“Suppose that in such a case Siam decided that the ambassador to the United States was that man. Siam would at once dispatch a horde of secret agents to this country. Some of them would be Siamese, but the majority of them would be of other nationalities. They would belong to that class which become international spies through choice, and have little care what governments they serve; who go from the service of one to the service of another as readily as you or I would change our clothing.” “And it is your opinion, then, that Siam—we will keep up the fiction for the moment—has many secret agents in Washington now, and that one of them has managed to get his hands on those papers.” “Or her hands; yes. That is the idea.” “I understand you. Now—could one of those secret agents for the other power, by any possibility, become a member of the official family of your ambassador?” “Why not, Mr. Carter?” CHAPTER XXIV. THE AMBASSADOR’S CABINET. Nick Carter was seated in the private cabinet at the embassy, facing the ambassador. He had just been conducted to that room, and the ambassador, a tall, stately gentleman of the inscrutable school, every inch the representative of his czar, was still standing beside his desk, with one hand resting upon it, while he bent a little forward toward the detective, devouring him with his piercing eyes. And they were eyes which had been accustomed for years to read the characters of men of all nationalities, and of every walk in life. Nick Carter felt at once that this tall gentleman was a power within himself, and that nothing short of an explosion of dynamite at his feet could move him out of his habitual calm. “I have heard very satisfactory things about you, Mr. Carter, if you will pardon me for using that expression,” the ambassador said slowly, picking his words, and still keeping his keen eyes upon the detective, while he retained that same attitude beside the desk. “I will not hesitate to say that the statements were made by no less a person than the present incumbent of the White House.” “Indeed?” replied the detective. “That is gratifying.” “Do not misunderstand me, Mr. Carter. He was not aware that I needed the services of a gentleman of your qualifications. Nobody has been made aware of that, save the man who went to New York to induce you to come here—and myself.” The detective bowed his head. He made no other reply. “I suppose you are more or less well known in Washington?” the ambassador asked; and he passed around the desk to his chair. “I suppose so.” “I apprehended that your personality is, also, more or less well known; and by that I refer also to your profession?” “I suppose so,” Nick replied again. “That is why I made the appointment with you for this hour—midnight. I desired that as few persons as possible should know of your visit to this house.”