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〃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 Pavoni's。 In an excited circle waiters and patrons of
the restaurant； both men and women； stood in the falling snow；
bareheaded； coatless； and cloakless； staring at him。 Forsythe
pushed them aside and took Sam by the arm。
〃What happened？〃 demanded Sam。
〃You ought to know；〃 protested Forsythe。 〃You started it！ The
moment you left the restaurant two men grabbed their hats and
jumped after you； a dozen other men； without waiting for hats；
jumped after them。 The rest of us got out just as the two men
and the detectives dived into the traffic。〃
A big man； with an air of authority； drew Sam to one side。
〃Did they take anything from you； sir？〃 he asked。
〃I've nothing they could take；〃 said Sam。 〃And they didn't try to
find out。 They just knocked me down。〃
Forsythe turned to the big man。
〃This gentleman is a friend of mine； inspector；〃 he said。 〃He is
a stranger in town and was at Pavoni's only by accident。〃
〃We might need his testimony；〃 suggested the official。
Sam gave his card to the inspector and then sought refuge in a
taxicab。 For the second time he bade his friend good night。
〃And when next we dine；〃 he called to him in parting； 〃choose a
restaurant where the detective service is quicker！〃
Three hours later； brushed and repaired by Mrs。 Wroxton； and
again resplendent； Sam sat in a secluded corner of Deptford House
and bade Polly a long farewell。 It was especially long； owing to
the unusual number of interruptions； for it was evident that Polly
had many friends in London； and that not to know the Richest One
in America and her absurd mother； and the pompous； self…satisfied
father； argued oneself nobody。 But finally the duchess carried Polly
off to sup with her； and as the duchess did not include Sam in her
invitationat least not in such a way that any one could notice it
Sam said good…nightbut not before he had arranged a meeting
with Polly for eleven that same morning。 If it was clear； the
meeting was to be at the duck pond in St。 James's Park； if it
snowed； at the National Gallery in front of the 〃Age of
Innocence。〃
After robbing the duchess of three suppers； Sam descended to
the hall and from an attendant received his coat and hat； which
latter the attendant offered him with the inside of the hat
showing。 Sam saw in it the trademark of a foreign maker。
〃That's not my hat；〃 said Sam。
The man expressed polite disbelief。
〃I found it rolled up in the pocket of your greatcoat； sir；〃 he
protested。
The words reminded Sam that on arriving at Deptford House he had
twisted the hat into a roll and stuffed it into his overcoat
pocket。
〃Quite right；〃 said Sam。 But it was not his hat； and with some hope
of still recovering his property he made way for other departing
guests and at one side waited。
For some clew to the person he believed was now wearing his hat；
Sam examined the one in his hand。 Just showing above the inside
band was something white。 Thinking it might be the card of the
owner； Sam removed it。 It was not a card； but a long sheet of thin
paper； covered with typewriting； and many times folded。 Sam
read the opening paragraph。 Then he backed suddenly toward a
great chair of gold and velvet； and fell into it。
He was conscious the attendants in pink stockings were regarding
him askance； that； as they waited in the drafty hall for cars and taxis；
the noble lords in stars and ribbons； the noble ladies in tiaras and
showing much…fur…lined galoshes； were discussing his strange
appearance。 They might well believe the youth was ill； they might
easily have considered him intoxicated。 Outside rose the voices of
servants and police calling the carriages。 Inside other servants echoed
them。
〃The Duchess of Sutherland's car！〃 they chanted。 〃Mrs。 Trevor
Hill's carriage！ The French ambassador's carriage！ Baron
Haussmann's car！〃
Like one emerging from a trance； Sam sprang upright。 A little fat
man； with mild blue eyes and curly red hair； was shyly and with
murmured apologies pushing toward the exit。 Before he gained it
Sam had wriggled a way to his elbow。
〃Baron Haussmann！〃 he stammered。 〃I must speak to you。 It's a
matter of gravest importance。 Send away your car；〃 he begged；
〃and give me five minutes。〃
The eyes of the little fat man opened wide in surprise； almost in
alarm。 He stared at Sam reprovingly。
〃Impossible！〃 he murmured。 〃II do not know you。〃
〃This is a letter of introduction；〃 said Sam。 Into the unwilling
fingers of the banker he thrust the folded paper。 Bending over
him； he whispered in his ear。 〃That；〃 said Sam； 〃is the Treaty of
London！〃
The alarm of Baron Haussmann increased to a panic。
〃Impossible！〃 he gasped。 And； with reproach； he repeated： 〃I do
not know you； sir！ I do not know you！〃
At that moment； towering above the crush； appeared the tall figure
of Senator Seward。 The rich man of the New World and the rich
man of Europe knew each other only by sight。 But； upon seeing
Sam in earnest converse with the great banker； the senator
believed that without appearin