Grimm responded without hesitation.
"Even if it destroyed a reputation?" she pleaded.
"The Secret Service rarely destroys a reputation, Miss Thorne, although
it holds itself in readiness to do so. I dare say in this case there
would be no arrest or prosecution, because of--of reasons which appear
to be good."
"There wouldn't?" and there was a note of eagerness in her voice. "The
identity of the guilty person would never appear?"
"It would become a matter of record in our office, but beyond that I
think not--at least in this one instance."
Miss Thorne sat silent for a block or more.
"You'll admit, Mr. Grimm, that you have forced me into a most remarkable
position. You seemed convinced of my guilt, and, if you'll pardon me,
without reason; then you made it compulsory upon me to establish my
innocence. The only way for me to do that was to find the guilty one. I
have done it, and I'm sorry, because it's a little tragedy."
Mr. Grimm waited.
"It's a girl high in diplomatic society. Her father's position is an
honorable rather than a lucrative one; he has no fortune. This girl
moves in a certain set devoted to bridge, and stakes are high.
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