<h3> A VISIT TO THE COUNT </h3>
<p> </p>
<p>The bland serenity of Mr. Campbell's
face was disturbed by thin, spidery lines
of perplexity, and the guileless blue eyes
were vacant as he stared at the top of his desk.
Mr. Grimm was talking.</p>
<p>"From the moment Miss Thorne turned the
corner I lost all trace of her," he said. "Either
she had an automobile in waiting, or else she was
lucky enough to find one immediately she came
out. She did not return to the embassy ball last
night—that much is certain." He paused reflectively.
"She is a guest of Señorita Inez
Rodriguez at the Venezuelan legation," he added.</p>
<p>"Yes, I know," his chief nodded.</p>
<p>"I didn't attempt to see her there last night
for two reasons," Mr. Grimm continued. "First,
she can have no possible knowledge of the fact
that she is suspected, unless perhaps the man
who slammed the door—" He paused. "Anyway,
she will not attempt to leave Washington;
I am confident of that. Again, it didn't seem
wise to me to employ the ordinary crude police
methods in the case—that is, go to the Venezuelan
legation and kick up a row."</p>
<p>For a long time Campbell was silent; the perplexed
lines still furrowed his benevolent forehead.</p>
<p>"The president is very anxious that we get
to facts in this reported Latin alliance as soon
as possible," he said at last, irrelevantly. "He
mentioned the matter last night, and he has been
keeping in constant communication with Gault,
in Lisbon, who, however, has not been able to
add materially to the original despatch. Under
all the circumstances don't you think it would
be best for me to relieve you of the investigation
of this shooting affair so that you can concentrate
on this greater and more important
thing?"</p>
<p>"Will Señor Alvarez die?" asked Mr. Grimm
in turn.</p>
<p>"His condition is serious, although the wound
is not necessarily fatal," was the reply.</p>
<p>Mr. Grimm arose, stretched his long legs and
stood for a little while gazing out the window.
Finally he turned to his chief:</p>
<p>"What do we know, here in the bureau, about
Miss Thorne?"</p>
<p>"Thus far the reports on her are of the usual
perfunctory nature," Mr. Campbell explained.
He drew a card from a pigeonhole of his desk
and glanced at it. "She arrived in Washington
two weeks and two days ago from New York,
off the <i>Lusitania</i>, from Liverpool. She brought
some sort of an introduction to Count di Rosini,
the Italian ambassador, and he obtained for her
a special invitation to the state ball, which was
held that night. Until four days ago she was
a guest at the Italian embassy, but now, as you
know, is a guest at the Venezuelan legation.
Since her arrival here she has been prominently
pushed forward into society; she has gone
everywhere, and been received everywhere in the
diplomatic set. We have no knowledge of her
beyond this."</p>
<p>There was a question in Mr. Grimm's listless
eyes as they met those of his chief. The same
line of thought was running in both their minds,
born, perhaps, of the association of ideas—Italy
as one of three great nations known to be
in the Latin compact; Prince Benedetto d'Abruzzi,
of Italy, the secret envoy of three countries;
the sudden appearance of Miss Thorne
at the Italian embassy. And in the mind of the
younger man there was more than this—a definite
knowledge of a message cunningly transmitted
to Mr. Rankin, of the German embassy,
by Miss Thorne there in the ball-room.</p>
<p>"Can you imagine—" he asked slowly, "can
you imagine a person who would be of more
value to the Latin governments in Washington
right at this stage of the negotiations than a
brilliant woman agent?"</p>
<p>"I most certainly can not," was the chief's unhesitating
response.</p>
<p>"In that case I <i>don't</i> think it would be wise to
transfer the investigation of the shooting affair
to another man," said Mr. Grimm emphatically,
reverting to his chief's question. "I think, on
the contrary, we should find out more about Miss
Thorne."</p>
<p>"Precisely," Campbell agreed.</p>
<p>"Ask all the great capitals about her—Madrid,
Paris and Rome, particularly; then, perhaps,
London and Berlin and St. Petersburg."</p>
<p>Mr. Campbell thoughtfully scribbled the
names of the cities on a slip of paper.</p>
<p>"Do you intend to arrest Miss Thorne for the
shooting?" he queried.</p>
<p>"I don't know," replied Mr. Grimm frankly.
