s, the first secretary said shrewdly enough:

"If they were sure these papers were in the villa,--and they were, I
fancy,--I wonder they did not accidentally burn the house."

"That would have been simple and complete," said the chief, smiling,
"but there are original letters here which it was very desirable to
keep, and I presume them to have felt sure soon or late of recovering
them."

"Yes," said the first secretary, "that is no doubt true. Now the whole
affair is changed. I am certain that the house will have been searched
and the scattered ashes seen. They will then feel sure that we have
the papers."

I had to confess that, in my haste, I had taken no pains about
restoring the ashes. My footprints in the garden soil and my want of
care would help to make plain that the papers had been removed, and
any clever detective would then infer what had been the purpose of the
pistol-shots. I had been stupid and had to agree with the secretary
that they would now know they had been tricked and see that the game
so far had been lost. The legation and all of us would be still more
closely watched, and I, for one, was also sure that the messenger to
England would never see London with the papers still in his
possession.

Meanwhile, as the secretary and our chief discussed the question, my
mind was on Merton. About ten, to my relief, he sent in his card. He
entered smiling.

"Good morning, Mr. Dayton. All right, Greville?"

I said: "Yes, the papers are here. These gentlemen all know. Had you
any trouble?"

"A little. When I fired shot after shot in the air and our man was
screaming murder, they all ran toward us like ducks to a decoy. I ran,
too, and Alphonse. As I crossed a road, I came upon a big gendarme. I
am afraid I hurt him. Oh, not much. After that I had no difficulty.
And now perhaps I am in the way." He rose as he spoke.

The minister said: "No. Sit down, captain."

He resumed his seat, and sat a quiet listener to our statement of
difficulties. At last he said: "Will you pardon me if I make a
suggestion?"

"By all means," said the chief. "It is almost as much your concern as
ours."

"I suppose," said Merton, "the despatches to Berlin and St. Petersburg
may go in cipher by trusty messengers or any chance tourist, and that
there is no need for haste."

"Yes, that is true."

There was a moment's pause in this interesting consultation, the
captain evidently waiting to be again invited to state his opin