Again the girl appeared in the doorway, and leaning on her arm was her father. Orme stepped forward. The Secretary smiled and extended his hand. "Mr. Orme," he said, "we owe you much. My daughter has told me something of your experiences. You may be sure that I had no notion, when this affair began, that she would have to envelop herself and others in so much mystery, but now that all has ended well, I can only be thankful." He seated himself. "You will excuse me; I am not quite strong yet, though, as I might say, very convalescent." The girl was leaning on the back of her father's chair. "Tell father the story, won't you, please?" she asked. So Orme quickly narrated the series of events that began with his stroll along State Street the afternoon of the day before. "It doesn't sound true, does it?" he concluded. "But the marked five-dollar bill will always be evidence of its truth," said the girl; and then, with a suggestion of adorable shyness, "We must go and redeem that bill sometime." The Secretary was pondering. He had listened with manifest interest, interrupting now and then with questions that helped to bring out salient points. At the report of the conversation between Alcatrante and the Japanese concerning the commissions on ships, he had leaned forward with especial attention. And now, after a few moments of thought, he said: "The Japanese minister we can handle. As for Alcatrante, I must see to it that he is recalled--and Poritol." "Poor little Mr. Poritol!" exclaimed the girl. "Do you think he is still kneeling in that field?" "Possibly," said Orme, smiling. "We will look to see when we go to redeem the bill." "I think, Mr. Orme," said the Secretary, "that I may fairly give you a little clearer insight into the importance of the papers which you rescued for us. You have seen stories of the rumors of negotiations with some foreign Power?" "Yes," said Orme. "But, perhaps you have not known of the secret but aggressive policy which Japan has lately adopted toward us. The exchange of friendly notes a few years ago might as well not have occurred. If we had done nothing to check the tendencies in the Pacific, we should have been at war within another year. Only a complete understanding and definite agreement with some strong nation could prevent hostilities. The Anglo-Japanese alliance eliminated Great Britain as a possible ally. There were reasons why it seemed inadvisable to turn to France, for an arrangement there would involve the recognition of Russian interests. Therefore, we sought an alliance with Germany.