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