eing
disturbed."

"I will attend to all that," agreed Delcasse, and touched a bell. "If
General Marbeau is in his office," he added to his secretary, "please
say that I wish to see him at once."

* * * * *

The door had closed behind the French Chief of Wireless and the
white-haired enthusiast, and for a moment the three men who were left
behind gazed at each other in silence.

"Do you believe in this power?" asked Delcasse, at last.

"There was _La Liberte_," Crochard reminded him.

"True," and the Minister fell silent again.

"To attack the fort at Strasbourg will not be easy," said Crochard, at
last. "The Germans are no doubt already on their guard."

Delcasse smote his forehead with his open palm.

"That is it!" he cried. "Lepine, that is the explanation! It is not for
war they prepare; it is in terror they withdraw their fleets into
mid-ocean and throw cordons of soldiers about their forts! At this
moment, in spite of their bold front, the Emperor and his ministers are
trembling! For of course they know that Pachmann failed--and that we
succeeded!"

"Undoubtedly," Crochard agreed. "Pachmann would notify the Emperor of
his failure as soon as he regained consciousness!"

"Not a pleasant task," chuckled Delcasse. "He has my pity. What happened
to the Prince?"

"The Prince was released next morning."

"You have friends, then, in New York?" asked Lepine, curiously.

"I have friends everywhere," answered Crochard quietly.

"When I think of the Kaiser trembling!" cried Delcasse. "Ah, what
anguish must be his! I have tasted it, and I know!"

Crochard took from his coat a long pocket-book.

"This belonged to Admiral Pachmann," he said. "I paused long enough to
secure it, because it contained a document which I was most anxious to
possess. It will interest you, sir," and he drew out a black-sealed
envelope and passed it to Delcasse.

The latter opened it, took out the stiff sheet of paper he found within,
read it, re-read it, and then stared at Crochard stupefied.

"That is what one might call an imperial power of attorney," said
Crochard, with a little laugh. "It is sufficiently comprehensive, is it
not?"

"It is unbelievable!" cried Delcasse, and handed the paper to Lepine.
"And this was really given by the Emperor to Pachmann?"

"I see no reason to doubt it. Though," Crochard added, with a smile, "I
am of the opinion that Pachmann put it to uses and went to lengths