause. "And to +whom, may I ask, was this demand addressed?" +</p> +<p> +"To Madame Boisségur," replied Miss +Thorne. "I have the envelope in which it came. +It was mailed at the general post-office at half-past +one o'clock this afternoon, so the canceling +stamp shows, and the envelope was addressed, as +the letter was written, on a typewriter." +</p> +<p> +"And how," inquired Mr. Grimm, after a long +pause, "how did it come into your possession?" +He waited a little. "Why didn't Monsieur Rigolot +report this development to me this afternoon +when I was here?" +</p> +<p> +"Monsieur Rigolot did not inform you of it +because he didn't know of it himself," she replied, +answering the last question first. "It +came into my possession directly from the hands +of Madame Boisségur—she gave it to me." +</p> +<p> +"Why?" +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm was peering through the inscrutable +darkness, straight into her face—a white +daub in the gloom, shapeless, indistinct. +</p> +<p> +"I have known Madame Boisségur for half a +dozen years," Miss Thorne continued, in explanation. +"We have been friends that long. +I met her first in Tokio, later in Berlin, and +within a few weeks, here in Washington. You +see I have traveled in the time I have been an +agent for my government. Well, Madame Boisségur +received this letter about half-past four +o'clock this afternoon; and about half-past five +she sent for me and placed it in my hands, together +with all the singular details following +upon the ambassador's disappearance. So, it +would seem that you and I are allies for this +once, and the problem is already solved. There +merely remains the task of finding and releasing +the ambassador." +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm sat perfectly still. +</p> +<p> +"And why," he asked slowly, "are you here +now?" +</p> +<p> +"For the same reason that you are here," she +replied readily, "to see for myself if the—the +person who twice came here at night—once for +the ambassador's letters and once for his cigarettes—would, +by any chance, make another +trip. I knew you were here, of course." +</p> +<p> +"You knew I was here," repeated Mr. Grimm +musingly. "And, may I—?" +</p> +<p> +"Just as you knew that I, or some one, at +least, had entered this house a few minutes ago," +she interrupted. "The automobile horn outside +was a signal, wasn't it? Hastings was in the +car? Or was it Blair or Johnson?" +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm did not say. +</p> +<p> +"Didn't you anticipate any personal danger +when you entered?" he queried instead. +"Weren't you afraid I might shoot?" +</p> +<p> +"No." +</p> +<p> +There was a long silence. Mr. Grimm still +sat with his elbows on his knees, staring, staring +at the vague white splotch which was Miss +Thorne's face and bare neck. One of her white +arms hung at her side like a pallid serpent, and +her hand was at rest on the seat of the couch. +</p> +<p> +"It seems, Miss Thorne," he said at length, +casually, quite casually, "that our paths of duty +are inextricably tangled. Twice previously we +have 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 by side toward +a conclusion. I am wondering now if this +singular affair will take a similar course." +</p> +<p> +He paused. Miss Thorne started to speak, +but he silenced her with a slight gesture of his +hand. +</p> +<p> +"It is only fair to you to say that we—that +is, the Secret Service—have learned many things +about you," he resumed in the same casual tone. +"We have, through our foreign agents, traced +you step by step from Rome to Washington. +We know that you are, in a way, a representative +of a sovereign of Europe; we know that +you were on a secret mission to the Spanish +court, perhaps for this sovereign, and remained +in Madrid for a month; we know that from there +you went to Paris, also on a secret mission—perhaps +the same—and remained there for three +weeks; we know that you met diplomatic agents +of those governments later in London. We +know all this; we know the manner of your coming +to this country; of your coming to Washington. +But we don't know <i>why</i> you are here." +</p> +<p> +Again she started to speak, and again he +stopped her. +</p> +<p> +"We don't know your name, but that is of no +consequence. We <i>do</i> know that in Spain you +were Señora Cassavant, in Paris Mademoiselle +d'Aubinon, in London Miss Jane Kellog, and here +Miss Isabel Thorne. We realize that exigencies +arise in your calling, and mine, which make +changes of name desirable, necessary even, and +there is no criticism of that. Now as the representative +of your government—rather <i>a</i> government—you +have a right to be here, although unaccredited; +you have a right to remain here as +long as your acts are consistent with our laws; +you have a right to your secrets as long as they +do not, directly or indirectly, threaten the welfare +of this country. Now, why are you here?" +</p> +<p> +He received no answer; he expected none. +After a moment he went on: +</p> +<p> +"Admitting that you are a secret agent of +Italy, admitting everything that you claim to +be, you haven't convinced me that you are not +the person who came here for the letters and +cigarettes. You have said nothing to prove to +my satisfaction that you are not the individual +I was waiting for to-night." +</p> +<p> +"You don't mean that you suspect—?" she +began in a tone of amazement. +</p> +<p> +"I don't mean that I suspect anything," he +interposed. "I mean merely that you haven't +convinced me. There's nothing inconsistent in +the fact that you are what you say you are, and +that in spite of that, you came to-night for—" +</p> +<p> +He was interrupted by a laugh, a throaty, +silvery note that he remembered well. His idle +hands closed spasmodically, only to be instantly +relaxed. +</p> +<p> +"Suppose, Mr. Grimm, I should tell you that +immediately after Madame Boisségur placed the +matter in my hands this afternoon I went +straight to 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 on being informed that you were out—remember +I knew you were on the case from +Madame Boisségur—would that indicate anything +except that I wanted to put the matter +squarely before you, and work with you?" +</p> +<p> +"We will suppose that much," Mr. Grimm +agreed. +</p> +<p> +"That is a statement of fact," Miss Thorne +added. "My card, which you will find at your +office, will show that. And when I left your +office I went to the hotel where you live, with the +same purpose. You were not there, and I left +a card for you. And <i>that</i> is a statement of fact. +It was not difficult, owing to the extraordinary +circumstances, to imagine that you would be +here to-night—just as you are—and I came +here. My purpose, still, was to inform you of +what I knew, and work with you. Does that +convince you?" +</p> +<p> +"And how did you enter the embassy?" Mr. +Grimm persisted. +</p> +<p> +"Not with a latch-key, as you did," she replied. +"Madame Boisségur, at my suggestion, +left the French window in the hall there unfastened, +and I came in that way—the way, I +may add, that <i>Monsieur l'Ambassadeur</i> went out +when he disappeared." +</p> +<p> +"Very well!" commented Mr. Grimm, and +finally: "I think, perhaps, I owe you an apology, +Miss Thorne—another one. The circumstances +now, as they were at our previous meetings, +are so unusual that—is it necessary to go +on?" There was a certain growing deference +in his tone. "I wonder if you account for Monsieur +Boisségur's disappearance as I do?" he +inquired. +</p> +<p> +"I dare say," and Miss Thorne leaned toward +him with sudden eagerness in her manner and +voice. "Your theory is—?" she questioned. +</p> +<p> +"If we believe the servants we know that Monsieur +Boisségur did not go out either by the +front door or rear," Mr. Grimm explained. +"That being true the French window by which +you entered seems to have been the way." +</p> +<p> +"Yes, yes," Miss Thorne interpolated. "And +the circumstances attending the disappearance? +How do you account for the fact that he went, +evidently of his own will?" +</p> +<p> +"Precisely as you must account for it if you +have studied the situation here as I have," responded +Mr. Grimm. "For instance, sitting at +his desk there"—and he turned to indicate it—"he +could readily see out the windows overlooking +the street. There is only a narrow strip of +lawn between the house and the sidewalk. Now, +if some one on the sidewalk, or—or—" +</p> +<p> +"In a carriage?" promptly suggested Miss +Thorne. +</p> +<p> +"Or in a carriage," Mr. Grimm supplemented, +"had attracted his attention—some one he knew—it +is not at all unlikely that he rose, for no +apparent reason, as he did do, passed along the +hall—" +</p> +<p> +"And through the French window, across the +lawn to the carriage, and not a person in the +house would have seen him go out? Precisely! +There seems no doubt that was the way," she +mused. "And, of course, he must have entered +the carriage of his own free will?" +</p> +<p> +"In other words, on some pretext or other, he +was lured in, then made prisoner, and—!" +</p> +<p> +He paused suddenly and his hand met Miss +Thorne's warningly. The silence of the night +was broken by the violent clatter of footsteps, +apparently approaching the embassy. The +noise was unmistakable—some one was running. +</p> +<p> +"The window!" Miss Thorne whispered. +</p> +<p> +She rose quickly and started to cross the +room, to look out; Mr. Grimm sat motionless, +listening. An instant later and there came a +tremendous crash of glass—the French window +in the hallway by the sound—then rapid footsteps, +still running, along the hall. Mr. Grimm +moved toward the door unruffled, perfectly self-possessed; +there was only a narrowing of his +eyes at the abruptness and clatter of it all. And +then the electric lights in the hall flashed up. +</p> +<p> +Before Mr. Grimm stood a man, framed by +the doorway, staring unseeingly into the darkened +room. His face was haggard and white +as death; his mouth agape as if from exertion, +and the lips bloodless; his eyes were widely distended +as if from fright—clothing disarranged, +collar unfastened and dangling. +</p> +<p> +"The ambassador!" Miss Thorne whispered +thrillingly. +</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<a name="CH14"><!-- CHAPTER 14 --></a> +<h3> + XIV +</h3> + +<h3> +A RESCUE AND AN ESCAPE +</h3> +<p> </p> +<p> +Miss Thorne's voice startled Mr. Grimm a little, +but he had no doubts. It was Monsieur Boisségur. Mr. +Grimm was going toward the enframed figure +when, without any apparent reason, the ambassador +turned and ran along the hall; and at +that instant the lights went out again. For one +moment Grimm stood still, dazed and blinded by +the sudden blackness, and again he started toward +the door. Miss Thorne was beside him. +</p> +<p> +"The lights!" he whispered tensely. "Find +the switch!" +</p> +<p> +He heard the rustle of her skirts as she moved +away, and stepped out into the hall, feeling with +both his hands along the wall. A few feet +away, in the direction the ambassador had gone, +there seemed to be a violent struggle in progress—there +was the scuffling of feet, and quick-drawn +breaths as muscle strained against muscle. +The lights! If he could only find the switch! +Then, as his hands moved along the wall, they +came in contact with another hand—a hand +pressed firmly against the plastering, barring +his progress. A light blow in the face caused +him to step back quickly. +</p> +<p> +The scuffling sound suddenly resolved itself +into moving footsteps, and the front door +opened and closed with a bang. Mr. Grimm's +listless eyes snapped, and his white teeth came +together sharply as he started toward the front +door. But fate seemed to be against him still. +He stumbled over a chair, and his own impetus +forward sent him sprawling; his head struck the +wall with a resounding whack; and then, over +the house, came utter silence. From outside he +heard the clatter of a cab. Finally that died +away in the distance. +</p> +<p> +"Miss Thorne?" he inquired quietly. +</p> +<p> +"I'm here," she answered in a despairing +voice. "But I can't find the switch." +</p> +<p> +"Are you hurt?" +</p> +<p> +"No." +</p> +<p> +And then she found the switch; the lights +flared up. Mr. Grimm was sitting thoughtfully +on the floor. +</p> +<p> +"That simplifies the matter considerably," he +observed complacently, as he rose. "The men +who signaled to me when you entered the embassy +will never let that cab get out of their +sight." +</p> +<p> +Miss Thorne stood leaning forward a little, +eagerly gazing at him with those wonderful +blue-gray eyes, and an expression of—of—perhaps +it was admiration on her face. +</p> +<p> +"Are you sure?" she demanded, at last. +</p> +<p> +"I know it," was his response. +</p> +<p> +And just then Monsieur Rigolot, secretary of +the embassy, thrust an inquisitive head timidly +around the corner of the stairs. The crash of +glass had aroused him. +</p> +<p> +"What happened?" he asked breathlessly. +</p> +<p> +"We don't know just yet," replied Mr. +Grimm. "If the noise aroused any one else +please assure them that there's nothing the matter. +And you might inform Madame Boisségur +that the ambassador will return home to-morrow. +Good night!" +</p> +<p> +At his hotel, when he reached there, Mr. +Grimm found Miss Thorne's card—and he drew +a long breath; at his office he found another of +her cards, and he drew another long breath. He +did like corroborative details, did Mr. Grimm, +and, of course, this—! On the following day +Miss Thorne accompanied him to Alexandria, +and they were driven in a closed carriage out +toward the western edge of the city. Finally +the carriage stopped at a signal from Mr. +Grimm, and he assisted Miss Thorne out, after +which he turned and spoke to some one remaining +inside—a man. +</p> +<p> +"The house is two blocks west, along that +street there," he explained, and he indicated an +intersecting thoroughfare just ahead. "It is +number ninety-seven. Five minutes after we +enter you will drive up in front of the door and +wait. If we don't return in fifteen minutes—come +in after us!" +</p> +<p> +"Do you anticipate danger?" Miss Thorne +queried quickly. +</p> +<p> +"If I had anticipated danger," replied Mr. +Grimm, "I should not have permitted you to +come with me." +</p> +<p> +They entered the house—number ninety-seven—with +a key which Mr. Grimm produced, and +a minute or so later walked into a room where +three men were sitting. One of them was of a +coarse, repulsive type, large and heavy; another +rather dapper, of superficial polish, evidently a +foreigner, and the third—the third was Ambassador +Boisségur! +</p> +<p> +"Good morning, gentlemen!" Mr. Grimm +greeted them, then ceremoniously: "Monsieur +Boisségur, your carriage is at the door." +</p> +<p> +The three men came to their feet instantly, +and one of them—he of the heavy face—drew +a revolver. Mr. Grimm faced him placidly. +</p> +<p> +"Do you know what would happen to you if +you killed me?" he inquired pleasantly. "You +wouldn't live three minutes. Do you imagine I +came in here blindly? There are a dozen men +guarding the entrances to the house—a pistol +shot would bring them in. Put down the gun!" +</p> +<p> +Eyes challenged eyes for one long tense instant, +and the man carefully laid the weapon on +the table. Mr. Grimm strolled over and picked +it up, after which he glanced inquiringly at the +other man—the ambassador's second guard. +</p> +<p> +"And you are the gentleman, I dare say, who +made the necessary trips to the ambassador's +house, probably using his latch-key?" he remarked +interrogatively. "First for the letters +to be signed, and again for the cigarettes?" +</p> +<p> +There was no answer and Mr. Grimm turned +questioningly to Monsieur Boisségur, silent, +white of face, motionless. +</p> +<p> +"Yes, Monsieur," the ambassador burst out +suddenly. His eyes were fixed unwaveringly on +Miss Thorne. +</p> +<p> +"And your escape, Monsieur?" continued Mr. +Grimm. +</p> +<p> +"I did escape, Monsieur, last night," the ambassador +explained, "but they knew it immediately—they +pursued me into my own house, +these two and another—and dragged me back +here! <i>Mon Dieu, Monsieur, c'est—!</i>" +</p> +<p> +"That's all that's necessary," remarked Mr. +Grimm. "You are free to go now." +</p> +<p> +"But there are others," Monsieur Boisségur +interposed desperately, "two more somewhere below, +and they will not allow—they will attack—!" +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm's listless eyes narrowed slightly +and he turned to Miss Thorne. She was a little +white, but he saw enough in her face to satisfy +him. +</p> +<p> +"I shall escort Monsieur Boisségur to his carriage, +Miss Thorne," he said calmly. "These +men will remain here until I return. Take the +revolver. If either of them so much as wags his +head—<i>shoot</i>! You are not—not afraid?" +</p> +<p> +"No." She smiled faintly. "I am not +afraid." +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm and the ambassador went down +the stairs, and out the front door. Mr. Grimm +was just turning to reenter the house when +from above came a muffled, venomous cra-as-ash!—a +shot! He took the steps going up, 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 stood open; and +the clatter of footsteps echoed through the +house. +</p> +<p> +"One of them leaped at me and I fired," she +gasped in explanation. "He struck me, but I'm—I'm +not hurt." +</p> +<p> +She stooped quickly, picked up the revolver +and made as if to follow the dying footsteps. +Mr. Grimm stopped her. +</p> +<p> +"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 +should never have consented to allow you—" +</p> +<p> +"I understand," she interrupted, and for one +instant her outstretched hand rested on his arm. +"The ambassador?" +</p> +<p> +"Perfectly safe," responded Mr. Grimm. +"Two of my men are with him." +</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<a name="CH15"><!-- CHAPTER 15 --></a> +<h3> + XV +</h3> + +<h3> +MASTER OF THE SITUATION +</h3> +<p> </p> +<p> +As the women rose and started out, leaving +the gentlemen over their coffee and +cigars, Miss Thorne paused at the door +and the blue-gray eyes flashed some subtle message +to the French ambassador who, after an +instant, nodded comprehendingly, then resumed +his conversation. As he left the room a few +minutes later he noticed that Mr. Grimm had +joined a group of automaniacs of which Mr. +Cadwallader was the enthusiastic center. 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 beside her. She +greeted him with a smile and was still smiling +as she talked. +</p> +<p> +"I believe, Monsieur," she said in French, +"you sent a code message to the cable office this +afternoon?" +</p> +<p> +His eyes questioned hers quickly. +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +"Yes, I sent a code message," he replied. +</p> +<p> +"It was your resignation?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes." +</p> +<p> +"Well, it wasn't sent, of course," she informed +him, and her eyes were sparkling as if something +amusing had been said. "One of my agents +stopped it. I may add that it will not be sent." +</p> +<p> +The ambassador's eyes grew steely, then +blank again. +</p> +<p> +"Mademoiselle, what am I to understand from +that?" he demanded. +</p> +<p> +"You are to understand that I am absolute +master of the situation in Washington at this +moment," she replied positively. The smile on +her lips and the tone of her voice were strangely +at variance. "From the beginning I let you understand +that ultimately you would receive your +instructions from Paris; now I know they will +reach you by cable to-morrow. Within a week +the compact will be signed. Whether you approve +of it or not it will be signed for your +country by a special envoy whose authority is +greater than yours—his Highness, the Prince +Benedetto d'Abruzzi." +</p> +<p> +"Has he reached Washington?" +</p> +<p> +"He is in Washington. He has been here for +some time, incognito." She was 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 been comfortably +kept out in Alexandria where Mr. Grimm and I +found you. Please remember, Monsieur, that +we will accomplish what we set out to do. Nothing +can stop us—nothing." +</p> +<p> +At just about the same moment the name of +Prince d'Abruzzi had been used in the dining-room, +but in a different connection. Mr. Cadwallader +was reciting some incident of an automobile +trip in Italy when he had been connected +with the British embassy there. +</p> +<p> +"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 +of thing. He was one scion of royalty who +didn't mind soiling his hands by diving in under +a car and fixing it himself. At that time he +was inclined to be wild—that was eight or nine +years ago—but they say now he has settled +down to work, and is one of the real diplomatic +powers of Italy. I haven't seen him for a half +dozen years." +</p> +<p> +"How old a man is he?" asked Mr. Grimm +carelessly. +</p> +<p> +"Thirty-five, thirty-eight, perhaps; I don't +know," replied Mr. Cadwallader. "It's odd, you +know, the number of princes and blue-bloods +and all that sort of thing one can find knocking +about in Italy and Germany and Spain. One +never hears of half of them. I never had heard +of the Prince d'Abruzzi until I went to Italy, +and I've heard jolly well little of him since, except +indirectly." +</p> +<p> +Mr. Cadwallader lapsed into silence as he sat +staring at a large group photograph which +was framed on a wall of the dining-room. +</p> +<p> +"Isn't that the royal family of Italy?" he +asked. He rose and went over to it. "By Jove, +it is, and here is the prince in the group. The +picture was taken, I should say, about the time I +knew him." +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm strolled over idly and stood for a +long time staring at the photograph. +</p> +<p> +"He can drive a motor, you know," said Mr. +Cadwallader admiringly. "And Italy is the +place to drive them. They forgot to make any +speed laws over there, and if a chap gets in your +way and you knock him silly they arrest him +for obstructing traffic, you know. Over here if +a chap really starts to go any place in a hurry +some bally idiot holds him up." +</p> +<p> +"Have you ever been held up?" queried Mr. +Grimm. +</p> +<p> +"No, but I expect to be every day," was the +reply. "I've got a new motor, you know, and +I've never been able to see how fast it is. The +other evening I ran up to Baltimore with it in +an hour and thirty-seven minutes from Alexandria +to Druid Hill Park, and that's better than +forty miles. I never did let the motor out, you +know, because we ran in the dark most of the +way." +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm was still gazing at the photograph. +</p> +<p> +"Did you go alone?" he asked. +</p> +<p> +"There's no fun motoring alone, you know. +Señorita Rodriguez was with me. Charming +girl, what?" +</p> +<p> +A little while later Mr. Grimm sauntered out +into the drawing-room and made his way toward +Miss Thorne and the French ambassador. Monsieur +Boisségur rose, and offered his hand cordially. +</p> +<p> +"I hope, Monsieur," said Mr. Grimm, "that +you are no worse off for your—your unpleasant +experience?" +</p> +<p> +"Not at all, thanks to you," was the reply. +"I have just thanked Miss Thorne for her part +in the affair, and—" +</p> +<p> +"I'm glad to have been of service," interrupted +Mr. Grimm lightly. +</p> +<p> +The ambassador bowed ceremoniously and +moved away. Mr. Grimm dropped into the seat +he had just left. +</p> +<p> +"You've left the legation, haven't you?" he +asked. +</p> +<p> +"You drove me out," she laughed. +</p> +<p> +"Drove you out?" he repeated. "Drove you +out?" +</p> +<p> +"Why, it was not only uncomfortable, but it +was rather conspicuous because of the constant +espionage of your Mr. Blair and your Mr. +Johnson and your Mr. Hastings," she explained, +still laughing. "So I have moved to +the Hotel Hilliard." +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm was twisting the seal ring on his +little finger. +</p> +<p> +"I'm sorry if I've made it uncomfortable for +you," he apologized. "You see it's necessary +to—" +</p> +<p> +"No explanation," Miss Thorne interrupted. +"I understand." +</p> +<p> +"I'm glad you do," he replied seriously. +"How long do you intend to remain in the city?" +</p> +<p> +"Really I don't know—two, three, four weeks, +perhaps. Why?" +</p> +<p> +"I was just wondering." +</p> +<p> +Señorita Rodriguez came toward them. +</p> +<p> +"We're going to play bridge," she said, "and +we need you, Isabel, to make the four. Come. +I hate to take her away, Mr. Grimm." +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm and Miss Thorne rose together. +For an instant her slim white hand rested on +Mr. Grimm's sleeve and she stared into his eyes +understandingly with a little of melancholy in +her own. They left Mr. Grimm there. +</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<a name="CH16"><!-- CHAPTER 16 --></a> +<h3> + XVI +</h3> + +<h3> +LETTERS FROM JAIL +</h3> +<p> </p> +<p> +For two weeks Signor Pietro Petrozinni, +known to the Secret Service as an unaccredited +agent of the Italian government, +and the self-confessed assailant of Señor +Alvarez of the Mexican legation, had been taking +his ease in a cell. He had been formally arraigned +and committed without bail to await +the result of the bullet wound which had been +inflicted upon the diplomatist from Mexico at +the German Embassy Ball, and, since then, undisturbed +and apparently careless of the outcome, +he had spent his time in reading and +smoking. He had answered questions with only +a curt yes or no when he deigned to answer them +at all; and there had been no callers or inquiries +for him. He had abruptly declined a suggestion +of counsel. +</p> +<p> +Twice each day, morning and night, he had +asked a question of the jailer who brought his +simple meals. +</p> +<p> +"How is Señor Alvarez?" +</p> +<p> +"He is still in a critical condition." The answer +was always the same. +</p> +<p> +Whereupon the secret agent would return to +his reading with not a shadow of uneasiness or +concern on his face. +</p> +<p> +Occasionally there came a courteous little note +from Miss Thorne, which he read without +emotion, afterward casting them aside or tearing +them up. He never answered them. And +then one day there came another note which, for +no apparent reason, seemed to stir him from his +lethargy. Outwardly it was like all the others, +but when Signor Petrozinni scanned the sheet +his eyes lighted strangely, and he stood staring +down at it as though to hide a sudden change of +expression in his face. His gaze was concentrated +on two small splotches of ink where, it +seemed, the pen had scratched as Miss Thorne +signed her name. +</p> +<p> +The guard stood at the barred door for a moment, +then started to turn away. The prisoner +stopped him with a quick gesture. +</p> +<p> +"Oh, Guard, may I have a glass of milk, +please?" he asked. "No ice. I prefer it tepid." +</p> +<p> +He thrust a small coin between the bars; the +guard accepted it and passed on. Then, still +standing at the door, the prisoner read the note +again: +</p> +<blockquote><p>"MY DEAR FRIEND: +</p> +<p> +"I understand, from an indirect source, that +there has been a marked improvement in Señor +Alvarez's condition, and I am hastening to send +you the good news. There is every hope that +within a short while, if he continues to improve, +we can arrange a bail bond, and you will be free +until the time of trial anyway. +</p> +<p> +"Might it not be well for you to consult an +attorney at once? Drop me a line to let me +know you received this. +</p> +<p> +"Sincerely, +</p> +<p> +"ISABEL THORNE."</p></blockquote> +<p> +Finally the prisoner tossed the note on a tiny +table in a corner of his cell, and resumed his +reading. After a time the guard returned with +the milk. +</p> +<p> +"Would it be against the rules for me to write +an answer to this?" queried Signor Petrozinni, +and he indicated the note. +</p> +<p> +"Certainly not," was the reply. +</p> +<p> +"If I might trouble you, then, for pen and ink +and paper?" suggested the signor and he smiled +a little. "Believe me, I would prefer to get them +for myself." +</p> +<p> +"I guess that's right," the guard grinned +good-naturedly. +</p> +<p> +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 +twice and permitted the light to die. After a +little there came again the clatter of the guard's +feet on the cement pavement, and the writing +materials were thrust through the bars. +</p> +<p> +"Thank you," said the prisoner. +</p> +<p> +The guard went on, with a nod, and a moment +later the signor heard the clangor 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 a long time, then rose and +noiselessly approached the cell door. Again +he listened intently, after which he resumed his +seat. He tossed away the cigarette he had and +lighted a fresh one, afterward holding the note +over the flame of the match. Here and there, +where the paper charred in the heat, a letter or +word stood out from the bare whiteness of the +paper, and finally, a message complete appeared +between the innocuous ink-written lines. The +prisoner read it greedily: +</p> +<blockquote><p>"Am privately informed there is little chance +of Alvarez's recovery. Shall I arrange escape +for you, or have ambassador intercede? Would +advise former, as the other might take months, +and meeting to sign treaty alliance would be +dangerously delayed."</p></blockquote> +<p> +Signor Petrozinni permitted the sputtering +flame to ignite the paper, and thoughtfully +watched the blaze destroy it. The last tiny +scrap dropped on the floor, burned out, and he +crushed the ashes under his heel. Then he began +to write: +</p> +<blockquote><p>"My Dear Miss Thorne: +</p> +<p> +"Many thanks for your courteous little note. +I am delighted to know of the improvement in +Señor Alvarez's condition. I had hoped that my +impulsive act in shooting him would not end in +a tragedy. Please keep me informed of any +further change in his condition. As yet I do +not see the necessity of consulting an attorney, +but later I may be compelled to do so. +</p> +<p> +"Respectfully, +</p> +<p> +"Pietro Petrozinni."</p></blockquote> +<p> +This done the secret agent carefully cleaned +the ink from the pen, wiping it dry with his +handkerchief, then thrust it into the half empty +glass of milk. The fluid clung to the steel nib +thinly; he went on writing with it, between the +lines of ink: +</p> +<blockquote><p>"I am in no danger. I hold credentials to +United States, which, when presented, will make +me responsible only to the Italian government +as special envoy, according to international law. +Arrange escape for one week from to-night; +use any money necessary. Make careful arrangements +for the test and signing of compact for +two nights after."</p></blockquote> +<p> +Again the prisoner cleaned the steel nib, after +which he put it back in the bottle of ink, leaving +it there. He waved the sheet of paper back and +forth to dry it, and at last scrutinized it minutely, +standing under the light from the high-up +window of his cell. Letter by letter the milk +evaporated, leaving the sheet perfectly clean +and white except for the ink-written message. +This sheet he folded, placed in an envelope, and +addressed. +</p> +<p> +Later the guard passed along the corridor, +and Signor Petrozinni thrust the letter out to +him. +</p> +<p> +"Be good enough to post that, please," he requested. +"It isn't sealed. I don't know if your +prison rules require you to read the letters that +go out. If so, read it, or have it read, then +seal it." +</p> +<p> +For answer the guard dampened the flap of +the envelope, sealed it, thrust it into his pocket +and passed on. The secret agent sat down again, +and sipped his milk meditatively. +</p> +<p> +One hour later Mr. Grimm, accompanied by +Johnson, came out of a photographer's dark +room in Pennsylvania Avenue with a developed +negative which he set on a rack to dry. At the +end of another hour he was sitting at his desk +studying, under a magnifying glass, a finished +print of the negative. Word by word he was +writing on a slip of paper what his magnifying +glass gave him and so, curiously enough, it came +to pass that Miss Thorne and Chief Campbell +of the Secret Service were reading the hidden, +milk-written message at almost the identical moment. +</p> +<p> +"Johnson got Petrozinni's letter from the +postman," Mr. Grimm was explaining. "I +opened it, photographed it, sealed it again and +remailed it. There was not more than half an +hour's delay; and Miss Thorne can not possibly +know of it." He paused a moment. "It's an +odd thing that writing such as that is absolutely +invisible to the naked eye, and yet when photographed +becomes decipherable in the negative." +</p> +<p> +"What do you make of it?" Mr. Campbell +asked. The guileless blue eyes were alive with +eagerness. +</p> +<p> +"Well, he's right, of course, about not being +in danger," said Mr. Grimm. "If he came with +credentials as special envoy this government +must respect them, even if Señor Alvarez dies, +and leave it to his own government to punish +him. If we were officially aware that he has +such credentials I doubt if we would have the +right to keep him confined; we would merely +have to hand him over to the Italian embassy +and demand his punishment. And, of course, all +that makes him more dangerous than ever." +</p> +<p> +"Yes, I know that," said the chief a little impatiently. +"But who is this man?" +</p> +<p> +"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 +found him." +</p> +<p> +Mr. Campbell's clock-like brain ticked over the +situation in detail. +</p> +<p> +"It's like this," Mr. Grimm elucidated. "He +has credentials which he knows will free him if +he is forced to present them, but I imagine they +were given to him more for protection in an +emergency like this than for introducing him to +our government. As the matter stands he can't +afford to discover himself by using those credentials, +and yet, if the Latin compact is signed, +he must be free. Remember, too, that he is accredited +from three countries—Italy, France +and Spain." He was silent for a moment. "Naturally +his escape from prison would preserve his +incognito, and at the same time permit him to +sign the compact." +</p> +<p> +There was silence for a long time. +</p> +<p> +"I believe the situation is without precedent," +said Mr. Campbell slowly. "The special envoy +of three great powers held for attempted—!" +</p> +<p> +"Officially we are not aware of his purpose, or +his identity," Mr. Grimm reminded him. "If he +escaped it would clarify the situation tremendously." +</p> +<p> +"If he escaped!" repeated Mr. Campbell musingly. +</p> +<p> +"But, of course, the compact would not be +signed, at least in this country," Mr. Grimm +went on tentatively. +</p> +<p> +Mr. Campbell gazed straight into the listless +eyes of the young man for a minute or more, +and gradually full understanding came home to +him. Finally he nodded his head. +</p> +<p> +"Use your own judgment, Mr. Grimm," he +directed. +</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<a name="CH17"><!-- CHAPTER 17 --></a> +<h3> + XVII +</h3> + +<h3> +A CALL ON THE WARDEN +</h3> +<p> </p> +<p> +The restful silence of night lay over the +great prison. Here and there in 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 at +his desk, poring over a report. Once he glanced +up at the clock—it was five minutes of eleven—and +then he went on with his reading. +</p> +<p> +After a little the silence was broken by the +whir of the clock and the first sharp stroke of +the hour; and at just that moment the door from +the street opened and a man entered. He was +rather tall and slender, and a sinister black mask +hid his face from the quickly raised eyes of the +warden. For a bare fraction of a second the +two men stared at each other, then, instinctively, +the warden's right hand moved toward the open +drawer of his desk where a revolver lay, and his +left toward several electrically connected levers. +The intruder noted both gestures, and, unarmed +himself, stood silent. The warden was first to +speak. +</p> +<p> +"Well, what is it?" +</p> +<p> +"You have a prisoner here, Pietro Petrozinni," +was the reply, in a pleasant voice. "I have +come to demand his release." +</p> +<p> +The warden's right hand was raised above the +desk top, and the revolver in it clicked warningly. +</p> +<p> +"You have come to demand his release, eh?" +he queried. He still sat motionless, with his +eyes fixed on the black mask. "How did you +pass the outside guard?" +</p> +<p> +"He was bribed," was the ready response. +"Now, Warden," the masked intruder continued +pacifically, "it would be much more pleasant +all around and there would be less personal danger +in it for both of us if you would release Signor +Petrozinni without question. I may add +that no bribe was offered to you because your +integrity was beyond question." +</p> +<p> +"Thank you," said the warden grimly, "and +it shall remain so as long as I have this." He +tapped on the desk with the revolver. +</p> +<p> +"Oh, that isn't loaded," said the masked man +quietly. +</p> +<p> +One quick glance at the weapon showed the +warden that the cartridges had been drawn! His +teeth closed with a snap at the treachery of it, +and with his left hand he pulled back one of the +levers—that which should arouse the jailers, +turnkeys and guards. Instead of the insistent +clangor which he expected, there was silence. +</p> +<p> +"That wire has been cut," the stranger volunteered. +</p> +<p> +With clenched teeth the warden pulled the police +alarm. +</p> +<p> +"And that wire was cut, too," the stranger +explained. +</p> +<p> +The warden came to his feet with white face, +and nails biting into the palms of his hands. +He still held the revolver as he advanced upon +the masked man threateningly. +</p> +<p> +"Not too close, now," warned the intruder, +with a sudden hardening of his 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 to injure you, still less +do I intend that you shall injure me; and it +would be needless for either of us to make a personal +matter of it. I want your prisoner, Signor +Petrozinni—you will release him at once! That's +all!" +</p> +<p> +The warden paused, dazed, incredulous before +the audacity of it, while he studied two calm +eyes which peered at him through the slits of +the mask. +</p> +<p> +"And if I <i>don't</i> release him?" he demanded at +last, fiercely. +</p> +<p> +"Then I shall take him," was the reply. "It +has been made impossible for you to give an +alarm," the stranger went on. "The very men +on whom you most depended have been bought, +and even if they were within sound of your voice +now they wouldn't respond. One of your assistants +who has been here for years unloaded +the revolver in the desk there, and less than an +hour ago cut the prison alarm wire. I, personally, +cut the police alarm outside the building. +So you see!" +</p> +<p> +As yet there was no weapon in sight, save the +unloaded revolver in the warden's hand; at no +time had the stranger's voice been raised. His +tone was a perfectly normal one. +</p> +<p> +"Besides yourself there are only five other +men employed here who are now awake," the +masked man continued. "These are four inner +guards and the outer guard. They have all been +bought—the turnkeys at five thousand dollars +each, and the outer guard at seven thousand. +The receipt of all of this money is conditional +upon the release of Signor Petrozinni, 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 how futile any resistance would +be." +</p> +<p> +"But who—who is this Signor Petrozinni, +that such powerful influences should be brought +to bear in his behalf?" demanded the bewildered +warden. +</p> +<p> +"He is a man who can command a vast fortune—and +Señor Alvarez is at the point of +death. That, I think, makes it clear. Now, if +you'll sit down, please!" +</p> +<p> +"Sit down?" bellowed the warden. +</p> +<p> +Suddenly he was seized by a violent, maddening +rage. He took one step forward and raised +the empty revolver to strike. The masked man +moved slightly to one side and his clenched fist +caught the warden on the point 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 prison opened, and Signor Petrozinni, +accompanied by one of the guards, entered +the warden's office. The masked man glanced +around at them, and with a motion of his head +indicated the door leading to the street. They +passed through, closing the door behind them. +</p> +<p> +For a little time the intruder stood staring +down at the still body, then he went to the telephone +and called police headquarters. +</p> +<p> +"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 +send some of your men up to investigate." +</p> +<p> +"Who is that?" came the answering question. +</p> +<p> +The stranger replaced the receiver on the +hook, stripped off his black mask, dropped it on +the floor beside the motionless warden, and went +out. It was Mr. Grimm! +</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<a name="CH18"><!