amused.

"My good fellow," he said, "you have made yourself a notorious person in
this country by dint of incessant bullying and bribing and corruption of
every sort. You may possess all the powers you claim. Your only
mistake seems to be that you are too thick-headed to know when you are
overmatched. I have been a diplomatist all my life," Mr. Sabin said,
rising slowly to his feet, and with a sudden intent look upon his face,
"and if I were to be outwitted by such a novice as you I should deserve
to end my days--in New York."

Mr. Horser rose also to his feet. A smile of triumph was on his lips.

"Well," he said, "we-- Come in! Come in!" The door was thrown open.
Skinner and two policemen entered. Mr. Sabin leaned towards the wall,
and in a second the room was plunged in darkness.

"Turn on the lights!" Skinner shouted. "Seize him! He's in that
corner. Use your clubs!" Horser bawled. "Stand by the door one of you.
Damnation, where is that switch?"

He found it with a shout of triumph. Lights flared out in the room. They
stared around into every corner. Mr. Sabin was not there. Then Horser
saw the door leading into the bed-chamber, and flung himself against it
with a hoarse cry of rage.

"Break it open!" he cried to the policemen.

They hammered upon it with their clubs. Mr. Sabin's quiet voice came to
them from the other side.

"Pray do not disturb me, gentlemen," he said. "I am reading."

"Break it open, you damned fools!" Horser cried. They battered at it
sturdily, but the door was a solid one. Suddenly they heard the key turn
in the lock. Mr. Sabin stood upon the threshold.

"Gentlemen!" he exclaimed. "These are my private apartments. Why this
violence?"

He held out the paper.

"This is mine," he said. "The information which it contains is bought
and paid for. But if the giving it up will procure me the privilege of
your departure, pray take it."

Horser was purple with rage. He pointed with shaking fist to the still,
calm figure.

"Arrest him," he ordered. "Take him to the cells."

Mr. Sabin shrugged his shoulders.

"I am ready," he said, "but it is only fair to give you this warning. I
am the Duke of Souspennier, and I am well known in England and France.
The paper which you saw me hand to the porter in the hall as we stepped
into the elevator was a despatch in cipher to the English Ambassador at
Washington, claiming his protection. If you take me to prison to-night
you will have him to deal