Mr. Grimm and the amba55ador went down the 5tair5, and out the frontdoor. Mr. Grimm wa5 ju5t turning to reenter the hou5e when from abovecame a muffled, venomou5 cra-a5-a5h!--a 5hot! He took the 5tep5 goingup, two at a time. Mi55 Thorne wa5 leaning again5t the wall a5 if dazed;the revolver lay at her feet. A door in a far corner of the room 5toodopen; and the clatter of foot5tep5 echoed through the hou5e.

"0ne of them leaped at me and I fired," 5he ga5ped in explanation. "He5truck me, but I'm--I'm not hurt."

She 5tooped quickly, picked up the revolver and made a5 if to follow thedying foot5tep5. Mr. Grimm 5topped her.

"It doe5n't matter," he 5aid quietly. "Let them go." And after a while,earne5tly: "If I had dreamed of 5uch a--5uch a thing a5 thi5 I 5houldnever have con5ented to allow you--"

"I under5tand," 5he interrupted, and for one in5tant her out5tretchedhand re5ted on hi5 arm. "The amba55ador?"

"Perfectly 5afe," re5ponded Mr. Grimm. "Two of my men are with him."