-- CHAPTER 18 --></a> +<h3> + XVIII +</h3> + +<h3> +NOTICE TO LEAVE +</h3> +<p> </p> +<p> +At fifteen minutes of midnight when Miss +Thorne, followed by Signor Petrozinni, +entered the sitting-room of her apartments +in the hotel and turned up the light they +found Mr. Grimm already there. He rose courteously. +At sight of him Miss Thorne's face +went deathly white, and the escaped prisoner +turned toward the door again. +</p> +<p> +"I would advise that you stay, your Highness," +said Mr. Grimm coldly. Signor Petrozinni +paused, amazed. "You will merely subject +yourself to the humiliation of arrest if you attempt +to leave. The house is guarded by a dozen +men." +</p> +<p> +"Your Highness?" Miss Thorne repeated +blankly. "You are assuming a great deal, aren't +you, Mr. Grimm?" +</p> +<p> +"I don't believe," and Mr. Grimm's listless +eyes were fixed on those of the escaped prisoner, +"I don't believe that Prince Benedetto d'Abruzzi +will deny his identity?" +</p> +<p> +There was one of those long tense silences +when eye challenges eye, when wit is pitted +against wit, and mind is hauled around to a new, +and sometimes unattractive, view of a situation. +Miss Thorne stood silent with rigid features, +colorless as marble; but slowly a sneer settled +about the lips of Signor Petrozinni that was, +and he sat down. +</p> + +<a name="image-3"><!-- Image 3 --></a> +<p class="figure"> +<a href="images/img3.jpg"> +<img width="60%" src="images/img3.jpg" +alt="A Long Tense Silence when Eye Challenges Eye."/></a><br /> +<b>"A Long Tense Silence when Eye Challenges Eye."</b> +</p> + +<p> +"You seem to know everything, Mr. Grimm," +he taunted. +</p> +<p> +"I <i>try</i> to know everything, your Highness," +was the reply. Mr. Grimm was still standing. +"I know, for instance, that one week ago the +plot which had your freedom for its purpose +was born; I know the contents of every letter +that passed between you and Miss Thorne here, +notwithstanding the invisible ink; I know that +four days ago several thousand 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 or one of her agents +bribed the guard in front; I know that the escape +was planned for to-night, and that the man +who was delegated to take charge of it is now +locked in my office under guard. It may interest +you to know that it was I who took his place +and made the escape possible. I know that +much!" +</p> +<p> +"You—<i>you</i>—!" the prince burst out suddenly. +"<i>You</i> aided me to escape?" +</p> +<p> +Miss Thorne was staring, staring at them +with her eyes widely distended, and her red lips +slightly parted. +</p> +<p> +"<i>Why</i> did you assist him?" she demanded. +</p> +<p> +"Details are tiresome, Miss Thorne," replied +Mr. Grimm with the utmost courtesy. "There +is one other thing I know—that the Latin compact +will not be signed in the United States." +</p> +<p> +The prince's eyes met Miss Thorne's inquiringly, +and she shook her head. The sneer was +still playing about his mouth. +</p> +<p> +"Anything else of special interest that you +know?" he queried. +</p> +<p> +"Yes, of interest to both you and Miss +Thorne. That is merely if the Latin compact +is signed anywhere, the English-speaking countries +of the world might construe it as a <i>casus +belli</i> and strike soon enough, and hard enough, +to put an end to it once for all." +</p> +<p> +Again there was silence for a little while. +Slowly the prince's eyes were darkening, and a +shadow flitted across Miss Thorne's face. The +prince rose impatiently. +</p> +<p> +"Well, what is the meaning of all this? Are +you going to take me back to prison?" +</p> +<p> +"No," said Mr. Grimm. He glanced at his +watch. "I will give each of you one-half hour +to pack your belongings. We must catch a +train at one o'clock." +</p> +<p> +"Leave the city?" gasped Miss Thorne. +</p> +<p> +"Impossible!" exclaimed the prince. +</p> +<p> +"One-half hour," said Mr. Grimm coldly. +</p> +<p> +"But—but it's out of the question," expostulated +Miss Thorne. +</p> +<p> +"One-half hour," repeated Mr. Grimm. He +didn't dare to meet those wonderful blue-gray +eyes now. "A special car with private compartments +will be attached to the regular train, and +the only inconvenience to you will be the fact +that the three of us will be compelled to sit up +all night. Half a dozen other Secret Service men +will be on the train with us." +</p> +<p> +And then the prince's entire manner underwent +a change. +</p> +<p> +"Mr. Grimm," he said earnestly, "it is absolutely +necessary that I remain in Washington +for another week—remain here even if I am +locked up again—lock me up again if you like. +I can't sign compacts in prison." +</p> +<p> +"Twenty-five minutes," replied Mr. Grimm +quietly. +</p> +<p> +"But here," exclaimed the prince explosively, +"I have credentials which will insure my protection +in spite of your laws." +</p> +<p> +"I know that," said Mr. Grimm placidly. +"Credentials of that nature can not be presented +at midnight, and you will not be here to-morrow +to present them. The fact that you have those +credentials, your Highness, is one reason why +you must leave Washington now, to-night." +</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<a name="CH19"><!-- CHAPTER 19 --></a> +<h3> + XIX +</h3> + +<h3> +BY WIRELESS +</h3> +<p> </p> +<p> +They paused in the office, the three of +them, and while Miss Thorne was giving +some instructions as to her baggage +the prince went over to the telegraph booth and +began to write a message on a blank. Mr. +Grimm appeared at his elbow. +</p> +<p> +"No," he said. +</p> +<p> +"Can't I send a telegram if I like?" demanded +the prince sharply. +</p> +<p> +"No, nor a note, nor a letter, nor may you +speak to any one," Mr. Grimm informed him +quietly. +</p> +<p> +"Why, it's an outrage!" flamed the prince. +</p> +<p> +"It depends altogether on the view-point, +your Highness," said Mr. Grimm courteously. +"If you will pardon me I might suggest that it +is needless to attract attention by your present +attitude. You may—I say you <i>may</i>—compel +me to humiliate you." The prince glared at him +angrily. "I mean handcuff you," Mr. Grimm +added gratuitously. +</p> +<p> +"Handcuff <i>me</i>?" +</p> +<p> +"I shouldn't hesitate, your Highness, if it +was necessary." +</p> +<p> +After a moment Miss Thorne signified her +readiness, and they started out. At the door +Mr. Grimm stopped and turned back to the desk, +as if struck by some sudden thought, leaving +them together. +</p> +<p> +"Oh, Miss Thorne left a message for some +one," Mr. Grimm was saying to the clerk. +"She's decided it is unnecessary." He turned +and glanced toward her, and the clerk's eyes followed +his. "Please give it to me." +</p> +<p> +It was passed over without comment. It was +a sealed envelope addressed to Mr. Charles Winthrop +Rankin. Mr. Grimm glanced at the superscription, +tore the envelope into bits and +dropped it into a basket. A minute later he was +assisting Miss Thorne and the prince into an +automobile that was waiting in front. As the +car moved away two other automobiles appeared +from corners near-by and trailed along behind to +the station. There a private compartment-car +was in readiness for them. +</p> +<p> +It was a long, dreary ride—a ride of utter +silence save for the roar and clatter of the moving +train. Mr. Grimm, vigilant, implacable, +sat at ease; 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 was passed, and Trenton, and then +the dawn began to break through the night. It +was quite light when they rolled into Jersey +City. +</p> +<p> +"I'm sorry for all the inconvenience I have +caused," Mr. Grimm apologized to Miss Thorne +as he assisted her to alight. "You must be exhausted." +</p> +<p> +"If it were only that!" she replied, with a +slight smile. "And is it too early to ask where +we are going?" +</p> +<p> +The prince turned quickly at the question. +</p> +<p> +"We take the <i>Lusitania</i> for Liverpool at ten +o'clock," said Mr. Grimm obligingly. "Meanwhile +let's get some coffee and a bite to eat." +</p> +<p> +"Are you going to make the trip with us?" +asked the prince. +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm shrugged his shoulders. +</p> +<p> +Weary and spiritless they went aboard the +boat, and a little while later they steamed out +into the stream and threaded their way down the +bay. Miss Thorne stood at the rail gazing +back upon the city they were leaving. Mr. +Grimm stood beside her; the prince, still sullen, +still scowling, sat a dozen feet away. +</p> +<p> +"This is a wonderful thing you have done, +Mr. Grimm," said Miss Thorne at last. +</p> +<p> +"Thank you," he said simply. "It was a destructive +thing that you intended to do. Did +you ever see a more marvelous thing than +that?" and he indicated the sky-line of New +York. "It's the most marvelous bit of mechanism +in the world; the dynamo of the western +hemisphere. You would have destroyed it, because +in the world-war that would have been the +first point of attack." +</p> +<p> +She raised her eyebrows, but was silent. +</p> +<p> +"Somehow," he went on after a moment, "I +could never associate a woman with destructiveness, +with wars and with violence." +</p> +<p> +"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? And now your remark +makes me feel that you alone have stood +for peace and the general good, and I for destruction +and evil." +</p> +<p> +"I didn't mean that," Mr. Grimm said quickly. +"You have done your duty as you saw it, +and—" +</p> +<p> +"Failed!" she interrupted. +</p> +<p> +"And I have done my duty as I saw it." +</p> +<p> +"And won!" she added. She smiled a little +sadly. "I think, perhaps you and I might have +been excellent friends if it had not been for all +this." +</p> +<p> +"I know we should have," said Mr. Grimm, +almost eagerly. "I wonder if you will ever forgive +me for—for—?" +</p> +<p> +"Forgive you?" she repeated. "There is +nothing to forgive. One must do one's duty. +But I wish it could have been otherwise." +</p> +<p> +The Statue of Liberty slid by, and Governor's +Island and Fort Hamilton; then, in the distance, +Sandy Hook light came into view. +</p> +<p> +"I'm going to leave you here," said Mr. +Grimm, and for the first time there was a tense, +strained note in his voice. +</p> +<p> +Miss Thorne's blue-gray eyes had grown mistily +thoughtful; the words startled her a little +and she turned to face him. +</p> +<p> +"It may be that you and I shall never meet +again," Mr. Grimm went on. +</p> +<p> +"We <i>will</i> meet again," she said gravely. +"When and where I don't know, but it will +come." +</p> +<p> +"And perhaps then we may be friends?" He +was pleading now. +</p> +<p> +"Why, we are friends now, aren't we?" she +asked, and again the smile curled her scarlet lips. +"Surely we are friends, aren't we?" +</p> +<p> +"We are," he declared positively. +</p> +<p> +As they started forward a revenue cutter which +had been hovering about Sandy Hook put toward +them, flying some signal at her masthead. +Slowly the great boat on which they stood crept +along, then the clang of a bell in the engine-room +brought her to a standstill, and the revenue +cutter came alongside. +</p> +<p> +"I leave you here," Mr. Grimm said again. +"It's good-by." +</p> +<p> +"Good-by," she said softly. "Good-by, till +we meet once more." +</p> +<p> +She extended both hands impulsively and he +stood for an instant staring into the limpid gray +eyes, then, turning, went below. From the revenue +cutter he waved a hand at her as the great +<i>Lusitania</i>, moving again, sped on her way. The +prince joined Miss Thorne at the rail. The +scowl was still on his face. +</p> +<p> +"And now what?" he demanded abruptly. +"This man has treated us as if we were a pair of +children." +</p> +<p> +"He's a wonderful man," she replied. +</p> +<p> +"That may be—but we have been fools to allow +him to do all this." +</p> +<p> +Miss Thorne turned flatly and faced him. +</p> +<p> +"We are not beaten yet," she said slowly. "If +all things go well we—we are not beaten yet." +</p> +<p> +The <i>Lusitania</i> was rounding Montauk Point +when the wireless brought her to half-speed with +a curt message: +</p> +<p> +"Isabel Thorne and Pietro Petrozinni aboard +<i>Lusitania</i> wanted on warrants charging conspiracy. +Tug-boat will take them off, intercepting +you beyond Montauk Point. +</p> +<p> +"CAMPBELL, Secret Service." +</p> +<p> +"What does <i>that</i> mean?" asked the prince, bewildered. +</p> +<p> +"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 aid of one of the maids in the depot at Jersey +City I managed to get a telegram of explanation +and instruction to De Foe in New York, +and this is the result. He signed Mr. Campbell's +name, I suppose, to give weight to the message." +</p> +<p> +An hour later a tug-boat came alongside, and +they went aboard. +</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<a name="CH20"><!-- CHAPTER 20 --></a> +<h3> + XX +</h3> + +<h3> +THE LIGHT IN THE DOME +</h3> +<p> </p> +<p> +From where he sat, in a tiny alcove which +jutted out and encroached upon the 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 and amusement; automobiles, carriages, +cabs, cars flowed past endlessly; and yet +Mr. Grimm saw naught of it. In the distance, +at one end of the avenue the dome of the capitol +cleft the shadows of night, and a single light +sparkled at its apex; in the other direction, at +the left of the treasury building which abruptly +blocks the wide thoroughfare, were the shimmering +windows of the White House. +</p> +<p> +Motionless, moody, thoughtful, Mr. Grimm +sat staring, staring straight ahead, comprehending +none of these things which lay before him +as in a panorama. Instead, his memory was conjuring +up a pair of subtle, blue-gray eyes, now +pleading, now coquettish, now frankly defiant; +two slim, white, wonderful hands; the echo of a +pleasant, throaty laugh; a splendid, elusive, radiant-haired +phantom. Truly, a woman of mystery! +Who was this Isabel Thorne who, for +months past, had been the storm-center and directing +mind of a vast international intrigue +which threatened the world with war? Who, +this remarkable young woman who with ease and +assurance commanded ambassadors and played +nations as pawns? +</p> +<p> +Now that she was safely out of the country +Mr. Grimm had leisure to speculate. Upon him +had devolved the duty of blocking her plans, +and he had done so—merciless alike of his own +feeling and of hers. Hesitation or evasion had +never occurred to him. It was a thing to be done, +and he did it. He wondered if she had understood, +there at the last beside the rail? He wondered +if she knew the struggle it had cost him +deliberately to send her out of his life? Or had +even surmised that her expulsion from the country, +by his direct act, was wholly lacking in the +exaltation of triumph to him; that it struck +deeper than that, below the listless, official exterior, +into his personal happiness? And wondering, +he knew that she <i>did</i> understand. +</p> +<p> +A silent shod waiter came and placed the coffee +things at his elbow. He didn't heed. The +waiter poured a demi-tasse, and inquiringly +lifted a lump of sugar in the silver tongs. Still +Mr. Grimm didn't heed. At last the waiter deposited +the sugar on the edge of the fragile saucer, +and moved away as silently as he had come. +A newspaper which Mr. Grimm had placed on +the end of the table when he sat down, rattled a +little as a breeze from the open window caught it, +then the top sheet slid off and fell to the floor. +Mr. Grimm was still staring out the window. +</p> +<p> +Slowly the room behind him was thinning of +its crowd as the theater-bound diners went out +in twos and threes. The last of these disappeared +finally, and save for Mr. Grimm there +were not more than a dozen persons left in the +place. Thus for a few minutes, and then the +swinging doors leading from the street clicked, +and a gentleman entered. He glanced around, +as if seeking a seat near a window, then moved +along in Mr. Grimm's direction, between the +rows of tables. His gaze lingered on Mr. +Grimm for an instant, and when he came opposite +he stooped and picked up the fallen newspaper +sheet. +</p> +<p> +"Your paper?" he inquired courteously. +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm was still gazing dreamily out of +the window. +</p> +<p> +"I beg pardon," insisted the new-comer pleasantly. +He folded the paper once and replaced +it on the table. One hand lingered for just the +fraction of a moment above Mr. Grimm's coffee-cup. +</p> +<p> +Aroused by the remark, Mr. Grimm glanced +around. +</p> +<p> +"Oh, thank you," he apologized hastily. "I +didn't hear you at first. Thank you." +</p> +<p> +The new-comer nodded, smiled and passed on, +taking a seat two or three tables down. +</p> +<p> +Apparently this trifling courtesy had broken +the spell of reverie, for Mr. Grimm squared +around to the table again, drew his coffee-cup +toward him, and dropped in the single lump of +sugar. He idly stirred it for a moment, as his +eyes turned again toward the open window, then +he lifted the tiny cup and emptied it. +</p> +<p> +Again he sat motionless for a long time, and +thrice the new-comer, only a few feet away, +glanced at him narrowly. And now, it seemed, +a peculiar drowsiness was overtaking Mr. +Grimm. Once he caught himself nodding and +raised his head with a jerk. Then he noticed +that the arc lights in the street were wobbling +curiously, and he fell to wondering why that +single flame sparkled at the apex of the capitol +dome. Things around him grew hazy, vague, +unreal, and then, as if realizing that something +was the matter with him, he came to his feet. +</p> +<p> +He took one step forward into the space between +the tables, reeled, attempted to steady +himself by holding on to a chair, then everything +grew black about him, and he pitched forward +on the floor. His face was dead white; +his fingers moved a little, nervously, weakly, +then they were still. +</p> +<p> +Several people rose at the sound of the falling +body, and the new-comer hurried forward. His +coat sleeve caught the empty demi-tasse, as he +stooped, and swept it to the floor, where it was +shattered. The head waiter and another came, +pell-mell, and those diners who had risen came +more slowly. +</p> +<p> +"What's the matter?" asked the head waiter +anxiously. +</p> +<p> +Already the new-comer was supporting Mr. +Grimm on his knee, and flicking water in his +face. +</p> +<p> +"Nothing serious, I fancy," he answered +shortly. "He's subject to these little attacks." +</p> +<p> +"What are they? Who is he?" +</p> +<p> +The stranger tore at Mr. Grimm's collar until +it came loose, then he fell to chafing the still +hands. +</p> +<p> +"He is a Mr. Grimm, a government employee—I +know him," he answered again. "I imagine +it's nothing more serious than indigestion." +</p> +<p> +A little knot had gathered about them, with +offers of assistance. +</p> +<p> +"Waiter, hadn't you better send for a physician?" +some one suggested. +</p> +<p> +"I'm a physician," the stranger put in impatiently. +"Have some one call a cab, and I'll see +that he's taken home. It happens that we live in +the same apartment house, just a few blocks from +here." +</p> +<p> +Obedient to the crisply-spoken directions, a +cab was called, and five minutes later Mr. +Grimm, still insensible, was lifted into it. The +stranger took a seat beside him, the cabby +touched his horse with a whip, and the vehicle +fell into the endless, moving line. +</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<a name="CH21"><!-- CHAPTER 21 --></a> +<h3> + XXI +</h3> + +<h3> +A SLIP OF PAPER +</h3> +<p> </p> +<p> +When the light of returning consciousness +finally pierced the black +lethargy that enshrouded him, Mr. +Grimm's mind was a chaos of vagrant, absurd +fantasies; then slowly, slowly, realization struggled +back to its own, and he came to know +things. First was the knowledge that he was +lying flat on his back, on a couch, it seemed; +then, that he was in the dark—an utter, abject +darkness. And finally came an overwhelming +sense of silence. +</p> +<p> +For a while he lay motionless, with not even +the movement of an eye-lash to indicate consciousness, +wrapped in a delicious languor. +Gradually this passed and the feeble flutter of +his heart grew into a steady, rhythmic beat. +The keen brain was awakening; he was beginning +to remember. What had happened? He +knew only that in some manner a drug had been +administered to him, a bitter dose tasting of +opium; that speechlessly, he had fought against +it, that he had risen from the table in the restaurant, +and that he had fallen. All the rest +was blank. +</p> +<p> +With eyes still closed, and nerveless hands +inert at his sides he listened, the while he turned +the situation over in speculative mood. The +waiter had administered the drug, of course, +unless—unless it had been the courteous stranger +who had replaced the newspaper on the +table! That thought opened new fields of conjecture. +Mr. Grimm had no recollection of ever +having seen him before; and he had paid only +the enforced attention of politeness to him. And +why had the drug been administered? Vaguely, +incoherently, Mr. Grimm imagined that in some +way it had to do with the great international +plot of war in which Miss Thorne was so delicate +and vital an instrument. +</p> +<p> +Where was he? Conjecture stopped there. +Evidently he was where the courteous gentleman +in the restaurant wanted him to be. A +prisoner? Probably. In danger? Long, careful +attention to detail work in the Secret Service +had convinced Mr. Grimm that he was always in +danger. That was one reason—and the best—why +he had lain motionless, without so much as +lifting a finger, since that first glimmer of consciousness +had entered his brain. He was probably +under scrutiny, even in the darkness, and +for the present it was desirable to accommodate +any chance watcher by remaining apparently unconscious. +</p> +<p> +And so for a long time he lay, listening. Was +there another person in the room? Mr. Grimm's +ears were keenly alive for the inadvertent shuffling +of a foot; or the sound of breathing. +Nothing. Even the night roar of the city was +missing; the silence was oppressive. At last he +opened his eyes. A pall of gloom encompassed +him—a pall without one rift of light. His +fingers, moving slowly, explored the limits of +the couch whereon he lay. +</p> +<p> +Confident, at last, that wherever he was, he was +unwatched, Mr. Grimm was on the point of concluding +that further inaction was useless, when +his straining ears caught the faint grating of +metal against metal—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 its hinges, and a breath of cool air +informed Mr. Grimm that that open door, wherever +it was, led to the outside, and freedom. +</p> +<p> +There was another faint creaking as the door +was shut. Mr. Grimm's nerveless hands closed +involuntarily, and his lips were set together +tightly. Was it to be a knife thrust in the +dark? If not—then what? He expected the +flare of a match; instead there was a soft tread, +and the rustle of skirts. A woman! Mr. +Grimm's caution was all but forgotten in his +surprise. As the steps drew nearer his clenched +fingers loosened; he waited. +</p> +<p> +Two hands stretched forward in the dark, +touched him simultaneously—one on the face, +one on the breast. A singular thrill shot +through him, but there was not the flicker of an +eye or the twitching of a finger. The woman—it +<i>was</i> a woman—seemed now to be bending over +him, then he heard her drop on her knees beside +him, and she pressed an inquiring ear to his left +side. It was the heart test. +</p> +<p> +"Thank God!" she breathed softly. +</p> +<p> +It was only by a masterful effort that Mr. +Grimm held himself limp and inert, for a +strange fragrance was enveloping him—a fragrance +he well knew. +</p> +<p> +The hands were fumbling at his breast again, +and there was the sharp crackle of paper. At +first he didn't understand, then he knew that the +woman had pinned a paper to the lapel of his +coat. Finally she straightened up, and took +two steps away from him, after which came a +pause. His keenly attuned ears caught her faint +breathing, then the rustle of her skirts as she +turned back. She was leaning over him again—her +lips touched his forehead, barely; again +there was a quick rustling of skirts, the door +creaked, and—silence, deep, oppressive, overwhelming +silence. +</p> +<p> +Isabel! Was he dreaming? And then he +ceased wondering and fell to remembering her +kiss—light as air—and the softly spoken +"Thank God!" She did care, then! She <i>had</i> +understood, that day! +</p> +<p> +The kiss of a woman beloved is a splendid +heart tonic. Mr. Grimm straightened up suddenly +on the couch, himself again. He touched +the slip of paper which she had pinned to his +coat to make sure it was not all a dream, after +which he recalled the fact that while he had +heard the 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 was beside the question at the +moment. +</p> +<p> +And why—how—was she in Washington? +Pondering that question, Mr. Grimm's excellent +teeth clicked sharply together and he rose. He +knew the answer. The compact was to be signed—the +alliance which would array the civilized +world in arms. He had failed to block that, as +he thought. If Miss Thorne had returned, then +Prince Benedetto d'Abruzzi, who held absolute +power to sign the compact for Italy, France and +Spain, had also returned. +</p> +<p> +Stealthily, feeling his way as he went, Mr. +Grimm moved toward the door leading to freedom, +guided by the fresh draft of air. He +reached the door—it was standing open—and a +moment later stepped out into the star-lit night. +It was open country here, with a thread of white +road just ahead, and farther along a fringe of +shrubbery. Mr. Grimm reached the road. Far +down it, a pin point in the night, a light flickered +through interlacing branches. The tail +lamp of an automobile, of course! +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm left the road and skirted a sparse +hedge in the direction of the light. After a +moment he heard the engine of an automobile, +and saw a woman—barely discernible—step into +the car. As it started forward he staked everything +on one bold move, and won, his reward being +a narrow sitting space in the rear of the +car, hidden from its occupants by the tonneau. +One mile, two miles, three miles they charged +through the night, and still he clung on. At +last there came relief. +</p> +<p> +"That's the place, where the lights are—just +ahead." +</p> +<p> +There was no mistaking that voice raised +above the clamor of the engine. The car slackened +speed, and Mr. Grimm dropped off and +darted behind some convenient bushes. And the +first thing he did there was to light a match, +and read what was written on the slip of paper +pinned to his coat. It was, simply: +</p> +<blockquote><p>"My Dear Mr. Grimm: +</p> +<p> +"By the time you read this the compact will +have been signed, and your efforts to prevent it, +splendid as they were, futile. It is a tribute to +you that it was unanimously agreed that you +must be accounted for at the time of the signing, +hence the drugging in the restaurant; it +was only an act of kindness that I should come +here to see that all was well with you, and leave +the door open behind me. +</p> +<p> +"Believe me when I say that you are one man +in whom I have never been disappointed. Accept +this as my farewell, for now I assume again +the name and position rightfully mine. And +know, too, that I shall always cherish the belief +that you will remember me as +</p> +<p> +"Your friend, +</p> +<p> +"ISABEL THORNE. +</p> +<p> +"P. S. The prince and I left the steamer at +Montauk Point, on a tug-boat."</p></blockquote> +<p> +Mr. Grimm kissed the note twice, then +burned it. +</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<a name="CH22"><!-- CHAPTER 22 --></a> +<h3> + XXII +</h3> + +<h3> +THE COMPACT +</h3> +<p> </p> +<p> +A room, low-ceilinged, dim, gloomy, sinister +as an inquisition chamber; a single +large table in the center, holding a kerosene +lamp, writing materials and a metal spheroid +a shade larger than a one-pound shell; and +around it a semicircle of silent, masked and +cowled figures. There were twelve of them, +eleven men and a woman. In the shadows, +which grew denser at the far end of the room, +was a squat, globular object, a massive, smooth-sided, +black, threatening thing of iron. +</p> +<p> +One of the men glanced at his watch—it was +just two o'clock—then rose and took a position +beside the table, facing the semicircle. He +placed the timepiece on the table in front of +him. +</p> +<p> +"Gentlemen," he said, and there was the faintest +trace of a foreign accent, "I shall speak +English because I know that whatever your nationality +all of you are familiar with that tongue. +And now an apology for the theatric aspect of +all this—the masks, the time and place of meeting, +and the rest of it." He paused a moment. +"There is only one person living who knows the +name and position of all of you," and by a sweep +of his hand he indicated the motionless figure of +the woman. "It was by her decision that masks +are worn, for, while we all know the details of +the Latin compact, there is a bare chance that +some one will not sign, and it is not desirable +that the identity of that person be known to all +of us. The reason for the selection of this time +and place is obvious, for an inkling of the proposed +signing has reached the Secret Service. +I will add the United States was chosen as the +birthplace of this new epoch in history for several +reasons, one being the proximity to Central +and South America; and another the inadequate +police system which enables greater freedom of +action." +</p> +<p> +He stopped and drew from his pocket a folded +parchment. He tapped the tips of his fingers +with it from time to time as he talked. +</p> +<p> +"The Latin compact, gentlemen, is not the +dream, of a night, nor of a decade. As long as +fifty years ago it was suggested, and whatever +differences the Latin countries of the world have +had among themselves, they have always realized +that ultimately they must stand together +against—against the other nations of the world. +This idea germinated into action three years +ago, and since that time agents have covered +the world in its interest. This meeting is the +fruition of all that work, and this," he held the +parchment aloft, "is the instrument that will +unite us. Never has a diplomatic secret been +kept as this has been kept; never has a greater +reprisal been planned. It means, gentlemen, the +domination of the world—socially, spiritually, +commercially and artistically; it means that +England and the United States, whose sphere of +influence has extended around the globe, will be +beaten back, that the flag of the Latin countries +will wave again over lost possessions. It means +all of that, and more." +</p> +<p> +His voice had risen as he talked until it had +grown vibrant with enthusiasm; and his hands +pointed his remarks with quick, sharp gestures. +</p> +<p> +"All this," he went on, "was never possible +until three years ago, when the navies of the +world were given over into the hands of one +nation—my country. Five years ago a fellow-countryman +of mine happened to be present at +an electrical exhibition in New York City, and +there he witnessed an interesting experiment—practical +demonstration of the fact that a +submarine mine may be exploded by the use of +the Marconi wireless system. He was a practical +electrician himself, and the idea lingered +in his mind. For two years he experimented, +and finally this resulted." He picked up the +metal spheroid and held it out for their inspection. +"As it stands it is absolutely perfect and +gives a world's supremacy to the Latin countries +because it places all the navies of the world +at our mercy. It is a variation of the well-known +percussion cap or fuse by which mines +and torpedoes are exploded. +</p> +<p> +"The theory of it is simple, as are the theories +of all great inventions; the secret of its construction +is known only to its inventor—a man +of whom you never heard. It is merely that the +mechanism of the cap is so delicate that the +Marconi wireless waves—-and <i>only</i> those—will +fire the cap. In other words, this cap is tuned, +if I may use the word, to a certain number of +vibrations and half-vibrations; a wireless instrument +of high power, with a modifying addition +which the inventor has added, has only to be set +in motion to discharge it at any distance up to +twenty-five miles. High power wireless waves +recognize no obstacle, so the explosion of a submarine +mine is as easily brought about as would +be the explosion of a mine on dry land. You will +readily see its value as a protective agency for +our seaports." +</p> +<p> +He replaced the spheroid on the table. +</p> +<p> +"But its chief value is not in that," he resumed. +"Its chief value to the Latin compact, +gentlemen, is that the United States and England +are now concluding negotiations, unknown +to each other, by which <i>they</i> will protect <i>their</i> +seaports by means of mines primed with this +cap. The tuning of the caps which we will use +is known only to us; <i>the tuning of the caps +which they will use is also known to us</i>! The +addition to the wireless apparatus which they +will use is such that they <i>can not</i>, even by accident, +explode a mine guarding our seaports; +but, on the other hand, the addition to the wireless +apparatus which <i>we</i> will use permits of the +extreme high charge which will explode their +mines. To make it clearer, we could send a navy +against such a city as New York or Liverpool, +and explode every mine in front of us as we +went; and meanwhile our mines are impervious. +</p> +<p> +"Another word, and I have finished. Five +gentlemen, whom I imagine are present now, +have witnessed a test of this cap, by direct command +of their home governments. For the benefit +of the others of you a simple test has been +arranged for to-night. This cap on the table +is charged; its inventor is at his wireless instrument, +fifteen miles away. At three o'clock +he will turn on the current that will explode it." +Four of the eleven men looked at their watches. +"It is now seventeen minutes past two. I am +instructed, for the purposes of the test, to place +this cap anywhere you may select—in this house +or outside of it, in a box, sealed, or under water. +The purpose is merely to demonstrate its efficacy; +to prove to your complete satisfaction +that it can be exploded under practically any +conditions." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"The compact is written in three languages—English, +French and Italian. I shall ask you +to sign, after reading either or all, precisely as +the directions you have received from your home +government instruct. On behalf of the three +greatest Latin countries, as special envoy of +each, I will sign first." +</p> +<p> +He dropped into the chair, signed each of the +three parchment pages three times, then rose +and offered the pen to the cowled figure at one +end of the semicircle. The man came forward, +read the English transcript, studied the three +signatures already there with a certain air of +surprise, then signed. The second man signed, +the third man, and the fourth. +</p> +<p> +The fifth had just risen to go forward when +the door opened silently and Mr. Grimm entered. +Without a glance either to right or left, he went +straight toward the table, and extended a hand +to take the compact. +</p> +<p> +For an instant there had come amazement, a +dumb astonishment, at the intrusion. It passed, +and the hand of the man who had done the talking +darted out, seized the compact, and held it +behind him. +</p> +<p> +"If you will be good enough to give that to +me, your Highness," suggested Mr. Grimm +quietly. +</p> +<p> +For half a minute the masked man stared +straight into the listless eyes of the intruder, +and then: +</p> +<p> +"Mr. Grimm, you are in very grave danger." +</p> +<p> +"That is beside the question," was the reply. +"Be good enough to give me that document." +</p> +<p> +He backed away as he spoke, kicked the door +closed with one heel, then leaned against it, facing +them. +</p> +<p> +"Or better yet," he went on after a moment, +"burn it. There is a lamp in front of you." +He paused for an answer. "It would be absurd +of me to attempt to take it by force," he added. +</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<a name="CH23"><!