Page:Arthur Stringer - The Hand of Peril.djvu/332



shoulders of Watchel's huge figure shook with an effort at contemptuous laughter. But that laughter was as mirthless as the cackle of a guinea-hen. Kestner did not even deign to observe it. He turned sharply about to the watching woman.

"In the meantime I want you to take a botta direct to the American Embassy. Ask for Schuyler there, tell him I sent you, and wait until I come for you."

Watchel made a move of heavy impatience. The change in his own face denoted his determination to waste no more time over non-essentials.

"She can't do it. And you may as well know it now."

"Why can't she do it?"

Watchel unbuttoned his Inverness and tossed it to one side.

"Because at the bottom of that stairway, my young friend, are two officers waiting to place her under arrest, for selling Italian military secrets to the agent of a foreign power."

It was Kestner's turn to laugh.

"Call them up!" he commanded.

"I don't need to call them up," retorted Watchel, visibly disturbed by his opponent's confident manner. "You can't call them up," broke in Kestner. "And I'll tell you the reason why. Those men are not there. And they're not there because of my orders. Do you