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〃About that back rent；〃 he said； 〃I have cabled for money； and as
soon〃
〃I know；〃 said Mrs。 Wroxton。 〃I read the cable。〃 She was reading
the card of invitation also。 〃There's no hurry； sir；〃 protested Mrs。
Wroxton。 〃Any of my young gentlemen who is made welcome at
Deptford House is made welcome here！〃
〃Credit； Mrs。 Wroxton；〃 observed Sam； 〃is better than cash。 If
you have only cash you spend it and nothing remains。 But with
credit you can continue indefinitely to…to…〃
〃So you can！〃 exclaimed Mrs。 Wroxton enthusiastically。 〃Stay as
long as you like； Mr。 Lowell。〃
At Pavoni's Sam found Forsythe already seated and； with evident
interest； observing the scene of gayety before him。 The place was
new to Sam； and after the darkness and snow of the streets it
appeared both cheerful and resplendent。 It was brilliantly lighted；
a ceiling of gay panels picked out with gold； and red plush sofas；
backed against walls hung with mirrors and faced by rows of
marble…topped tables； gave it an air of the Continent。
Sam surrendered his hat and coat to the waiter。 The hat was a
soft Alpine one of green felt。 The waiter hung it where Sam
could see it； on one of many hooks that encircled a gilded pillar。
After two courses had been served Forsythe said：
〃I hope you don't object to this place。 I had a special reason
for wishing to be here on this particular night。 I wanted to be
in at the death！〃
〃Whose death？〃 asked Sam。 〃Is the dinner as bad as that？〃
Forsythe leaned back against the mirror behind them and； bringing
his shoulder close to Sam's； spoke in a whisper。
〃As you know；〃 he said； 〃to…day the delegates sign the Treaty of
London。 It still must receive the signatures of the Sultan and
the three kings； and they will sign it。 But until they do； what
the terms of the treaty are no one can find out。〃
〃I'll bet the Times finds out！〃 said Sam。
〃That's it！〃 returned Forsythe。 〃Hertz； the man who is supposed to
be selling the secrets of the conference to the Times； dines here。
To…night is his last chance。 If to…night he can slip the Times a
copy of the Treaty of London without being caught； and the
Times has the courage to publish it； it will be the biggest
newspaper sensation of modern times； and it will either cause
a financial panic all over Europeor prevent one。 The man they
suspect is facing us。 Don't look now； but in a minute you will
see him sitting alone at a table on the right of the middle pillar。
The people at the tables nearest himeven the womenare
detectives。 His waiter is in the employ of Scotland Yard。 The
maitre d'hotel； whom you will see always hovering round his
table； is a police agent lent by Bulgaria。 For the Allies are even
more anxious to stop the leak than we are。 We are interested
only as their hosts； with them it is a matter of national life or
death。 A week ago one of our own inspectors tipped me off to
what is going on； and every night since then I've dined here；
hoping to see something suspicious。〃
〃Have you？〃 asked Sam。
〃Only this；〃 whispered Forsythe〃on four different nights I've
recognized men I know are on the staff of the Times； and on the
other nights men I don't know may have been here。 But after all
that proves nothing； for this place is a resort of newspaper writers
and editorsand the Times men's being here may have been only
a coincidence。〃
〃And Hertz？〃 asked Sam〃what does he do？〃
The Englishman exclaimed with irritation。
〃Just what you see him doing now！〃 he protested。 〃He eats his
dinner！ Look at him！〃 he commanded。 〃Of all in the room he's the
least concerned。〃
Sam looked and saw the suspected Adolf Hertz dangling a mass
of macaroni on the end of his fork。 Sam watched him until it
disappeared。
〃Maybe that's a signal！〃 suggested Sam。 〃Maybe everything he does
is part of a cipher code！ He gives the signals and the Times men
read them and write them down。〃
〃A man would have a fine chance to write anything down in this
room！〃 said Forsythe。
〃But maybe；〃 persisted Sam； 〃when he makes those strange
movements with his lips he is talking to a confederate who can
read the lip language。 The confederate writes it down at the
office and〃
〃Fantastic and extremely improbable！〃 commented Forsythe。 〃But；
nevertheless； the fact remains； the fellow does communicate with
some one from the Times； and the police are positive he does it
here and that he is doing it now！〃
The problem that so greatly disturbed his friend would have more
deeply interested Sam had the solving of his own trouble been
less imperative。 That alone filled his mind。 And when the coffee
was served and the cigars lit； without beating about the bush Sam
asked Forsythe bluntly if on his paper a rising and impecunious
genius could find a place。 With even less beating about the bush
Forsythe assured him he could not。 The answer was final； and the
disappointment was so keen that Sam soon begged his friend to
excuse him； paid his bill； and rose to depart。
〃Better wait！〃 urged Forsythe。 〃You'll find nothing so good out
at a music…hall。 This is Houdini getting out of his handcuffs
before an audience entirely composed of policemen。〃
Sam shook his head gloomily。
〃I have a few handcuffs of my own to get rid of；〃 he said； 〃and
it makes me poor company。〃
He bade his friend good night and； picking his way among the
tables； moved toward the pillar on which the waiter had hung his
hat。 The pillar was the one beside which Hertz was sitting； and
as Sam approached the man he satisfied his curiosity by a long
look。 Under the glance Hertz lowered his eyes and fixed them
upon his newspaper。 Sam retrieved his hat and left the restaurant。
His mind immediately was overcast。 He remembered his disappointment
and that the parting between himself and Polly was now inevitable。
Without considering his direction he turned toward Charing Cross
Road。 But he was not long allowed to meditate undisturbed。
He had only crossed the little street that runs beside the restaurant
and passed into the shadow of the National Gallery when； at the
base of the Irving Memorial； from each side he was fiercely attacked。
A young man of eminently respectable appearance kicked his legs
from under him； and another of equally impeccable exterior made
an honest effort to knock off his head。
Sam plunged heavily to the sidewalk。 As he sprawled forward his
hat fell under him and in his struggle to rise was hidden by the
skirts of his greatcoat。 That； also； he had fallen heavily upon his
hat with both knees Sam did not know。 The strange actions of
his assailants enlightened him。 To his surprise； instead of
continuing their assault or attempting a raid upon his pockets；
he found them engaged solely in tugging at the hat。 And so
preoccupied were they in this that； though still on his knees；
Sam was able to land some lusty blows before a rush of feet
caused the young men to leap to their own and； pursued by
several burly forms； disappear in the heart of the traffic。
Sam rose and stood unsteadily。 He found himself surrounded by
all of those who but a moment before he had left contentedly
dining at Pa