I have a hunch that His Excellency
won't make it."

"Well," said Mark grudgingly, "I suppose the quiet way is the better
way. What is your plan? Why not let Father Murray know?"

"I can't let him know, because he'd want to be in on it. At all risks,
he's got to be kept out. What I propose to do is to start up such a
trouble in the rear of the house that, for five minutes at least,
there'll be no guard in the front."

"You would have to set it on fire to do that."

Saunders put his finger impressively upon a button of Mark's pajamas.

"You've guessed it, first shot out of the box. That's just what I'm
going to do. Rather, that's what _we're_ going to do."

Mark looked at him in solemn silence.

"Saunders, what did you have to put you in this condition?"

"Plain water and a cold bath," answered Saunders promptly.

"Then perhaps you'll explain."

"It'll be easy. They can put the fire out after the lady has gotten
away. The Minister is going to dinner to-night. Madame Minister--or
whatever you call her--will be with him; so will his flock of girls,
and so, of course, will His Excellency's secretary. The rest of his
staff don't live there. I figure that the guards, and the servants,
and Miss Atheson will be the only ones in the house. The fire will
bring all but Miss Atheson to the back. A rope ladder skillfully
thrown will do the rest. Now you see why I can't mix the Padre up in
that. We may be arrested, though I don't think we shall. The Minister
doesn't want anything of that kind. This morning I'll flash the night
escape signal to Miss Atheson. She'll be ready to leave, and you may
be sure she'll find a way to warn us if the guard is still around.
To-night you make an excuse to the Padre and slip away. He's going to
see a friend anyhow at the University out in Brookland. I heard him
say so. Tell him not to worry if you happen to be out when he comes
back. Fix it up any way you like, and we'll make the play and win."

"Who's to do the 'skillful throwing' of the ladder?"

"A friend of mine who used to be a fireman."

"Do you think you can get him?"

"I've engaged him already."

"H-m." Mark stared at the detective, then burst forth with, "What time
did you get up?"

"I didn't have to get up. I haven't gone to bed yet."

Mark sat down in his chair to think. After a while he put out his hand
to the detective.

"I believe you've got it, Saunders. I'll do it--but you'd better get