-- CHAPTER 23 --></a> +<h3> + XXIII +</h3> + +<h3> +THE PERCUSSION CAP +</h3> +<p> </p> +<p> +There was a long, tense silence. The +cowled figures had risen ominously; +Miss Thorne paled behind her mask, +and her fingers gripped her palms fiercely, still +she sat motionless. Prince d'Abruzzi broke the +silence. He seemed perfectly calm and self-possessed. +</p> +<p> +"How did you get in?" he demanded. +</p> +<p> +"Throttled your guard at the front door, +took him down cellar and locked him in the coal-bin," +replied Mr. Grimm tersely. "I am waiting +for you to burn it." +</p> +<p> +"And how did you escape from—from the +other place?" +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm shrugged his shoulders. +</p> +<p> +"The lamp is in front of you," he said. +</p> +<p> +"And find your way here?" the prince pursued. +</p> +<p> +Again Mr. Grimm shrugged his shoulders. +For an instant longer the prince gazed straight +into his inscrutable face, then turned accusing +eyes on the masked figures about him. +</p> +<p> +"Is there a traitor?" he demanded suddenly. +His gaze settled on Miss Thorne and lingered +there. +</p> +<p> +"I can relieve your mind on that point—there +is not," Mr. Grimm assured him. "Just a final +word, your Highness, if you will permit me. I +have heard everything that has been said here +for the last fifteen minutes. The details of your +percussion cap are interesting. I shall lay them +before my government and my government may +take it upon itself to lay them before the British +government. You yourself said a few minutes +ago that this compact was not possible before +this cap was invented and perfected. It isn't +possible the minute my government is warned +against its use. That will be my first duty." +</p> +<p> +"You are giving some very excellent reasons, +Mr. Grimm," was the deliberate reply, "why +you should not be permitted to leave this room +alive." +</p> +<p> +"Further," Mr. Grimm resumed in the same +tone, "I have been ordered to prevent the signing +of that compact, at least in this country. It +seems that I am barely in time. If it is signed—and +it will be useless now on your own statement +unless you murder me—every man who +signs it will have to reckon with the highest +power of this country. Will you destroy it? +I don't want to know what countries already +stand committed by the signatures there." +</p> +<p> +"I will not," was the steady response. And +then, after a little: "Mr. Grimm, the inventor +of this little cap, insignificant as it seems, will +receive millions for it. Your silence would be +worth—just how much?" +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm's face turned red, then white +again. +</p> +<p> +"Which would you prefer? An independence +by virtue of a great fortune, or—or the other +thing?" +</p> +<p> +Suddenly Miss Thorne tore the mask from +her face and came forward. Her cheeks were +scarlet, and anger flamed in the blue-gray eyes. +</p> +<p> +"Mr. Grimm has no price—I happen to know +that," she declared hotly. "Neither money nor +a consideration for his own personal safety will +make him turn traitor." She stared coldly into +the prince's eyes. "And we are not assassins +here," she added. +</p> +<p> +"Miss Thorne has stated the matter fairly, I +believe, your Highness," and Mr. Grimm permitted +his eyes to linger a moment on the flushed +face of this woman who, in a way, was defending +him. "But there is only one thing to do, Miss +Thorne." He was talking to her now. "There +is no middle course. It is a problem that has +only one possible answer—the destruction of +that document, and the departure of you, and +you, your Highness, for Italy under my personal +care all the way. I imagined this matter +had ended that day on the steamer; it <i>will</i> end +here, now, to-night." +</p> +<p> +The prince glanced again at his watch, then +thoughtfully weighed the percussion cap in his +hand, after which, with a curious laugh, he +walked over to the squat iron globe in an opposite +corner of the room. He bent over it half a +minute, then straightened up. +</p> +<p> +"That cap, Mr. Grimm, has one disadvantage," +he remarked casually. "When it is attached +to a mine or torpedo it can not be +disconnected without firing it. It is attached." +He turned to the others. "It is needless to discuss +the matter further just now. If you will +follow me? We will leave Mr. Grimm here." +</p> +<p> +With a strange little cry, neither anger nor +anguish, yet oddly partaking of the quality of +each, Isabel went quickly to the prince. +</p> +<p> +"How dare you do such a thing?" she demanded +fiercely. "It is murder." +</p> +<p> +"This is not a time, Miss Thorne, for your +interference," replied the prince coldly. "It +has all passed beyond the point where the feelings +of any one person, even the feelings of the +woman who has engineered the compact, can be +considered. A single life can not be permitted +to stand in the way of the consummation of this +world project. Mr. Grimm alive means the compact +would be useless, if not impossible; Mr. +Grimm dead means the fruition of all our plans +and hopes. You have done your duty and you +have done it well; but now your authority ends, +and I, the special envoy of—" +</p> +<p> +"Just a moment, please," Mr. Grimm interrupted +courteously. "As I understand it, your +Highness, the mine there in the corner is +charged?" +</p> +<p> +"Yes. It just happened to be here for purposes +of experiment." +</p> +<p> +"The cap is attached?" +</p> +<p> +"Quite right." The prince laughed. +</p> +<p> +"And at three o'clock, by your watch, the +mine will be fired by a wireless operator fifteen +miles from here?" +</p> +<p> +"Something like that; yes, very much like +that," assented the prince. +</p> +<p> +"Thank you. I merely wanted to understand +it." Mr. Grimm pulled a chair up against the +door and sat down, crossing his legs. On his +knees rested the barrel of a revolver, glittering, +fascinating, in the semi-darkness. "Now, gentlemen," +and he glanced at his watch, "it's +twenty-one minutes of three o'clock. At three +that mine will explode. We will all be in the +room when it happens, unless his Highness sees +fit to destroy the compact." +</p> +<p> +Eyes sought eyes, and the prince removed his +mask with a sudden gesture. His face was +bloodless. +</p> +<p> +"If any man," and Mr. Grimm gave Miss +Thorne a quick glance, "I should say, <i>any person</i>, +attempts to leave this room I <i>know</i> he will +die; and there's a bare chance that the percussion +cap will fail to work. I can account for +six of you, if there is a rush." +</p> +<p> +"But, man, if that mine explodes we shall all +be killed—blown to pieces!" burst from one of +the cowled figures. +</p> +<p> +"If the percussion cap works," supplemented +Mr. Grimm. +</p> +<p> +Mingled emotions struggled in the flushed +face of Isabel as she studied Mr. Grimm's impassive +countenance. +</p> +<p> +"I have never disappointed you yet, Miss +Thorne," he remarked as if it were an explanation. +"I shall not now." +</p> +<p> +She turned to the prince. +</p> +<p> +"Your Highness, I think it needless to argue +further," she said. "We have no choice in the +matter; there is only one course—destroy the +compact." +</p> +<p> +"No!" was the curt answer. +</p> +<p> +"I believe I know Mr. Grimm better than you +do," she argued. "You think he will weaken; +I know he will not. I am not arguing for him, +nor for myself; I am arguing against the +frightful loss that will come here in this room +if the compact is not destroyed." +</p> + +<a name="image-4"><!-- Image 4 --></a> +<p class="figure"> +<a href="images/img4.jpg"> +<img width="60%" src="images/img4.jpg" +alt="'You Think He Will Weaken; I Know He Will Not.'"/></a><br /> +<b>"'You Think He Will Weaken; I Know He Will Not.'"</b> +</p> + +<p> +"It's absurd to let one man stand in the way," +declared the prince angrily. +</p> +<p> +"It might not be an impertinent question, +your Highness," commented Mr. Grimm, "for +me to ask how you are going to <i>prevent</i> one +man standing in the way?" +</p> +<p> +A quick change came over Miss Thorne's +face. The eyes hardened, the lips were set, and +lines Mr. Grimm had never seen appeared about +the mouth. Here, in a flash, the cloak of dissimulation +was cast aside, and the woman stood +forth, this keen, brilliant, determined woman +who did things. +</p> +<p> +"The compact will be destroyed," she said. +</p> +<p> +"No," declared the prince. +</p> +<p> +"It <i>must</i> be destroyed." +</p> +<p> +"<i>Must? Must?</i> Do you say <i>must to me?</i>" +</p> +<p> +"Yes, <i>must</i>," she repeated steadily. +</p> +<p> +"And by what authority, please, do—" +</p> +<p> +"By that authority!" She drew a tiny, filigreed +gold box from her bosom and cast it upon +the table; the prince stared at it. "In the name +of your sovereign—<i>must</i>!" she said again. +</p> +<p> +The prince turned away and began pacing, +back and forth across the room with the parchment +crumpled in his hand. For a minute or +more Isabel stood watching him. +</p> +<p> +"Thirteen minutes!" Mr. Grimm announced +coldly. +</p> +<p> +And now broke out an excited chatter, a babel +of French, English, Italian, Spanish; those +masked and cowled ones who had held silence +for so long all began talking at once. One +of them snatched at the crumpled compact +in the prince's hand, while all crowded around +him arguing. Mr. Grimm sat perfectly still +with the revolver barrel resting on his knees. +</p> +<p> +"Eleven minutes!" he announced again. +</p> +<p> +Suddenly the prince turned violently on Miss +Thorne with rage-distorted face. +</p> +<p> +"Do you know what it means to you if I do +as you say?" he demanded savagely. "It means +you will be branded as traitor, that your name, +your property—" +</p> +<p> +"If you will pardon me, your Highness," she +interrupted, "the power that I have used was +given to me to use; I have used it. It is a matter +to be settled between me and my government, +and as far as it affects my person is of +no consequence now. You will destroy the compact." +</p> +<p> +"Nine minutes!" said Mr. Grimm monotonously. +</p> +<p> +Again the babel broke out. +</p> +<p> +"Do we understand that you want to see the +compact?" one of the cowled men asked suddenly +of Mr. Grimm as he turned. +</p> +<p> +"No, I don't want to see it. I'd prefer not +to see it." +</p> +<p> +With hatred blazing in his eyes the prince +made his way toward the lamp, holding a parchment +toward the blaze. +</p> +<p> +"There's nothing else to be done," he exclaimed +savagely. +</p> +<p> +"Just a moment, please," Mr. Grimm interposed +quickly. "Miss Thorne, is that the compact?" +</p> +<p> +She glanced at it, nodded her head, and then +the flame caught the fringed edge of paper. It +crackled, flashed, flamed, and at last, a thing of +ashes, was scattered on the floor. Mr. Grimm +rose. +</p> +<p> +"That is all, gentlemen," he announced courteously. +"You are free to go. You, your +Highness, and Miss Thorne, will accompany +me." +</p> +<p> +He held open the door and there was almost a +scramble to get out. The prince and Miss +Thorne waited until the last. +</p> +<p> +"And, Miss Thorne, if you will give us a lift +in your car?" Mr. Grimm suggested. "It is +now four minutes of three." +</p> +<p> +The automobile came in answer to a signal +and the three in silence entered it. The car +trembled and had just begun to move when Mr. +Grimm remembered something, and leaped out. +</p> +<p> +"Wait for me!" he called. "There's a man +locked in the coal-bin!" +</p> +<p> +He disappeared into the house, and Miss +Thorne, with a gasp of horror sank back in her +seat with face like chalk. The prince glanced +uneasily at his watch, then spoke curtly to the +chauffeur. +</p> +<p> +"Run the car up out of danger; there'll be an +explosion there in a moment." +</p> +<p> +They had gone perhaps a hundred feet when +the building they had just left seemed to be +lifted bodily from the ground by a great spurt +of flame which tore through its center, then collapsed +like a thing of cards. The prince, unmoved, +glanced around at Miss Thorne; she lay +in a dead faint beside him. +</p> +<p> +"Go ahead," he commanded. "Baltimore." +</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<a name="CH24"><!-- CHAPTER 24 --></a> +<h3> + XXIV +</h3> + +<h3> +THE PERSONAL EQUATION +</h3> +<p> </p> +<p> +Mr. Campbell ceased talking and +the deep earnestness that had settled +on his face passed, leaving instead +the blank, inscrutable mask of benevolence behind +which his clock-like genius was habitually +hidden. The choleric blue eyes of the president +of the United States shifted inquiringly to the +thoughtful countenance of the secretary of +state at his right, thence along the table around +which the official family was gathered. It was a +special meeting of the cabinet called at the suggestion +of Chief Campbell, and for more than an +hour he had done the talking. There had been +no interruption. +</p> +<p> +"So much!" he concluded, at last. "If there +is any point I have not made clear Mr. Grimm +is here to explain it in person." +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm rose at the mention of his name +and stood with his hands clasped behind his +back. His eyes met those of the chief executive +listlessly. +</p> +<p> +"We understand, Mr. Grimm," the president +began, and he paused for an instant to regard +the tall, clean-cut young man with a certain +admiration, "we understand that there does not +actually exist such a thing as a Latin compact +against the English-speaking peoples?" +</p> +<p> +"On paper, no," was the reply. +</p> +<p> +"You personally prevented the signing of the +compact?" +</p> +<p> +"I personally caused the destruction of the +compact after several signatures had been attached," +Mr. Grimm amended. "Throughout I +have acted under the direction of Mr. Campbell, +of course." +</p> +<p> +"You were in very grave personal danger?" +the president went on. +</p> +<p> +"It was of no consequence," said Mr. Grimm +simply. +</p> +<p> +The president glanced at Mr. Campbell and +the chief shrugged his shoulders. +</p> +<p> +"You are certain, Mr. Grimm," and the president +spoke with great deliberation, "you are +certain that the representatives of the Latin +countries have not met since and signed the compact?" +</p> +<p> +"I am not certain—no," replied Mr. Grimm +promptly. "I am certain, however, that the +backbone of the alliance was broken—its only +excuse for existence destroyed—when they permitted +me to learn of the wireless percussion +cap which would have placed the navies of the +world at their mercy. Believe me, gentlemen, +if they had kept their secret it would have given +them dominion of the earth. They made one +mistake," he added in a most matter-of-fact +tone. "They should have killed me; it was their +only chance." +</p> +<p> +The president seemed a little startled at the +suggestion. +</p> +<p> +"That would have been murder," he remarked. +</p> +<p> +"True," Mr. Grimm acquiesced, "but it seems +an absurd thing that they should have permitted +the life of one man to stand between them and +the world power for which they had so long +planned and schemed. His Highness, Prince +Benedetto d'Abruzzi believed as I do, and so +expressed himself." He paused a moment; there +was a hint of surprise in his manner. "I expected +to be killed, of course. It seemed to me +the only thing that could happen." +</p> +<p> +"They must have known of the far-reaching +consequences which would follow upon your +escape, Mr. Grimm. Why <i>didn't</i> they kill you?" +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm made a little gesture with both +hands and was silent. +</p> +<p> +"May they not yet attempt it?" the president +insisted. +</p> +<p> +"It's too late now," Mr. Grimm explained. +"They had everything to gain by killing me +there as I stood in the room where I had interrupted +the signing of the compact, because that +would have been before I had placed the facts +in the hands of my government. I was the only +person outside of their circle who knew all of +them. Only the basest motive could inspire them +to attempt my life now." +</p> +<p> +There was a pause. The secretary of state +glanced from Mr. Grimm to Mr. Campbell with +a question in his deep-set eyes. +</p> +<p> +"Do I understand that you placed a Miss +Thorne and the prince under—that is, you detained +them?" he queried. "If so, where are +they now?" +</p> +<p> +"I don't know," was the reply. "Just before +the explosion the three of us entered an automobile +together, and then as we were starting +away I remembered something which made it +necessary for me to reenter the house. When +I came out again, just a few seconds before the +explosion, the prince and Miss Thorne had +gone." +</p> +<p> +The secretary's lips curled down in disapproval. +</p> +<p> +"Wasn't it rather unusual, to put it mildly, +to leave your prisoners to their own devices that +way?" he asked. +</p> +<p> +"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 go back to save his life, otherwise—" +</p> +<p> +"Oh, the guard at the door, you mean?" came +the interruption. "Who was it?" +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm glanced at his chief, who nodded. +</p> +<p> +"It was Mr. Charles Winthrop Rankin of +the German embassy," said the young man. +</p> +<p> +"Mr. Rankin of the German embassy was on +guard at the door?" demanded the president +quickly. +</p> +<p> +"Yes. We got out safely." +</p> +<p> +"And that means that Germany was—!" +</p> +<p> +The president paused and startled glances +passed around the table. After a moment of +deep abstraction the secretary went on: +</p> +<p> +"So Miss Thorne and the prince escaped. Are +they still in this country?" +</p> +<p> +"That I don't know," replied Mr. Grimm. +He stood silent a moment, staring at the president. +Some subtle change crept into the listless +eyes, and his lips were set. "Perhaps I had better +explain here that the personal equation enters +largely into an affair of this kind," he said +at last, slowly. "It happens that it entered into +this. Unless I am ordered to pursue the matter +further I think it would be best for all concerned +to accept the fact of Miss Thorne's +escape, and—" He stopped. +</p> +<p> +There was a long, thoughtful silence. Every +man in the room was studying Mr. Grimm's impassive +face. +</p> +<p> +"Personal equation," mused the president. +"Just how, Mr. Grimm, does the personal equation +enter into the affair?" +</p> +<p> +The young man's lips closed tightly, and +then: +</p> +<p> +"There are some people, Mr. President, whom +we meet frankly as enemies, and we deal with +them accordingly; and there are others who oppose +us and yet are not enemies. It is merely +that our paths of duty cross. We may have +the greatest respect for them and they for us, +but purposes are unalterably different. In other +words there is a personal enmity and a political +enmity. You, for instance, might be a close +personal friend of the man whom you defeated +for president. There might"—he stopped suddenly. +</p> +<p> +"Go on," urged the president. +</p> +<p> +"I think every man meets once in his life an +individual with whom he would like to reckon +personally," the young man continued. "That +reckoning may not be a severe one; it may be +less severe than the law would provide; but it +would be a personal reckoning. There is one individual +in this affair with whom I should like to +reckon, hence the personal equation enters very +largely into the case." +</p> +<p> +For a little while the silence of the room was +unbroken, save for the steady tick-tock of a +great clock in one corner. Mr. Grimm's eyes +were fixed unwaveringly upon those of the chief +executive. At last the secretary of war crumpled +a sheet of paper impatiently and hitched +his chair up to the table. +</p> +<p> +"Coming down to the facts it's like this, isn't +it?" he demanded briskly. "The Latin countries, +by an invention of their own which the United +States and England were to be duped into purchasing, +would have had power to explode every +submarine mine before attacking a port? Very +well. This thing, of course, would have given +them the freedom of the seas as long as we were +unable to explode their submarines as they were +able to explode ours. And this is the condition +which made the Latin compact possible, +isn't it?" +</p> +<p> +He looked straight at Mr. Grimm, who nodded. +</p> +<p> +"Therefore," he went on, "if the Latin compact +is not a reality on paper; if the United +States and England do not purchase this—this +wireless percussion cap, we are right back where +we were before it all happened, aren't we? +Every possible danger from that direction has +passed, hasn't it? The world-war of which we +have been talking is rendered impossible, isn't +it?" +</p> +<p> +"That's a question," answered Mr. Grimm. +"If you will pardon me for suggesting it, I +would venture to say that as long as there is an +invention of that importance in the hands of +nations whom we now know have 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 peace we must either +get complete control of that invention or else +understand it so well that there can be no further +danger. And again, please let me call your +attention to the fact that the brain which +brought this thing into existence is still to be +reckoned with. There may, some day, come a +time when our submarines may be exploded at +will regardless of this percussion cap." +</p> +<p> +The secretary of war turned flatly upon Chief +Campbell. +</p> +<p> +"This woman who is mixed up in this affair?" +he demanded. "This Miss Thorne. Who +is she?" +</p> +<p> +"Who is she?" repeated the chief. "She's a +secret agent of Italy, one of the most brilliant, +perhaps, that has ever operated in this or any +other country. She is the pivot around which +the intrigue moved. We know her by a dozen +names; any one of them may be correct." +</p> +<p> +The brows of the secretary of war were +drawn down in thought as he turned to the president. +</p> +<p> +"Mr. Grimm was speaking of the personal +equation," he remarked pointedly. "I think +perhaps his meaning is clear when we know +there is a woman in the case. We know that +Mr. Grimm has done his duty to the last inch in +this matter; we know that alone and unaided, +practically, he has done a thing that no living +man of his relative position has ever done before—prevented +a world-war. But there is further +danger—he himself has called our attention to +it—therefore, I would suggest that Mr. Grimm +be relieved of further duty in this particular +case. This is not a moment when the peace of +the world may be imperiled by personal feelings +of—of kindliness for an individual." +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm received the blow without a tremor. +His hands were still idly clasped behind +his back; the eyes fastened upon the president's +face were still listless; the mouth absolutely +without expression. +</p> +<p> +"As Mr. Grimm has pointed out," the secretary +went on, "we have been negotiating for +this wireless percussion cap. I have somewhere +in my office the name and address of the individual +with whom these negotiations have been conducted. +Through that it is possible to reach +the inventor, and then—! I suggest that we +vote our thanks to Mr. Grimm and relieve him +of this particular case." +</p> +<p> +The choleric eyes of the president softened a +little, and grew grave as they studied the impassive +face of the young man. +</p> +<p> +"It's a strange situation, Mr. Grimm," he said +evenly. "What do you say to withdrawing?" +</p> +<p> +"I am at your orders, Mr. President," was the +reply. +</p> +<p> +"No one knows better what you have done +than the gentlemen here at this table," the president +went on slowly. "No one questions that +you have done more than any other man could +have done under the circumstances. We understand, +I think, that indirectly you are asking +immunity for an individual. I don't happen to +know the liability of that individual under our +law, but we can't make any mistake now, Mr. +Grimm, and so—and so—" He stopped and +was silent. +</p> +<p> +"I had hoped, Mr. President, that what I have +done so far—and I don't underestimate it—would +have, at least, earned for me the privilege +of remaining in this case until its conclusion," +said Mr. Grimm steadily. "If it is to be otherwise, +of course I am at—" +</p> +<p> +"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 justice fairly, severely +if necessary, to one for whom he has a personal +regard?" +</p> +<p> +"I do, sir." +</p> +<p> +"Perhaps even to one—to a woman whom he +might love?" +</p> +<p> +"I do, sir." +</p> +<p> +The president rose. +</p> +<p> +"Please wait in the anteroom for a few minutes," +he directed. +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm bowed himself out. At the end +of half an hour he was again summoned into +the cabinet chamber. The president met him +with outstretched hand. There was more than +mere perfunctory thanks in this—there was the +understanding of man and man. +</p> +<p> +"You will proceed with the case to the end, +Mr. Grimm," he instructed abruptly. "If you +need assistance ask for it; if not, proceed alone. +You will rely upon your own judgment entirely. +If there are circumstances which make it inadvisable +to move against an individual by legal +process, even if that individual is amenable to +our laws, you are not constrained so to do if +your judgment is against it. There is one stipulation: +You will either secure the complete +rights of the wireless percussion cap to this government +or learn the secret of the invention so +that at no future time can we be endangered +by it." +</p> +<p> +"Thank you," said Mr. Grimm quietly. "I +understand." +</p> +<p> +"I may add that it is a matter of deep regret +to me," and the president brought one vigorous +hand down on the young man's shoulder, "that +our government has so few men of your type in +its service. Good day." +</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<a name="CH25"><!-- CHAPTER 25 --></a> +<h3> + XXV +</h3> + +<h3> +WE TWO +</h3> +<p> </p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm turned from Pennsylvania +Avenue into a cross street, walked +along half a block or so, climbed a +short flight of stairs and entered an office. +</p> +<p> +"Is Mr. Howard in?" he queried of a boy in +attendance. +</p> +<p> +"Name, please." +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm handed over a sealed envelope +which bore the official imprint of the Department +of War in the upper left hand corner; and +the boy disappeared into a room beyond. A moment +later he emerged and held open the door +for Mr. Grimm. A gentleman—Mr. Howard—rose +from his seat and stared at him as he +entered. +</p> +<p> +"This note, Mr. Grimm, is surprising," he +remarked. +</p> +<p> +"It is only a request from the secretary of +war that I be permitted to meet the inventor of +the wireless percussion cap," Mr. Grimm explained +carelessly. "The negotiations have +reached a point where the War Department +must have one or two questions answered directly +by the inventor. Simple enough, you see." +</p> +<p> +"But it has been understood, and I have personally +impressed it upon the secretary of war +that such a meeting is impossible," objected Mr. +Howard. "All negotiations have been conducted +through me, and I have, as attorney for the inventor, +the right to answer any question that +may properly be answered. This now is a request +for a personal interview with the inventor." +</p> +<p> +"The necessity for such an interview has +risen unexpectedly, because of a 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 entirely on this interview." +</p> +<p> +Mr. Howard was leaning forward in his chair +with wrinkled brow intently studying the calm +face of the young man. Innocent himself of all +the intrigue and international chicanery back of +the affair, representing only an individual in +these secret negotiations, he saw in the statement, +as Mr. Grimm intended that he should, the possible +climax of a great business contract. His +greed was aroused; it might mean hundreds of +thousands of dollars to him. +</p> +<p> +"Do you think the deal can be made?" he +asked at last. +</p> +<p> +"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 between +the inventor and myself at once—this +afternoon." +</p> +<p> +Mr. Howard thoughtfully drummed on his +desk for a little while. From the first, save in +so far as the patent rights were concerned, he +had seen no reasons for the obligations of utter +secrecy which had been enforced upon him. Perhaps, +if he laid it before the inventor in this new +light, with the deal practically closed, the interview +would be possible! +</p> +<p> +"I have no choice in the matter, Mr. Grimm," +he said at last. "I shall have to put it to my +client, of course. Can you give me, say, half an +hour to communicate with him?" +</p> +<p> +"Certainly," and Mr. Grimm rose obligingly. +"Shall I wait outside here or call again?" +</p> +<p> +"You may wait if you don't mind," said Mr. +Howard. "I'll be able to let you know in a few +minutes, I hope." +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm bowed and passed out. At the +end of twenty-five minutes the door of Mr. Howard's +private office opened and he appeared. His +face was violently red, evidently from anger, +and perspiration stood on his forehead. +</p> +<p> +"I can't do anything with him," he declared +savagely. "He says simply that negotiations +must be conducted through me or not at all." +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm had risen; he bowed courteously. +</p> +<p> +"Very well," he said placidly. "You understand, +of course, as the note says, that this refusal +of his terminates the negotiations, so—" +</p> +<p> +"But just a moment—" interposed Mr. Howard +quickly. +</p> +<p> +"Good day," said Mr. Grimm. +</p> +<p> +The door opened and closed; he was gone. +Three minutes later he stepped into a telephone +booth at a near-by corner and took down the receiver. +</p> +<p> +"Hello, central!" he called, and then: "This +is Mr. Grimm of the Secret Service. What number +was Mr. Howard talking to?" +</p> +<p> +"Eleven double-nought six, Alexandria," was +the reply. +</p> +<p> +"Where is the connection? In whose name?" +</p> +<p> +"The connection is five miles out from Alexandria +in a farm-house on the old Baltimore +Road," came the crisp, business-like answer. +"The name is Murdock Williams." +</p> +<p> +"Thank you," said Mr. Grimm. "Good-by." +</p> +<p> +A moment later he was standing by the curb +waiting for a car, when Howard, still angry, and +with an expression of deep chagrin on his face, +came bustling up. +</p> +<p> +"If you can give me until to-morrow afternoon, +then—" he began. +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm glanced around at him, and with +a slight motion of his head summoned two men +who had been chatting near-by. One of them +was Blair, and the other Hastings. +</p> +<p> +"Take this man in charge," he directed. +"Hold him in solitary confinement until you hear +from me. Don't talk to him, don't let any one +else talk to him, and don't let him talk. If any +person speaks to him before he is locked up, +take that person in charge also. He is guilty +of no crime, but a single word from him now will +endanger my life." +</p> +<p> +That was all. It was said and done so quickly +that Howard, dazed, confused and utterly unable +to account for anything, was led away without +a protest. Mr. Grimm, musing gently on +the stupidity of mankind in general and the ease +with which it is possible to lead even a clever individual +into a trap, if the bait appeals to greed, +took a car and went up town. +</p> +<p> +Some three hours later he walked briskly +along a narrow path strewn with pine needles, +which led tortuously up to an old colonial farmhouse. +Outwardly the place seemed to be deserted. +The blinds, battered and stripped of +paint by wind and rain, were all closed and one +corner of the small veranda had crumbled away +from age and neglect. In the rear of the house, +rising from an old barn, a thin pole with a cup-like +attachment at the apex, thrust its point into +the open above the dense, odorous pines. Mr. +Grimm noted these things as he came along. +</p> +<p> +He stepped up quietly on the veranda and +had just extended one hand to rap on the door +when it was opened from within, and Miss +Thorne stood before him. He was not surprised; +intuition had told him he would meet her +again, perhaps here in hiding. A sudden quick +tenderness lighted the listless eyes. For an instant +she stood staring, her face pallid against +the 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 +by drooping lids, then she recovered herself and +they opened into his. In them he saw anxiety, +apprehension, fear even. +</p> +<p> +"Miss Thorne!" he greeted, and he bowed low +over the white hand which she impulsively thrust +toward him. +</p> +<p> +"I—I knew some one was coming," she stammered +in a half whisper. "I didn't know it was +you; I hadn't known definitely until this instant +that you were safe from the explosion. I am +glad—glad, you understand; glad that you +were not—" She stopped and fought back her +emotions, then went on: "But you must not come +in; you must go away at once. Your—your life +is in danger here." +</p> +<p> +"<i>How</i> did you know I was coming?" inquired +Mr. Grimm. +</p> +<p> +"From the moment Mr. Howard telephoned," +she replied, still hastily, still in the mysterious +half whisper. "I knew that it could only be +some one from your bureau, and I hoped that it +was you. I saw how you forced him to call us +up here, and that was all you needed. It was +simple, of course, to trace the telephone call." +Both of her hands closed over one of his desperately. +"Now, go, please. The Latin compact is +at an end; you merely invite death here. Now, +go!" +</p> +<p> +Her eyes were searching the listless face with +entreaty in them; the slender fingers were fiercely +gripping one of Mr. Grimm's nerveless hands. +For an instant some strange, softening light +flickered in the young man's eyes, then it passed. +</p> +<p> +"I have no choice, Miss Thorne," he said +gravely at last. "I am honor bound by my government +to do one of two things. If I fail in +the first of those—the greater—it can only be +because—" +</p> +<p> +He stopped; hope flamed up in her eyes and +she leaned forward eagerly studying the impassive +face. +</p> +<p> +"Because—?" she repeated. +</p> +<p> +"It can only be because I am killed," he added +quietly. Suddenly his whole manner changed. +"I should like to see the—the inventor?" +</p> +<p> +"But don't you see—don't you see you <i>will</i> +be killed if—?" she began tensely. +</p> +<p> +"May I see the inventor, please?" Mr. Grimm +interrupted. +</p> +<p> +For a little time she stood, white and rigid, +staring at him. Then her lids fluttered down +wearily, as if to veil some crushing agony within +her, and she stepped aside. Mr. Grimm entered +and the door closed noiselessly behind him. +After a moment her hand rested lightly on his +arm, and he was led into a room to his left. This +door, too, she closed, immediately turning to +face him. +</p> +<p> +"We may talk here a few minutes without interruption," +she said in a low tone. Her voice +was quite calm now. "If you will be—?" +</p> +<p> +"Please understand, Miss Thorne," he interposed +mercilessly, "that I must see the inventor, +whoever he is. What assurance have I that this +is not some ruse to permit him to escape?" +</p> +<p> +"You have my word of honor," she said quite +simply. +</p> +<p> +"Please go on." He sat down. +</p> +<p> +"You will see him too soon, I fear," she continued +slowly. "If you had not come to him he +would have gone to you." She swayed a little +and pressed one hand to her eyes. "I would to +God it were in my power to prevent that meeting!" +she exclaimed desperately. Then, with an +effort: "There are some things I want to explain +to you. It may be that you will be willing +to go then of your own free will. If I lay bare +to you every step I have taken since I have been +in Washington; if I make clear to you every +obscure point in this hideous intrigue; if I confess +to you that the Latin compact has been +given up for all time, won't that be enough? +Won't you go then?" +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm's teeth closed with a snap. +</p> +<p> +"I don't want that—from you," he declared. +</p> +<p> +"But if I should tell it all to you?" she +pleaded. +</p> +<p> +"I won't listen, Miss Thorne. You once paid +me the compliment of saying that I was one man +you knew in whom you had never been disappointed." +The listless eyes were blazing into +her own now. "<i>I</i> have never been disappointed +in you. I will not permit you to disappoint me +now. The secrets of your government are mine +if I can get them—but I won't allow you to tell +them to me." +</p> +<p> +"My government!" Miss Thorne repeated, +and her lips curled sadly. "I—I have no government. +I have been cast off by that government, +stripped of my rank, and branded as a +traitor!" +</p> +<p> +"Traitor!" Mr. Grimm's lips formed the +word silently. +</p> +<p> +"I failed, don't you see?" she rushed on. +"Ignominy is the reward of failure. Prince +d'Abruzzi went on to New York that night, cabled +a full account of the destruction of the +compact to my government, and sailed home on +the following day. I was the responsible one, +and now it all comes 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." +</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<a name="CH26"><!-- CHAPTER 26 --></a> +<h3> + XXVI +</h3> + +<h3> +IN WHICH THEY BOTH WIN +</h3> +<p> </p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm dropped into a chair with +his teeth clenched, and his face like +chalk. For a minute or more he sat +there turning it all over in his mind. Truly the +triumph had been robbed of its splendor when +the blow fell here—here upon a woman he loved. +</p> +<p> +"There's no shame in the confession of one +who is fairly beaten," Isabel went on softly, +after a little. "There are many things that +you don't understand. I came to Washington +with an authority from my sovereign higher +even than that vested in the ambassador; I came +<i>as</i> I did and compelled Count di Rosini to obtain +an invitation to the state ball for me in order +that I might meet a representative of Russia +there that night and receive an answer as to +whether or not they would join the compact. I +received that answer; its substance is of no consequence +now. +</p> +<p> +"And you remember where I first met you? +It was while you were investigating the shooting +of Señor Alvarez in the German embassy. That +shooting, as you know, was done by Prince +d'Abruzzi, so almost from the beginning my +plans went wrong because of the assumption of +authority by the prince. The paper he took +from Señor Alvarez after the shooting was supposed +to bear vitally upon Mexico's attitude toward +our plan, but, as it developed, it was about +another matter entirely." +</p> +<p> +"Yes, I know," said Mr. Grimm. +</p> +<p> +"The event of that night which you did <i>not</i> +learn was that Germany agreed to join the compact +upon conditions. Mr. Rankin, who was attached +to the German embassy in an advisory +capacity, delivered the answer to me, and I pretended +to faint in order that I might reasonably +avoid you." +</p> +<p> +"I surmised that much," remarked Mr. +Grimm. +</p> +<p> +"The telegraphing I did with my fan was as +much to distract your attention as anything +else, and at the same time to identify myself to +Mr. Rankin, whom I had never met. You knew +him, of course; I didn't." +</p> +<p> +She was silent a while as her eyes steadily +met those of Mr. Grimm. Finally she went on: +</p> +<p> +"When next I met you it was in the Venezuelan +legation; you were investigating the theft of +the fifty thousand dollars in gold from the safe. +I thrust myself into that case, because I was +afraid of you; and mercilessly destroyed a woman's +name in your eyes to further my plans. I +made you believe that Señorita Rodriguez stole +that fifty thousand dollars, and I returned it to +you, presumably, while we stood in her room that +night. Only it was not her room—it was <i>mine!