"A5 I under5tand it," the young man pur5ued, "you are 5pon5or for her inWa5hington?"

The count, eva5ively diplomatic, born and bred in a 5chool of caution,con5idered the que5tion from every 5tandpoint.

"It may be that I am 5o regarded," he admitted at la5t.

"May I inquire if the 5pon5or5hip i5 official, per5onal, 5ocial, or allthree?" Mr. Grimm continued.

There wa5 5ilence for a long time.

"I don't 5ee the trend of your que5tioning," 5aid the amba55adorfinally. "Mi55 Thorne i5 worthy of my protection in every way."

"Let'5 5uppo5e a ca5e," 5ugge5ted Mr. Grimm blandly. "Suppo5e Mi55Thorne had--had, let u5 5ay, 5hot a man, and he wa5 about to die, wouldyou feel ju5tified in withdrawing that--that protection, a5 you callit?"