was from the German Emperor."

Lepine smiled.

"The German Emperor was the first to get word of it," he said. "I
examined the other telegrams filed Monday morning. At ten minutes to
seven, the German consul here notified the Minister of State at Berlin
of the explosion. Admiral Bellue did not file his message to you until
forty minutes later. No doubt he wished to assure himself of the extent
of the disaster, in order not to alarm you needlessly. You should have
received it not later than eight o'clock."

"It was, in fact, a few minutes before that hour. And when I reached the
Elysee Palace, I found the President with a message from the Kaiser in
his hand. It struck me as most peculiar."

"It was ironic, certainly," agreed Lepine, "but, under the
circumstances, easily explained."

"You think, then--"

"I think that Crochard has assumed too much; I think that, before we
accuse these men, we need more proof."

Delcasse pushed back his chair and paced for some moments nervously
about the room. At last he sat down again, and rolled and lighted a
cigarette.

"You are right," he said; "we need more proof. It is for you to find it,
if it exists. And at this moment, I am interested not so much in the
movements of these men, as in the cause of the explosion. Even supposing
that they had a hand in it, how was it accomplished?"

Lepine returned the telegrams to his pocket.

"I agree with you," he said, "that that is the vital question. And I am
unable to answer it."

"I shall institute a Board of Inquiry at once," went on the Minister; "I
have, in fact, already summoned the officers who will compose it. I will
arrange for it to visit the wreck and begin to take evidence to-day, as
it is important that the evidence be secured while the event is still
fresh. I would suggest that you place some of your men at the
disposition of the Board."

"Very well, sir," Lepine agreed, and withdrew.

Toulon was awake again, and the streets were thronged as on a fete day.
The first shock of the disaster had passed, and the inborn cheerfulness
of the people was asserting itself. The excuse for a holiday was not to
be overlooked, and every one who could take a day, or even an hour of
leisure, did so, and spent it partly on the quays staring at the wreck,
partly in the Place de la Liberte listening to the orators, partly in
the Place d'Armes watching the men at work draping with black the
Maritime Prefecture, where the Board of Inqui