</i> +<i>I</i> stole the fifty thousand dollars! All the details, +even to her trip to see Mr. Griswold in +Baltimore in company with Mr. Cadwallader, +had been carefully worked out; and she <i>did</i> +bring me the combination of the safe from Mr. +Griswold on the strength of a forged letter. But +she didn't know it. There was no theft, of +course. I had no intention of keeping the +money. It was necessary to take it to distract +attention from the thing I <i>did</i> do—break a lock +inside the safe to get a sealed packet that contained +Venezuela's answer to our plan. I sealed +that packet again, and there was never a suspicion +that it had been opened." +</p> +<p> +"Only a suspicion," Mr. Grimm corrected. +</p> +<p> +"Then came the abduction of Monsieur Boisségur, +the French ambassador. I plunged into +that case as I did in the other because I was +afraid of you and had to know just how much +you knew. It was explained to you as an attempt +at extortion with details which I carefully +supplied. As a matter of fact, Monsieur +Boisségur opposed our plans, even endangered +them; and it was not advisable to have him recalled +or even permit him to resign at the moment. +So we abducted him, intending to hold +him until direct orders could reach him from +Paris. Understand, please, that all these things +were made possible by the aid and cooperation +of dozens, scores, of agents who were under my +orders; every person who appeared in that abduction +was working at my direction. The ambassador's +unexpected escape disarranged our +plans; but he was taken out of the embassy by +force the second time under your very eyes. The +darkness which made this possible was due to the +fact that while you were looking for the switch, +and I was apparently aiding, I was holding my +hand over it all the time to keep you from turning +on the light. You remember that?" +</p> +<p> +Mr. Grimm nodded. +</p> +<p> +"All the rest of it you know," she concluded +wearily. "You compelled me to leave the +Venezuelan legation by your espionage, but in +the crowded hotel to which I moved I had little +difficulty avoiding your Mr. Hastings, your Mr. +Blair and your Mr. Johnson, so I came and +went freely without your knowledge. The escape +of the prince from prison you arranged, so +you understand all of that, as well as the meeting +and attempted signing of the compact, and +the rapid recovery of Señor Alvarez. And, after +all, it was my fault that our plans failed, because +if I had not been—been uneasy as to your +condition and had not made the mistake of going +to the deserted little house where you were a prisoner, +the plans would have succeeded, the compact +been signed." +</p> +<p> +"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 act +of—consideration and kindness to me—" +</p> +<p> +"We would have succeeded in spite of you," +explained Isabel. "We were afraid of you, Mr. +Grimm. It was a compliment to you that we +considered it necessary to account for your +whereabouts at the time of the signing of the +compact." +</p> +<p> +"And if you had succeeded," remarked Mr. +Grimm, "the whole civilized world would have +come to war." +</p> +<p> +"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 is exaltation, +stimulation, excitement in it. It has always +possessed the greatest fascination for me. +I have always won, you know, until now. I +failed! And my reward is 'Traitor!'" +</p> +<p> +"Just a word of assurance now," she went on +after a moment. "The Latin compact 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 know you have wondered; +I know your agents have scoured the +world to find out. I am the daughter of a former +Italian ambassador to the Court of St. +James. My mother was an English woman. I +was born and received my early 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 am an exile with +a price on my head. That is all, except for several +years I was a trusted agent of my government, +and a friend of my queen." +</p> +<p> +She rose and extended both hands graciously. +Mr. Grimm seized the slender white fingers and +stood with eyes fixed upon hers. Slowly a flush +crept into her pallid cheeks, and she bowed her +head. +</p> +<p> +"Wonderful woman!" he said softly. +</p> +<p> +"I shall ask a favor of you now," she went on +gently. "Let all this that you have learned take +the place of whatever you expected to learn, and +go. Believe me, there can only be one result if +you meet—if you meet the inventor of the wireless +cap upon which so much was staked, and so +much lost." She shuddered a little, then raised +the blue-gray eyes beseechingly to his face. +"Please go." +</p> +<p> +Go! The word straightened Mr. Grimm in +his tracks and he allowed her hands to fall limply. +Suddenly his face grew hard. In the ecstasy +of adoration he had momentarily forgotten his +purpose here. His eyes lost their ardor; his +nerveless hands dropped beside him. +</p> +<p> +"No," he said. +</p> +<p> +"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? +You can't; no man can. No one knows the inventor +more intimately than I, and even 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 have +accepted a fortune at the hands of Prince +d'Abruzzi to remain silent. The compact has +failed; you did that. The agents have scattered—gone +to other duties. That is enough." +</p> +<p> +"No," said Mr. Grimm. There was a strange +fear tearing at his heart,—"No one knows the +inventor more intimately than I." "No," he said +again. "I won from my government a promise +to be made good upon a condition—I must fulfil +that condition." +</p> +<p> +"But there is nothing, promotion, honor, reward, +that would compensate you for the loss of +your life," she entreated. "There is still time." +She was pleading now, with her slim white hands +resting on his shoulders, and the blue-gray eyes +fixed upon his face. +</p> +<p> +"It's more than all that," he said. "That +condition is you—your safety." +</p> +<p> +"For me?" she repeated. "For me? Then, +won't you go for—for my sake?" +</p> +<p> +"No." +</p> +<p> +"Won't you go if you know you will be +killed," and suddenly her face turned scarlet, +"and that your life is dear to me?" +</p> +<p> +"No." +</p> +<p> +Isabel dropped upon her knees before him. +</p> +<p> +"This inventor—this man whom you insist +on seeing is half insane with disappointment and +anger," she rushed on desperately. "Remember +that a vast fortune, honor, fame were at his finger +tips when you—you placed them beyond his +reach by the destruction of the compact. He +has sworn to kill you." +</p> +<p> +"I can't go!" +</p> +<p> +"If you <i>know</i> that when you meet one of you +will die?" +</p> +<p> +"No." The answer came fiercely, through +clenched teeth. Mr. Grimm disengaged his +right hand and drew his revolver; the barrel +clicked under his fingers as it spun. +</p> +<p> +"If I tell you that of the two human beings in +this world whom I love this man is one?" +</p> +<p> +"No." +</p> +<p> +A shuffling step sounded in the hallway just +outside. Mr. Grimm stepped back from the +kneeling figure, and turned to face the door with +his revolver ready. +</p> +<p> +"Great God!" It was a scream of agony. +"He is my brother! Don't you see?" +</p> +<p> +She came to her feet and went staggering +across to the door. The key clicked in the lock. +</p> +<p> +"Your brother!" exclaimed Mr. Grimm. +</p> +<p> +"He wouldn't listen to me—<i>you</i> wouldn't +listen to me, and now—and <i>now</i>! God have +mercy!" +</p> +<p> +There was a sharp rattling, a clamor at the +door, and Isabel turned to Mr. Grimm mutely, +with arms outstretched. The revolver barrel +clicked under his hand, then, after a moment, he +replaced the weapon in his pocket. +</p> +<p> +"Please open the door," he requested quietly. +</p> +<p> +"He'll kill you!" she screamed. +</p> +<p> +Exhausted, helpless, she leaned against a +chair with her face in her hands. Mr. Grimm +went to her suddenly, tore the hands from her +face, and met the tear-stained eyes. +</p> +<p> +"I love you," he said. "I want you to know +that!" +</p> +<p> +"And I love you—that's why it matters so." +</p> +<p> +Leaving her there, Mr. Grimm strode straight +to the door and threw it open. 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. There was a short, sharp +struggle, and both went down. The revolver! +He must get 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 his head, and then came a second flash. +Instantly he felt the figure in his arms grow +limp; and after a moment he rose. The face of +the man on the floor was pearly gray; and a +thin, scarlet thread flowed from his temple. +</p> + +<a name="image-5"><!-- Image 5 --></a> +<p class="figure"> +<a href="images/img5.jpg"> +<img width="60%" src="images/img5.jpg" +alt="In a Stride Mr. Grimm Was Beside Her."/></a><br /> +<b>"In a Stride Mr. Grimm Was Beside Her."</b> +</p> + +<p> +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. The blue-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. He lifted her gently and placed her on +a couch, after which he disappeared into another +room. In a little while there came the +cheerful ting-a-ling of a telephone bell. +</p> +<p> +"Is this the county constable's office?" he inquired. +"Well, there's been a little shooting accident +at the Murdock Williams' place, five miles +out from Alexandria on the old Baltimore Road. +Please send some of your men over to take +charge. Two hours from now call up Mr. +Grimm at Secret Service headquarters in Washington +and he will explain. Good-by." +</p> +<p> +And a few minutes later Mr. Grimm walked +along the road toward an automobile a hundred +yards away, bearing Miss Thorne in his arms. +The chauffeur cranked the machine and climbed +to his seat. +</p> +<p> +"Washington!" directed Mr. Grimm. "Never +mind the speed laws." +</p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<center> +<b>THE END</b> +</center> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Elusive Isabel, by Jacques Futrelle + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ELUSIVE ISABEL *** + +***** This file should be named 10943-h.htm or 10943-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/0/9/4/10943/ + +Produced by Steven desJardins and PG Distributed Proofreaders + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Elusive Isabel + +Author: Jacques Futrelle + +Release Date: February 4, 2004 [EBook #10943] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ELUSIVE ISABEL *** + + + + +Produced by Steven desJardins and PG Distributed Proofreaders + + + + +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 city +of evasion, of conventionalities, sated with the commonplace pleasures +of life, listless, blase even, and always exquisitely, albeit frigidly, +courteous; but beneath the still, suave surface strange currents play at +cross purposes, intrigue is endless, and the merciless war of diplomacy +goes on unceasingly. Occasionally, only occasionally, a bubble comes to +the surface, and when it bursts the echo goes crashing around the earth. +Sometimes a dynasty is shaken, a nation trembles, a ministry topples +over; but the ripple moves and all is placid again. No man may know all +that happens there, for then he would be diplomatic master of the +world. + +"There is plenty of red blood in Washington," remarked a jesting +legislative gray-beard, once upon a time, "but it's always frozen before +they put it in circulation. Diplomatic negotiations are conducted in the +drawing-room, but long before that the fight is fought down cellar. The +diplomatists meet at table and there isn't any broken crockery, but you +can always tell what the player thinks of the dealer by the way he draws +three cards. Everybody is after results; and lots of monarchs of Europe +sit up nights polishing their crowns waiting for word from Washington." + +So, this is Washington! And here at dinner are the diplomatic +representatives of all the nations. That is the British ambassador, that +stolid-faced, distinguished-looking, elderly man; and this is the French +ambassador, dapper, volatile, plus-correct; here Russia's highest +representative wags a huge, blond beard; and yonder is the phlegmatic +German ambassador. Scattered around the table, brilliant splotches of +color, are the uniformed envoys of the Orient--the smaller the country +the more brilliant the splotch. It is a state dinner, to be followed by +a state ball, and they are all present. + +The Italian ambassador, Count di Rosini, was trying to interpret a +French _bon mot_ into English for the benefit of the dainty, doll-like +wife of the Chinese minister--who was educated at Radcliffe--when a +servant leaned over him and laid a sealed envelope beside his plate. The +count glanced around at the servant, excused himself to Mrs. Quong Li +Wi, and opened the envelope. Inside was a single sheet of embassy note +paper, 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 it +in pencil: + +"Impossible to-night. Tell her to call at the embassy to-morrow morning +at half-past ten o'clock." + +He folded the note, handed it to the servant, and resumed his +conversation with Mrs. Wi. + +Half an hour later the same servant placed a second sealed envelope +beside his plate. Recognizing the superscription, the ambassador +impatiently shoved it aside, intending to disregard it. But irritated +curiosity finally triumphed, and he opened it. A white card on which was +written 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 a +woman, and just as unmistakably strange to him. He frowned a little as +he stared at it wonderingly, then idly turned the card over. There was +no name on the reverse side--only a crest. Evidently the count +recognized this, for his impassive face reflected surprise for an +instant, and this was followed by a keen, bewildered interest. Finally +he arose, made his apologies, and left the room. His automobile was at +the 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. "I +gave her your message, but she said she must see you and would write you +a 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 a +slightly puzzled expression on his face. Standing before a window, +gazing idly out into the light-spangled night, was a young woman, rather +tall and severely gowned in some rich, glistening stuff which fell away +sheerly from her splendid bare shoulders. She turned and he found +himself looking into a pair of clear, blue-gray eyes, frank enough and +yet in their very frankness possessing an alluring, indefinable +subtlety. He would not have called her pretty, yet her smile, slight as +it was, was singularly charming, and there radiated from her a +something--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 apologized +graciously. "It would at least have saved a little time. You have the +card?" + +He produced it silently, crest down, and handed it to her. She struck a +match, lighted the card, and it crumbled up in her gloved hand. The last +tiny scrap found refuge in a silver tray, where she watched it burn to +ashes, then she turned to the ambassador with a brilliant smile. He was +still 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 of +any consequence, but I should like very much to attend the ball +afterward. Can you arrange it for me?" + +"I don't know just how I would proceed, Madam," the ambassador objected +diffidently. "It would be rather unusual, difficult, I may say, and--" + +"But surely you can arrange it some way?" she interrupted demurely. "The +highest diplomatic representative of a great nation should not find it +difficult to arrange so simple a matter as--as this?" She was smiling. + +"Pardon me for suggesting it, Madam," the ambassador persisted +courteously, "but anything out of the usual attracts attention in +Washington. 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 to +herself." She laughed--a throaty, silvery note that was charming. "And +if you hesitate now, then to-morrow--why, to-morrow I am going to ask +that you open to me all this Washington world--this brilliant world of +diplomatic 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, and +certainly there was an uneasy feeling of rebellion at this attempt to +thrust him forward against all precedent. + +"Your requests are of so extraordinary a nature that--" he began in +courteous protestation. + +There was no trace of impatience in the woman's manner; she was still +smiling. + +"It is necessary that I attend the ball to-night," she explained, "you +may imagine how necessary when I say I sailed from Liverpool six days +ago, reaching New York at half-past three o'clock this afternoon; and at +half-past four I was on my way here. I have been here less than one +hour. I came from Liverpool especially that I might be present; and I +even dressed on the train so there would be no delay. Now do you see the +necessity of it?" + +Diplomatic procedure is along well-oiled grooves, and the diplomatist +who steps out of the rut for an instant happens upon strange and +unexpected obstacles. Knowing this, the ambassador still hesitated. The +woman apparently understood. + +"I had hoped that this would not be necessary," she remarked, and she +produced a small, sealed envelope. "Please read it." + +The ambassador received the envelope with uplifted brows, opened it and +read what was written on a folded sheet of paper. Some subtle working +of his brain brought a sudden change in the expression of his face. +There was wonder in it, and amazement, and more than these. Again he +bowed low. + +"I am at your service, Madam," he repeated. "I shall take pleasure in +making any arrangements that are necessary. Again, I beg your pardon." + +"And it will not be so very difficult, after all, will it?" she +inquired, and she smiled tauntingly. + +"It will not be at all difficult, Madam," the ambassador assured her +gravely. "I shall take steps at once to have an invitation issued to you +for to-night; and to-morrow I shall be pleased to proceed as you may +suggest." + +She nodded. He folded the note, replaced it in the envelope and returned +it to her with another deep bow. She drew her skirts about her and sat +down; he stood. + +"It will be necessary for your name to appear on the invitation," the +ambassador went on to explain. "If you will give me your name I'll have +my secretary--" + +"Oh, yes, my name," she interrupted gaily. "Why, Count, you embarrass +me. You know, really, I have no name. Isn't it awkward?" + +"I understand perfectly, Madam," responded the count. "I should have +said _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. "Please +excuse me a moment, and I'll give my secretary instructions how to +proceed. There will be a delay of a few minutes." + +He opened the door and went out. For a minute or more Miss Thorne sat +perfectly still, gazing at the blank wooden panels, then she rose and +went to the window again. In the distance, hazy in the soft night, the +dome of the capitol rose mistily; over to the right was the +congressional library, and out there where the lights sparkled lay +Pennsylvania Avenue, a thread of commerce. Miss Thorne saw it all, and +suddenly stretched out her arms with an all-enveloping gesture. She +stood so for a minute, then they fell beside her, and she was +motionless. + +Count di Rosini entered. + +"Everything is arranged, Miss Thorne," he announced. "Will you go with +me in my automobile, or do you prefer to go alone?" + +"I'll go alone, please," she answered after a moment. "I shall be there +about 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 another +man's business to peddle shoe-strings, so it was Mr. Campbell's business +to know things. He was a human card index, a governmental ready +reference posted to the minute and backed by all the tremendous +resources of a nation. From the little office in the Secret Service +Bureau, where he sat day after day, radiating threads connected with the +huge outer world, and enabled him to keep a firm hand on the diplomatic +and departmental pulse of Washington. Perhaps he came nearer knowing +everything that happened there than any other man living; and no man +realized more perfectly than he just how little of all of it he did +know. + +In person Mr. Campbell was not unlike a retired grocer who had shaken +the butter and eggs from his soul and settled back to enjoy a life of +placid idleness. He was a little beyond middle age, pleasant of face, +white of hair, and blessed with guileless blue eyes. His genius had no +sparkle to it; it consisted solely of detail and system and +indefatigability, coupled with a memory that was well nigh infallible. +His brain was as serene and orderly as a cash register; one almost +expected to hear it click. + +He sat at his desk intently studying a cable despatch which lay before +him. It was in the Secret Service code. Leaning over his shoulder was +Mr. Grimm--_the_ Mr. Grimm of the bureau. Mr. Grimm was an utterly +different type from his chief. He was younger, perhaps thirty-one or +two, physically well proportioned, a little above the average height, +with regular features and listless, purposeless eyes--a replica of a +hundred other young men who dawdle idly in the windows of their clubs +and watch the world hurry by. His manner was languid; his dress showed +fastidious care. + +Sentence by sentence the bewildering intricacies of the code gave way +before the placid understanding of Chief Campbell, and word by word, +from the chaos of it, a translation took intelligible form upon a sheet +of paper under his right hand. Mr. Grimm, looking on, exhibited only a +most perfunctory interest in the extraordinary message he was reading; +the listless eyes narrowed a little, that was all. It was a special +despatch from Lisbon dated that morning, and signed simply "Gault." +Completely translated it ran thus: + +"Secret offensive and defensive alliance of the Latin against the +English-speaking nations of the world is planned. Italy, France, Spain +and two South American republics will soon sign compact in Washington. +Proposition just made to Portugal, and may be accepted. Special envoys +now working in Mexico and Central and South America. Germany invited to +join, but refuses as yet, giving, however, tacit support; attitude of +Russia and Japan unknown to me. Prince Benedetto d'Abruzzi, believed to +be in Washington at present, has absolute power to sign for Italy, +France and Spain. Profound secrecy enjoined and preserved. I learned of +it 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 for +a long time, staring with steadfast, thoughtful eyes into the impassive +face of his subordinate. Mr. Grimm perched himself on the edge of the +desk and with his legs dangling read the despatch a second time, and a +third. + +"If," he observed slowly, "if any other man than Gault had sent that I +should have said he was crazy." + +"The peace of the world is in peril, Mr. Grimm," said Campbell +impressively, at last. "It had to come, of course, the United States and +England against a large part of Europe and all of Central and South +America. It had to come, and yet--!" + +He broke off abruptly, and picked up the receiver of his desk +telephone. + +"The White House, please," he requested curtly, and then, after a +moment: "Hello! Please ask the president if he will receive Mr. Campbell +immediately. Yes, Mr. Campbell of the Secret Service." There was a +pause. Mr. Grimm removed his immaculate person from the desk, and took a +chair. "Hello! In half an hour? So much!" + +The pages of the Almanac de Gotha fluttered through his fingers, and +finally he leaned forward and studied a paragraph of it closely. When he +raised his eyes again there was that in them which Mr. Grimm had never +seen 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 American +countries, taken separately, are inconsequential, and that is true, too, +of the Latin countries of Europe, except France, but taken in +combination, under one directing mind, the allied navies would be--would +be formidable, at least. Backed by the moral support of Germany, and +perhaps 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 into +the first step toward a world-war--a war of reprisal and conquest beside +which the other great wars of the world would seem trivial. For the fact +has at last come home to the nations of the world that ultimately the +English-speaking peoples will dominate it--dominate it, because they are +the practical peoples. They have given to the world all its great +practical inventions--the railroad, the steamship, electricity, the +telegraph and cable--all of them; they are the great civilizing forces, +rounding the world up to new moral understanding, for what England has +done in Africa and India we have done in a smaller way in the +Philippines and Cuba and Porto Rico; they are the great commercial +peoples, slowly but surely winning the market-places of the earth; +wherever the English or the American flag is planted there the English +tongue is being spoken, and there the peoples are being taught the +sanity of right living and square dealing. + +"It requires no great effort of the imagination, Mr. Grimm, to foresee +that day when the traditional power of Paris, and Berlin, and St. +Petersburg, and Madrid will be honey-combed by the steady encroachment +of our methods. This alliance would indicate that already that day has +been foreseen; that there is now a resentment which is about to find +expression in one great, desperate struggle for world supremacy. A few +hundred years ago Italy--or Rome--was stripped of her power; only +recently the United States dispelled the illusion that Spain was +anything but a shell; and France--! One can't help but wonder if the +power she boasts is not principally on paper. But if their forces are +combined? Do you see? It would be an enormous power to reckon with, with +a hundred bases of supplies right at our doors." + +He rose suddenly and walked over to the window, where he stood for a +moment, staring out with unseeing eyes. + +"Given a yard of canvas, Mr. Grimm," he went on finally, "a Spanish boy +will waste it, a French boy will paint a picture on it, an English boy +will built a sail-boat, and an American boy will erect a tent. That +fully illustrates the difference in the races." + +He abandoned the didactic tone, and returned to the material matter in +hand. Mr. Grimm passed him the despatch and he sat down again. + +"'Will soon sign compact in Washington,'" he read musingly. "Now I don't +know that the signing of that compact can be prevented, but the signing +of 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 a +task made, apparently, not the slightest impression on him. He languidly +drew on his gloves. + +"And meanwhile I shall take steps to ascertain the attitude of Russian +and 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 that +matter. Naturally, on such a mission, he would not come as a publicly +accredited agent, therefore, I imagine, he is to be sought under another +name." + +"Of course," Mr. Grimm acquiesced. + +"And he would avoid the big hotels." + +"Certainly." + +Mr. Campbell permitted his guileless blue eyes to linger inquiringly +upon those of the young man for half a minute. He caught himself +wondering, sometimes, at the perfection of the deliberate indifference +with which Mr. Grimm masked his emotions. In his admiration of this +quality he quite overlooked the remarkable mask of benevolence behind +which he himself hid. + +"And the name, D'Abruzzi," he remarked, after a time. "What does it mean +to 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 Gotha +and glanced at the open page. "Of course, the first thing to do is to +find him; the rest will be simple enough." He perused the page +carelessly. "I will begin work at once." + + + + +III + +THE LANGUAGE OF THE FAN + + +Mr. Grimm was chatting idly with Senorita Rodriguez, daughter of the +minister from Venezuela, the while he permitted his listless eyes to +wander aimlessly about the spacious ball-room of the German embassy, +ablaze with festooned lights, and brilliant with a multi-colored chaos +of uniforms. Gleaming pearl-white, translucent in the mass, were the +bare shoulders of women; and from far off came the plaintive whine of an +orchestra, a pulsing sense rather than a living sound, of music, pointed +here and there by the staccato cry of a flute. A zephyr, perfumed with +the clean, fresh odor of lilacs, stirred the draperies of the archway +which led into the conservatory and rustled the bending branches of +palms and ferns. + +For a scant instant Mr. Grimm's eyes rested on a young woman who sat a +dozen feet away, talking, in playful animation, with an undersecretary +of the British embassy--a young woman severely gowned in some glistening +stuff which fell away sheerly from her splendid bare shoulders. She +glanced up, as if in acknowledgment of his look, and her eyes met his. +Frank, blue-gray eyes they were, stirred to their depths now by +amusement. She smiled at Senorita Rodriguez, in token of recognition. + +"Aren't they wonderful?" asked Senorita Rodriguez with the quick, +bubbling enthusiasm of her race. + +"What?" asked Mr. Grimm. + +"Her eyes," was the reply. "Every person has one dominant feature--with +Miss Thorne it is her eyes." + +"Miss Thorne?" Mr. Grimm repeated. + +"Haven't you met her?" the senorita went on. "Miss Isabel Thorne? She +only arrived a few days ago--the night of the state ball. She's my +guest at the legation. When an opportunity comes I shall present you to +her." + +She ran on, about other things, with only an occasional remark from Mr. +Grimm, who was thoughtfully nursing his knee. Somewhere through the +chatter and effervescent gaiety, mingling with the sound of the pulsing +music, he had a singular impression of a rhythmical beat, an indistinct +tattoo, noticeable, perhaps, only because of its monotony. After a +moment he shot a quick glance at Miss Thorne and understood; it was the +tapping 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 with +a long stare into the senorita's pretty face. Behind the careless ease +of 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 the +senorita banteringly. + +For an instant Mr. Grimm continued to stare, and then his listless eyes +swept the ball-room, pausing involuntarily at the scarlet splendor of +the minister from Turkey. + +"I beg your pardon," he apologized contritely. There was a pause. "The +minister from Turkey looks like a barn on fire, doesn't he?" + +Senorita Rodriguez laughed, and Mr. Grimm glanced idly toward Miss +Thorne. She was still talking, her face alive with interest; and the fan +was 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 faces +swathed," Mr. Grimm suggested indolently. "Haroun el Raschid there would +agree with me on that point, I have no doubt. What a shock he would get +if 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 the +Morse 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 into +the uniforms of its diplomatists? The British ambassador, you will +observe, is clothed sanely and modestly, as befits the representative of +a great nation; but coming on down by way of Spain and Italy, they get +more gorgeous. However, I dare say as stout a heart beats beneath a +sky-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 a +violent sneeze, a vociferous outburst on a bench directly behind Mr. +Grimm. Senorita Rodriguez jumped, then laughed nervously. + +"It startled me," she explained. + +"I think there must be a draft from the conservatory," said a man's +voice apologetically. "Do you ladies feel it? No? Well, if you'll excuse +me--?" + +Mr. Grimm glanced back languidly. The speaker was Charles Winthrop +Rankin, a brilliant young American lawyer who was attached to the German +embassy in an advisory capacity. Among other things he was a Heidelberg +man, having spent some dozen years of his life in Germany, where he +established 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 fan +tapped 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 some +remark 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 roved +aimlessly 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 a +wrinkle, nor the tiniest indication of perplexity in his face. Instead +he began talking of Raphael's cherubs, the remark being called into life +by the high complexion of a young man who was passing. Miss Thorne +glanced at him once keenly, her splendid eyes fairly aglow, and the fan +rattled 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, a +difficulty utterly belied by the quizzical lines about his mouth. As he +caught 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--g +5--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 of +the chair ran on meaninglessly after that. + +"May I bring you an ice?" Mr. Grimm asked at last. + +"If you will, please," responded the senorita, "and when you come back +I'll reward you by presenting you to Miss Thorne. You'll find her +charming; and Mr. Cadwallader has monopolized her long enough." + +Mr. Grimm bowed and left her. He had barely disappeared when Mr. Rankin +lounged along in front of Miss Thorne. He glanced at her, paused and +greeted her effusively. + +"Why, Miss Thorne!" he exclaimed. "I'm delighted to see you here. I +understood you would not be present, and--" + +Their hands met in a friendly clasp as she rose and moved away, with a +nod 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 the +little 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 to +decipher it." + +She gathered up her trailing skirts over one arm, and together they +glided 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 the +chief's face was disturbed by the slightest questioning uplift of his +brows as he dropped into a seat opposite Mr. Grimm, and lighted a cigar. +Mr. Grimm raised his hand, and a servant who stood near, approached +them. + +"An ice--here," Mr. Grimm directed tersely. + +The servant bowed and disappeared, and Mr. Grimm hastily scribbled +something 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 be +unintelligible," Mr. Grimm explained. "I have reason to believe it is +in 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 Continental +code." 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 door +to take the ice which the servant was bringing in. The seat where he had +left Senorita Rodriguez was vacant; so was the chair where Miss Thorne +had been. He glanced about inquiringly, and a servant who stood stolidly +near the conservatory door approached him. + +"Pardon, sir, but the lady who was sitting here," and he indicated the +chair where Miss Thorne had been sitting, "fainted while dancing, and +the 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, with +red 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, vibrant +cra-a-sh! of a revolver, somewhere off to his left. The president! That +was his first thought. One glance across the room to where the chief +executive stood, in conversation with two other gentlemen, reassured +him. The choleric blue eyes of the president had opened a little at the +sound, then he calmly resumed the conversation. Mr. Grimm impulsively +started toward the little group, but already a cordon was being drawn +there--a cordon of quiet-faced, keen-eyed men, unobstrusively forcing +their 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 in +which white-faced women clung to the arms of their escorts, and the +brilliant galaxy of colors halted. Then, after a moment, there came +clearly through the stillness, the excited, guttural command of the +German ambassador. + +"Keep on blaying, you tam fools! Keep on blaying!" + +The orchestra started again tremulously. Mr. Grimm nodded a silent +approval of the ambassador's command, then turned away toward his left, +in the direction of the shot. After the first dismay, there was a +general movement of the crowd in that direction, a movement which was +checked by Mr. Campbell's appearance upon a chair, with a smile on his +bland face. + +"No harm done," he called. "One of the officers present dropped his +revolver, and it was accidently discharged. No harm done." + +There was a moment's excited chatter, deep-drawn breaths of relief, the +orchestra swung again into the interrupted rhythm, and the dancers moved +on. Mr. Grimm went straight to his chief, who had stepped down from the +chair. Two other Secret Service men stood behind him, blocking the +doorway 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-room +until they came to another door opening into the hall. Chief Campbell +pushed it open, and entered. One of his men stood just inside. + +"What was it, Gray?" asked the chief. + +"Senor 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 way +down 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 together +they bent over the wounded man. The bullet had entered the torso just +below the ribs on the left side. + +"It's a clean wound," the physician was explaining. "The bullet passed +through. There's no immediate danger." + +Senor Alvarez opened his eyes, and stared about him in bewilderment; +then alarm overspread his face, and he made spasmodic efforts to reach +the inside breast pocket of his coat. Mr. Grimm obligingly thrust his +hand into the pocket and drew out its contents, the while Senor Alvarez +struggled frantically. + +"Just a moment," Mr. Grimm advised quietly. "I'm only going to let you +see if it is here. Is it?" + +He held the papers, one by one, in front of the wounded man, and each +time a shake of the head was his answer. At the last Senor Alvarez +closed 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?" + +Senor Alvarez was silent. + +"A woman?" + +Still silence. + +With some new idea Mr. Grimm turned away suddenly and started out into +the hall. He met a maid-servant at the door, coming in. Her face was +blanched, 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, Chief +Campbell and the others. Then he caught the maid sharply by the arm and +shook 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 did +she run?" The maid stared at him with mouth agape. "Begin at the +beginning." + +"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't +know--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 indicated +the rear of the house. "Then I came to the door and looked out to see +who it was, and what was the matter, sir. I was standing there when a +man--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 excited +I couldn't open it right away, sir, and--and when I did I came here to +see 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 the +ball-room, sir, just a few minutes ago." + +Whatever emotion may have been aroused within Mr. Grimm it certainly +found no expression in his face. When he spoke again his voice was quite +calm. + +"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 one +called her name." + +Mr. Grimm took the girl, still a-quiver with excitement, and led her +along the hall to where Gray stood. + +"Take this girl in charge, Gray," he directed. "Lock her up, if +necessary. Don't permit her to say one word to anybody--_anybody_ you +understand, except the chief." + +Mr. Grimm left them there. He passed along the hall, glancing in each +room as he went, until he came to a short flight of stairs leading +toward the kitchen. He went on down silently. The lights were burning, +but the place was still, deserted. All the servants who belonged there +were evidently, for the moment, transferred to other posts. He passed on +through the kitchen and out the back door into the street. + +A little distance away, leaning against a lamp-post, a man was +standing. He might have been waiting for a car. Mr. Grimm approached +him. + +"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 an +automobile at the corner. I imagine this is hers," and he extended a +handkerchief, a dainty, perfumed trifle of lace. "I picked it up +immediately after she passed." + +Mr. Grimm took the handkerchief and examined it under the light. For a +time he was thoughtful, with lowered eyes, which, finally raised, met +those of the stranger with a scrutinizing stare. + +"Why," asked Mr. Grimm slowly and distinctly, "why did you slam the door +in 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 repeated +slowly. + +The stranger stared in utter amazement--an amazement so frank, so +unacted, 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, spidery +lines of perplexity, and the guileless blue eyes were vacant as he +stared 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 lucky +enough to find one immediately she came out. She did not return to the +embassy ball last night--that much is certain." He paused reflectively. +"She is a guest of Senorita 