"No, his clothes were shabby but fairly neat. He looked as if he had spruced up for the occasion. I can't say I was prepossessed in his favor by his appearance." "Did he give you his name?" "No." "Do you think he was an American?" put in Douglas. "It's hard to say. At first I sized him up as being a Spaniard." "Didn't you ask his name?" again inquired the Secretary of State impatiently. "I did, and his errand. He ignored my first question, and in answer to the second said that he had come to examine some records. I informed him that he had come to the wrong office, and that my clerk would direct him to the proper room. He then made the astounding statement that he had an appointment to meet Senator Carew here in this office at twelve o'clock. I was taken completely by surprise by the man's statement and asked: 'What day did you expect to meet Senator Carew here?' "'This morning, at twelve o'clock,' he answered, and then added, 'He is late.' "Thinking the man a little daft or drunk, though I could detect no sign of liquor, I said abruptly, 'A likely tale; Senator Carew is dead.' "'Dead!' he shouted, springing out of his chair. "'Yes, dead--murdered last Monday night.' I hadn't anticipated giving him such a shock, or I would have broken the news more gently. The effect on my visitor was appalling. He collapsed on the floor in a fit. The electric bells in this office are out of order, and, although I shouted for help, no one heard me. I sprang out of my chair, undid the man's necktie and collar, threw the contents of my ice pitcher in his face, and then bolted into the other room to get assistance. Most of the clerks had gone out to their lunch. I called two men who happened to be eating their lunch in an adjoining room, and we hastened back here only to find my strange visitor gone!" "Gone!" ejaculated the Secretary of State. "Vanished. The only sign of his presence was the spilled ice water on the floor, and that chair overturned," pointing to the one Douglas was occupying. "Did no one see him slip out of the door into the hall?" asked Douglas. "No. Unfortunately the messenger, who sits near my door, had gone into the room across the corridor. The man made a quick getaway, and luck broke with him, for no one noticed him leaving the building." "How do you know he isn't hiding somewhere?" inquired Douglas. "If he is, he will be captured, for Chief Connor and a number of Secret Service men are searching the building." "When did you discover the plans of the battleships were missing?"