bowed with suave dignity.

"Senhor Alcatrante? The name is familiar," said Orme, smiling.

Poritol assumed an air. "He is the minister from my country to these
United States."

Orme understood. This was the wary South American diplomat whose name had
lately been so prominent in the Washington dispatches. What was he doing
in Chicago?

"I am glad to meet you," said Orme.

Alcatrante smiled, displaying a prominent row of uneven teeth.

"My young friend, Poritol," he began, "tells me that you have in your
possession the record of a secret belonging to him. What that secret is,
is immaterial to you and me, I take it. He is an honorable young
man--excitable, perhaps, but well-meaning. I would suggest that you give
him the five-dollar bill he desires, accepting from him another in
exchange. Or, if you still doubt him, permit me to offer you a bill from
my own pocket." He drew out a fat wallet.

The situation appeared to be simplified. And yet Orme was dubious. There
was mischief in the bill; so much he felt sure of. Alcatrante's
reputation was that of a fox, and as for Poritol, he was, to say the
least, a person of uncertain qualities. Orme could not but admire the
subtle manner in which Alcatrante sought delicately to limit his doubts
to the mere possibility that Poritol was trying to pass spurious money.
He decided not to settle the question at this moment.

"This seems to be rather a mixed-up affair, Senhor Alcatrante," he said.
"There is much more in it than appears. Call on me to-morrow morning, and
you shall have my decision."

Alcatrante and Poritol looked at each other. The minister spoke:

"Will you engage not to give the bill to anyone else in the interval?"

"I will promise that," said Orme. "It is only fair. Yes, I will keep the
bill until to-morrow morning."

"One other suggestion," continued Alcatrante. "You may not be willing to
give up the bill, but is there any reason why you should refuse to let
Senhor Poritol copy the writing that is on it?"

"Only my determination to think the whole matter over before I do
anything at all," Orme replied.

"But the bill came into your hands by chance," insisted the minister.
"The information means nothing to you, though obviously it means a great
deal to my young friend, here. May I ask what right you have to deny this
request?"

"What right?" Orme's eyes narrowed. "My right is that I have the bill and
the information, and I intend to understand the situa