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 fact +that she is suspected, unless perhaps the man who slammed the door--" +He paused. "Anyway, she will not attempt to leave Washington; I am +confident of that. Again, it didn't seem wise to me to employ the +ordinary crude police methods in the case--that is, go to the Venezuelan +legation and kick up a row." + +For a long time Campbell was silent; the perplexed lines still furrowed +his benevolent forehead. + +"The president is very anxious that we get to facts in this reported +Latin alliance as soon as possible," he said at last, irrelevantly. "He +mentioned the matter last night, and he has been keeping in constant +communication with Gault, in Lisbon, who, however, has not been able to +add materially to the original despatch. Under all the circumstances +don't you think it would be best for me to relieve you of the +investigation of this shooting affair so that you can concentrate on +this greater and more important thing?" + +"Will Senor 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 while +gazing 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 and +glanced at it. "She arrived in Washington two weeks and two days ago +from New York, off the _Lusitania_, from Liverpool. She brought some +sort of an introduction to Count di Rosini, the Italian ambassador, and +he obtained for her a special invitation to the state ball, which was +held that night. Until four days ago she was a guest at the Italian +embassy, but now, as you know, is a guest at the Venezuelan legation. +Since her arrival here she has been prominently pushed forward into +society; she has gone everywhere, and been received everywhere in the +diplomatic set. We have no knowledge of her beyond this." + +There was a question in Mr. Grimm's listless eyes as they met those of +his chief. The same line of thought was running in both their minds, +born, perhaps, of the association of ideas--Italy as one of three great +nations known to be in the Latin compact; Prince Benedetto d'Abruzzi, of +Italy, the secret envoy of three countries; the sudden appearance of +Miss Thorne at the Italian embassy. And in the mind of the younger man +there was more than this--a definite knowledge of a message cunningly +transmitted to Mr. Rankin, of the German embassy, by Miss Thorne there +in the ball-room. + +"Can you imagine--" he asked slowly, "can you imagine a person who would +be of more value to the Latin governments in Washington right at this +stage 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 the +investigation of the shooting affair to another man," said Mr. Grimm +emphatically, reverting to his chief's question. "I think, on the +contrary, 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 of +paper. + +"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 repeated +musingly. "If I _do_ arrest her immediately I may cut off a clue which +will lead to the other affair. I don't know," he concluded. + +"Use your own judgment, and bear in mind that a man--_a man_ slammed +the door in the maid's face." + +"I shall not forget him," Mr. Grimm answered. "Now I'm going over to +talk to Count di Rosini for a while." + +The young man went out, thoughtfully tugging at his gloves. The Italian +ambassador received him with an inquiring uplift of his dark brows. + +"I came to make some inquiries in regard to Miss Thorne--Miss Isabel +Thorne," 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 in +Washington?" + +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 all +three?" Mr. Grimm continued. + +There was silence for a long time. + +"I don't see the trend of your questioning," said the ambassador +finally. "Miss Thorne is worthy of my protection in every way." + +"Let's suppose a case," suggested Mr. Grimm blandly. "Suppose Miss +Thorne had--had, let us say, shot a man, and he was about to die, would +you feel justified in withdrawing that--that protection, as you call +it?" + +"Such a thing is preposterous!" exclaimed the ambassador. "The utter +absurdity of such a charge would impel me to offer her every +assistance." + +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 Miss +Thorne shot?" + +"No one, particularly," Mr. Grimm assured him easily. "Just suppose +that she _had_ shot anybody--me, say, or Senor 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 Senor 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 on +his little finger. The searching eyes of the ambassador found his face +blankly inscrutable. + +"Diplomatic representatives in Washington have certain obligations to +this government," the young man reminded him. "We--that is, the +government of the United States--undertake to guarantee the personal +safety of every accredited representative; in return for that +protection we must insist upon the name and identity of a dangerous +person who may be known to any foreign representative. Understand, +please, I'm not asserting that Miss Thorne is a dangerous person. You +are sponsor for her here. Is she, in every way, worthy of your +protection?" + +"Yes," said the ambassador flatly. + +"I can take it, then, that the introduction she brought to you is from a +person 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-gray +eyes, in sharp contrast to the glow of radiant health in her cheeks, as +she stepped from an automobile in front of the Venezuelan legation, and +ran lightly up the steps. A liveried servant opened the door. + +"A gentleman is waiting for you, Madam," he announced. "His card is here +on 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 small +drawing-rooms opening on a garden in the rear, pushed aside the +portieres, 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 frank +courtesy. "I am afraid you were expecting some one else; I handed my +card to the footman." + +For an instant the blue-gray eyes opened wide in astonishment, and then +some quick, subtle change swept over Miss Thorne's face. She smiled +graciously and motioned him to a seat. + +"This is quite a different meeting from the one Senorita Rodriguez had +planned, isn't it?" she asked. + +There was a taunting curve on her scarlet lips; the shadow passed from +her eyes; her slim, white hands lay idle in her lap. Mr. Grimm regarded +her reflectively. There was a determination of steel back of this +charming exterior; there was an indomitable will, a keen brain, and all +of a woman's intuition to reckon with. She was silent, with a +questioning upward slant of her arched brows. + +"I am not mistaken in assuming that you are a secret agent of the +Italian government, am I?" he queried finally. + +"No," she responded readily. + +"In that event I may speak with perfect frankness?" he went on. "It +would be as useless as it would be absurd to approach the matter in any +other 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." + +"Senor 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 of +countenance, but involuntarily she caught her breath. It might have +been 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 you +not, shoot him?" + +"No, of course I didn't shoot him," was the reply. If there was any +emotion 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 his +listless eyes rested on her face. "I will be absolutely frank, as I feel +sure you would be under the same circumstances." He paused a moment; she +nodded. "Well, immediately after the shooting you ran along the hallway +with 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 is +not conjecture; it is susceptible of proof by eye witnesses." + +Miss Thorne rose suddenly with a queer, helpless little gesture of her +arms, and walked to the window. She stood there for a long time with her +hands clasped behind her back. + +"That brings us to another question," Mr. Grimm continued mercilessly. +"If you did not shoot Senor 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 the +person who actually did the shooting," he explained. "If you adhere to +it you compel me to regard you as an accomplice." His questioning took a +different 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 lying +there 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 hallway +and escape by way of the kitchen? If you did not do the shooting, why +the necessity of escape, carrying the revolver?" + +There was that in the blue-gray eyes which brought Mr. Grimm to his +feet. 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, that +you, 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 or +woman, who fired the shot. I will assume, for the moment, that this is +correct. Where is the revolver?" + +From the adjoining room there came a slight noise, a faint breath of +sound; or it might have been only an echo of silence. Their eyes were +fixed each upon the others unwaveringly, with not a flicker to indicate +that either had heard. After a moment Miss Thorne returned to her chair +and sat down. + +"It's rather a singular situation, isn't it, Mr. Grimm?" she inquired +irrelevantly. "You, Mr. Grimm of the Secret Service of the United +States; I, Isabel Thorne, a secret agent of Italy together here, one +accusing 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 with +you and--" + +"If you had been any one else but _you_ I should have placed you under +arrest 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 the +revolver because I knew who had fired the shot. Believe me when I tell +you that that person did not act with my knowledge or consent. You do +believe 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 my +misfortune. It will in no way alter my determination to keep silent. If +I 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 Senor Alvarez immediately after +he was shot?" Mr. Grimm queried. + +"I don't know," she replied frankly. + +"As I understand it, then, the motive for the shooting was to obtain +possession of that paper? For your government?" + +"The individual who shot Senor Alvarez _did_ obtain the paper, yes. And +now, please, am I to be arrested?" + +"And just what was the purpose, may I inquire, of the message you +telegraphed with your fan in the ball-room?" + +"You read that?" exclaimed Miss Thorne in mock astonishment. "You read +that?" + +"And the man who read that message? Perhaps he shot the senor?" + +"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 known +nervousness. A moment longer he stared, and then: + +"Madam, you are my prisoner for the attempted murder of Senor Alvarez!" + +The rings on the portieres behind him clicked sharply, and the draperies +parted. 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. After +a moment his glance shifted to the blazing eyes of the man who held +it--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 barrel +end.] + +"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 interrupted +quietly. "Is this the one?" + +He raised his hand quite casually, and his fingers closed like steel +around the weapon. Behind his back Miss Thorne made some quick emphatic +gesture, and the new-comer released the revolver. + +"I shall ask you, please, to free Miss Thorne," he requested +courteously. "I shot Senor Alvarez. I, too, am a secret agent of the +Italian government, willing and able to defend myself. Miss Thorne has +told you the truth; she had nothing whatever to do with it. She took the +weapon and escaped because it was mine. Here is the paper that was taken +from Senor Alvarez," and he offered a sealed envelope. "I have read it; +it is not what I expected. You may return it to Senor Alvarez with my +compliments." + +After a moment Mr. Grimm's hand fell away from Miss Thorne's arm, and +he 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 all +responsibility." + +A few minutes later Mr. Grimm and his prisoner passed out of the +legation side by side, and strolled down the street together, in +amicable conversation. Half an hour later Senor Alvarez identified +Pietro Petrozinni as the man who shot him; and the maid servant +expressed 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 chief +reminded 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. Grimm +interrupted. And then, after a moment: "Have we received any further +reports 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 becomes +plain sailing. We know she _is_ a secret agent--I expected a denial, but +she was quite frank about it. And I had no intention whatever of placing +her under arrest. I knew some one was in the adjoining room because of a +slight noise in there, and I knew she knew it. She raised her voice a +little, obviously for the benefit of whoever was there. From that point +everything I said and did was to compel that person, whoever it was, to +show 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, "was +that the person in there was the man who shot Senor Alvarez. Frankly I +had half an idea that--that it might be the prince in person." Suddenly +his mood changed: "And now our lady of mystery may come and go as she +likes because I know, even if a dozen of our men have ransacked +Washington in vain for the prince, she will inevitably lead us to him. +And that reminds me: I should like to borrow Blair, and Hastings, and +Johnson. Please plant them so they may keep constant watch on Miss +Thorne. Let them report to you, and, wherever I am, I will reach you +over the 'phone." + +"By the way, what was in that sealed packet that was taken from Senor +Alvarez?" 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 senor. +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 of +the other, then Mr. Grimm entered his private office where he sat for an +hour with his immaculate boots on his desk, thinking. A world-war--he +had been thrust forward by his government to prevent it--subtle +blue-gray eyes--his Highness, Prince Benedetto d'Abruzzi--a haunting +smile and scarlet lips. + +At about the moment he rose to go out, Miss Thorne, closely veiled, left +the Venezuelan legation and walked rapidly down the street to a corner, +where, without a word, she entered a waiting automobile. The wheels spun +and the car leaped forward. For a mile or more it wound aimlessly in and +out, occasionally bisecting its own path; finally Miss Thorne leaned +forward and touched the chauffeur on the arm. + +"Now!" she said. + +The car straightened out into a street of stately residences and +scuttled along until the placid bosom of the Potomac came into view; +beside that for a few minutes, then over the bridge to the Virginia +side, in the dilapidated little city of Alexandria. The car did not +slacken its speed, but wound in and out through dingy streets, past +tumble-down negro huts, for half an hour before it came to a standstill +in 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 into +the car silently. Again it moved forward, on to the end of the dingy +street, and finally into the open country. Three, four, five miles, +perhaps, out the old Baltimore Road, and again the car stopped, this +time in front of an ancient colonial farm-house. + +Outwardly the place seemed to be deserted. The blinds, battered and +stripped of paint by wind and rain, were all closed, and one corner of +the 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 of +the house, rising from an old barn, a thin pole with a cup-like +attachment at the apex, thrust its point into the open above the dense, +odorous pines. It appeared to be a wireless mast. Miss Thorne passed +around the house, and entered the barn. + +A man came forward and kissed her--a thin, little man of indeterminate +age--drying his hands on a piece of cotton waste. His face was pale with +the pallor of one who knows little outdoor life, his eyes deep-set and +a-glitter with some feverish inward fire, and the thin lips were pressed +together in a sharp line. Behind him was a long bench on which were +scattered tools of various sorts, fantastically shaped chemical +apparatus, two or three electric batteries of odd sizes, and ranged +along one end of it, in a row, were a score or more metal spheroids, a +shade larger than a one-pound shell. From somewhere in the rear came the +clatter of a small gasoline engine, and still farther away was an +electric 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 will +be, 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 will +come, and with it the dominion of the world again by our country. How +will I know when the date is fixed? It would not be well to write me +here." + +My lady of mystery stroked the slender, nervous hand caressingly, and a +great affection shone in the blue-gray eyes. + +"At eight o'clock on the night of the test," she explained, still +speaking Italian, "a single light will appear at the apex of the capitol +dome in Washington. That is the signal agreed upon; it can be seen by +all 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 went +on. + +"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 without +difficulty." + +"And all your plans are working out well?" + +"Yes. And yours?" + +"I don't think there is any question but that both England and the +United States will buy. Do you know what it means? Do you know what it +means?" He was silent a moment, his hands working nervously. Then, with +an effort: "And his Highness?" + +"His Highness is safe." The subtle eyes grew misty, thoughtful for a +moment, 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 locked +in the safe at the legation; I will know what it is within forty-eight +hours." She was silent a little. "Our difficulty now, our greatest +difficulty, is the hostility of the French ambassador to the compact. +His government has not yet notified him of the presence of Prince +d'Abruzzi; he does not believe in the feasibility of the plan, and we +have to--to proceed to extremes to prevent him working against us." + +"But they _must_ see the incalculable advantages to follow upon such a +compact, with the vast power that will be given to them over the whole +earth 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 are +you? Are you well? Are you comfortable? It's such a dreary old place +here." + +"I suppose so," he replied, and he met the solicitous blue-gray eyes for +an instant. "Yes, I am quite comfortable," he added. "I have no time to +be 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 the +long table and curiously lifted one of the spheroids. It was a sinister +looking thing, nickeled, glittering. At one end of it was a delicate, +vibratory apparatus, not unlike the transmitter of a telephone, and the +other end was threaded, as if the spheroid was made as an attachment to +some other device. + +"With that we control the world!" exclaimed the man triumphantly. "And +it's mine, Rosa, mine!" + +"It's wonderful!" she mused softly. "Wonderful! And now I must go. I may +not see you again until after the test, because I shall be watched and +followed wherever I go. If I get an opportunity I shall reach you by +telephone, but not even that unless it is necessary. There is always +danger, always danger!" she repeated thoughtfully. She was thinking of +Mr. Grimm. + +"I understand," said the man simply. + +"And look out for the signal--the light in the apex of the capitol +dome," 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'clock +by your chronometer?" + +"At three o'clock," he repeated. + +For a moment they stood with their arms around each other, then tenderly +his visitor kissed him, and went out. He remained looking after her +vacantly until the chug-chug of her automobile, as it moved off down the +road, was lost in the distance, then turned again to the long +work-table. + + + + +VIII + +MISS THORNE AND NOT MISS THORNE + + +From a pleasant, wide-open bay-window of her apartments on the second +floor, Miss Thorne looked out upon the avenue with inscrutable eyes. +Behind the closely drawn shutters of another bay-window, farther down +the avenue, on the corner, she knew a man named Hastings was hiding; she +knew that for an hour or more he had been watching her as she wrote. In +the other direction, in a house near the corner, another man named Blair +was similarly ensconced, and he, too, had been watching as she wrote. +There should be a third man, Johnson. Miss Thorne curiously studied the +face of each passer-by, seeking therein something to remember. + +She sat at the little mahogany desk and a note with the ink yet wet +upon it lay face up before her. It was addressed to Signor Pietro +Petrozinni in the district prison, and read: + +"My Dear Friend: + +"I have been waiting to write you with the hope that I could report +Senor Alvarez out of danger, but his condition, I regret to say, remains +unchanged. Shall I send an attorney to you? Would you like a book of any +kind? Or some delicacy sent in from a restaurant? Can I be of any +service 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, folded +it, placed it in an envelope and sealed it. A maid came in answer to her +ring, and there at the window, under the watchful eyes of Blair and +Hastings--and, perhaps, Johnson--she handed the note to the maid with +instructions to mail it immediately. Two minutes later she saw the maid +go out along the avenue to a post-box on the corner. + +Then she drew back into the shadow of the room, slipped on a +dark-colored wrap, and, standing away from the window, safe beyond the +reach of prying eyes, waited patiently for the postman. He appeared +about five o'clock and simultaneously another man turned the corner near +the post-box and spoke to him. Then, together, they disappeared from +view 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 carefully +watched." + +A few minutes later she dropped into the seat at the desk again. The +dark wrap had been thrown aside and Hastings and Blair from their +hiding-places could see her distinctly. After a while they saw her rise +quickly, as an automobile turned into the avenue, and lean toward the +window eagerly looking out. The car came to a standstill in front of the +legation, and Mr. Cadwallader, an under-secretary of the British +embassy, who was alone in the car, raised his cap. She nodded and +smiled, then disappeared in the shadows of the room again. + +Mr. Cadwallader went to the door, spoke to the servant there, then +returned and busied himself about the car. Hastings and Blair watched +intently both the door and the window for a long time; finally a closely +veiled and muffled figure appeared at the bay-window, and waved a gloved +hand at Mr. Cadwallader, who again lifted his cap. A minute later the +veiled woman came out of the front door, shook hands with Mr. +Cadwallader, and got in the car. He also climbed in, and the car moved +slowly away. + +Simultaneously the front door of the house on the corner, where Hastings +had been hiding, and the front door of the house near the corner, where +Blair had been hiding, opened and two heads peered out. As the car +approached Hastings' hiding-place he withdrew into the hallway; but +Blair came out and hurried past the legation in the direction of the +rapidly 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 the +corner, out through Alexandria, and along the old Baltimore Road into +the city of Baltimore," he explained. "It was dark by the time we +reached Alexandria, but we stuck to the car ahead, running without +lights until we came in sight of Druid Hill Park, and then we had to +show lights or be held up. We covered those forty miles going in less +than two hours. + +"After the car passed Druid Hill it slowed up a little, and ran off the +turnpike into North Avenue, then into North Charles Street, and slowly +along that as if they were looking for a number. At last it stopped and +Miss Thorne got out and entered a house. She was gone for more than half +an hour, leaving Mr. Cadwallader with the car. While she was gone I made +some inquiries and learned that the house was occupied by a Mr. Thomas +Q. Griswold. I don't know anything else about him; Blair may have +learned something. + +"Now comes the curious part of it," and Hastings looked a little +sheepish. "When Miss Thorne came out of the house she was not Miss +Thorne at all--_she was Senorita Inez Rodriguez_, daughter of the +Venezuelan minister. She wore the same clothing Miss Thorne had worn +going, but her veil was lifted. Veiled and all muffled up one would have +taken oath it was the same woman. She and Cadwallader are back in +Washington now, or are coming. That's all, except Blair is still in +Baltimore, awaiting orders. I caught the train from the Charles Street +station and came back. Johnson, you know--" + +"Yes, I've seen Johnson," interrupted Campbell. "Are you absolutely +positive that the woman you saw get into the automobile with Mr. +Cadwallader was Miss Thorne?" + +"Absolutely," replied Hastings without hesitation. "I saw her in her +own room with her wraps on, then saw her come down and get into the +car." + +"That's all," said the chief. "Good night." For an hour or more he sat +in a great, comfortable chair in the smoking-room of his own home, the +guileless blue eyes vacant, staring, and spidery lines in the benevolent +forehead. + + * * * * * + +On the morning of the second day following, Senor Rodriguez, the +minister from Venezuela, reported to the Secret Service Bureau the +disappearance of fifty thousand dollars in gold from a safe in his +private office at the legation. + + + + +IX + +FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS + + +Mr. Campbell was talking. + +"For several months past," he said, "the International Investment +Company, through its representative, Mr. Cressy, has been secretly +negotiating with Senor Rodriguez for certain asphalt properties in +Venezuela. Three days ago these negotiations were successfully +concluded, and yesterday afternoon Mr. Cressy, in secret, paid to Senor +Rodriguez, fifty thousand dollars in American gold, the first of four +payments of similar sums. This gold was to have been shipped to +Philadelphia by express to-day to catch a steamer for Venezuela." Mr. +Grimm nodded. + +"The fact that this gold was in Senor Rodriguez's possession could not +have been known to more than half a dozen persons, as the negotiations +throughout have been in strict secrecy," and Mr. Campbell smiled +benignly. "So much! Now, Senor Rodriguez has just telephoned asking that +I send a man to the legation at once. The gold was kept there over +night; or perhaps I should say that the senor intended to keep it there +over night." Mr. Campbell stared at Mr. Grimm for a moment, then: "Miss +Thorne, you know, is a guest at the legation, that is why I am referring +the matter to you." + +"I understand," said Mr. Grimm. + +And ten minutes later Mr. Grimm presented himself to Senor Rodriguez. +The minister from Venezuela, bubbling with excitement, was pacing forth +and back across his office, ruffling his gray-black hair with nervous, +twining fingers. Mr. Grimm sat down. + +"Senor," he inquired placidly, "fifty thousand dollars in gold would +weigh nearly two hundred pounds, wouldn't it?" + +Senor Rodriguez stared at him blankly. + +"_Si, Senor_," he agreed absently. And then, in English: "Yes, I should +imagine 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, apparently +bewildered, walked forth and back across the room again. Finally he sat +down. + +"All of it," he admitted. "I can't understand it. No one, not a soul in +this house, except myself, knew it was here." + +"In addition to this weight of, say two hundred pounds, fifty thousand +dollars would make considerable bulk," mused Mr. Grimm. "Very well! +Therefore it would appear that the person, or persons, who got it must +have gone away from here heavily laden?" + +Senor Rodriguez nodded. + +"And now, Senor," Mr. Grimm continued, "if you will kindly state the +circumstances immediately preceding and following the theft?" + +A slight frown which had been growing upon the smooth brow of the +diplomatist was instantly dissipated. + +"The money--fifty thousand dollars in gold coin--was paid to me +yesterday afternoon about four o'clock," he began slowly, in +explanation. + +"By Mr. Cressy of the International Investment Company," supplemented +Mr. 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 nine +o'clock while I, personally, counted it. As I counted it I placed it in +canvas bags and when he had gone I took these bags from this room into +that," he indicated a closed door to his right, "and personally stowed +them 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 the +money was gone--every dollar of it." + +"Safe blown?" inquired Mr. Grimm. + +"No, Senor!" exclaimed the diplomatist with sudden violence. "No, the +safe was not blown! It was _closed and locked_, exactly as I had left +it!" + +Mr. Grimm was idly twisting the seal ring on his little finger. + +"Just as I left it!" Senor Rodriguez repeated excitedly. "Last night +after 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 had +stopped precisely at number forty-five. This morning, when I unlocked +the safe--and, of course, I didn't know then that the money had been +taken--the pointer was still at number forty-five." + +He paused with one hand in the air; Mr. Grimm continued to twist the +seal 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 had +not put the money into the safe at all!" + +"Did you?" inquired Mr. Grimm amiably. + +"Did I?" blazed Senor Rodriguez. "Why, Senor--! I did!" he concluded +meekly. + +Mr. Grimm believed him. + +"Who else knows the combination of the safe?" he queried. + +"No one, Senor--not a living soul." + +"Your secretary, for instance?" + +"Not even my secretary." + +"Some servant--some member of your family?" + +"I tell you, Senor, not one person in all the world knew that +combination except myself," Senor Rodriguez insisted. + +"Your secretary--a servant--some member of your family might have seen +you unlock the safe some time, and thus learned the combination?" + +Senor Rodriguez did not quite know whether to be annoyed at Mr. Grimm's +persistence, or to admire the tenacity with which he held to this one +point. + +"You must understand, Senor Grimm, that many state documents are kept +in the safe," he said finally, "therefore it is not advisable that any +one should know the combination. I have made it an absolute rule, as did +my predecessors here, never to unlock the safe in the presence of +another person." + +"State documents!" Mr. Grimm's lips silently repeated the words. Then +aloud: "Perhaps there's a record of the combination somewhere? If you +had died suddenly, for instance, how would the safe have been opened?" + +"There would have been only one way, Senor--blow it open. There is no +record." + +"Well, if we accept all that as true," observed Mr. Grimm musingly, "it +would 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 money +was taken out of the safe without it being unlocked. This last would +have been a miracle, and this is not the day of miracles, therefore--!" + +Mr. Grimm's well modulated voice trailed off into silence. Senor +Rodriguez came to his feet with a blaze of anger in his eyes; Mr. Grimm +was watching him curiously. + +"I understand then, Senor," said the minister deliberately, "that you +believe that I--!" + +"I believe that you have told the truth," interrupted Mr. Grimm +placidly, "that is the truth so far as you know it. But you have stated +one thing in error. Somebody besides yourself _does_ know the +combination. Whether they knew it or not at this time yesterday I can't +say, but somebody knows it now." + +Senor Rodriguez drew a deep breath of relief. The implied accusation had +been 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 the +trouble to explain, "who could unlock any safe--that is, any safe of the +kind used at that time--twelve or fourteen years ago. So you see. I +doubt if he would be so successful with the new models, with all their +improvements, but then--! You know he would have made an ideal burglar, +that chap. Now, Senor, who lives here in the legation with you?" + +"My secretary, Senor Diaz, my daughter Inez, and just at the moment, a +Miss Thorne--Miss Isabel Thorne," the senor informed him. "Also four +servants--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." + +Senor Rodriguez started toward the closed door just as there came a +timid knock from the hall. He glanced at Mr. Grimm, who nodded, then he +called: + +"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 white +neck. At sight of Mr. Grimm the blue-gray eyes opened as if in +surprise, and she paused irresolutely. + +"I beg your pardon, Senor," she said, addressing the diplomatist. "I did +not know you were engaged. And Mr. Grimm!" She extended a slim, white +hand, and the young man bowed low over it. "We are old friends," she +explained, smilingly, to the minister. Then: "I think I must have +dropped my handkerchief when I was in here yesterday with Inez. Perhaps +you found it?" + +"_Si, Senorita_," replied Senor Rodriguez gallantly. "It is on my desk +in here. Just a moment." + +He opened the door and passed into the adjoining room. Mr. Grimm's eyes +met those of Miss Isabel Thorne, and there was no listlessness in them +now, only interest. She smiled at him tauntingly and lowered her lids. +Senor Rodriguez appeared from the other room with the handkerchief. + +"_Mil gracias, Senor_," she thanked him. + +"_No hay de que, Senorita_," he returned, as he opened the door for +her. + +"_Monsieur Grimm, au revoir_!" She dropped a little curtsey, and still +smiling, went out. + +"She is charming, Senor," the diplomatist assured him enthusiastically, +albeit irrelevantly. "Such vivacity, such personality, such--such--she +is charming." + +"The safe, please," Mr. Grimm reminded him. + + + + +X + +A SAFE OPENING + + +Together they entered the adjoining room, which was small compared to +the one they had just left. Senor Rodriguez used it as a private office. +His desk was on their right between two windows overlooking the same +pleasant little garden which was visible from the suite of tiny +drawing-rooms farther along. The safe, a formidable looking receptacle +of black enameled steel, stood at their left, closed and locked. The +remaining 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. Grimm +inquired. + +"Not a soul, Senor," was the reply. + +Mr. Grimm went over and examined the windows. They were both locked +inside; and there were no marks of any sort on the sills. + +"They are just as I left them last night," explained Senor Rodriguez. "I +have not touched them to-day." + +"And there's only one door," mused Mr. Grimm, meaning that by which they +had entered. "So it would appear that whoever was here last night +entered through that room. Very well." + +He walked around the room once, opening and shutting the doors of the +cabinets as he passed, and finally paused in front of the safe. A brief +examination of the nickeled dial and handle and of the enameled edges of +the heavy door satisfied him that no force had been employed--the safe +had merely been unlocked. Whereupon he sat himself down, cross-legged on +the 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 pressed +closely against the polished door, turned the dial slowly back. Senor +Rodriguez stood looking on helplessly, but none the less intently. The +pointer read ten, then nine, eight, seven, five. Mr. Grimm gazed at it +thoughtfully, after which he did it all over again, placidly and without +haste. + +"Now, we'll look inside, please," he requested, rising. + +Senor Rodriguez unlocked the safe the while Mr. Grimm respectfully +turned his eyes away, then pulled the door wide open. The books had been +piled one on top of another and thrust into various pigeonholes at the +top. Mr. Grimm understood that this disorder was the result of making +room 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 remarked +after a moment. + +"_Si, Senor_," the diplomatist agreed. "Evidently the robbers were not +content with only fifty thousand dollars in gold--they imagined that +something else of value was hidden there." + +"Was there?" asked Mr. Grimm naively. He didn't look around. + +"Nothing of monetary value," the senor explained. "There were some +important state papers in there--they are there yet--but no money." + +"None of the papers was stolen?" + +"No, Senor. 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 all +unsealed save the last. When he reached for that, Senor Rodriguez made a +quick, involuntary motion toward it with his hand. + +"This one's sealed," commented Mr. Grimm. "It doesn't happen that you +opened it and sealed it again?" + +Senor Rodriguez stood staring at him blankly for a moment, then some +sudden 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, Senor." + +"Going to open it?" asked Mr. Grimm. + +"Yes, Senor. 