st 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,