His first effort was successful. The seal followed, wrapped up in his handkerchief. A moment or two later he saw Pamela's face at the window. "Good night!" she whispered. "Quickly, please. There is still some one about downstairs." The light was extinguished. Lutchester made his way cautiously back, replaced the gate upon its hinges and reached the shelter of the Embassy, denuded now of guests. He found Downing in the smoking-room. "Can I get a whisky and soda?" Lutchester asked, in response to the latter's vociferous greeting. "Call it a highball," was the prompt reply, "and you can have as many as you like. Have you earned it?" he added, a little curiously. "I almost believe that I have," Lutchester assented. CHAPTER XXXV Mr. Oscar Fischer and his friend, Senator Theodore Hastings, stood side by side, a week later, in the bar of one of the most fashionable of New York hotels. They were passing away the few minutes before Pamela and her aunt would be ready to join them in the dining room above. "Very little news, I fancy," Hastings remarked, glancing at the tape which was passing through his companion's fingers. "Nothing--of any importance," Fischer replied. "Nothing." The older man glanced searchingly at his companion, the change in whose tone was ominous. Fischer was standing with the tape in his hand, his eyes glued upon a certain paragraph. The Senator took out his eyeglasses and looked over his friend's shoulder. "What's this?" he demanded. "Eh?" Fischer was fighting a great battle and fighting it well. "Something wrong, apparently, with Frank Roughton," he observed; "an old college friend of mine. They made him Governor of----only last year." Hastings read the item thoughtfully. Governor Roughton this morning tendered his resignation as Governor of the State of----. We understand that it was at once accepted. Numerous arrests have taken place with reference to the great explosion at the Bembridge powder factory. "Looks rather fishy, that," Hastings observed thoughtfully. "I'm sorry for Roughton," Fischer declared. "He was a perfectly straight man, and I am sure he has done his best." "Great friend of yours?" the other asked curiously. "We were intimately acquainted," was the brief answer. The two men finished their cocktails in silence. On their way upstairs the Senator took his companion's arm. "Fischer," he said, "you'll forgive me if I put a certain matter to you plainly?" "Naturally!" "Within the last few days," Hastings proceeded, "there have been seven explosions or fires at various factories throughout the States. It is a somewhat significant circumstance," he added, after a slight pause, "that every one of these misfortunes has occurred at a factory where munitions of some sort for the Allies have been in process of manufacture. Shrewd men have naturally come to the conclusion that there is some organisation at work."