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 splotches +of wax upon it, each impressed with the legation seal; the envelope was +without marks otherwise. He turned and twisted it aimlessly, and peered +curiously at the various seals, after which he handed it to the frankly +impatient diplomatist. + +Senor Rodriguez opened it, with nervous, twitching fingers. Mr. Grimm +had turned toward the safe again, but he heard the crackle of parchment +as some document was drawn out of the envelope, and then came a deep +sigh of relief. Having satisfied his sudden fears for the safety of the +paper, whatever it was, the senor placed it in another envelope and +sealed it again with elaborate care. Mr. Grimm dropped into the swivel +chair at the desk. + +"Senor," he inquired pleasantly, "your daughter and Miss Thorne were in +this 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's +handkerchief?" He paused and regarded Mr. Grimm keenly. "Senor, what am +I to understand from that question?" + +"It was plain enough," replied Mr. Grimm. "Where did you find that +handkerchief?" There was silence for an instant. "In this room?" + +"Yes," replied Senor Rodriguez at last. + +"Near the safe?" Mr. Grimm persisted. + +"Yes," came the slow reply, again. "Just here," and he indicated a spot +a little to the left of the safe. + +"And _when_ did you find it? Yesterday afternoon? Last night? This +morning?" + +"This morning," and without any apparent reason the diplomatist's face +turned deathly white. + +"But, Senor--Senor, you are mistaken! There can be nothing--! A woman! +Two hundred pounds of gold! Senor!" + +Mr. Grimm was still pleasant about it; his curiosity was absolutely +impersonal; his eyes, grown listless again, were turned straight into +the other's face. + +"If that handkerchief had been there last night, Senor," he resumed +quietly, "wouldn't you have noticed it when you placed the gold in the +safe?" + +Senor Rodriguez stared at him a long time. + +"I don't know," he said, at last. He dropped back into a chair with his +face in his hands. "Senor," he burst out suddenly, impetuously, after a +moment, "if the gold is not recovered I am ruined. You understand that +better than I can tell you. It's the kind of thing that could not be +explained to my government." He rose suddenly and faced the impassive +young man, with merciless determination in his face. "You must find the +gold, Senor," he said. + +"No matter who may be--who may suffer?" inquired Mr. Grimm. + +"Find the gold, Senor!" + +"Very well," commented Mr. Grimm, without moving. "Do me the favor, +please, to regain possession of the handkerchief you just returned to +Miss Thorne, and to send to me here your secretary, Senor Diaz, and your +servants, 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." + +Senor Rodriguez replaced the packet without question, afterward locking +the door, then went out. A moment later Senor Diaz appeared. He remained +with Mr. Grimm for just eight minutes. Senor Rodriguez entered again as +his 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, Senor_." + +"There's no doubt whatever about it?" + +"No, Senor, 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; the +second--the butler--was there five minutes; one of the women was not +questioned at all; the other remained ten minutes. Mr. Grimm followed +her into the hall; Senor Rodriguez stood there helpless, impatient. + +"Well?" he demanded eagerly. + +"I'm going out a little while," replied Mr. Grimm placidly. "No one has +even an intimation of the affair--please keep the matter absolutely to +yourself 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 the +diplomatist's private office, sat down in front of the locked safe +again, and set the dial at thirty-six. Senor Rodriguez looked on, +astonished, as Mr. Grimm pressed the soft rubber sounder of a +stethoscope against the safe door and began turning the dial back toward +ten, 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. "And +now, 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, of +scarlet in her hair--a single red rose--Miss Thorne came into the +drawing-room where Mr. Grimm sat waiting. There was curiosity in her +manner, thinly veiled, but the haunting smile still lingered about her +lips. Mr. Grimm bowed low, and placed a chair for her, after which he +stood for a time staring down at one slim, white hand at rest on the arm +of the seat. At last, he, too, sat down. + +"I believe," he said slowly, without preliminaries, "this is your +handkerchief?" + +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 Senor 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 Senor Rodriguez's butler positively +identifies 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 senor identifies it as one he found this morning in his office," +Mr. Grimm explained obligingly. "During the night fifty thousand dollars +in gold were stolen from his safe." + +There was not the slightest change of expression in her face; the +blue-gray eyes were still inquiring in their gaze, the white hands still +at rest, the scarlet lips still curled slightly, an echo of a smile. + +"No force was used in opening the safe," Mr. Grimm resumed. "It was +unlocked. It's an old model and I have demonstrated how it could have +been opened either with the assistance of a stethoscope, which catches +the 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. Grimm +courteously. "No reason appears why you should have taken it. But I'm +not seeking reasons, nor am I seeking disagreeable publicity--only the +money." + +"It seems to me you attach undue importance to the handkerchief," she +objected. + +"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 is +the difficulty of entrance, the weight of the gold, the ingenious method +of opening the safe, and the assumption that not more than six persons +knew the money was in the safe; while a person in the house _might_ have +learned it in any of a dozen ways. And, in addition, is the fact that +the handkerchief is odd, therefore noticeable. A lace expert assures me +there's probably not another like it in the world." + +He stopped. Miss Thorne's eyes sparkled and a smile seemed to be tugging +at the corners of her mouth. She spread out the handkerchief on her +knees. + +"You could identify this again, of course?" she queried. + +"Yes." + +She thoughtfully crumpled up the bit of lace in both hands, then opened +them. 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 restored +to me at dinner, after I lost one in the senor's office, might have been +either of these, or one of ten other duplicates in my room, all given to +me 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 shall +insist upon the return of the money, and if it is not forthcoming I dare +say Count di Rosini, the Italian ambassador, would be pleased to give +his personal check rather than have the matter become public." She +started to interrupt; he went on. "In any event you will be requested to +leave 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, and +there 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 am +convinced, and Count di Rosini has practically assured me that--" + +"It's unjust!" she interrupted passionately. "It's--it's--you have +proved 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?" she +demanded finally. "And if I _do_ convince you--?" + +"I should be delighted to believe that I have made a mistake," Mr. Grimm +assured 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 for +adjustment," 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 Pennsylvania +Avenue and Fourteenth Street to-night at one." + +He was there; the carriage was on time; and my lady of mystery was +inside. 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," she +queried solicitously, "would it be necessary for you to know who was +the--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, although +it holds itself in readiness to do so. I dare say in this case there +would be no arrest or prosecution, because of--of reasons which appear +to be good." + +"There wouldn't?" and there was a note of eagerness in her voice. "The +identity of the guilty person would never appear?" + +"It would become a matter of record in our office, but beyond that I +think 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 remarkable +position. You seemed convinced of my guilt, and, if you'll pardon me, +without reason; then you made it compulsory upon me to establish my +innocence. The only way for me to do that was to find the guilty one. I +have 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 an +honorable rather than a lucrative one; he has no fortune. This girl +moves in a certain set devoted to bridge, and stakes are high. She +played and won, and played and won, and on and on, until her winnings +were about eight thousand dollars. Then luck turned. She began to lose. +Her money went, but she continued to play desperately. Finally some old +family jewels were pawned without her father's knowledge, and ultimately +they were lost. One day she awoke to the fact that she owed some nine or +ten thousand dollars in bridge debts. They were pressing and there was +no way to meet them. This meant exposure and utter ruin, and women do +strange things, Mr. Grimm, to postpone such an ending to social +aspirations. I know this much is true, for she related it all to me +herself. + +"At last, in some way--a misplaced letter, perhaps, or a word +overheard--she learned that fifty thousand dollars would be in the +legation safe overnight, and evidently she learned the precise night." +She paused a moment. "Here is the address of a man in Baltimore, Thomas +Q. Griswold," and she passed a card to Mr. Grimm, who sat motionless, +listening. "About four years ago the combination on the legation safe +was changed. This man was sent here to make the change, therefore some +one besides Senor Rodriguez _does_ know the combination. I have +communicated with this man to-day, for I saw the possibility of just +such a thing as this instead of your stethoscope. By a trick and a +forged 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 at +sight of it all--do you see what must have been the temptation then? We +get out here." + +There were many unanswered questions in Mr. Grimm's mind. He repressed +them for the time, stepped out and assisted Miss Thorne to alight. The +carriage had turned out of Pennsylvania Avenue, and at the moment he +didn't quite place himself. A narrow passageway opened before +them--evidently the rear entrance to a house possibly in the next +street. Miss Thorne led the way unhesitatingly, cautiously unlocked the +door, and together they entered a hall. Then there was a short flight of +stairs, and they stepped into a room, one of a suite. She closed the +door and turned on the lights. + +"The bags of gold are in the next room," she said with the utmost +composure. + +Mr. Grimm dragged them out of a dark closet, opened one--there were +ten--and allowed the coins to dribble through his fingers. Finally he +turned and stared at Miss Thorne, who, pallid and weary, stood looking +on. + +"Where are we?" he asked. "What house is this?" + +"The Venezuelan legation," she answered. "We are standing less than +forty 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!" + +"Senorita 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 the +pleading eyes; and a certain tense expression about his lips passed. For +an instant her hand trembled on his arm, and he caught the fragrance of +her hair. + +"Where is she now?" he asked. + +"Playing bridge," replied Miss Thorne, with a sad little smile. "It is +always so--at least twice a week, and she rarely returns before two or +half-past." She extended both hands impetuously, entreatingly. "Please +be generous, Mr. Grimm. You have the gold; don't destroy her." + +Senor Rodriguez, the minister from Venezuela, found the gold in his safe +on the following morning, with a brief note from Mr. Grimm, in which +there was no explanation of how or where it had been found.... And two +hours later Monsieur Boissegur, ambassador from France to the United +States, disappeared from the embassy, vanished! + + + + +XII + +THE VANISHING DIPLOMATIST + + +It was three days after the ambassador's disappearance that Monsieur +Rigolot, secretary of the French embassy and temporary +_charge-d'affaires_, reported the matter to Chief Campbell in the Secret +Service Bureau, adding thereto a detailed statement of several singular +incidents following close upon it. He told it in order, concisely and to +the point, while Grimm and his chief listened. + +"Monsieur Boissegur, the ambassador, you understand, is a man whose +habits are remarkably regular," he began. "He has made it a rule to be +at his desk every morning at ten o'clock, and between that time and one +o'clock he dictates his correspondence, and clears up whatever routine +work there is before him. I have known him for many years, and have +been secretary of the embassy under him in Germany and Japan and this +country. I have never known him to vary this general order of work +unless because of illness, or necessary absence. + +"Well, Monsieur, last Tuesday--this is Friday--the ambassador was at his +desk as usual. He dictated a dozen or more letters, and had begun +another--a private letter to his sister in Paris. He was well along in +this letter when, without any apparent reason, he rose from his desk and +left the room, closing the door behind him. His stenographer's +impression was that some detail of business had occurred to him, and he +had gone into the general office farther down the hall to attend to it. +I may say, Monsieur, that this impression seemed strengthened by the +fact that he left a fresh cigarette burning in his ash tray, and his pen +was behind his ear. It was all as if he had merely stepped out, +intending to return immediately--the sort of thing, Monsieur, that any +man might have done. + +"It so happened that when he went out he left a sentence of his letter +incomplete. I tell you this to show that the impulse to go must have +been a sudden one, yet there was nothing in his manner, so his +stenographer says, to indicate excitement, or any other than his usual +frame of mind. It was about five minutes of twelve o'clock--high +noon--when he went out. When he didn't return immediately the +stenographer began transcribing the letters. At one o'clock Monsieur +Boissegur 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 regain +control of himself. Incidentally he wondered if Mr. Grimm was taking the +slightest interest in what he was saying. Certainly there was nothing in +his impassive face to indicate it. + +"Understand, Monsieur," the secretary continued, after a moment, "that I +knew nothing whatever of all this until late that afternoon--that is, +Tuesday afternoon about five o'clock. I was engaged all day upon some +important work in my own office, and had had no occasion to see Monsieur +Boissegur since a word or so when he came in at ten o'clock. My +attention was called to the affair finally by his stenographer, Monsieur +Netterville, who came to me for instructions. He had finished the +letters and the ambassador had not returned to sign them. At this point +I began an investigation, Monsieur, and the further I went the more +uneasy I grew. + +"Now, Monsieur, there are only two entrances to the embassy--the front +door, where a servant is in constant attendance from nine in the morning +until ten at night, and the rear door, which can only be reached through +the kitchen. Neither of the two men who had been stationed at the front +door had seen the ambassador since breakfast, therefore he could not +have gone out that way. _Comprenez_? It seemed ridiculous, Monsieur, but +then I went to the kitchen. The _chef_ had been there all day, and he +had not seen the ambassador at all. I inquired further. No one in the +embassy, not a clerk, nor a servant, nor a member of the ambassador's +family 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, "the +ambassador of France had disappeared, gone, vanished! We searched the +house from the cellar to the servants' quarters, even the roof, but +there was no trace of him. The hat he usually wore was in the hall, and +all his other hats were accounted for. You may remember, Monsieur, that +Tuesday was cold, but all his top-coats were found in their proper +places. So it seems, Monsieur," and repression ended in a burst of +excitement, "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 the +benevolent face of the chief and the expressionless countenance of Mr. +Grimm. + +"_If_ he left the embassy?" Mr. Grimm repeated. "If your search of the +house 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 I +understand it, Monsieur, no one except you and the stenographer saw the +ambassador after ten o'clock in the morning?" + +"_Oui, Monsieur. C'est--_" Monsieur Rigolot began excitedly. "I beg +pardon. I believe that is correct." + +"You saw him about ten, you say; therefore no one except the +stenographer 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 have +the words of the servants at the door and of the stenographer that there +were no callers, and the statement of the stenographer that there were +no telephone calls or telegrams. There were only four letters for him +personally. 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 the +disappearance. + +"The letters Monsieur Boissegur had dictated were laid on his desk by +the stenographer," Monsieur Rigolot rushed on volubly, excitedly. "In +the anxiety and uneasiness following the disappearance they were allowed +to remain there overnight. On Wednesday morning, Monsieur"--and he +hesitated impressively--"_those letters bore his signature in his own +handwriting_!" + +Mr. Grimm turned his listless eyes full upon Monsieur Rigolot's +perturbed face for one scant instant. + +"No doubt of it being his signature?" he queried. + +"_Non, Monsieur, non!_" the secretary exclaimed emphatically. "_Vous +avez_--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 at +copies 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. Grimm +nodded, and Monsieur Rigolot resumed: + +"And Wednesday night, Monsieur, another strange thing happened. Monsieur +Boissegur smokes many cigarettes, of a kind made especially for him in +France, and shipped to him here. He keeps them in a case on his +dressing-table. On Thursday morning his valet reported to me that _this +case of cigarettes had disappeared_!" + +"Of course," observed Mr. Grimm, "Monsieur Boissegur has a latch-key to +the 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 on +his finger. Mr. Campbell turned around and moved a paper weight one inch +to the left, where it belonged, while Monsieur Rigolot, disappointed at +their amazing apathy, squirmed uneasily in his chair. + +"It would appear, then," Mr. Grimm remarked musingly, "that after his +mysterious disappearance the ambassador has either twice returned to his +house at night, or else sent some one there, first to bring the letters +to him for signature, and later to get his cigarettes?" + +"_Certainement, Monsieur_--I mean, that seems to be true. But where is +he? Why should he not come back? What does it mean? Madame Boissegur is +frantic, prostrated! She wanted me to go to the police, but I did not +think it wise that it should become public, so I came here." + +"Very well," commented Mr. Grimm. "Let it rest as it is. Meanwhile you +may reassure madame. Point out to her that if Monsieur Boissegur signed +the letters Tuesday night he was, at least, alive; and if he came or +sent for the cigarettes Wednesday night, he was still alive. I shall +call at the embassy this afternoon. No, it isn't advisable to go with +you 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 the +revolvers that may be in the house and take charge of them yourself. If +any one, by chance, heard a burglar prowling around there to-night he +might shoot, and in that event either kill Monsieur Boissegur or--or +me!" + +When the secretary had gone Mr. Campbell idly drummed on his desk as he +studied 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 capitals +may aid you in dispelling that mystery," Campbell suggested, and Mr. +Grimm turned to them eagerly. "Meanwhile our royal visitor, Prince +Benedetto 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 find +him--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-drawn +velvet hangings and laid a faintly illumined path across the +ambassador's desk; the heavy leather chairs were mere impalpable +splotches in the shadows; the cut-glass knobs of a mahogany cabinet +caught the glint of light and reflected it dimly. Outside was the vague, +indefinable night drone of a city asleep, unbroken by any sound that was +distinguishable, 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 on +the seat, thoughtfully nursing his knees. If his attitude indicated +anything except sheer comfort, it was that he was listening. He had been +there for two hours, wide-awake, and absolutely motionless. Five, ten, +fifteen minutes more passed, and then Mr. Grimm heard the grind and whir +of an automobile a block or so away, coming toward the embassy. Now it +was in front. + +"Honk! Hon-on-onk!" it called plaintively. "Hon-on-onk! Honk!" + +The signal! At last! The automobile went rushing on, full tilt, while +Mr. Grimm removed his feet from the seat and dropped them noiselessly to +the floor. Thus, with his hands on his knees, and listening, listening +with every faculty strained, he sat motionless, peering toward the open +door that led into the hall. The car was gone now, the sound of it was +swallowed up in the distance, still he sat there. It was obviously some +noise in the house for which he was waiting. + +Minute after minute passed, and still nothing. There was not even the +whisper 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, the +electric lights in the room blazed up brilliantly. The glare dazzled Mr. +Grimm with its blinding flood, but he didn't move. Then softly, almost +in 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--there +was not another quite like it in the wide, wide world--and though he was +still 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 were +curled the least bit, as if she might have been smiling, and her +wonderful eyes reflected a glint of--of--was it amusement? The folds of +her evening dress fell away from her, and one bare, white arm was +extended, as her hand still rested on the switch. + +"And you didn't hear me?" still in the half whisper. "I didn't think you +would. Now I'm going to put out the lights for an instant, while you +pull 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 in +turn. Then the lights blazed brilliantly again. + +"Just for a moment," Miss Thorne explained to him quietly, and she +handed him a sheet of paper. "I want you to read this--read it +carefully--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 his +impassive face. At length he looked up indolently, listlessly, and the +switch snapped. She crossed the room and sat down; Mr. Grimm sat beside +her. + +"I think," Miss Thorne suggested tentatively, "that that accounts +perfectly for Monsieur Boissegur's disappearance." + +"It gives one explanation, at least," Mr. Grimm assented musingly. +"Kidnapped--held prisoner--fifty thousand dollars demanded for his +safety and release." A pause. "And to whom, may I ask, was this demand +addressed?" + +"To Madame Boissegur," replied Miss Thorne. "I have the envelope in +which it came. It was mailed at the general post-office at half-past one +o'clock this afternoon, so the canceling stamp shows, and the envelope +was addressed, as the letter was written, on a typewriter." + +"And how," inquired Mr. Grimm, after a long pause, "how did it come into +your possession?" He waited a little. "Why didn't Monsieur Rigolot +report this development to me this afternoon when I was here?" + +"Monsieur Rigolot did not inform you of it because he didn't know of it +himself," she replied, answering the last question first. "It came into +my possession directly from the hands of Madame Boissegur--she gave it +to me." + +"Why?" + +Mr. Grimm was peering through the inscrutable darkness, straight into +her face--a white daub in the gloom, shapeless, indistinct. + +"I have known Madame Boissegur for half a dozen years," Miss Thorne +continued, in explanation. "We have been friends that long. I met her +first in Tokio, later in Berlin, and within a few weeks, here in +Washington. You see I have traveled in the time I have been an agent for +my government. Well, Madame Boissegur received this letter about +half-past four o'clock this afternoon; and about half-past five she sent +for me and placed it in my hands, together with all the singular details +following upon the ambassador's disappearance. So, it would seem that +you 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 see +for myself if the--the person who twice came here at night--once for the +ambassador'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 house +a few minutes ago," she interrupted. "The automobile horn outside was a +signal, 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 queried +instead. "Weren't you afraid I might shoot?" + +"No." + +There was a long silence. Mr. Grimm still sat with his elbows on his +knees, staring, staring at the vague white splotch which was Miss +Thorne's face and bare neck. One of her white arms hung at her side like +a 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 we +have 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 by +side toward a conclusion. I am wondering now if this singular affair +will take a similar course." + +He paused. Miss Thorne started to speak, but he silenced her with a +slight gesture of his hand. + +"It is only fair to you to say that we--that is, the Secret +Service--have learned many things about you," he resumed in the same +casual tone. "We have, through our foreign agents, traced you step by +step from Rome to Washington. We know that you are, in a way, a +representative of a sovereign of Europe; we know that you were on a +secret mission to the Spanish court, perhaps for this sovereign, and +remained in Madrid for a month; we know that from there you went to +Paris, also on a secret mission--perhaps the same--and remained there +for three weeks; we know that you met diplomatic agents of those +governments later in London. We know all this; we know the manner of +your coming to this country; of your coming to Washington. But we don't +know _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_ know +that in Spain you were Senora Cassavant, in Paris Mademoiselle +d'Aubinon, in London Miss Jane Kellog, and here Miss Isabel Thorne. We +realize that exigencies arise in your calling, and mine, which make +changes of name desirable, necessary even, and there is no criticism of +that. Now as the representative of your government--rather _a_ +government--you have a right to be here, although unaccredited; you have +a right to remain here as long as your acts are consistent with our +laws; you have a right to your secrets as long as they do not, directly +or indirectly, threaten the welfare of this country. Now, why are you +here?" + +He received no answer; he expected none. After a moment he went on: + +"Admitting that you are a secret agent of Italy, admitting everything +that you claim to be, you haven't convinced me that you are not the +person who came here for the letters and cigarettes. You have said +nothing to prove to my satisfaction that you are not the individual I +was 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 merely +that you haven't convinced me. There's nothing inconsistent in the fact +that you are what you say you are, and that in spite of that, you came +to-night for--" + +He was interrupted by a laugh, a throaty, silvery note that he +remembered well. His idle hands closed spasmodically, only to be +instantly relaxed. + +"Suppose, Mr. Grimm, I should tell you that immediately after Madame +Boissegur placed the matter in my hands this afternoon I went straight +to 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 on +being informed that you were out--remember I knew you were on the case +from Madame Boissegur--would that indicate anything except that I wanted +to 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 you +will find at your office, will show that. And when I left your office I +went to the hotel where you live, with the same purpose. You were not +there, and I left a card for you. And _that_ is a statement of fact. It +was not difficult, owing to the extraordinary circumstances, to imagine +that you would be here to-night--just as you are--and I came here. My +purpose, 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 Boissegur, at +my suggestion, left the French window in the hall there unfastened, and +I 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 owe +you an apology, Miss Thorne--another one. The circumstances now, as +they were at our previous meetings, are so unusual that--is it necessary +to go on?" There was a certain growing deference in his tone. "I wonder +if you account for Monsieur Boissegur's disappearance as I do?" he +inquired. + +"I dare say," and Miss Thorne leaned toward him with sudden eagerness in +her manner and voice. "Your theory is--?" she questioned. + +"If we believe the servants we know that Monsieur Boissegur did not go +out either by the front door or rear," Mr. Grimm explained. "That being +true the French window by which you entered seems to have been the way." + +"Yes, yes," Miss Thorne interpolated. "And the circumstances attending +the 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 situation +here as I have," responded Mr. Grimm. "For instance, sitting at his desk +there"--and he turned to indicate it--"he could readily see out the +windows overlooking the street. There is only a narrow strip of lawn +between 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 his +attention--some one he knew--it is not at all unlikely that he rose, for +no apparent reason, as he did do, passed along the hall--" + +"And through the French window, across the lawn to the carriage, and not +a person in the house would have seen him go out? Precisely! There seems +no doubt that was the way," she mused. "And, of course, he must have +entered the carriage of his own free will?" + +"In other words, on some pretext or other, he was lured in, then made +prisoner, and--!" + +He paused suddenly and his hand met Miss Thorne's warningly. The silence +of the night was broken by the violent clatter of footsteps, apparently +approaching the embassy. The noise was unmistakable--some one was +running. + +"The window!" Miss Thorne whispered. + +She rose quickly and started to cross the room, to look out; Mr. Grimm +sat motionless, listening. An instant later and there came a tremendous +crash of glass--the French window in the hallway by the sound--then +rapid footsteps, still running, along the hall. Mr. Grimm moved toward +the door unruffled, perfectly self-possessed; there was only a narrowing +of his eyes at the abruptness and clatter of it all. And then the +electric lights in the hall flashed up. + +Before Mr. Grimm stood a man, framed by the doorway, staring unseeingly +into the darkened room. His face was haggard and white as death; his +mouth agape as if from exertion, and the lips bloodless; his eyes were +widely distended as if from fright--clothing disarranged, collar +unfastened 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 Boissegur. Mr. Grimm was going toward the enframed +figure when, without any apparent reason, the ambassador turned and ran +along the hall; and at that instant the lights went out again. For one +moment Grimm stood still, dazed and blinded by the sudden blackness, and +again 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 out +into the hall, feeling with both his hands along the wall. A few feet +away, in the direction the ambassador had gone, there seemed to be a +violent struggle in progress--there was the scuffling of feet, and +quick-drawn breaths as muscle strained against muscle. The lights! If he +could only find the switch! Then, as his hands moved along the wall, +they came in contact with another hand--a hand pressed firmly against +the plastering, barring his progress. A light blow in the face caused +him to step back quickly. + +The scuffling sound suddenly resolved itself into moving footsteps, and +the front door opened and closed with a bang. Mr. Grimm's listless eyes +snapped, and his white teeth came together sharply as he started toward +the front door. But fate seemed to be against him still. He stumbled +over a chair, and his own impetus forward sent him sprawling; his head +struck the wall with a resounding whack; and then, over the house, came +utter silence. From outside he heard the clatter of a cab. Finally that +died away in the distance. + +"Miss Thorne?" he inquired quietly. + +"I'm here," she answered in a despairing voice. "But I can't find the +switch." + +"Are you hurt?" + +"No." + +And then she found the switch; the lights flared up. Mr. Grimm was +sitting thoughtfully on the floor. + +"That simplifies the matter considerably," he observed complacently, as +he rose. "The men who signaled to me when you entered the embassy will +never let that cab get out of their sight." + +Miss Thorne stood leaning forward a little, eagerly gazing at him with +those wonderful blue-gray eyes, and an expression of--of--perhaps it was +admiration 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 an +inquisitive head timidly around the corner of the stairs. The crash of +glass had aroused him. + +"What happened?" he asked breathlessly. + +"We don't know just yet," replied Mr. Grimm. "If the noise aroused any +one else please assure them that there's nothing the matter. And you +might inform Madame Boissegur that the ambassador will return home +to-morrow. Good night!" + +At his hotel, when he reached there, Mr. Grimm found Miss Thorne's +card--and he drew a long breath; at his office he found another of her +cards, and he drew another long breath. He did like corroborative +details, did Mr. Grimm, and, of course, this--! On the following day +Miss Thorne accompanied him to Alexandria, and they were driven in a +closed carriage out toward the western edge of the city. Finally the +carriage stopped at a signal from Mr. Grimm, and he assisted Miss Thorne +out, after which he turned and spoke to some one remaining inside--a +man. + +"The house is two blocks west, along that street there," he explained, +and he indicated an intersecting thoroughfare just ahead. "It is number +ninety-seven. Five minutes after we enter you will drive up in front of +the door and wait. If we don't return in fifteen minutes--come in after +us!" + +"Do you anticipate danger?" Miss Thorne queried quickly. + +"If I had anticipated danger," replied Mr. Grimm, "I should not have +permitted you to come with me." + +They entered the house--number ninety-seven--with a key which Mr. Grimm +produced, and a minute or so later walked into a room where three men +were sitting. One of them was of a coarse, repulsive type, large and +heavy; another rather dapper, of superficial polish, evidently a +foreigner, and the third--the third was Ambassador Boissegur! + +"Good morning, gentlemen!" Mr. Grimm greeted them, then ceremoniously: +"Monsieur Boissegur, your carriage is at the door." + +The three men came to their feet instantly, and one of them--he of the +heavy face--drew a revolver. Mr. Grimm faced him placidly. + +"Do you know what would happen to you if you killed me?" he inquired +pleasantly. "You wouldn't live three minutes. Do you imagine I came in +here blindly? There are a dozen men guarding the entrances to the +house--a pistol shot would bring them in. Put down the gun!" + +Eyes challenged eyes for one long tense instant, and the man carefully +laid the weapon on the table. Mr. Grimm strolled over and picked it up, +after which he glanced inquiringly at the other man--the ambassador's +second guard. + +"And you are the gentleman, I dare say, who made the necessary trips to +the ambassador's house, probably using his latch-key?" he remarked +interrogatively. "First for the letters to be signed, and again for the +cigarettes?" + +There was no answer and Mr. Grimm turned questioningly to Monsieur +Boissegur, silent, white of face, motionless. + +"Yes, Monsieur," the ambassador burst out suddenly. His eyes were fixed +unwaveringly on Miss Thorne. + +"And your escape, Monsieur?" continued Mr. Grimm. + +"I did escape, Monsieur, last night," the ambassador explained, "but +they knew it immediately--they pursued me into my own house, these two +and another--and dragged me back here! _Mon Dieu, Monsieur, c'est--!_" + +"That's all that's necessary," remarked Mr. Grimm. "You are free to go +now." + +"But there are others," Monsieur Boissegur interposed desperately, "two +more somewhere below, and they will not allow--they will attack--!" + +Mr. Grimm's listless eyes narrowed slightly and he turned to Miss +Thorne. She was a little white, but he saw enough in her face to satisfy +him. + +"I shall escort Monsieur Boissegur to his carriage, Miss Thorne," he +said calmly. "These men will remain here until I return. Take the +revolver. If either of them so much as wags his head--_shoot_! You are +not--not afraid?" + +"No." She smiled faintly. "I am not afraid." + +Mr. Grimm and the ambassador went down the stairs, and out the front +door. Mr. Grimm was just turning to reenter the house when from above +came a muffled, venomous cra-as-ash!--a shot! He took the steps going +up, 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 stood +open; and the clatter of footsteps echoed through the house. + +"One of them leaped at me and I fired," she gasped in explanation. "He +struck me, but I'm--I'm not hurt." + +She stooped quickly, picked up the revolver and made as if to follow the +dying 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 should +never have consented to allow you--" + +"I understand," she interrupted, and for one instant her outstretched +hand 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 their +coffee and cigars, Miss Thorne paused at the door and the blue-gray eyes +flashed some subtle message to the French ambassador who, after an +instant, nodded comprehendingly, then resumed his conversation. As he +left the room a few minutes later he noticed that Mr. Grimm had joined a +group of automaniacs of which Mr. Cadwallader was the enthusiastic +center. 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 beside +her. 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 to +the 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 were +sparkling as if something amusing had been said. "One of my agents +stopped 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 in +Washington at this moment," she replied positively. The smile on her +lips and the tone of her voice were strangely at variance. "From the +beginning I let you understand that ultimately you would receive your +instructions from Paris; now I know they will reach you by cable +to-morrow. Within a week the compact will be signed. Whether you approve +of it or not it will be signed for your country by a special envoy whose +authority is greater than yours--his Highness, the Prince Benedetto +d'Abruzzi." + +"Has he reached Washington?" + +"He is in Washington. He has been here for some time, incognito." She +was 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 been +comfortably kept out in Alexandria where Mr. Grimm and I found you. +Please remember, Monsieur, that we will accomplish what we set out to +do. Nothing can stop us--nothing." + +At just about the same moment the name of Prince d'Abruzzi had been used +in the dining-room, but in a different connection. Mr. Cadwallader was +reciting some incident of an automobile trip in Italy when he had been +connected 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 of +thing. He was one scion of royalty who didn't mind soiling his hands by +diving in under a car and fixing it himself. At that time he was +inclined to be wild--that was eight or nine years ago--but they say now +he has settled down to work, and is one of the real diplomatic powers of +Italy. 