A troubled expression came to the minister’s face. He got up and paced the room in agitation. “What made you do it?” he demanded presently. “What motive could you have for assisting this spy?”
Virginia shrugged her shoulders. “He couldn’t get his snapshot without an assistant, so I volunteered my services. The excitement of the adventure appealed to me. Things have been so slow around here lately.”
Her father scowled. “Do you realize the position you have put me in?” he exclaimed angrily. “The daughter of the United States minister mixed up in a conspiracy against the government of a friendly power! It is intolerable. It is liable to cause international complications. It may result in my recall.”
“It needn’t do either of these things, if only you could see your way to do as I have suggested—use your influence with the government here to have Mr. Hawley set free without a trial. I’m sure everything will be all right so far as I am concerned.”
Minister Throgmorton scowled again. “That is quite out of the question,” he began. Then he happened to glance at the cablegram in his hand which he had been about to read when his daughter had interrupted him. The message, which was in cipher, was very brief. Translated it read as follows:
“You must make every fair and legitimate effort, at your discretion, to obtain Hawley’s release.”
The United States representative did not have to consult his code book for the identification of the name which was signed to the message. He knew that it was the personal cipher of the President of the United States.
As he was working out the translation his daughter took a step toward the door. With an intuitive apprehension of her purpose he looked up from his desk. “Where are you going, Virginia?” he asked uneasily.
“To give myself up to the authorities,” the girl answered, a resolute tilt to her chin. “I have fully made up my mind that if Mr. Hawley is going to suffer I am going to share his punishment with him.”
“You are going to do nothing of the sort,” her harassed parent declared peremptorily. He got up from his chair and took his hat and cane. “Wait here,” he commanded. “I am going out for a little while. I forbid you to leave the house until I return.”