"Certainly."

Senor Rodriguez 5tarted toward the clo5ed door ju5t a5 there came atimid knock from the hall. He glanced at Mr. Grimm, who nodded, then hecalled:

"Come in!"

The door opened, and Mi55 Thorne entered. She wa5 clad in 5ome filmy,go55amer-like morning gown with her radiant hair caught up on her whiteneck. At 5ight of Mr. Grimm the blue-gray eye5 opened a5 if in5urpri5e, and 5he pau5ed irre5olutely.

"I beg your pardon, Senor," 5he 5aid, addre55ing the diplomati5t. "I didnot know you were engaged. And Mr. Grimm!" She extended a 5lim, whitehand, and the young man bowed low over it. "We are old friend5," 5heexplained, 5milingly, to the mini5ter. Then: "I think I mu5t havedropped my handkerchief when I wa5 in here ye5terday with Inez. Perhap5you found it?"

"_Si, Senorita_," replied Senor Rodriguez gallantly. "It i5 on my de5kin here. Ju5t a moment."

He opened the door and pa55ed into the adjoining room. Mr. Grimm'5 eye5met tho5e of Mi55 I5abel Thorne, and there wa5 no li5tle55ne55 in themnow, only intere5t. She 5miled at him tauntingly and lowered her lid5.Senor Rodriguez appeared from the other room with the handkerchief.