"How do you know he isn't hiding somewhere?" inquired Douglas.
"If he is, he will be captured, for Chief Connor and a number of Secret Service men are searching the building."
"When did you discover the plans of the battleships were missing?"
Wyndham swore softly. "That's the devilish part of it," he said bitterly. "As soon as I realized the man had really run away I glanced over my papers. Everything seemed to be all right. I pulled open this drawer," opening it as he spoke, "and saw these blue prints lying exactly as I had placed them under this folded newspaper. I slammed the drawer shut, thinking my strange visitor was simply a harmless lunatic, who had probably read about Carew's death until he became obsessed with the subject, and dismissed the matter from my mind."
"Was this drawer locked when your strange visitor was admitted?"
"Then anyone might have stolen the papers," exclaimed the Secretary of State in surprise.
Wyndham reddened. "No, they could not. The only time I've been out of this room was when I ran out looking for aid for that miserable scoundrel. That is the only chance there has been to steal the papers."
"You think, then," began Douglas, checking his remarks off on his fingers, "first, that the whole thing was a plot; that the man used Senator Carew's name to arouse your interest or curiosity; that he faked a fit, and in your absence removed the plans and substituted false blueprints, taking a chance that you would simply look to see that everything was safe in your drawer and not examine further, and then made his escape."
"You've hit it exactly," acknowledged Wyndham. "Those were the conclusions reached by Chief Connor also."
"It was no irresponsible person who committed that theft," declared the Secretary of State thoughtfully. "It was a well-laid plot, neatly carried out. How long have the papers been in your possession, Wyndham?"
"They were sent here yesterday for my inspection. There has been a leak here somewhere, damn it!" Wyndham set his bulldog jaw. "I'll trace it to the bottom, and when I find out----" he clenched his fists menacingly.
"What callers did you see besides the Spaniard?" asked Douglas.
"Let me see--the usual run, several office seekers, a number of naval officers--oh, yes, my wife came in with Colonel Thornton and his niece, Miss Eleanor Thornton."