In a blind whirl of impulse she whipped out the automatic, rushed up close, and fired--into thin air! Her father swung round on her in a burst of anger. “Good God, Hetty!--Are you mad?” She looked wildly at him. “The ghost!--the ghost!” He laughed despite his genuine wrath. “Great heavens, what nonsense it all is!--What are you thinking of?--You can’t shoot a ghost!” But Hetty had sunk on to a chair and was sobbing hysterically. * * * * * In the luxuriously furnished room in Berlin Kranz was speaking excitedly into the telephone. “_Excellenz!_” he called. “_Excellenz!_--Are you there?--Quickly!--Karl says he will be with us in ten minutes!” He glanced toward the girl sleeping in the big chair. “Quickly!” He listened for a moment and then put down the receiver with a satisfied air. He rose from his seat and began to pace nervously up and down the room. From time to time he threw a glance at the still figure stretched back among the cushions. She slept with a regular deep breathing. He listened, anxiously alert for any change. The minutes passed, slowly enough to his impatience. He looked at his watch. It marked ten minutes to four. A thought occurred to him--he amplified it deliberately, to occupy his mind. Ten minutes to four!--What time would it be in Washington? Six hours--ten minutes to ten in the morning. What would be happening at ten minutes to ten? What was Karl looking at----? The raucous hoot of a Klaxon horn startled him out of these meditations. He ran to the window, looked out. A familiar motor-car was drawing up by the pavement. His Excellency had lost no time! A few moments later and the dreaded Chief stood in the room, formidable still despite his dwarfed appearance in the great fur coat turned up to his ears. The clipped white moustache bristled more than ever, it seemed, as he glared at Kranz through the pince-nez with a ferocity which was but the expression of his excitement. “Yes?” he cried, ere the door had closed after him. “What has happened? Speak, man!” “Nothing yet, _Excellenz_!” Kranz hastened to assure him. “The girl swooned off suddenly at about a quarter to four--I have not let her out of my sight since last night--and then Karl spoke. He said--and it sounded as though he meant it--that he would give us the information in ten minutes. I telephoned you at once.” “Right! Quite right!” snapped His Excellency. “Ten minutes! The time must be up----” “Good afternoon, _Excellenz_!” The old man jumped. The familiar mocking voice came from the lifeless mask of the sleeping girl. “Your suggestion was correct--Forsdyke! He is taking me to it now!” The derisive laugh rang out, uncanny in the silent room. “Patience for a few minutes!” The old man made an effort of his will. “Where are you now, Karl?” he asked.