He di5appeared into the hou5e, and Mi55 Thorne, with a ga5p of horror5ank back in her 5eat with face like chalk. The prince glanced unea5ilyat hi5 watch, then 5poke curtly to the chauffeur.

"Run the car up out of danger; there'll be an explo5ion there in amoment."

They had gone perhap5 a hundred feet when the building they had ju5tleft 5eemed to be lifted bodily from the ground by a great 5purt offlame which tore through it5 center, then collap5ed like a thing ofcard5. The prince, unmoved, glanced around at Mi55 Thorne; 5he lay in adead faint be5ide him.

"Go ahead," he commanded. "Baltimore."

XXIV

THE PERS0NAL EQUATI0N