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-bloods +and all that sort of thing one can find knocking about in Italy and +Germany and Spain. One never hears of half of them. I never had heard +of the Prince d'Abruzzi until I went to Italy, and I've heard jolly well +little of him since, except indirectly." + +Mr. Cadwallader lapsed into silence as he sat staring at a large group +photograph which was framed on a wall of the dining-room. + +"Isn't that the royal family of Italy?" he asked. He rose and went over +to it. "By Jove, it is, and here is the prince in the group. The picture +was taken, I should say, about the time I knew him." + +Mr. Grimm strolled over idly and stood for a long time staring at the +photograph. + +"He can drive a motor, you know," said Mr. Cadwallader admiringly. "And +Italy is the place to drive them. They forgot to make any speed laws +over there, and if a chap gets in your way and you knock him silly they +arrest him for obstructing traffic, you know. Over here if a chap really +starts 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 new +motor, you know, and I've never been able to see how fast it is. The +other evening I ran up to Baltimore with it in an hour and thirty-seven +minutes from Alexandria to Druid Hill Park, and that's better than forty +miles. I never did let the motor out, you know, because we ran in the +dark 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. Senorita Rodriguez was with +me. Charming girl, what?" + +A little while later Mr. Grimm sauntered out into the drawing-room and +made his way toward Miss Thorne and the French ambassador. Monsieur +Boissegur rose, and offered his hand cordially. + +"I hope, Monsieur," said Mr. Grimm, "that you are no worse off for +your--your unpleasant experience?" + +"Not at all, thanks to you," was the reply. "I have just thanked Miss +Thorne 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 dropped +into 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 conspicuous +because of the constant espionage of your Mr. Blair and your Mr. Johnson +and your Mr. Hastings," she explained, still laughing. "So I have moved +to 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. "You +see it's necessary to--" + +"No explanation," Miss Thorne interrupted. "I understand." + +"I'm glad you do," he replied seriously. "How long do you intend to +remain in the city?" + +"Really I don't know--two, three, four weeks, perhaps. Why?" + +"I was just wondering." + +Senorita Rodriguez came toward them. + +"We're going to play bridge," she said, "and we need you, Isabel, to +make the four. Come. I hate to take her away, Mr. Grimm." + +Mr. Grimm and Miss Thorne rose together. For an instant her slim white +hand rested on Mr. Grimm's sleeve and she stared into his eyes +understandingly 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 as +an unaccredited agent of the Italian government, and the self-confessed +assailant of Senor Alvarez of the Mexican legation, had been taking his +ease in a cell. He had been formally arraigned and committed without +bail to await the result of the bullet wound which had been inflicted +upon the diplomatist from Mexico at the German Embassy Ball, and, since +then, undisturbed and apparently careless of the outcome, he had spent +his time in reading and smoking. He had answered questions with only a +curt yes or no when he deigned to answer them at all; and there had been +no callers or inquiries for him. He had abruptly declined a suggestion +of counsel. + +Twice each day, morning and night, he had asked a question of the +jailer who brought his simple meals. + +"How is Senor 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 shadow +of uneasiness or concern on his face. + +Occasionally there came a courteous little note from Miss Thorne, which +he read without emotion, afterward casting them aside or tearing them +up. He never answered them. And then one day there came another note +which, for no apparent reason, seemed to stir him from his lethargy. +Outwardly it was like all the others, but when Signor Petrozinni scanned +the sheet his eyes lighted strangely, and he stood staring down at it as +though to hide a sudden change of expression in his face. His gaze was +concentrated on two small splotches of ink where, it seemed, the pen +had scratched as Miss Thorne signed her name. + +The guard stood at the barred door for a moment, then started to turn +away. The prisoner stopped him with a quick gesture. + +"Oh, Guard, may I have a glass of milk, please?" he asked. "No ice. I +prefer it tepid." + +He thrust a small coin between the bars; the guard accepted it and +passed on. Then, still standing at the door, the prisoner read the note +again: + +"MY DEAR FRIEND: + +"I understand, from an indirect source, that there has been a marked +improvement in Senor Alvarez's condition, and I am hastening to send you +the good news. There is every hope that within a short while, if he +continues to improve, we can arrange a bail bond, and you will be free +until the time of trial anyway. + +"Might it not be well for you to consult an attorney at once? Drop me a +line to let me know you received this. + +"Sincerely, + +"ISABEL THORNE." + +Finally the prisoner tossed the note on a tiny table in a corner of his +cell, and resumed his reading. After a time the guard returned with the +milk. + +"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 the +signor and he smiled a little. "Believe me, I would prefer to get them +for 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 twice +and permitted the light to die. After a little there came again the +clatter of the guard's feet on the cement pavement, and the writing +materials were thrust through the bars. + +"Thank you," said the prisoner. + +The guard went on, with a nod, and a moment later the signor heard the +clangor 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 a +long time, then rose and noiselessly approached the cell door. Again he +listened intently, after which he resumed his seat. He tossed away the +cigarette he had and lighted a fresh one, afterward holding the note +over the flame of the match. Here and there, where the paper charred in +the heat, a letter or word stood out from the bare whiteness of the +paper, and finally, a message complete appeared between the innocuous +ink-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? Would +advise former, as the other might take months, and meeting to sign +treaty 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 scrap +dropped on the floor, burned out, and he crushed the ashes under his +heel. Then he began to write: + +"My Dear Miss Thorne: + +"Many thanks for your courteous little note. I am delighted to know of +the improvement in Senor Alvarez's condition. I had hoped that my +impulsive act in shooting him would not end in a tragedy. Please keep me +informed of any further change in his condition. As yet I do not see the +necessity of consulting an attorney, but later I may be compelled to do +so. + +"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 empty +glass of milk. The fluid clung to the steel nib thinly; he went on +writing with it, between the lines of ink: + +"I am in no danger. I hold credentials to United States, which, when +presented, will make me responsible only to the Italian government as +special envoy, according to international law. Arrange escape for one +week from to-night; use any money necessary. Make careful arrangements +for the test and signing of compact for two nights after." + +Again the prisoner cleaned the steel nib, after which he put it back in +the bottle of ink, leaving it there. He waved the sheet of paper back +and forth to dry it, and at last scrutinized it minutely, standing under +the light from the high-up window of his cell. Letter by letter the milk +evaporated, leaving the sheet perfectly clean and white except for the +ink-written message. This sheet he folded, placed in an envelope, and +addressed. + +Later the guard passed along the corridor, and Signor Petrozinni thrust +the letter out to him. + +"Be good enough to post that, please," he requested. "It isn't sealed. I +don't know if your prison rules require you to read the letters that go +out. 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 down +again, and sipped his milk meditatively. + +One hour later Mr. Grimm, accompanied by Johnson, came out of a +photographer's dark room in Pennsylvania Avenue with a developed +negative which he set on a rack to dry. At the end of another hour he +was sitting at his desk studying, under a magnifying glass, a finished +print of the negative. Word by word he was writing on a slip of paper +what his magnifying glass gave him and so, curiously enough, it came to +pass that Miss Thorne and Chief Campbell of the Secret Service were +reading the hidden, milk-written message at almost the identical moment. + +"Johnson got Petrozinni's letter from the postman," Mr. Grimm was +explaining. "I opened it, photographed it, sealed it again and remailed +it. There was not more than half an hour's delay; and Miss Thorne can +not possibly know of it." He paused a moment. "It's an odd thing that +writing such as that is absolutely invisible to the naked eye, and yet +when photographed becomes decipherable in the negative." + +"What do you make of it?" Mr. Campbell asked. The guileless blue eyes +were 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 government +must respect them, even if Senor Alvarez dies, and leave it to his own +government to punish him. If we were officially aware that he has such +credentials I doubt if we would have the right to keep him confined; we +would merely have to hand him over to the Italian embassy and demand his +punishment. And, of course, all that makes him more dangerous than +ever." + +"Yes, I know that," said the chief a little impatiently. "But who is +this 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 found +him." + +Mr. Campbell's clock-like brain ticked over the situation in detail. + +"It's like this," Mr. Grimm elucidated. "He has credentials which he +knows will free him if he is forced to present them, but I imagine they +were given to him more for protection in an emergency like this than for +introducing him to our government. As the matter stands he can't afford +to discover himself by using those credentials, and yet, if the Latin +compact is signed, he must be free. Remember, too, that he is accredited +from three countries--Italy, France and Spain." He was silent for a +moment. "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. Campbell +slowly. "The special envoy of three great powers held for attempted--!" + +"Officially we are not aware of his purpose, or his identity," Mr. Grimm +reminded him. "If he escaped it would clarify the situation +tremendously." + +"If he escaped!" repeated Mr. Campbell musingly. + +"But, of course, the compact would not be signed, at least in this +country," Mr. Grimm went on tentatively. + +Mr. Campbell gazed straight into the listless eyes of the young man for +a 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 there +in 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 at +his desk, poring over a report. Once he glanced up at the clock--it was +five 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 the +first sharp stroke of the hour; and at just that moment the door from +the street opened and a man entered. He was rather tall and slender, and +a sinister black mask hid his face from the quickly raised eyes of the +warden. For a bare fraction of a second the two men stared at each +other, then, instinctively, the warden's right hand moved toward the +open drawer of his desk where a revolver lay, and his left toward +several 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 a +pleasant voice. "I have come to demand his release." + +The warden's right hand was raised above the desk top, and the revolver +in it clicked warningly. + +"You have come to demand his release, eh?" he queried. He still sat +motionless, with his eyes fixed on the black mask. "How did you pass the +outside guard?" + +"He was bribed," was the ready response. "Now, Warden," the masked +intruder continued pacifically, "it would be much more pleasant all +around and there would be less personal danger in it for both of us if +you would release Signor Petrozinni without question. I may add that no +bribe was offered to you because your integrity was beyond question." + +"Thank you," said the warden grimly, "and it shall remain so as long as +I 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 had +been drawn! His teeth closed with a snap at the treachery of it, and +with his left hand he pulled back one of the levers--that which should +arouse the jailers, turnkeys and guards. Instead of the insistent +clangor 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 the +palms of his hands. He still held the revolver as he advanced upon the +masked man threateningly. + +"Not too close, now," warned the intruder, with a sudden hardening of +his 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 to +injure you, still less do I intend that you shall injure me; and it +would be needless for either of us to make a personal matter of it. I +want your prisoner, Signor Petrozinni--you will release him at once! +That's all!" + +The warden paused, dazed, incredulous before the audacity of it, while +he studied two calm eyes which peered at him through the slits of the +mask. + +"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 for +you to give an alarm," the stranger went on. "The very men on whom you +most depended have been bought, and even if they were within sound of +your voice now they wouldn't respond. One of your assistants who has +been here for years unloaded the revolver in the desk there, and less +than an hour ago cut the prison alarm wire. I, personally, cut the +police alarm outside the building. So you see!" + +As yet there was no weapon in sight, save the unloaded revolver in the +warden's hand; at no time had the stranger's voice been raised. His tone +was a perfectly normal one. + +"Besides yourself there are only five other men employed here who are +now awake," the masked man continued. "These are four inner guards and +the outer guard. They have all been bought--the turnkeys at five +thousand dollars each, and the outer guard at seven thousand. The +receipt of all of this money is conditional upon the release of Signor +Petrozinni, 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 how +futile any resistance would be." + +"But who--who is this Signor Petrozinni, that such powerful influences +should be brought to bear in his behalf?" demanded the bewildered +warden. + +"He is a man who can command a vast fortune--and Senor Alvarez is at the +point 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 step +forward and raised the empty revolver to strike. The masked man moved +slightly to one side and his clenched fist caught the warden on the +point 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 prison +opened, and Signor Petrozinni, accompanied by one of the guards, entered +the warden's office. The masked man glanced around at them, and with a +motion of his head indicated the door leading to the street. They +passed 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 send +some of your men up to investigate." + +"Who is that?" came the answering question. + +The stranger replaced the receiver on the hook, stripped off his black +mask, dropped it on the floor beside the motionless warden, and went +out. It was Mr. Grimm! + + + + +XVIII + +NOTICE TO LEAVE + + +At fifteen minutes of midnight when Miss Thorne, followed by Signor +Petrozinni, entered the sitting-room of her apartments in the hotel and +turned up the light they found Mr. Grimm already there. He rose +courteously. At sight of him Miss Thorne's face went deathly white, and +the 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 to +the humiliation of arrest if you attempt to leave. The house is guarded +by a dozen men." + +"Your Highness?" Miss Thorne repeated blankly. "You are assuming a +great deal, aren't you, Mr. Grimm?" + +"I don't believe," and Mr. Grimm's listless eyes were fixed on those of +the escaped prisoner, "I don't believe that Prince Benedetto d'Abruzzi +will deny his identity?" + +There was one of those long tense silences when eye challenges eye, when +wit is pitted against wit, and mind is hauled around to a new, and +sometimes unattractive, view of a situation. Miss Thorne stood silent +with rigid features, colorless as marble; but slowly a sneer settled +about 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. Grimm +was still standing. "I know, for instance, that one week ago the plot +which had your freedom for its purpose was born; I know the contents of +every letter that passed between you and Miss Thorne here, +notwithstanding the invisible ink; I know that four days ago several +thousand 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 or +one of her agents bribed the guard in front; I know that the escape was +planned for to-night, and that the man who was delegated to take charge +of it is now locked in my office under guard. It may interest you to +know that it was I who took his place and made the escape possible. I +know that much!" + +"You--_you_--!" the prince burst out suddenly. "_You_ aided me to +escape?" + +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 utmost +courtesy. "There is one other thing I know--that the Latin compact will +not be signed in the United States." + +The prince's eyes met Miss Thorne's inquiringly, and she shook her +head. 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 the +Latin compact is signed anywhere, the English-speaking countries of the +world might construe it as a _casus belli_ and strike soon enough, and +hard enough, to put an end to it once for all." + +Again there was silence for a little while. Slowly the prince's eyes +were darkening, and a shadow flitted across Miss Thorne's face. The +prince rose impatiently. + +"Well, what is the meaning of all this? Are you going to take me back to +prison?" + +"No," said Mr. Grimm. He glanced at his watch. "I will give each of you +one-half hour to pack your belongings. We must catch a train at one +o'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 those +wonderful blue-gray eyes now. "A special car with private compartments +will be attached to the regular train, and the only inconvenience to you +will be the fact that the three of us will be compelled to sit up all +night. Half a dozen other Secret Service men will be on the train with +us." + +And then the prince's entire manner underwent a change. + +"Mr. Grimm," he said earnestly, "it is absolutely necessary that I +remain in Washington for another week--remain here even if I am locked +up again--lock me up again if you like. I can't sign compacts in +prison." + +"Twenty-five minutes," replied Mr. Grimm quietly. + +"But here," exclaimed the prince explosively, "I have credentials which +will insure my protection in spite of your laws." + +"I know that," said Mr. Grimm placidly. "Credentials of that nature can +not be presented at midnight, and you will not be here to-morrow to +present 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 was +giving some instructions as to her baggage the prince went over to the +telegraph booth and began to write a message on a blank. Mr. Grimm +appeared 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. Grimm +informed him quietly. + +"Why, it's an outrage!" flamed the prince. + +"It depends altogether on the view-point, your Highness," said Mr. Grimm +courteously. "If you will pardon me I might suggest that it is needless +to attract attention by your present attitude. You may--I say you +_may_--compel me to humiliate you." The prince glared at him angrily. "I +mean 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 started +out. At the door Mr. Grimm stopped and turned back to the desk, as if +struck by some sudden thought, leaving them together. + +"Oh, Miss Thorne left a message for some one," Mr. Grimm was saying to +the clerk. "She's decided it is unnecessary." He turned and glanced +toward her, and the clerk's eyes followed his. "Please give it to me." + +It was passed over without comment. It was a sealed envelope addressed +to Mr. Charles Winthrop Rankin. Mr. Grimm glanced at the superscription, +tore the envelope into bits and dropped it into a basket. A minute +later he was assisting Miss Thorne and the prince into an automobile +that was waiting in front. As the car moved away two other automobiles +appeared 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 roar +and clatter of the moving train. Mr. Grimm, vigilant, implacable, sat at +ease; 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 was +passed, 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. Grimm +apologized to Miss Thorne as he assisted her to alight. "You must be +exhausted." + +"If it were only that!" she replied, with a slight smile. "And is it +too 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. Grimm +obligingly. "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 later +they steamed out into the stream and threaded their way down the bay. +Miss Thorne stood at the rail gazing back upon the city they were +leaving. Mr. Grimm stood beside her; the prince, still sullen, still +scowling, sat a dozen feet away. + +"This is a wonderful thing you have done, Mr. Grimm," said Miss Thorne +at last. + +"Thank you," he said simply. "It was a destructive thing that you +intended to do. Did you ever see a more marvelous thing than that?" and +he indicated the sky-line of New York. "It's the most marvelous bit of +mechanism in the world; the dynamo of the western hemisphere. You would +have destroyed it, because in the world-war that would have been the +first point of attack." + +She raised her eyebrows, but was silent. + +"Somehow," he went on after a moment, "I could never associate a woman +with 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? And +now your remark makes me feel that you alone have stood for peace and +the general good, and I for destruction and evil." + +"I didn't mean that," Mr. Grimm said quickly. "You have done your duty +as 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 you +and I might have been excellent friends if it had not been for all +this." + +"I know we should have," said Mr. Grimm, almost eagerly. "I wonder if +you will ever forgive me for--for--?" + +"Forgive you?" she repeated. "There is nothing to forgive. One must do +one'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 time +there was a tense, strained note in his voice. + +Miss Thorne's blue-gray eyes had grown mistily thoughtful; the words +startled 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 smile +curled 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 about +Sandy Hook put toward them, flying some signal at her masthead. Slowly +the great boat on which they stood crept along, then the clang of a bell +in the engine-room brought her to a standstill, and the revenue cutter +came 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 staring +into the limpid gray eyes, then, turning, went below. From the revenue +cutter 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 scowl +was still on his face. + +"And now what?" he demanded abruptly. "This man has treated us as if we +were 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--we +are not beaten yet." + +The _Lusitania_ was rounding Montauk Point when the wireless brought her +to half-speed with a curt message: + +"Isabel Thorne and Pietro Petrozinni aboard _Lusitania_ wanted on +warrants charging conspiracy. Tug-boat will take them off, intercepting +you 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 aid +of one of the maids in the depot at Jersey City I managed to get a +telegram of explanation and instruction to De Foe in New York, and this +is the result. He signed Mr. Campbell's name, I suppose, to give weight +to 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 upon +the 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 and +amusement; automobiles, carriages, cabs, cars flowed past endlessly; and +yet Mr. Grimm saw naught of it. In the distance, at one end of the +avenue the dome of the capitol cleft the shadows of night, and a single +light sparkled at its apex; in the other direction, at the left of the +treasury building which abruptly blocks the wide thoroughfare, were the +shimmering windows of the White House. + +Motionless, moody, thoughtful, Mr. Grimm sat staring, staring straight +ahead, comprehending none of these things which lay before him as in a +panorama. Instead, his memory was conjuring up a pair of subtle, +blue-gray eyes, now pleading, now coquettish, now frankly defiant; two +slim, white, wonderful hands; the echo of a pleasant, throaty laugh; a +splendid, elusive, radiant-haired phantom. Truly, a woman of mystery! +Who was this Isabel Thorne who, for months past, had been the +storm-center and directing mind of a vast international intrigue which +threatened the world with war? Who, this remarkable young woman who with +ease and assurance commanded ambassadors and played nations as pawns? + +Now that she was safely out of the country Mr. Grimm had leisure to +speculate. Upon him had devolved the duty of blocking her plans, and he +had done so--merciless alike of his own feeling and of hers. Hesitation +or evasion had never occurred to him. It was a thing to be done, and he +did it. He wondered if she had understood, there at the last beside the +rail? He wondered if she knew the struggle it had cost him deliberately +to send her out of his life? Or had even surmised that her expulsion +from the country, by his direct act, was wholly lacking in the +exaltation of triumph to him; that it struck deeper than that, below the +listless, 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. He +didn't heed. The waiter poured a demi-tasse, and inquiringly lifted a +lump of sugar in the silver tongs. Still Mr. Grimm didn't heed. At last +the waiter deposited the sugar on the edge of the fragile saucer, and +moved away as silently as he had come. A newspaper which Mr. Grimm had +placed on the end of the table when he sat down, rattled a little as a +breeze from the open window caught it, then the top sheet slid off and +fell to the floor. Mr. Grimm was still staring out the window. + +Slowly the room behind him was thinning of its crowd as the +theater-bound diners went out in twos and threes. The last of these +disappeared finally, and save for Mr. Grimm there were not more than a +dozen persons left in the place. Thus for a few minutes, and then the +swinging doors leading from the street clicked, and a gentleman entered. +He glanced around, as if seeking a seat near a window, then moved along +in Mr. Grimm's direction, between the rows of tables. His gaze lingered +on Mr. Grimm for an instant, and when he came opposite he stooped and +picked 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 paper +once and replaced it on the table. One hand lingered for just the +fraction 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 three +tables down. + +Apparently this trifling courtesy had broken the spell of reverie, for +Mr. Grimm squared around to the table again, drew his coffee-cup toward +him, and dropped in the single lump of sugar. He idly stirred it for a +moment, as his eyes turned again toward the open window, then he lifted +the tiny cup and emptied it. + +Again he sat motionless for a long time, and thrice the new-comer, only +a few feet away, glanced at him narrowly. And now, it seemed, a peculiar +drowsiness was overtaking Mr. Grimm. Once he caught himself nodding and +raised his head with a jerk. Then he noticed that the arc lights in the +street were wobbling curiously, and he fell to wondering why that +single flame sparkled at the apex of the capitol dome. Things around him +grew hazy, vague, unreal, and then, as if realizing that something was +the 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 everything +grew black about him, and he pitched forward on the floor. His face was +dead white; his fingers moved a little, nervously, weakly, then they +were still. + +Several people rose at the sound of the falling body, and the new-comer +hurried forward. His coat sleeve caught the empty demi-tasse, as he +stooped, and swept it to the floor, where it was shattered. The head +waiter and another came, pell-mell, and those diners who had risen came +more slowly. + +"What's the matter?" asked the head waiter anxiously. + +Already the new-comer was supporting Mr. Grimm on his knee, and +flicking water in his face. + +"Nothing serious, I fancy," he answered shortly. "He's subject to these +little attacks." + +"What are they? Who is he?" + +The stranger tore at Mr. Grimm's collar until it came loose, then he +fell to chafing the still hands. + +"He is a Mr. Grimm, a government employee--I know him," he answered +again. "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 call +a cab, and I'll see that he's taken home. It happens that we live in the +same apartment house, just a few blocks from here." + +Obedient to the crisply-spoken directions, a cab was called, and five +minutes later Mr. Grimm, still insensible, was lifted into it. The +stranger took a seat beside him, the cabby touched his horse with a +whip, and the vehicle fell into the endless, moving line. + + + + +XXI + +A SLIP OF PAPER + + +When the light of returning consciousness finally pierced the black +lethargy that enshrouded him, Mr. Grimm's mind was a chaos of vagrant, +absurd fantasies; then slowly, slowly, realization struggled back to its +own, and he came to know things. First was the knowledge that he was +lying flat on his back, on a couch, it seemed; then, that he was in the +dark--an utter, abject darkness. And finally came an overwhelming sense +of silence. + +For a while he lay motionless, with not even the movement of an eye-lash +to indicate consciousness, wrapped in a delicious languor. Gradually +this passed and the feeble flutter of his heart grew into a steady, +rhythmic beat. The keen brain was awakening; he was beginning to +remember. What had happened? He knew only that in some manner a drug had +been administered to him, a bitter dose tasting of opium; that +speechlessly, he had fought against it, that he had risen from the table +in the restaurant, and that he had fallen. All the rest was blank. + +With eyes still closed, and nerveless hands inert at his sides he +listened, the while he turned the situation over in speculative mood. +The waiter had administered the drug, of course, unless--unless it had +been the courteous stranger who had replaced the newspaper on the table! +That thought opened new fields of conjecture. Mr. Grimm had no +recollection of ever having seen him before; and he had paid only the +enforced attention of politeness to him. And why had the drug been +administered? Vaguely, incoherently, Mr. Grimm imagined that in some way +it had to do with the great international plot of war in which Miss +Thorne was so delicate and vital an instrument. + +Where was he? Conjecture stopped there. Evidently he was where the +courteous gentleman in the restaurant wanted him to be. A prisoner? +Probably. In danger? Long, careful attention to detail work in the +Secret Service had convinced Mr. Grimm that he was always in danger. +That was one reason--and the best--why he had lain motionless, without +so much as lifting a finger, since that first glimmer of consciousness +had entered his brain. He was probably under scrutiny, even in the +darkness, and for the present it was desirable to accommodate any chance +watcher by remaining apparently unconscious. + +And so for a long time he lay, listening. Was there another person in +the room? Mr. Grimm's ears were keenly alive for the inadvertent +shuffling of a foot; or the sound of breathing. Nothing. Even the night +roar of the city was missing; the silence was oppressive. At last he +opened his eyes. A pall of gloom encompassed him--a pall without one +rift of light. His fingers, moving slowly, explored the limits of the +couch whereon he lay. + +Confident, at last, that wherever he was, he was unwatched, Mr. Grimm +was on the point of concluding that further inaction was useless, when +his straining ears caught the faint grating of metal against +metal--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 its +hinges, 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's +nerveless hands closed involuntarily, and his lips were set together +tightly. Was it to be a knife thrust in the dark? If not--then what? He +expected the flare of a match; instead there was a soft tread, and the +rustle of skirts. A woman! Mr. Grimm's caution was all but forgotten in +his surprise. As the steps drew nearer his clenched fingers loosened; he +waited. + +Two hands stretched forward in the dark, touched him +simultaneously--one on the face, one on the breast. A singular thrill +shot through him, but there was not the flicker of an eye or the +twitching of a finger. The woman--it _was_ a woman--seemed now to be +bending over him, then he heard her drop on her knees beside him, and +she 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 and +inert, for a strange fragrance was enveloping him--a fragrance he well +knew. + +The hands were fumbling at his breast again, and there was the sharp +crackle of paper. At first he didn't understand, then he knew that the +woman had pinned a paper to the lapel of his coat. Finally she +straightened up, and took two steps away from him, after which came a +pause. His keenly attuned ears caught her faint breathing, then the +rustle of her skirts as she turned back. She was leaning over him +again--her lips touched his forehead, barely; again there was a quick +rustling of skirts, the door creaked, and--silence, deep, oppressive, +overwhelming silence. + +Isabel! Was he dreaming? And then he ceased wondering and fell to +remembering 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. Grimm +straightened up suddenly on the couch, himself again. He touched the +slip of paper which she had pinned to his coat to make sure it was not +all a dream, after which he recalled the fact that while he had heard +the 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 was +beside 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 knew +the answer. The compact was to be signed--the alliance which would array +the civilized world in arms. He had failed to block that, as he thought. +If Miss Thorne had returned, then Prince Benedetto d'Abruzzi, who held +absolute power to sign the compact for Italy, France and Spain, had also +returned. + +Stealthily, feeling his way as he went, Mr. Grimm moved toward the door +leading to freedom, guided by the fresh draft of air. He reached the +door--it was standing open--and a moment later stepped out into the +star-lit night. It was open country here, with a thread of white road +just ahead, and farther along a fringe of shrubbery. Mr. Grimm reached +the road. Far down it, a pin point in the night, a light flickered +through interlacing branches. The tail lamp of an automobile, of course! + +Mr. Grimm left the road and skirted a sparse hedge in the direction of +the light. After a moment he heard the engine of an automobile, and saw +a woman--barely discernible--step into the car. As it started forward he +staked everything on one bold move, and won, his reward being a narrow +sitting space in the rear of the car, hidden from its occupants by the +tonneau. One mile, two miles, three miles they charged through the +night, 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 behind +some convenient bushes. And the first thing he did there was to light a +match, and read what was written on the slip of paper pinned to his +coat. It was, simply: + +"My Dear Mr. Grimm: + +"By the time you read this the compact will have been signed, and your +efforts to prevent it, splendid as they were, futile. It is a tribute to +you that it was unanimously agreed that you must be accounted for at +the time of the signing, hence the drugging in the restaurant; it was +only an act of kindness that I should come here to see that all was well +with you, and leave the door open behind me. + +"Believe me when I say that you are one man in whom I have never been +disappointed. Accept this as my farewell, for now I assume again the +name and position rightfully mine. And know, too, that I shall always +cherish 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 a +tug-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, writing +materials and a metal spheroid a shade larger than a one-pound shell; +and around it a semicircle of silent, masked and cowled figures. There +were twelve of them, eleven men and a woman. In the shadows, which grew +denser at the far end of the room, was a squat, globular object, a +massive, smooth-sided, black, threatening thing of iron. + +One of the men glanced at his watch--it was just two o'clock--then rose +and took a position beside the table, facing the semicircle. He placed +the timepiece on the table in front of him. + +"Gentlemen," he said, and there was the faintest trace of a foreign +accent, "I shall speak English because I know that whatever your +nationality all of you are familiar with that tongue. And now an apology +for the theatric aspect of all this--the masks, the time and place of +meeting, and the rest of it." He paused a moment. "There is only one +person living who knows the name and position of all of you," and by a +sweep of his hand he indicated the motionless figure of the woman. "It +was by her decision that masks are worn, for, while we all know the +details of the Latin compact, there is a bare chance that some one will +not sign, and it is not desirable that the identity of that person be +known to all of us. The reason for the selection of this time and place +is obvious, for an inkling of the proposed signing has reached the +Secret Service. I will add the United States was chosen as the +birthplace of this new epoch in history for several reasons, one being +the proximity to Central and South America; and another the inadequate +police system which enables greater freedom of action." + +He stopped and drew from his pocket a folded parchment. He tapped the +tips 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 a +decade. As long as fifty years ago it was suggested, and whatever +differences the Latin countries of the world have had among themselves, +they have always realized that ultimately they must stand together +against--against the other nations of the world. This idea germinated +into action three years ago, and since that time agents have covered the +world in its interest. This meeting is the fruition of all that work, +and this," he held the parchment aloft, "is the instrument that will +unite us. Never has a diplomatic secret been kept as this has been kept; +never has a greater reprisal been planned. It means, gentlemen, the +domination of the world--socially, spiritually, commercially and +artistically; it means that England and the United States, whose sphere +of influence has extended around the globe, will be beaten back, that +the 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 with +enthusiasm; and his hands pointed his remarks with quick, sharp +gestures. + +"All this," he went on, "was never possible until three years ago, when +the navies of the world were given over into the hands of one nation--my +country. Five years ago a fellow-countryman of mine happened to be +present at an electrical exhibition in New York City, and there he +witnessed an interesting experiment--practical demonstration of the fact +that a submarine mine may be exploded by the use of the Marconi wireless +system. He was a practical electrician himself, and the idea lingered in +his mind. For two years he experimented, and finally this resulted." He +picked up the metal spheroid and held it out for their inspection. "As +it stands it is absolutely perfect and gives a world's supremacy to the +Latin countries because it places all the navies of the world at our +mercy. It is a variation of the well-known percussion cap or fuse by +which mines and torpedoes are exploded. + +"The theory of it is simple, as are the theories of all great +inventions; the secret of its construction is known only to its +inventor--a man of whom you never heard. It is merely that the mechanism +of 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 may +use the word, to a certain number of vibrations and half-vibrations; a +wireless instrument of high power, with a modifying addition which the +inventor has added, has only to be set in motion to discharge it at any +distance up to twenty-five miles. High power wireless waves recognize no +obstacle, so the explosion of a submarine mine is as easily brought +about as would be the explosion of a mine on dry land. You will readily +see 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 to +the Latin compact, gentlemen, is that the United States and England are +now concluding negotiations, unknown to each other, by which _they_ will +protect _their_ seaports by means of mines primed with this cap. The +tuning of the caps which we will use is known only to us; _the tuning of +the caps which they will use is also known to us_! The addition to the +wireless apparatus which they will use is such that they _can not_, even +by accident, explode a mine guarding our seaports; but, on the other +hand, the addition to the wireless apparatus which _we_ will use permits +of the extreme high charge which will explode their mines. To make it +clearer, we could send a navy against such a city as New York or +Liverpool, and explode every mine in front of us as we went; and +meanwhile our mines are impervious. + +"Another word, and I have finished. Five gentlemen, whom I imagine are +present now, have witnessed a test of this cap, by direct command of +their home governments. For the benefit of the others of you a simple +test has been arranged for to-night. This cap on the table is charged; +its inventor is at