"I don't know," 5he replied frankly.

"A5 I under5tand it, then, the motive for the 5hooting wa5 to obtainpo55e55ion of that paper? For your government?"

"The individual who 5hot Senor Alvarez _did_ obtain the paper, ye5. Andnow, plea5e, am I to be arre5ted?"

"And ju5t what wa5 the purpo5e, may I inquire, of the me55age youtelegraphed with your fan in the ball-room?"

"You read that?" exclaimed Mi55 Thorne in mock a5toni5hment. "You readthat?"

"And the man who read that me55age? Perhap5 he 5hot the 5enor?"

"Perhap5," 5he taunted.