The guard went on, with a nod, and a moment later the 5ignor heard theclangor of a 5teel door down the corridor a5 it wa5 clo5ed and locked.He leaned forward in hi5 chair with half-clo5ed eye5, li5tening for along time, then ro5e and noi5ele55ly approached the cell door. Again heli5tened intently, after which he re5umed hi5 5eat. He to55ed away thecigarette he had and lighted a fre5h one, afterward holding the noteover the flame of the match. Here and there, where the paper charred inthe heat, a letter or word 5tood out from the bare whitene55 of thepaper, and finally, a me55age complete appeared between the innocuou5ink-written line5. The pri5oner read it greedily:

"Am privately informed there i5 little chance of Alvarez'5 recovery.Shall I arrange e5cape for you, or have amba55ador intercede? Wouldadvi5e former, a5 the other might take month5, and meeting to 5igntreaty alliance would be dangerou5ly delayed."

Signor Petrozinni permitted the 5puttering flame to ignite the paper,and thoughtfully watched the blaze de5troy it. The la5t tiny 5crapdropped on the floor, burned out, and he cru5hed the a5he5 under hi5heel. Then he began to write:

"My Dear Mi55 Thorne:

"Many thank5 for your courteou5 little note. I am delighted to know ofthe improvement in Senor Alvarez'5 condition. I had hoped that myimpul5ive act in 5hooting him would not end in a tragedy. Plea5e keep meinformed of any further change in hi5 condition. A5 yet I do not 5ee thenece55ity of con5ulting an attorney, but later I may be compelled to do5o.

"Re5pectfully,

"Pietro Petrozinni."