In the succeeding silence the measured beat of the escapement was
plainly audible. There was a sinister significance in the sound that I,
for one, shall not easily forget. The man Grenelli paled and took an
involuntary backward step.

"The steamship Russia" continued Indiman, in his calm, inflectionless
voice, "was booked to carry an unusually distinguished company on this
particular trip. The International Peace Congress has been in session
in New York during the past fortnight. It adjourned Tuesday, and some
thirty of the European delegates had engaged passage on this boat. Now,
consider for a moment, Grenelli--what a catastrophe to the cause of
universal peace should anything happen to the Russia! For example, the
destruction of the ship and the consequent loss of life through the
explosion of an infernal machine smuggled into the cargo! What
confusion, what dismay, what terror! Then the poison of slow suspicion,
the dull but deadly undercurrent of racial resentments, the question,
growing daily more insistent, 'Who has done this thing?'

"It was an exquisite stroke of irony, Grenelli. I am connoisseur enough
to admire really good technique wherever I find it. The nations
assemble for a council of peace, and an invisible hand hurls a
firebrand into the very centre of the august circle! Puff! The
resolutions, with their well-rounded periods, go up into smoke and the
tramp of armed men is heard throughout the world. Excellent! Oh,
excellent, my good Grenelli!

"But chance always takes a hand in a round game, and at the
psychological moment I come out of my house and upset an
apple-cart--your apple-cart, my good Grenelli. What incredible bad
luck!--to be bowled out by a shiny, red-cheeked pippin from Mattie
Townley's orchard in Saco, Maine. You will remember a somewhat similar
incident in the Garden of Eden several thousand years ago. Apples are
certainly unwholesome fruit for the masculine digestion. But I beg your
pardon--you were about to say--"

The man Grenelli glared at his tormentor. "What more do you want of
me?" he asked, sullenly. "There's the police--why don't you turn me
over to them and have done with it?"

"For the very sufficient reason, my dear Grenelli, that the evidence
against you isn't strong enough. The package never reached the Russia,
and how are we going to prove your intentions. Besides, in a matter of
this sort, the question of tools is of small importance compared with
the identity o