ose did they stand that Orme was out of their
angle of vision. The table-cover fell again, and he was safe. He resumed
his position at the peep-hole.

The stranger stepped to the middle of the room, the others gathering
around him. With a quick jerk he tore the envelope open, and taking out
the papers, ran his eye over them rapidly. He uttered an exclamation.
"What is it?" said Alcatrante. The South American's hand was shaking, and
perspiration stood out on his forehead.

The Japanese snarled. "Tricked! They've fooled us. That honorable burglar
of yours got the wrong envelope."

Alcatrante snatched the papers. "'Prospectus,'" he read, "'of the Last
Dare Mining Company.' But I do not understand."

The Japanese glared at him angrily. "If you had kept out of this
business," he snapped, "and let Maku attend to it, everything would have
been right. Now your burglars have spoiled it." He snatched back the
harmless prospectuses and tore them in two, throwing the fragments to the
floor and grinding them under his heel.

Arima spoke. "Pardon, honorable sir, Maku say the right envelope was
taken from the safe. Maku know."

"Ha! Then it was you who were tricked--outwitted. That American reached
the tree before you last evening and substituted these papers. Go back to
Japan, Arima. I don't need you."

Arima bowed submissively. As for the stranger, his rage gave way to
despair.

"What shall I say to the Emperor?" he muttered. "What shall I say to the
Emperor?"

Then his feelings came again under control; he looked calmly at
Alcatrante. "Well," he said, "what would you suggest?"

Alcatrante's face was a puzzle. Every shade of doubt, disappointment,
anger, suspicion, and shrewd deduction passed over it. He was putting
into play that marvelous power of concentration on subtle issues that had
enabled him to play so brilliantly the role of international under-dog.
At last he smiled and spoke.

"Find the American," he said.

Suddenly there was a knock at the door. Arima looked at his master, who
nodded indifferently and said: "Yes, see who it is. It can do no harm
now."

Orme heard the door open. What startled him first was the action of
Poritol, who stepped back to the wall, his jaw dropping, his face a
picture of embarrassment and fright. Alcatrante and the stranger showed
amazement.

For a moment they stood thus in silence, and then from the door came a
clear voice:

"What? You here, Mr. Alcatrante? And the Japanes