ly. "She would have gone--er--elsewhere!"

"The man in the green limousine!" came suddenly in cryptic tones from
the silent Renwick.

"Exactly. He followed the Countess Strahni's fiacre in motor car to the
Nordwest Bahnhof."

"And you?"

"We forestalled him--that's all," he said, showing his gold tooth in a
most ingratiating smile, but there was a flash in the deep set eyes
which explained much to Renwick.

"There was a commotion near the booking-stall," said Renwick.

"Ah, you witnessed?"

"From a distance. I had other affairs."

"Yes. That will perhaps make my laxity with regard to Herr Renwick's
sudden appearance the more pardonable," said Windt, with a professional
air.

Marishka, who had listened with growing inquietude to these revelations
of her danger, had risen and paced nervously the length of the room.

"But why?" she pleaded. "Who can dare to molest me in my own home or in
the streets of Vienna?"

Herr Windt rubbed his injured eye gravely.

"The Countess Strahni has unfortunately become a political document, the
possession of which, I may even say the suppression of which, is highly
important."

Marishka sank upon the couch, and for a moment buried her face in her
hands.

"But what would be gained by getting me out of the way? I have already
told what I know."

Herr Windt smiled.

"As Herr Renwick would perhaps inform you, the place for an important
document is the safe. If the document is harmless a desk may do. If it
is incriminating, like you, Countess"--he said with a dramatic
gesture--"the fire!"

Renwick by this time had risen and stood fitting his monocle into his
eye.

"Astounding!" he muttered. "And yet I quite believe you."

"There seems little room to doubt." Herr Windt walked to the window and
peered out again. "My men are all about this place, Herr Renwick, and
yet even now I am not certain that you have not been followed."

He turned and faced Marishka with his usual bland composure. "Herr
Renwick should, I think, be able to take care of himself. I beg,
however, that Countess Strahni will not be unduly anxious. I shall
myself go outside and take every precaution." He turned at the door and
bowed. "I beg that in the meanwhile, you will come to some decision as
to your immediate plans, counting upon my efforts to aid you. There is
no train for Vienna until this afternoon," he said significantly. "I may
add that the machine in which you came from Altensteig will be retu