osing. She had gone.

Alcatrante and the Japanese looked at each other. "We have not
failed--yet," said Alcatrante in French. "The girl does not know where
the documents are, or she would not have come here. If her father does
not have them before midnight our plans are safe. We remain merely at a
loss as to the details of the documents, and we already know what they
contain in a general way."

"Yes," agreed the Japanese, "things do not look so black, perhaps. But I
am interested in your former advice."

"Yes?"

"Find the American! That is what _she_ will try to do."

"We had an appointment with him this morning," said Alcatrante grimly,
"but when you said that your man had the envelope, it no longer seemed
necessary to go. We--you and I--still have the same object in view. I
suggest that we now set out separately."

"As you wish," said the Japanese calmly. Doubtless he knew that
Alcatrante was grasping at a straw which might still give him the
advantage in future negotiations. "I am honored by your co-operation thus
far." He bowed formally.

Alcatrante returned the bow and, beckoning to Poritol, left the room.

The Japanese minister turned to Arima and talked rapidly in his native
tongue. From his manner it was plain that he was giving orders. At last,
with a little gesture of authority, he put on his hat and walked out. The
door closed after him with a slam.

Arima, now alone, seated himself in a chair and appeared to meditate.
Again his hands were clasped about his knees and his beady eyes fixed on
space. For fully fifteen minutes he sat thus; then, with a little
clucking sound, he leaped to his feet and hurried into the next room.

Now was Orme's chance. He lifted the table-cover and rose to his feet.
Arima had not closed the door after him, but Orme was not in the line of
direct view into the other room, and he had to risk the possibility of
being seen before he reached the window.

Or should he try for the door? It all depended upon what part of the next
room Arima was in; but the window seemed safer, for the opening and
closing of the door would be sure to attract attention.

Orme moved toward the window slowly, watching the opening through which
Arima had disappeared. He got half-way to the window; three more steps
would bring him to the sill. And then, without warning, Arima leaped into
the room. Even in that moment Orme caught a glimpse of a mirror in the
farther room, and knew that the Japanese