all. The minutes dragged miserably, each of them
weighted with self-accusation, but the afternoon shadows began to
lengthen and still his telephone had not rung. Finally he called for
Kasia's number and asked for her. A voice which he recognised as that of
the negro boy answered that she had not yet returned.

"It's those Germans!" Dan muttered to himself. "It's those damned
Germans! They've got her into it, somehow!"

And then suddenly he remembered his appointment, and snatched out his
watch. It was nearly six o'clock.

"I'll drag it out of them!" he said. "I'll drag it out of them! And if
Chevrial's there...."

He stopped. Chevrial and the Germans could not be in collusion--such an
alliance was unthinkable. But how else to explain it....

Dan gave it up; but a good dinner at a near-by restaurant restored him
something of his self-confidence. After all, this was America. Europe
might be honeycombed with intrigue and over-run with spies, but they
would find their occupation gone on this side of the water! And he
himself would explode a bomb in the morning's _Record_ that would shake
them up a little! So it was a fairly confident and self-controlled young
man who mounted the steps of the German consulate at five minutes to
seven. A flunkey in livery opened the door to his ring.

"I have an appointment with Admiral Pachmann," said Dan, with a sudden
cold fear at his heart that he would be laughed at; but instead he was
shown at once into a little ante-chamber.

"Sit here a moment, sir," said the footman, and hastened away, closing
the door behind him. But it opened almost at once, and Pachmann himself
entered. Dan drew a deep breath of relief; it was all right then!

Pachmann fairly radiated good-humour. All his roughness of the morning
had disappeared, and he greeted Dan beamingly.

"I am most glad to see you," he said, in such a tone that Dan almost
believed him. "You are prompt--but that, I am given to understand, is an
American virtue. However, I am prompt, also. The car is waiting."

"The car?" Dan echoed.

"You will understand," Pachmann explained, "that, since the Prince is
incognito, it is impossible for him to remain at the consulate--that
would at once betray him. I was uncertain, this morning, as to our
arrangements, or I should have directed you to the proper address.
However, it is but a step," and he opened the door.

Dan followed him along a handsome hall to the carriage entrance, where,
at