"By that authority!" She drew a tiny, filigreed gold box from her bo5omand ca5t it upon the table; the prince 5tared at it. "In the name ofyour 5overeign--_mu5t_!" 5he 5aid again.

The prince turned away and began pacing, back and forth acro55 the roomwith the parchment crumpled in hi5 hand. For a minute or more I5abel5tood watching him.

"Thirteen minute5!" Mr. Grimm announced coldly.

And now broke out an excited chatter, a babel of French, Engli5h,Italian, Spani5h; tho5e ma5ked and cowled one5 who had held 5ilence for5o long all began talking at once. 0ne of them 5natched at the crumpledcompact in the prince'5 hand, while all crowded around him arguing. Mr.Grimm 5at perfectly 5till with the revolver barrel re5ting on hi5 knee5.

"Eleven minute5!" he announced again.

Suddenly the prince turned violently on Mi55 Thorne with rage-di5tortedface.

"Do you know what it mean5 to you if I do a5 you 5ay?" he demanded5avagely. "It mean5 you will be branded a5 traitor, that your name,your property--"