surprise, and she paused irresolutely.

"I beg your pardon, Señor," she said, addressing the diplomatist. "I did
not know you were engaged. And Mr. Grimm!" She extended a slim, white
hand, and the young man bowed low over it. "We are old friends," she
explained, smilingly, to the minister. Then: "I think I must have
dropped my handkerchief when I was in here yesterday with Inez. Perhaps
you found it?"

"_Si, Señorita_," replied Señor Rodriguez gallantly. "It is on my desk
in here. Just a moment."

He opened the door and passed into the adjoining room. Mr. Grimm's eyes
met those of Miss Isabel Thorne, and there was no listlessness in them
now, only interest. She smiled at him tauntingly and lowered her lids.
Señor Rodriguez appeared from the other room with the handkerchief.

"_Mil gracias, Señor_," she thanked him.

"_No hay de que, Señorita_," he returned, as he opened the door for
her.

"_Monsieur Grimm, au revoir_!" She dropped a little curtsey, and still
smiling, went out.

"She is charming, Señor," the diplomatist assured him enthusiastically,
albeit irrelevantly. "Such vivacity, such personality, such--such--she
is charming."

"The safe, please," Mr. Grimm reminded him.