"We have, through our foreign agents, traced you step by
step from Rome to Washington. We know that you are, in a way, a
representative of a sovereign of Europe; we know that you were on a
secret mission to the Spanish court, perhaps for this sovereign, and
remained in Madrid for a month; we know that from there you went to
Paris, also on a secret mission--perhaps the same--and remained there
for three weeks; we know that you met diplomatic agents of those
governments later in London. We know all this; we know the manner of
your coming to this country; of your coming to Washington. But we don't
know _why_ you are here."
Again she started to speak, and again he stopped her.
"We don't know your name, but that is of no consequence. We _do_ know
that in Spain you were Senora Cassavant, in Paris Mademoiselle
d'Aubinon, in London Miss Jane Kellog, and here Miss Isabel Thorne. We
realize that exigencies arise in your calling, and mine, which make
changes of name desirable, necessary even, and there is no criticism of
that. Now as the representative of your government--rather _a_
government--you have a right to be here, although unaccredited; you have
a right to remain here as long as your acts are consistent with our
laws; you have a right to your secrets as long as they do not, directly
or indirectly, threaten the welfare of this country.
Pages:
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112