Ringing with happiness, the Professor’s voice struck in. Everything was coming out as he wanted it. “Where is that affidavit, Baron?” he questioned. “I’ll sign it now with pleasure, and the _Chargé_ here will witness it.” Slowly Demidroff drew out the paper. The scene that had just passed puzzled him. He was not dull, or he would never have climbed to his post in the Russian service, and a suspicion that all was not as he had supposed began to stir in his brain. He did not guess the truth--how could he?--but probably a glimmer of something not far from the truth quivered before his eyes. He shot a keen glance at Florence, who bore it without visible emotion; then, as one who had resolved to go on at all hazards, he handed the affidavit to the Professor and saw it signed and witnessed. “Now,” he said, “my dear _Chargé_, will you send for your minister?” The _Chargé_ tugged at his mustache. He had been rather crowded into the background for the past few moments and was glad to get into the limelight again. Besides, he judged that the psychical moment had come to do what he could for Caruth. “Certainly, my dear Baron,” he rejoined, fingering a note that an attendant had brought him a moment before. “Certainly. He is in the next room. I sent for him a few moments before your arrival, although, of course, I had no idea that you would require his services. In fact, I thought you came on a very different matter.” “Yes?” The Baron was polite, but was plainly impatient. The _Chargé’s_ ideas were of little moment to him. “Yes! The fact is I thought you came to demand the surrender of a certain young lady whom you might have some reason to suppose to be here--a Russian lady known as Marie Fitzhugh.” “Oh, yes! What of her? I understand that she is here.” The Baron knew, of course, that Marie was in the Embassy; and the _Chargé_ knew that he knew it or would soon know it. Anything else was impossible. “No such person is in the Embassy,” explained the _Chargé_ courteously. “In fact, there is no Russian young lady here at all. However, I should like to present you to an American young lady who has been here for a few moments only.” The Baron looked puzzled. “I shall be charmed to meet any friend of your excellency’s,” he nodded. The _Chargé_ stepped to the inner door of the room. “Will you young people please come in here,” he called. Side by side Caruth and Marie entered, followed by Reverend Mr. Forbes, the American clergyman. Caruth’s head was bound up, but his eyes were bright.