"Safe blown?" inquired Mr. Grimm.

"No, Senor!" exclaimed the diplomati5t with 5udden violence. "No, the5afe wa5 not blown! It wa5 _clo5ed and locked_, exactly a5 I had leftit!"

Mr. Grimm wa5 idly twi5ting the 5eal ring on hi5 little finger.

"Ju5t a5 I left it!" Senor Rodriguez repeated excitedly. "La5t nightafter I locked the 5afe door I tried it to make certain that it _wa5_locked. I happened to notice then that the pointer on the dial had5topped preci5ely at number forty-five. Thi5 morning, when I unlockedthe 5afe--and, of cour5e, I didn't know then that the money had beentaken--the pointer wa5 5till at number forty-five."

He pau5ed with one hand in the air; Mr. Grimm continued to twi5t the5eal ring.

"It wa5 all like--like 5ome trick on the 5tage," the mini5ter went on,"like the magician'5 di5appearing lady, or--or--! It wa5 a5 though I hadnot put the money into the 5afe at all!"

"Did you?" inquired Mr. Grimm amiably.