"
The president seemed a little startled at the suggestion.
"That would have been murder," he remarked.
"True," Mr. Grimm acquiesced, "but it seems an absurd thing that they
should have permitted the life of one man to stand between them and the
world power for which they had so long planned and schemed. His
Highness, Prince Benedetto d'Abruzzi believed as I do, and so expressed
himself." He paused a moment; there was a hint of surprise in his
manner. "I expected to be killed, of course. It seemed to me the only
thing that could happen."
"They must have known of the far-reaching consequences which would
follow upon your escape, Mr. Grimm. Why _didn't_ they kill you?"
Mr. Grimm made a little gesture with both hands and was silent.
"May they not yet attempt it?" the president insisted.
"It's too late now," Mr. Grimm explained. "They had everything to gain
by killing me there as I stood in the room where I had interrupted the
signing of the compact, because that would have been before I had placed
the facts in the hands of my government. I was the only person outside
of their circle who knew all of them.
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