"I don't know," he repeated musingly. "If I
<i>do</i> arrest her immediately I may cut off a clue
which will lead to the other affair. I don't
know," he concluded.</p>
<p>"Use your own judgment, and bear in mind
that a man—<i>a man</i> slammed the door in the
maid's face."</p>
<p>"I shall not forget him," Mr. Grimm answered.
"Now I'm going over to talk to Count
di Rosini for a while."</p>
<p>The young man went out, thoughtfully tugging
at his gloves. The Italian ambassador received
him with an inquiring uplift of his dark
brows.</p>
<p>"I came to make some inquiries in regard to
Miss Thorne—Miss Isabel Thorne," Mr. Grimm
informed him frankly.</p>
<p>The count was surprised, but it didn't appear
in his face.</p>
<p>"As I understand it," the young man pursued,
"you are sponsor for her in Washington?"</p>
<p>The count, evasively diplomatic, born and
bred in a school of caution, considered the question
from every standpoint.</p>
<p>"It may be that I am so regarded," he admitted
at last.</p>
<p>"May I inquire if the sponsorship is official,
personal, social, or all three?" Mr. Grimm continued.</p>
<p>There was silence for a long time.</p>
<p>"I don't see the trend of your questioning,"
said the ambassador finally. "Miss Thorne is
worthy of my protection in every way."</p>
<p>"Let's suppose a case," suggested Mr. Grimm
blandly. "Suppose Miss Thorne had—had, let
us say, shot a man, and he was about to die,
would you feel justified in withdrawing that—that
protection, as you call it?"</p>
<p>"Such a thing is preposterous!" exclaimed
the ambassador. "The utter absurdity of such
a charge would impel me to offer her every assistance."</p>
<p>Mr. Grimm nodded.</p>
<p>"And if it were proved to your satisfaction
that she <i>did</i> shoot him?" he went on evenly.</p>
<p>The count's lips were drawn together in a
straight line.</p>
<p>"Whom, may I ask," he inquired frigidly,
"are we supposing that Miss Thorne shot?"</p>
<p>"No one, particularly," Mr. Grimm assured
him easily. "Just suppose that she <i>had</i> shot
anybody—me, say, or Señor Alvarez?"</p>
<p>"I can't answer a question so ridiculous as
that."</p>
<p>"And suppose we go a little further," Mr.
Grimm insisted pleasantly, "and assume that
you <i>knew</i> she <i>had</i> shot some one, say Señor Alvarez,
and you <i>could</i> protect her from the consequences,
<i>would</i> you?"</p>
<p>"I decline to suppose anything so utterly absurd,"
was the rejoinder.</p>
<p>Mr. Grimm sat with his elbows on his knees,
idly twisting a seal ring on his little finger.
The searching eyes of the ambassador found his
face blankly inscrutable.</p>
<p>"Diplomatic representatives in Washington
have certain obligations to this government,"
the young man reminded him. "We—that is,
the government of the United States—undertake
to guarantee the personal safety of every
accredited representative; in return for that protection
we must insist upon the name and identity
of a dangerous person who may be known
to any foreign representative. Understand,
please, I'm not asserting that Miss Thorne is
a dangerous person. You are sponsor for her
here. Is she, in every way, worthy of your protection?"</p>
<p>"Yes," said the ambassador flatly.</p>
<p>"I can take it, then, that the introduction she
brought to you is from a person whose position
is high enough to insure Miss Thorne's position?"</p>
<p>"That is correct."</p>
<p>"Very well!"</p>
<p>And Mr. Grimm went away.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<SPAN name="CH6"><!-- CHAPTER 6 --></SPAN>
<h3> VI </h3>
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