"Right. Now I'll have to hustle or the estimable count is likely to return before I make my disappearance. I'll have considerable time to kill at the station." "I'll go to the door with you," said Jack. "Better not. Just sit tight where you are." Frank moved toward the door. "Well, so long," he said. "Good-bye and good luck," said Jack. "Thanks; the same to you. Your position is more ticklish than mine. You'll have to explain my strange absence." "Oh, I guess I can do that." "So do I. Good-bye." Frank closed the door behind him and hurried from the house. Left alone, Jack immediately prepared for bed. There was nothing that he could do now and he had determined to get what rest he could, for he realized that the events of the morrow were likely to be very strenuous. He put out the light and climbed into bed. Five minutes later he was fast asleep. How long he was asleep he did not know, but he was awakened by a pounding at the door. "Come in," he called sleepily, when he was fully awake. Count Blowinski entered the room and switched on the light. "Oh, in bed?" he said. He glanced at the lad and then added: "Where is our friend Lieutenant--Lieutenant Depree?" He smiled at the name. "By Jove!" said Jack, sitting up in bed and looking around sleepily. "He hasn't come in yet. Wonder what can have happened to him?" "Oh, I guess he'll show up in the morning," was the count's reply. "He is probably out looking about the town." "Probably," agreed Jack, with a laugh. "However, he's old enough to look out for himself. Did you want to see me about anything particular?" "Why, yes. I wanted to tell you that the time for action has come." "Good!" Jack exclaimed eagerly. "When?" "To-morrow." "To-morrow? You mean the Czar will be here to-morrow?" "Yes; and if my plans do not miscarry I shall be master of Moscow before the sun has set--and within the month Russia will have declared peace with Germany." "That is indeed good news," declared Jack. "But you are sure there is no danger of your plans going wrong?" "That," said the count, "is why I have stopped in your room to-night." For a brief moment Jack's heart stood still and he thought to himself: "Can he have discovered anything?" Aloud he said: "I shall be glad to do anything in my power for the cause." "I was sure of it," said the count, and Jack's fears fled. "Now the situation is this: To-night we--myself and the men who are with me in this undertaking--held a meeting, where I gave my instructions to proceed with the coup to-day. Just after I declared the meeting adjourned, I decided that I would have a look at the face of every man present. They were passing before me when there was a shot and the light went out. A fight followed. There were two spies in the meeting." "You don't tell me!" exclaimed Jack. "And have you any idea how they gained admittance?" "Not the slightest." "Well, it doesn't matter, I suppose," said Jack deprecatingly. "They are dead now, aren't they?"