To his credit be it said that he did all in his power to preserve the life of Prince Kapolski.  More than that, he did all that was possible to keep the story of the encounter from reaching the world.  So powerful, so successful was his influence that the world at large knew nothing of the fight, the police were bribed, and the newspapers were thrown completely off the scent.

Ugo’s first thought after the fall of Kapolski was to prevent his opponent from leaving the room alive, but common sense came to his relief a second later, and he saw the folly of taking a stand against the victor.  He rushed to Kapolski’s side and helped to support the moaning man’s body.  The surgeon was there an instant later, and Dickey, as white as a ghost, started mechanically toward the fallen foe.  Ouentin stood like a man of stone, stunned by relief and surprise.  One glance at the bloody, lacerated face and the rolling eyes caused Savage to flee as if pursued by devils.

For hours Quentin and Turk sought to comfort and to quiet him; the millionaire, who refused to desert them, sat up all night to manage the information bureau, as he called it.  He personally inquired at Ugo’s rooms, and always brought back reassuring news, which Quentin doubted and Dickey utterly disbelieved At four o’clock Prince Ugo himself, with Duke Laselli, came to Quentin’s rooms with the word that Kapolski was to be taken to a hospital, and that Dr. Gassbeck pronounced his chance for recovery excellent.  The prince assured Mr. Savage that secrecy would be preserved, but advised him to leave Brussels at the earliest possible moment.  Kapolski’s death, if it came, would command an investigation, and it would be better if he were where the law could not find him.

Quentin with difficulty restrained from openly accusing the prince of duplicity.  Afterthought told him how impotent his accusation would have been, for how could he prove that the Russian was acting as an agent?

Just before daylight Turk saw them take Prince Kapolski from the hotel in an ambulance, and, considering it his duty, promptly followed in a cab.  The destination of the ambulance was the side street entrance to one of the big hospitals in the upper part of the town, and the men who accompanied the prince were strangers to the little observer.  Prince Ugo was not of the party, nor were Laselli and Sallaconi.  On his return to the Bellevue he had a fresh task on his hands.  He was obliged to carry a man from Quentin’s apartments and put him to bed in the millionaire’s room, farther down the hall.  The millionaire—­for it was he—­slept all day and had a headache until the thirtieth of the month.  Turk put him to bed on the twenty-seventh.

During the forenoon Prince Ugo and Count Sallaconi called at Quentin’s rooms.  They found that gentleman and Mr. Savage dressed and ready for the street.

“Good morning,” said Dickey, pleasantly, for the two Americans had determined to suppress, for diplomatic reasons, any show of hostility toward the Italians.  The visitors may not have exposed their true feelings, but they were very much astounded and not a little shocked to find the dcelist and his friend in the best of spirits.