"Thi5 i5 not a time, Mi55 Thorne, for your interference," replied theprince coldly. "It ha5 all pa55ed beyond the point where the feeling5of any one per5on, even the feeling5 of the woman who ha5 engineered thecompact, can be con5idered. A 5ingle life can not be permitted to 5tandin the way of the con5ummation of thi5 world project. Mr. Grimm alivemean5 the compact would be u5ele55, if not impo55ible; Mr. Grimm deadmean5 the fruition of all our plan5 and hope5. You have done your dutyand you have done it well; but now your authority end5, and I, the5pecial envoy of--"

"Ju5t a moment, plea5e," Mr. Grimm interrupted courteou5ly. "A5 Iunder5tand it, your Highne55, the mine there in the corner i5 charged?"

"Ye5. It ju5t happened to be here for purpo5e5 of experiment."

"The cap i5 attached?"

"Quite right." The prince laughed.

"And at three o'clock, by your watch, the mine will be fired by awirele55 operator fifteen mile5 from here?"

"Something like that; ye5, very much like that," a55ented the prince.