off spied upon Tarzan almost constantly, waiting for the time that
he should call at the De Coude palace at night, but in this he was
doomed to disappointment. On several occasions Tarzan accompanied the
countess to her home after the opera, but he invariably left her at the
entrance--much to the disgust of the lady's devoted brother.

Finding that it seemed impossible to trap Tarzan through any voluntary
act of his own, Rokoff and Paulvitch put their heads together to hatch
a plan that would trap the ape-man in all the circumstantial evidence
of a compromising position.

For days they watched the papers as well as the movements of De Coude
and Tarzan. At length they were rewarded. A morning paper made brief
mention of a smoker that was to be given on the following evening by
the German minister. De Coude's name was among those of the invited
guests. If he attended this meant that he would be absent from his
home until after midnight.

On the night of the banquet Paulvitch waited at the curb before the
residence of the German minister, where he could scan the face of each
guest that arrived. He had not long to wait before De Coude descended
from his car and passed him. That was enough. Paulvitch hastened back
to his quarters, where Rokoff awaited him. There they waited until
after eleven, then Paulvitch took down the receiver of their telephone.
He called a number.

"The apartments of Lieutenant D'Arnot?" he asked, when he had obtained
his connection.

"A message for Monsieur Tarzan, if he will be so kind as to step to the
telephone."

For a minute there was silence.

"Monsieur Tarzan?"

"Ah, yes, monsieur, this is Francois--in the service of the Countess de
Coude. Possibly monsieur does poor Francois the honor to recall
him--yes?

"Yes, monsieur. I have a message, an urgent message from the countess.
She asks that you hasten to her at once--she is in trouble, monsieur.

"No, monsieur, poor Francois does not know. Shall I tell madame that
monsieur will be here shortly?

"Thank you, monsieur. The good God will bless you."

Paulvitch hung up the receiver and turned to grin at Rokoff.

"It will take him thirty minutes to get there. If you reach the German
minister's in fifteen, De Coude should arrive at his home in about
forty-five minutes. It all depends upon whether the fool will remain
fifteen minutes after he finds that a trick has been played upon him;
but unless I am mistaken Olga will