n two hundred yards
of a battleship was not news that the Government would care to have
disseminated, even though it were the exception rather than the rule.
This thought shot through Anne's mind.

"You quite surprise me," she said finally.

"Oh, I really do not," smiled Koltsoff. "As I have informed you, we
diplomats are omnipresent. Therefore I do not surprise you when I say
that you and your friend were on the _D'Estang_; that the _Jefferson_
had an accident and sent two scalded men to the hospital. All
that--pouf!" Koltsoff snapped his fingers. "That is immaterial--who
cares about such manoeuvres as the Navy of the United States indulge
in! But," and Koltsoff bent toward her with unwinking eyes, "this is
important: the _D'Estang_ became separated from the rest of the fleet
and there are reports that she discharged a new sort of torpedo at the
battleship. That is interesting--important to me. I feared I could
not ascertain until I learned that my skilled coadjutor, my fellow
diplomat," he nodded at her, "was present on the _D'Estang_."

"Why do you ask me? Why don't you apply to Mr. Armitage?"

"Ah, he would tell me, of course!" laughed Koltsoff sarcastically. "In
any event, I have yet to know him. He was at Washington when I arrived
in Newport, and since his return has been at the Torpedo Station but
one night. My men have not been able to find him."

Anne had forgotten her weariness now.

"There seems to be something, at least, in the American Navy that you
find worthy of close interest," she said.

An expression of indifference settled upon the Prince's face.

"Ah, if you know of the Navy, you know the nations are always
interested in the new devices and plans of other nations. I once paid
fifteen thousand roubles for the plans of an English fort."

"And so diplomacy is stealing or buying information, then?"

"Diplomacy is anything, Anne."

"You interest me, Prince Koltsoff."

"But the _D'Estang_--I imagine she was not successful with her
torpedoing." Inwardly he was cursing Yeasky, as he had been all the
evening; Yeasky had never missed a trip of the _D'Estang_.

Anne, beginning to see, had worked into her cool, malicious mood.

"You must not be so imaginative," she gaped [Transcriber's note:
gasped?]. "And now if you 'll excuse me--it's two o'clock."

"But Anne--Miss Wellington!" The Prince was at her side. "You do not
really intend to deny me!" He shook his head, as though daz