see," he said, "I have not got it."

"Who has?"

"Koltsoff, I suppose. He did not speak of it to me."

"What did he speak of? What are you here for? You were released upon
condition that you leave this country. I suppose you know I can put
you in the way of spending several years in an American jail."

"I had intended going, but I received his orders and had to come to
him. So I escaped from the steamship, and returned to Newport."

"Did you want to come?"

"No, I am sick of the service. It is all work and danger and no
credit. He receives it all."

"Then why did you obey his orders?"

Yeasky raised his shoulders and smiled significantly.

"Siberia," he said. "The arms of such as Koltsoff are very long in
cases of those who fail them."

"What did Koltsoff want you here for?"

"To confer with me. He thought we would be safe from spies here. When
I saw you I hoped to get an order for the return of the Austrian plans."

"Ump! You nearly succeeded. Did you tell Koltsoff I suspected him?"

"No, that would have made my work appear even more bungling. Listen,"
added the man earnestly, "I told him I thought my capture had been due
to the Austrians, whose system of espionage is really wonderful. That
is God's truth," raising his hand solemnly. "I should have believed it
myself had I not known you knew."

"If that is true you have done me rather a good turn," said Armitage
watching his face closely.

Yeasky drew from his breast a silver ichon.

"It is true." He knelt. "I swear it by this."

"A man's oath is no better than his deeds," replied Armitage musingly.
"Look here, Yeasky," he added presently. "I tell you what I am going
to do. I am going to turn you over to Chief Roberts of the Newport
police and he will hold you for two or three days under an assumed name
on the charge of burglary. No one but the watchman and the police and
myself will know of your arrest. When I recover the control you will
be released, free to stay in this country or go where you please. The
only condition is that you attempt in no way to communicate with
Koltsoff."

The man bowed his head thoughtfully.

"Besides," resumed Armitage, "I don't know how the secret service
people feel about the Austrian plans. I imagine Koltsoff has been
making representations to the State Department, and since this
Government has no business with them, they may hand them over. If I
can help you there, I shall do so. Now,"