circle.

"I find myself in an awkward position," began the minister, slowly. "I am
a guest of your club, and I should never dream of saying what I mus' say,
were my own personal affairs alone involved. Let me urge that no one
leave until I have done."

For a tense moment he was silent. Then he went on:

"Gentlemen, while we were talking together here, I had in my pocket
certain papers of great importance to my country. In the last few minutes
they have disappeared. I regret to say it--but, gentlemen, someone has
taken them."

There was a gasp of astonishment.

"I mus' even open myself to the charge of abusing your hospitality,
rather than let the matter pass. If I could only make you understand how
grave it is"--he was brilliantly impressive. Just the right shade of
reluctance colored his earnestness.

"I have every reason to think," he continued, "that the possession of
those papers would be of immense personal advantage to the man who has
been sitting at my right--Mr. Orme."

"This is a serious charge, Excellency," exclaimed one of the men.

"I am aware of that. But I am obliged to ask you not to dismiss it
hastily. My position and standing are known to you. When I tell you that
these papers are of importance to my country, you can only in part
realize how great that importance is. Gentlemen, I mus' ask Mr. Orme
whether he has the papers."

Orme saw that the minister's bold stroke was having its effect. He
decided quickly to meet it with frankness. "The papers to which His
Excellency refers," he said quietly, "are in my pocket."

Several of the men exclaimed.

"But," Orme went on, "I did not take them from His Excellency. On the
contrary, his agents have for some time been using every device to steal
them from me. They have failed, and now he is making a last attempt by
trying to persuade you that they belong to him."

"I submit that this smart answer does not satisfy my charge," cried the
minister.

"Do you really wish to go further?" demanded Orme. "Would you like me to
explain to these men what those papers really mean?"

"If you do that, you betray my country's secrets."

Orme turned to the others. "His Excellency and I are both guests here,"
he said. "Leaving his official position out of the question, my word must
go as far as his. I assure you that he has no claim at all upon the
papers in my pocket."

"That is not true!"

The minister's words exploded in a sharp staccato.

"In this coun