his wireless instrument, fifteen miles away. At three +o'clock he will turn on the current that will explode it." Four of the +eleven men looked at their watches. "It is now seventeen minutes past +two. I am instructed, for the purposes of the test, to place this cap +anywhere you may select--in this house or outside of it, in a box, +sealed, or under water. The purpose is merely to demonstrate its +efficacy; to prove to your complete satisfaction that it can be exploded +under 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 and +Italian. I shall ask you to sign, after reading either or all, precisely +as the directions you have received from your home government instruct. +On behalf of the three greatest Latin countries, as special envoy of +each, I will sign first." + +He dropped into the chair, signed each of the three parchment pages +three times, then rose and offered the pen to the cowled figure at one +end of the semicircle. The man came forward, read the English +transcript, studied the three signatures already there with a certain +air of surprise, then signed. The second man signed, the third man, and +the fourth. + +The fifth had just risen to go forward when the door opened silently and +Mr. Grimm entered. Without a glance either to right or left, he went +straight toward the table, and extended a hand to take the compact. + +For an instant there had come amazement, a dumb astonishment, at the +intrusion. It passed, and the hand of the man who had done the talking +darted 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 eyes +of 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 me +that document." + +He backed away as he spoke, kicked the door closed with one heel, then +leaned against it, facing them. + +"Or better yet," he went on after a moment, "burn it. There is a lamp in +front of you." He paused for an answer. "It would be absurd of me to +attempt 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 palms +fiercely, 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 locked +him in the coal-bin," replied Mr. Grimm tersely. "I am waiting for you +to 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 prince +gazed straight into his inscrutable face, then turned accusing eyes on +the masked figures about him. + +"Is there a traitor?" he demanded suddenly. His gaze settled on Miss +Thorne and lingered there. + +"I can relieve your mind on that point--there is not," Mr. Grimm assured +him. "Just a final word, your Highness, if you will permit me. I have +heard everything that has been said here for the last fifteen minutes. +The details of your percussion cap are interesting. I shall lay them +before my government and my government may take it upon itself to lay +them before the British government. You yourself said a few minutes ago +that this compact was not possible before this cap was invented and +perfected. It isn't possible the minute my government is warned against +its use. That will be my first duty." + +"You are giving some very excellent reasons, Mr. Grimm," was the +deliberate reply, "why you should not be permitted to leave this room +alive." + +"Further," Mr. Grimm resumed in the same tone, "I have been ordered to +prevent the signing of that compact, at least in this country. It seems +that I am barely in time. If it is signed--and it will be useless now on +your own statement unless you murder me--every man who signs it will +have to reckon with the highest power of this country. Will you destroy +it? I don't want to know what countries already stand committed by the +signatures 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, will +receive 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. Her +cheeks 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 make +him turn traitor." She stared coldly into the prince's eyes. "And we are +not 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 face +of this woman who, in a way, was defending him. "But there is only one +thing to do, Miss Thorne." He was talking to her now. "There is no +middle course. It is a problem that has only one possible answer--the +destruction of that document, and the departure of you, and you, your +Highness, for Italy under my personal care all the way. I imagined this +matter had ended that day on the steamer; it _will_ end here, now, +to-night." + +The prince glanced again at his watch, then thoughtfully weighed the +percussion cap in his hand, after which, with a curious laugh, he walked +over to the squat iron globe in an opposite corner of the room. He bent +over it half a minute, then straightened up. + +"That cap, Mr. Grimm, has one disadvantage," he remarked casually. "When +it is attached to a mine or torpedo it can not be disconnected without +firing it. It is attached." He turned to the others. "It is needless to +discuss the matter further just now. If you will follow me? We will +leave Mr. Grimm here." + +With a strange little cry, neither anger nor anguish, yet oddly +partaking 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 the +prince coldly. "It has all passed beyond the point where the feelings +of any one person, even the feelings of the woman who has engineered the +compact, can be considered. A single life can not be permitted to stand +in the way of the consummation of this world project. Mr. Grimm alive +means the compact would be useless, if not impossible; Mr. Grimm dead +means the fruition of all our plans and hopes. You have done your duty +and you have done it well; but now your authority ends, and I, the +special envoy of--" + +"Just a moment, please," Mr. Grimm interrupted courteously. "As I +understand 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 a +wireless 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 chair +up against the door and sat down, crossing his legs. On his knees rested +the barrel of a revolver, glittering, fascinating, in the semi-darkness. +"Now, gentlemen," and he glanced at his watch, "it's twenty-one minutes +of three o'clock. At three that mine will explode. We will all be in the +room when it happens, unless his Highness sees fit to destroy the +compact." + +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 should +say, _any person_, attempts to leave this room I _know_ he will die; and +there's a bare chance that the percussion cap will fail to work. I can +account for six of you, if there is a rush." + +"But, man, if that mine explodes we shall all be killed--blown to +pieces!" 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 studied +Mr. Grimm's impassive countenance. + +"I have never disappointed you yet, Miss Thorne," he remarked as if it +were an explanation. "I shall not now." + +She turned to the prince. + +"Your Highness, I think it needless to argue further," she said. "We +have no choice in the matter; there is only one course--destroy the +compact." + +"No!" was the curt answer. + +"I believe I know Mr. Grimm better than you do," she argued. "You think +he will weaken; I know he will not. I am not arguing for him, nor for +myself; I am arguing against the frightful loss that will come here in +this 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 prince +angrily. + +"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 in +the way?" + +A quick change came over Miss Thorne's face. The eyes hardened, the lips +were set, and lines Mr. Grimm had never seen appeared about the mouth. +Here, in a flash, the cloak of dissimulation was cast aside, and the +woman stood forth, this keen, brilliant, determined woman who did +things. + +"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 bosom +and cast it upon the table; the prince stared at it. "In the name of +your sovereign--_must_!" she said again. + +The prince turned away and began pacing, back and forth across the room +with the parchment crumpled in his hand. For a minute or more Isabel +stood 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 for +so long all began talking at once. One of them snatched at the crumpled +compact 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-distorted +face. + +"Do you know what it means to you if I do as you say?" he demanded +savagely. "It means you will be branded as traitor, that your name, +your property--" + +"If you will pardon me, your Highness," she interrupted, "the power that +I have used was given to me to use; I have used it. It is a matter to be +settled between me and my government, and as far as it affects my person +is 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 cowled +men 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, is +that the compact?" + +She glanced at it, nodded her head, and then the flame caught the +fringed edge of paper. It crackled, flashed, flamed, and at last, a +thing 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. The +prince and Miss Thorne waited until the last. + +"And, Miss Thorne, if you will give us a lift in your car?" Mr. Grimm +suggested. "It is now four minutes of three." + +The automobile came in answer to a signal and the three in silence +entered it. The car trembled and had just begun to move when Mr. Grimm +remembered 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 horror +sank back in her seat with face like chalk. The prince glanced uneasily +at his watch, then spoke curtly to the chauffeur. + +"Run the car up out of danger; there'll be an explosion there in a +moment." + +They had gone perhaps a hundred feet when the building they had just +left seemed to be lifted bodily from the ground by a great spurt of +flame which tore through its center, then collapsed like a thing of +cards. The prince, unmoved, glanced around at Miss Thorne; she lay in a +dead faint beside him. + +"Go ahead," he commanded. "Baltimore." + + + + +XXIV + +THE PERSONAL EQUATION + + +Mr. Campbell ceased talking and the deep earnestness that had settled on +his face passed, leaving instead the blank, inscrutable mask of +benevolence behind which his clock-like genius was habitually hidden. +The choleric blue eyes of the president of the United States shifted +inquiringly to the thoughtful countenance of the secretary of state at +his right, thence along the table around which the official family was +gathered. It was a special meeting of the cabinet called at the +suggestion of Chief Campbell, and for more than an hour he had done the +talking. There had been no interruption. + +"So much!" he concluded, at last. "If there is any point I have not made +clear Mr. Grimm is here to explain it in person." + +Mr. Grimm rose at the mention of his name and stood with his hands +clasped behind his back. His eyes met those of the chief executive +listlessly. + +"We understand, Mr. Grimm," the president began, and he paused for an +instant to regard the tall, clean-cut young man with a certain +admiration, "we understand that there does not actually exist such a +thing 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 several +signatures had been attached," Mr. Grimm amended. "Throughout I have +acted 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 his +shoulders. + +"You are certain, Mr. Grimm," and the president spoke with great +deliberation, "you are certain that the representatives of the Latin +countries 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 excuse +for existence destroyed--when they permitted me to learn of the wireless +percussion cap which would have placed the navies of the world at their +mercy. Believe me, gentlemen, if they had kept their secret it would +have given them dominion of the earth. They made one mistake," he added +in a most matter-of-fact tone. "They should have killed me; it was their +only 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 they +should have permitted the life of one man to stand between them and the +world power for which they had so long planned and schemed. His +Highness, Prince Benedetto d'Abruzzi believed as I do, and so expressed +himself." He paused a moment; there was a hint of surprise in his +manner. "I expected to be killed, of course. It seemed to me the only +thing that could happen." + +"They must have known of the far-reaching consequences which would +follow 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 gain +by killing me there as I stood in the room where I had interrupted the +signing of the compact, because that would have been before I had placed +the facts in the hands of my government. I was the only person outside +of their circle who knew all of them. Only the basest motive could +inspire 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 prince +under--that is, you detained them?" he queried. "If so, where are they +now?" + +"I don't know," was the reply. "Just before the explosion the three of +us entered an automobile together, and then as we were starting away I +remembered something which made it necessary for me to reenter the +house. 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 to +their 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 go +back to save his life, otherwise--" + +"Oh, the guard at the door, you mean?" came the interruption. "Who was +it?" + +Mr. Grimm glanced at his chief, who nodded. + +"It was Mr. Charles Winthrop Rankin of the German embassy," said the +young man. + +"Mr. Rankin of the German embassy was on guard at the door?" demanded +the president quickly. + +"Yes. We got out safely." + +"And that means that Germany was--!" + +The president paused and startled glances passed around the table. After +a 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 listless +eyes, and his lips were set. "Perhaps I had better explain here that the +personal equation enters largely into an affair of this kind," he said +at last, slowly. "It happens that it entered into this. Unless I am +ordered to pursue the matter further I think it would be best for all +concerned to accept the fact of Miss Thorne's escape, and--" He stopped. + +There was a long, thoughtful silence. Every man in the room was studying +Mr. Grimm's impassive face. + +"Personal equation," mused the president. "Just how, Mr. Grimm, does the +personal 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 us +and yet are not enemies. It is merely that our paths of duty cross. We +may have the greatest respect for them and they for us, but purposes are +unalterably different. In other words there is a personal enmity and a +political enmity. You, for instance, might be a close personal friend of +the man whom you defeated for president. There might"--he stopped +suddenly. + +"Go on," urged the president. + +"I think every man meets once in his life an individual with whom he +would like to reckon personally," the young man continued. "That +reckoning may not be a severe one; it may be less severe than the law +would provide; but it would be a personal reckoning. There is one +individual in this affair with whom I should like to reckon, hence the +personal equation enters very largely into the case." + +For a little while the silence of the room was unbroken, save for the +steady tick-tock of a great clock in one corner. Mr. Grimm's eyes were +fixed unwaveringly upon those of the chief executive. At last the +secretary of war crumpled a sheet of paper impatiently and hitched his +chair up to the table. + +"Coming down to the facts it's like this, isn't it?" he demanded +briskly. "The Latin countries, by an invention of their own which the +United States and England were to be duped into purchasing, would have +had power to explode every submarine mine before attacking a port? Very +well. This thing, of course, would have given them the freedom of the +seas as long as we were unable to explode their submarines as they were +able to explode ours. And this is the condition which made the Latin +compact possible, isn't it?" + +He looked straight at Mr. Grimm, who nodded. + +"Therefore," he went on, "if the Latin compact is not a reality on +paper; if the United States and England do not purchase this--this +wireless percussion cap, we are right back where we were before it all +happened, aren't we? Every possible danger from that direction has +passed, hasn't it? The world-war of which we have been talking is +rendered impossible, isn't it?" + +"That's a question," answered Mr. Grimm. "If you will pardon me for +suggesting it, I would venture to say that as long as there is an +invention of that importance in the hands of nations whom we now know +have 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 peace +we must either get complete control of that invention or else understand +it so well that there can be no further danger. And again, please let me +call your attention to the fact that the brain which brought this thing +into existence is still to be reckoned with. There may, some day, come a +time when our submarines may be exploded at will regardless of this +percussion cap." + +The secretary of war turned flatly upon Chief Campbell. + +"This woman who is mixed up in this affair?" he demanded. "This Miss +Thorne. Who is she?" + +"Who is she?" repeated the chief. "She's a secret agent of Italy, one of +the most brilliant, perhaps, that has ever operated in this or any other +country. She is the pivot around which the intrigue moved. We know her +by a dozen names; any one of them may be correct." + +The brows of the secretary of war were drawn down in thought as he +turned to the president. + +"Mr. Grimm was speaking of the personal equation," he remarked +pointedly. "I think perhaps his meaning is clear when we know there is a +woman in the case. We know that Mr. Grimm has done his duty to the last +inch in this matter; we know that alone and unaided, practically, he has +done a thing that no living man of his relative position has ever done +before--prevented a world-war. But there is further danger--he himself +has called our attention to it--therefore, I would suggest that Mr. +Grimm be relieved of further duty in this particular case. This is not a +moment when the peace of the world may be imperiled by personal feelings +of--of kindliness for an individual." + +Mr. Grimm received the blow without a tremor. His hands were still idly +clasped behind his back; the eyes fastened upon the president's face +were still listless; the mouth absolutely without expression. + +"As Mr. Grimm has pointed out," the secretary went on, "we have been +negotiating for this wireless percussion cap. I have somewhere in my +office the name and address of the individual with whom these +negotiations have been conducted. Through that it is possible to reach +the inventor, and then--! I suggest that we vote our thanks to Mr. Grimm +and relieve him of this particular case." + +The choleric eyes of the president softened a little, and grew grave as +they studied the impassive face of the young man. + +"It's a strange situation, Mr. Grimm," he said evenly. "What do you say +to withdrawing?" + +"I am at your orders, Mr. President," was the reply. + +"No one knows better what you have done than the gentlemen here at this +table," the president went on slowly. "No one questions that you have +done more than any other man could have done under the circumstances. We +understand, I think, that indirectly you are asking immunity for an +individual. I don't happen to know the liability of that individual +under our law, but we can't make any mistake now, Mr. Grimm, and so--and +so--" He stopped and was silent. + +"I had hoped, Mr. President, that what I have done so far--and I don't +underestimate it--would have, at least, earned for me the privilege of +remaining 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 justice +fairly, severely if necessary, to one for whom he has a personal +regard?" + +"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 again +summoned into the cabinet chamber. The president met him with +outstretched hand. There was more than mere perfunctory thanks in +this--there was the understanding of man and man. + +"You will proceed with the case to the end, Mr. Grimm," he instructed +abruptly. "If you need assistance ask for it; if not, proceed alone. +You will rely upon your own judgment entirely. If there are +circumstances which make it inadvisable to move against an individual by +legal process, even if that individual is amenable to our laws, you are +not constrained so to do if your judgment is against it. There is one +stipulation: You will either secure the complete rights of the wireless +percussion cap to this government or learn the secret of the invention +so 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 president +brought one vigorous hand down on the young man's shoulder, "that our +government 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, walked +along half a block or so, climbed a short flight of stairs and entered +an 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 imprint +of the Department of War in the upper left hand corner; and the boy +disappeared into a room beyond. A moment later he emerged and held open +the door for Mr. Grimm. A gentleman--Mr. Howard--rose from his seat and +stared 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 to +meet the inventor of the wireless percussion cap," Mr. Grimm explained +carelessly. "The negotiations have reached a point where the War +Department must have one or two questions answered directly by the +inventor. Simple enough, you see." + +"But it has been understood, and I have personally impressed it upon the +secretary of war that such a meeting is impossible," objected Mr. +Howard. "All negotiations have been conducted through me, and I have, as +attorney for the inventor, the right to answer any question that may +properly be answered. This now is a request for a personal interview +with the inventor." + +"The necessity for such an interview has risen unexpectedly, because of +a 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 entirely +on this interview." + +Mr. Howard was leaning forward in his chair with wrinkled brow intently +studying the calm face of the young man. Innocent himself of all the +intrigue and international chicanery back of the affair, representing +only an individual in these secret negotiations, he saw in the +statement, as Mr. Grimm intended that he should, the possible climax of +a great business contract. His greed was aroused; it might mean hundreds +of 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 between +the inventor and myself at once--this afternoon." + +Mr. Howard thoughtfully drummed on his desk for a little while. From the +first, save in so far as the patent rights were concerned, he had seen +no reasons for the obligations of utter secrecy which had been enforced +upon 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 shall +have to put it to my client, of course. Can you give me, say, half an +hour to communicate with him?" + +"Certainly," and Mr. Grimm rose obligingly. "Shall I wait outside here +or call again?" + +"You may wait if you don't mind," said Mr. Howard. "I'll be able to let +you know in a few minutes, I hope." + +Mr. Grimm bowed and passed out. At the end of twenty-five minutes the +door of Mr. Howard's private office opened and he appeared. His face was +violently red, evidently from anger, and perspiration stood on his +forehead. + +"I can't do anything with him," he declared savagely. "He says simply +that 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 note +says, 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 stepped +into 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 Secret +Service. 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 the +old Baltimore Road," came the crisp, business-like answer. "The name is +Murdock Williams." + +"Thank you," said Mr. Grimm. "Good-by." + +A moment later he was standing by the curb waiting for a car, when +Howard, still angry, and with an expression of deep chagrin on his +face, 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 head +summoned 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 solitary +confinement until you hear from me. Don't talk to him, don't let any one +else talk to him, and don't let him talk. If any person speaks to him +before he is locked up, take that person in charge also. He is guilty of +no 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 away +without a protest. Mr. Grimm, musing gently on the stupidity of mankind +in general and the ease with which it is possible to lead even a clever +individual into a trap, if the bait appeals to greed, took a car and +went up town. + +Some three hours later he walked briskly along a narrow path strewn with +pine needles, which led tortuously up to an old colonial farmhouse. +Outwardly the place seemed to be deserted. The blinds, battered and +stripped of paint by wind and rain, were all closed and one corner of +the small veranda had crumbled away from age and neglect. In the rear of +the house, rising from an old barn, a thin pole with a cup-like +attachment 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 to +rap on the door when it was opened from within, and Miss Thorne stood +before him. He was not surprised; intuition had told him he would meet +her again, perhaps here in hiding. A sudden quick tenderness lighted the +listless eyes. For an instant she stood staring, her face pallid against +the 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 by +drooping lids, then she recovered herself and they opened into his. In +them he saw anxiety, apprehension, fear even. + +"Miss Thorne!" he greeted, and he bowed low over the white hand which +she impulsively thrust toward him. + +"I--I knew some one was coming," she stammered in a half whisper. "I +didn't know it was you; I hadn't known definitely until this instant +that you were safe from the explosion. I am glad--glad, you understand; +glad that you were not--" She stopped and fought back her emotions, then +went on: "But you must not come in; you must go away at once. Your--your +life 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 be +some one from your bureau, and I hoped that it was you. I saw how you +forced him to call us up here, and that was all you needed. It was +simple, of course, to trace the telephone call." Both of her hands +closed over one of his desperately. "Now, go, please. The Latin compact +is at an end; you merely invite death here. Now, go!" + +Her eyes were searching the listless face with entreaty in them; the +slender fingers were fiercely gripping one of Mr. Grimm's nerveless +hands. For an instant some strange, softening light flickered in the +young man's eyes, then it passed. + +"I have no choice, Miss Thorne," he said gravely at last. "I am honor +bound by my government to do one of two things. If I fail in the first +of those--the greater--it can only be because--" + +He stopped; hope flamed up in her eyes and she leaned forward eagerly +studying the impassive face. + +"Because--?" she repeated. + +"It can only be because I am killed," he added quietly. Suddenly his +whole 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 began +tensely. + +"May I see the inventor, please?" Mr. Grimm interrupted. + +For a little time she stood, white and rigid, staring at him. Then her +lids fluttered down wearily, as if to veil some crushing agony within +her, and she stepped aside. Mr. Grimm entered and the door closed +noiselessly behind him. After a moment her hand rested lightly on his +arm, 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 low +tone. Her voice was quite calm now. "If you will be--?" + +"Please understand, Miss Thorne," he interposed mercilessly, "that I +must see the inventor, whoever he is. What assurance have I that this +is 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 had +not come to him he would have gone to you." She swayed a little and +pressed one hand to her eyes. "I would to God it were in my power to +prevent that meeting!" she exclaimed desperately. Then, with an effort: +"There are some things I want to explain to you. It may be that you will +be willing to go then of your own free will. If I lay bare to you every +step I have taken since I have been in Washington; if I make clear to +you every obscure point in this hideous intrigue; if I confess to you +that the Latin compact has been given up for all time, won't that be +enough? 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 saying +that 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 been +disappointed in you. I will not permit you to disappoint me now. The +secrets of your government are mine if I can get them--but I won't allow +you to tell them to me." + +"My government!" Miss Thorne repeated, and her lips curled sadly. "I--I +have no government. I have been cast off by that government, stripped of +my 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 of +failure. Prince d'Abruzzi went on to New York that night, cabled a full +account of the destruction of the compact to my government, and sailed +home on the following day. I was the responsible one, and now it all +comes 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 face +like chalk. For a minute or more he sat there turning it all over in his +mind. Truly the triumph had been robbed of its splendor when the blow +fell here--here upon a woman he loved. + +"There's no shame in the confession of one who is fairly beaten," Isabel +went on softly, after a little. "There are many things that you don't +understand. I came to Washington with an authority from my sovereign +higher even than that vested in the ambassador; I came _as_ I did and +compelled Count di Rosini to obtain an invitation to the state ball for +me in order that I might meet a representative of Russia there that +night and receive an answer as to whether or not they would join the +compact. I received that answer; its substance is of no consequence now. + +"And you remember where I first met you? It was while you were +investigating the shooting of Senor Alvarez in the German embassy. That +shooting, as you know, was done by Prince d'Abruzzi, so almost from the +beginning my plans went wrong because of the assumption of authority by +the prince. The paper he took from Senor Alvarez after the shooting was +supposed to bear vitally upon Mexico's attitude toward our plan, but, as +it 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 Germany +agreed to join the compact upon conditions. Mr. Rankin, who was attached +to the German embassy in an advisory capacity, delivered the answer to +me, and I pretended to faint in order that I might reasonably avoid +you." + +"I surmised that much," remarked Mr. Grimm. + +"The telegraphing I did with my fan was as much to distract your +attention as anything else, and at the same time to identify myself to +Mr. 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 were +investigating the theft of the fifty thousand dollars in gold from the +safe. I thrust myself into that case, because I was afraid of you; and +mercilessly destroyed a woman's name in your eyes to further my plans. I +made you believe that Senorita Rodriguez stole that fifty thousand +dollars, and I returned it to you, presumably, while we stood in her +room that night. Only it was not her room--it was _mine!_ _I_ stole the +fifty thousand dollars! All the details, even to her trip to see Mr. +Griswold in Baltimore in company with Mr. Cadwallader, had been +carefully worked out; and she _did_ bring me the combination of the safe +from Mr. Griswold on the strength of a forged letter. But she didn't +know it. There was no theft, of course. I had no intention of keeping +the money. It was necessary to take it to distract attention from the +thing I _did_ do--break a lock inside the safe to get a sealed packet +that contained Venezuela's answer to our plan. I sealed that packet +again, and there was never a suspicion that it had been opened." + +"Only a suspicion," Mr. Grimm corrected. + +"Then came the abduction of Monsieur Boissegur, the French ambassador. I +plunged into that case as I did in the other because I was afraid of you +and had to know just how much you knew. It was explained to you as an +attempt at extortion with details which I carefully supplied. As a +matter of fact, Monsieur Boissegur opposed our plans, even endangered +them; and it was not advisable to have him recalled or even permit him +to resign at the moment. So we abducted him, intending to hold him +until direct orders could reach him from Paris. Understand, please, that +all these things were made possible by the aid and cooperation of +dozens, scores, of agents who were under my orders; every person who +appeared in that abduction was working at my direction. The ambassador's +unexpected escape disarranged our plans; but he was taken out of the +embassy by force the second time under your very eyes. The darkness +which made this possible was due to the fact that while you were looking +for the switch, and I was apparently aiding, I was holding my hand over +it all the time to keep you from turning on the light. You remember +that?" + +Mr. Grimm nodded. + +"All the rest of it you know," she concluded wearily. "You compelled me +to leave the Venezuelan legation by your espionage, but in the crowded +hotel to which I moved I had little difficulty avoiding your Mr. +Hastings, your Mr. Blair and your Mr. Johnson, so I came and went +freely without your knowledge. The escape of the prince from prison you +arranged, so you understand all of that, as well as the meeting and +attempted signing of the compact, and the rapid recovery of Senor +Alvarez. And, after all, it was my fault that our plans failed, because +if I had not been--been uneasy as to your condition and had not made the +mistake 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 act +of--consideration and kindness to me--" + +"We would have succeeded in spite of you," explained Isabel. "We were +afraid of you, Mr. Grimm. It was a compliment to you that we considered +it necessary to account for your whereabouts at the time of the signing +of the compact." + +"And if you had succeeded," remarked Mr. Grimm, "the whole civilized +world 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 is +exaltation, stimulation, excitement in it. It has always possessed the +greatest fascination for me. I have always won, you know, until now. I +failed! And my reward is 'Traitor!'" + +"Just a word of assurance now," she went on after a moment. "The Latin +compact 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 know +you have wondered; I know your agents have scoured the world to find +out. I am the daughter of a former Italian ambassador to the Court of +St. James. My mother was an English woman. I was born and received my +early 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 am +an exile with a price on my head. That is all, except for several years +I was a trusted agent of my government, and a friend of my queen." + +She rose and extended both hands graciously. Mr. Grimm seized the +slender white fingers and stood with eyes fixed upon hers. Slowly a +flush 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 that +you have learned take the place of whatever you expected to learn, and +go. Believe me, there can only be one result if you meet--if you meet +the inventor of the wireless cap upon which so much was staked, and so +much lost." She shuddered a little, then raised the blue-gray eyes +beseechingly to his face. "Please go." + +Go! The word straightened Mr. Grimm in his tracks and he allowed her +hands to fall limply. Suddenly his face grew hard. In the ecstasy of +adoration he had momentarily forgotten his purpose here. His eyes lost +their 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? You +can't; no man can. No one knows the inventor more intimately than I, and +even 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 have +accepted a fortune at the hands of Prince d'Abruzzi to remain silent. +The compact has failed; you did that. The agents have scattered--gone to +other duties. That is enough." + +"No," said Mr. Grimm. There was a strange fear tearing at his +heart,--"No one knows the inventor more intimately than I." "No," he +said again. "I won from my government a promise to be made good upon a +condition--I must fulfil that condition." + +"But there is nothing, promotion, honor, reward, that would compensate +you for the loss of your life," she entreated. "There is still time." +She was pleading now, with her slim white hands resting on his +shoulders, and the blue-gray eyes fixed upon his face. + +"It's more than all that," he said. "That condition is you--your +safety." + +"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 face +turned 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 with +disappointment and anger," she rushed on desperately. "Remember that a +vast fortune, honor, fame were at his finger tips when you--you placed +them beyond his reach by the destruction of the compact. He has sworn to +kill 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. Grimm +disengaged his right hand and drew his revolver; the barrel clicked +under his fingers as it spun. + +"If I tell you that of the two human beings in this world whom I love +this man is one?" + +"No." + +A shuffling step sounded in the hallway just outside. Mr. Grimm stepped +back from the kneeling figure, and turned to face the door with his +revolver ready. + +"Great God!" It was a scream of agony. "He is my brother! Don't you +see?" + +She came to her feet and went staggering across to the door. The key +clicked 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 to +Mr. Grimm mutely, with arms outstretched. The revolver barrel clicked +under his hand, then, after a moment, he replaced the weapon in his +pocket. + +"Please open the door," he requested quietly. + +"He'll kill you!" she screamed. + +Exhausted, helpless, she leaned against a chair with her face in her +hands. Mr. Grimm went to her suddenly, tore the hands from her face, and +met 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 it +open. 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. There +was a short, sharp struggle, and both went down. The revolver! He must +get 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 his +head, and then came a second flash. Instantly he felt the figure in his +arms grow limp; and after a moment he rose. The face of the man on the +floor was pearly gray; and a thin, scarlet thread flowed from his +temple. + +[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. The +blue-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. He +lifted her gently and placed her on a couch, after which he disappeared +into another room. In a little while there came the cheerful ting-a-ling +of a telephone bell. + +"Is this the county constable's office?" he inquired. "Well, there's +been a little shooting accident at the Murdock Williams' place, five +miles out from Alexandria on the old Baltimore Road. Please send some of +your men over to take charge. Two hours from now call up Mr. Grimm at +Secret Service headquarters in Washington and he will explain. Good-by." + +And a few minutes later Mr. Grimm walked along the road toward an +automobile a hundred yards away, bearing Miss Thorne in his arms. The +chauffeur cranked the machine and climbed to his seat. + +"Washington!" directed Mr. Grimm. "Never mind the speed laws." + + + +THE END + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Elusive Isabel, by Jacques Futrelle + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ELUSIVE ISABEL *** + +***** This file should be named 10943.txt or 10943.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/0/9/4/10943/ + +Produced by Steven desJardins and PG Distributed Proofreaders + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. 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