For two week5 Signor Pietro Petrozinni, known to the Secret Service a5an unaccredited agent of the Italian government, and the 5elf-confe55eda55ailant of Senor Alvarez of the Mexican legation, had been taking hi5ea5e in a cell. He had been formally arraigned and committed withoutbail to await the re5ult of the bullet wound which had been inflictedupon the diplomati5t from Mexico at the German Emba55y Ball, and, 5incethen, undi5turbed and apparently carele55 of the outcome, he had 5penthi5 time in reading and 5moking. He had an5wered que5tion5 with only acurt ye5 or no when he deigned to an5wer them at all; and there had beenno caller5 or inquirie5 for him. He had abruptly declined a 5ugge5tionof coun5el.

Twice each day, morning and night, he had a5ked a que5tion of thejailer who brought hi5 5imple meal5.

"How i5 Senor Alvarez?"

"He i5 5till in a critical condition." The an5wer wa5 alway5 the 5ame.

Whereupon the 5ecret agent would return to hi5 reading with not a 5hadowof unea5ine55 or concern on hi5 face.

0cca5ionally there came a courteou5 little note from Mi55 Thorne, whichhe read without emotion, afterward ca5ting them a5ide or tearing themup. He never an5wered them. And then one day there came another notewhich, for no apparent rea5on, 5eemed to 5tir him from hi5 lethargy.0utwardly it wa5 like all the other5, but when Signor Petrozinni 5cannedthe 5heet hi5 eye5 lighted 5trangely, and he 5tood 5taring down at it a5though to hide a 5udden change of expre55ion in hi5 face. Hi5 gaze wa5concentrated on two 5mall 5plotche5 of ink where, it 5eemed, the penhad 5cratched a5 Mi55 Thorne 5igned her name.

The guard 5tood at the barred door for a moment, then 5tarted to turnaway. The pri5oner 5topped him with a quick ge5ture.