Vaguely, incoherently, Mr. Grimm imagined that in some way it had to do with the great international plot of war in which Miss Thorne was so delicate and vital an instrument.

Mr. Campbell stared at Mr. Grimm for a moment, then: "Miss Thorne, you know, is a guest at the legation, that is why I am referring the matter to you.

"Thorne, is there a man up here named Croissetor a girl called Meleese?" He watched the senior engineer closely.

"Miss Thorne, perhaps?" "Yes, sir, that's the nameMiss Thorne.

"Miss Thorne, is that the compact?" She glanced at it, nodded her head, and then the flame caught the fringed edge of paper.

Mr. Joseph Thorne is a gentleman of forty-five, of a dark mulatto complexion, with the negro features and hair.

Understand, please, I'm not asserting that Miss Thorne is a dangerous person.