For a moment the secret agent and the two Germans stood face to face; then the former said, smilingly: "I am sorry to be forced to go at such an early hour; but," and he lifted his brows in such a way that might mean much or little, "there are certain things which require my attention." Von Stunnenberg twisted one point of his white moustache, and his blue eyes glinted coldly. "It would grieve me to keep you from your affairs," said he in his rumbling voice, "but there is a trifling matter which I should like to discuss with you. It will require, perhaps, only a few moments. The length of time altogether depends upon yourself." "I shall be only too glad," said Ashton-Kirk, agreeably. He glanced at his watch and then added: "But since you say that the length of time depends upon me, I will make it as short as possible. It is more than likely that my presence will be urgently needed quite a little distance from here in perhaps half an hour." There was a small room at one side, and the German ambassador entered this, followed by the others. "Will you sit down?" he asked with grave politeness. The secret agent did so. Hoffer also seated himself; his small head was drawn down upon his big shoulders, the heavy face worked spasmodically; the veins and cords of his tightly clinched hands stood out in high relief. "It would be a waste of time for us to indulge in any preamble," spoke Von Stunnenberg, coldly. "I know why you came here to-night; and I know that you have been in some degree successful in your errand. And so, as that ground is covered, there is no need to go over it again." Ashton-Kirk leaned back in his chair, and his white, even teeth shone as he smiled. "I have always found it best to examine my ground; leaping over it is seldom satisfactory," said he. "You say that you know why I came here to-night. We will not discuss that if you are opposed to so doing," and again the quick smile showed itself. "But as to your knowing I have been in some degree successful, that is open to debate." Hoffer protruded his small head, slowly, much as a turtle might do. "Of course," said he, "we expected you to deny Ashton-Kirk nodded. "To be sure," said he, calmly. Hoffer was about to say something more; but his chief held up a hand. "A certain instrument was about to pass into my possession to-night," said Von Stunnenberg to Ashton-Kirk. "You knew of this and came here to prevent our being entrusted with it if you could. You are an able man, Mr. Ashton-Kirk, but do not forget that we still have the faculty of vision. Neither are we in the habit of allowing things to be taken from beneath our noses." "You represent a friendly power," said Ashton-Kirk, coldly, "and of course could have no desire in the matter of the instrument in question other than to hand it with your compliments to this government." Von Stunnenberg nodded. "Of course," said Hoffer. "And it was so understood by others and myself," proceeded Ashton-Kirk. "But there was a chance—I am perfectly frank, you see—that there might be a desire upon your part to make sure that the document in question was really what you supposed it. To venture to examine it would be a matter of delicacy," and the speaker's voice was suavity itself, "and so I concluded that it were a "That," said Von Stunnenberg, and the smoothness of his voice was not a whit behind that of the other, "was most considerate of you. Accept my thanks. But," and his blue eyes were wide open in the fixity of the look which he directed toward the secret agent, "we would much prefer to assume our own responsibilities." There was a short pause, then the ambassador leaned a trifle toward the other. "And so," he resumed, "I should take it as a further expression of your good-will if you would hand the paper to me immediately." Ashton-Kirk rose and looked at his watch once more. "My time is short," said he. "So if there is anything of importance, I beg that you mention it at once." Von Stunnenberg twisted his up-pointing moustache; his blue eyes were like ice, his manner was grim and menacing. "There is nothing to be gained by this attitude," said he. "We are not children to be so deceived." "You are not children to be so deceived," Ashton-Kirk smiled as he repeated the ambassador's words. "Perhaps not; but Matsadi apparently fancied it not very difficult when he arranged his little scene a few minutes ago." Von Stunnenberg cast a quick look at Hoffer. The latter's small head turned slowly upon the secret agent. "Matsadi did arrange the scene," said he, and there was admiration in his voice. "No stage manager could have done better. He had not watched the English girl more than a moment when he saw—as did you and I," with a conclusive wave of the hand, "that the papers desired were in the bag at her side. At sight of the Italian woman he grasped his opportunity for creating a momentary ruffle; in the midst of this, at a signal, his confederate allowed the revolver to explode, so transforming the slight confusion into a panic. During this his agent was to abstract the document." Ashton-Kirk nodded, after the manner of one workman exchanging experiences with another. "That was not all that I saw," went on Hoffer. "I saw Matsadi's agent making his way toward Miss Corbin to play his part, before the discharge of the revolver. Also," and the big jaws tightened, "I saw you doing your best to anticipate him." Ashton-Kirk laughed, and there was an odd expression in his singular eyes. "Was there nothing more that you noticed?" he asked. "It was sufficient," put in Von Stunnenberg, "And that Okiu was baffled," said Hoffer, "one had only to give him a glance to discover. The rage in his face showed that you had beaten them—that you had taken the prize out of their own trap." Ashton-Kirk laughed once more. "My dear sir," said he, "you credit me with a dexterity which I do not possess. It is true that I did——" he paused and then turned to Hoffer. "Aside from Okiu, did you see any one else—of Matsadi's?" "No." "Upon the fact that I reached Miss Corbin's side before Okiu you base your belief that I must have secured the paper." Ashton-Kirk placed his finger tips together with great nicety, and then looked placidly at Hoffer. "Have you encountered Matsadi before this?" "I have," answered the German. "In that you have the advantage of me. But from what I have heard of him, he is a man who plans with considerable effect. Is it likely," and he bent toward the other slightly, "that he would stop at one man in the crowd?" The thick jowls of Holler bulged, and a dull red crept into his face. "You mean——" he got this far and then stopped. "You think," he continued, after a moment, "that there were more than Okiu?" "I know it," said Ashton-Kirk. "I counted at least three. Matsadi is not restricted to the use of his own countrymen. The man who dropped the revolver, for example, was an American." At that moment Fuller, his face wearing an anxious expression, looked into the room. Seeing Ashton-Kirk he hurried to him. "This," said he, holding out a message, "was just handed in. I told the man that I would look you up." Ashton-Kirk took the envelope, murmured an apology and tore it open. There were but a few lines, and he read them at a glance; then he handed the paper to Von Stunnenberg and arose. "It seems," said he, "that everything is about ready for me, and I really must go."
"Culberson." Von Stunnenberg lifted a crimson face as he finished the message. "The rats!" he cried. "They have beaten me!" He handed the paper back to the secret agent; as he did so his countenance cleared somewhat, and he smiled grimly. "And also," he added with some appreciation, "they have beaten you." "Not quite," replied Ashton-Kirk, coolly, as he buttoned up his long coat. "I have still a card to play." "You would not dare——" Hoffer paused as though the act the other had in mind were too daring to even put into words. "Not in a foreign embassy," he added, fearfully. But the secret agent smiled. "If the search for what I desire leads me to a foreign embassy, why not?" asked he. "What I ventured in the German surely I shall not hesitate to repeat in the Japanese. And now, gentlemen, I must say good-night." And with this he left the room and hurried down the hall, Fuller following close behind him. |