your Highness,
is one reason why you must leave Washington now, to-night."

XIX

BY WIRELESS

They paused in the office, the three of them, and while Miss Thorne was
giving some instructions as to her baggage the prince went over to the
telegraph booth and began to write a message on a blank. Mr. Grimm
appeared at his elbow.

"No," he said.

"Can't I send a telegram if I like?" demanded the prince sharply.

"No, nor a note, nor a letter, nor may you speak to any one," Mr. Grimm
informed him quietly.

"Why, it's an outrage!" flamed the prince.

"It depends altogether on the view-point, your Highness," said Mr. Grimm
courteously. "If you will pardon me I might suggest that it is needless
to attract attention by your present attitude. You may--I say you
_may_--compel me to humiliate you." The prince glared at him angrily. "I
mean handcuff you," Mr. Grimm added gratuitously.

"Handcuff _me_?"

"I shouldn't hesitate, your Highness, if it was necessary."

After a moment Miss Thorne signified her readiness, and they started
out. At the door Mr. Grimm stopped and turned back to the desk, as if
struck by some sudden thought, leaving them together.

"Oh, Miss Thorne left a message for some one," Mr. Grimm was saying to
the clerk. "She's decided it is unnecessary." He turned and glanced
toward her, and the clerk's eyes followed his. "Please give it to me."

It was passed over without comment. It was a sealed envelope addressed
to Mr. Charles Winthrop Rankin. Mr. Grimm glanced at the superscription,
tore the envelope into bits and dropped it into a basket. A minute
later he was assisting Miss Thorne and the prince into an automobile
that was waiting in front. As the car moved away two other automobiles
appeared from corners near-by and trailed along behind to the station.
There a private compartment-car was in readiness for them.

It was a long, dreary ride--a ride of utter silence save for the roar
and clatter of the moving train. Mr. Grimm, vigilant, implacable, sat at
ease; Miss Thorne, resigned to the inevitable, whatever it might be,
studied the calm, quiet face from beneath drooping lids; and the prince,
sullen, scowling, nervously wriggled in his seat. Philadelphia was
passed, and Trenton, and then the dawn began to break through the night.
It was quite light when they rolled into Jersey City.

"I'm sorry for all the inconvenience I have caused," Mr. Grimm
apologized to Miss Thorne as he assisted