introduce yourself to
me in the lobby of the Framington and ask me to buy the notes?"

Orme did not answer.

With a conservative eye the clerk looked at the two. He was not one to
involve himself in a dubious affair.

"I can't settle this matter for you, gentlemen," he said.

With a slight bow, Orme went into the hall. It dawned upon him why
Alcatrante had invented so remarkable a story. Without question, the
minister had feared that Orme would enlist aid in the office, or that at
least he would manage to deposit the coveted papers in safety while he
found other means to get rid of his shadow. Hence the sudden effort to
discredit Orme.

In the long corridor Orme gave no further attention to Alcatrante, who
was pattering along beside him. The course he now had in mind was to hire
a cab and ride out of the city--all the way to Arradale, if possible. The
distance could not be much greater than fifteen miles. If Alcatrante
chose to pursue, well and good. There would be ways of disposing of him.

Then an audacious notion flashed into Orme's mind. Why not let Alcatrante
ride with him? Why not take the minister all the way to his destination
and at the end turn him over as a prisoner?

The idea was hardly practicable. He might meet other enemies, and in that
event he would not care to have an enemy already at his side. It came to
him for the first time that the nearer he approached his goal, the
greater would be the opposition he would have to overcome. Whatever else
the South Americans and Japanese might do, they would have their guards
about the house of the girl's father. Hitherto he had assumed that, once
free of Alcatrante and safe on the train to Arradale, he would have plain
going; but now he realized that the dangers would pile up higher as he
advanced. In any event, he must get rid of Alcatrante, and as they
approached the elevator grills, he spoke.

"Senhor," he said, "unless you stop following me, I shall be obliged to
hurt you. I give you fair warning."

Alcatrante laughed. "If you hurt me, as you threaten, you will find
yourself in difficulties. You will be arrested, and you will have no
opportunity to deliver the documents on time. My position as minister--my
extra-territoriality--will make it very difficult for you to extricate
yourself."

Orme looked grimly down into the sallow face. "My fist against your
chin," he said, "might do it."

Alcatrante did not lose his smile. "You will hardly try that,