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s protected。 Everything was in readiness for him。
The royal tour began upstairs； on the main floor。 The director greeted His Highness with an effusive wele and escorted him； followed by the armed guards； through the rotunda and into the rooms where the sixteenth…century Spanish painters were on exhibit： Juan de Juanes； Pedro Machuca； Fernando Yá？ez。
The prince moved slowly； enjoying the visual feast spread before him。 He was a patron of the arts and genuinely loved the painters who could make the past e alive and remain eternal。 Having no talent for painting himself； the prince； as he looked around the rooms； nonetheless envied the painters who stood before their easels trying to snatch sparks of genius from the masters。
When the official party had visited the upstairs salons； Christian Machado said proudly； 〃And now； if Your Highness will permit me； I will take you downstairs to our Goya exhibit。〃
**********
Tracy had spent a nerve…racking morning。 When the prince had not arrived at the Prado at 11：00 as scheduled； she had begun to panic。 All her arrangements had been made and timed to the second； but she needed the prince in order to make them work。
She moved from room to room； mixing with the crowds； trying to avoid attracting attention。 He's not ing； Tracy thought finally。 I'm going to have to call it off。 And at that moment； she had heard the sound of approaching sirens from the street。
Watching Tracy from a vantage point in the next room； Daniel Cooper； too； was aware of the sirens。 His reason told him it was impossible for anyone to steal a painting from the museum； but his instinct told him that Tracy was going to try it； and Cooper trusted his instinct。 He moved closer to her； letting the crowds conceal him from view。 He intended to keep her in sight every moment。
Tracy was in the room next to the salon where the Puerto was being exhibited。 Through the open doorway she could see the hunchback； Cesar Porreta； seated before an easel； copying Goya's Clothed Maja； which hung next to the Puerto。 A guard stood three feet away。 In the room with Tracy； a woman painter stood at her easel； studiously copying The Milkmaid of Bordeaux； trying to capture the brilliant browns and greens of Goya's canvas。
A group of Japanese tourists fluttered into the salon； chattering like a flock of exotic birds。 Now！ Tracy told herself。 This was the moment she had been waiting for； and her heart was pounding so loudly she was afraid the guard could hear it。 She moved out of the path of the approaching Japanese tour group； backing toward the woman painter。 As a Japanese man brushed in front of Tracy； Tracy fell backward； as if pushed； bumping the artist and sending her； the easel； canvas； and paints flying to the ground。
〃Oh； I'm terribly sorry！〃 Tracy exclaimed。 〃Let me help you。〃
As she moved to assist the startled artist； Tracy's heels stamped into the scattered paints； smearing them into the floor。 Daniel Cooper； who had seen everything； hurried closer； every sense alert。 He was sure Tracy Whitney had made her first move。
The guard rushed over； calling out； 〃？Qué pasa？ ？Qué pasa？〃
The accident had attracted the attention of the tourists； and they milled around the fallen woman； smearing the paints from the crushed tubes into grotesque images on the hardwood floor。 It was an unholy mess； and the prince was due to appear at any moment。 The guard was in a panic。 He yelled out； 〃？Sergio！ iVen acá！ iPronto！〃
Tracy watched as the guard from the next room came running in to help。 Cesar Porretta was alone in the salon with the Puerto。
Tracy was in the middle of the uproar。 The two guards were dying vainly to push the tourists away from the area of the paint…smeared floor。
〃Get the director；〃 Sergio yelled。 〃？En seguida！〃
The other guard hurried off toward the stairs。 ？Qué4 birria！ What a mess！
Two minutes later Christian Machada was at the scene of the disaster。 The director took one horrified look ad screamed； 〃Get some cleaning women down here… Quickly！ Mops and cloths and turpentine。 ？Pronto！〃
A young aide rushed to do his bidding。
Machada turned to Sergio； 〃Get back to your post；〃 he snapped。
〃Yes； sir。〃
Tracy watched the guard push his way through the crowd to the room where Cesar Porretta was working。
Cooper had not taken his eyes off Tracy for an instant。 He had waited for her next move。 But it had not e。 She had not gone near any of the paintings； nor had she made contact with an acplice。 All she had done was knock over an easel and spill some paints on the floor； but he was certain it had been done deliberately。 But to what purpose？ Somehow； Cooper felt that whatever had been planned had already happened。 He looked around the walls of the salon。 None of the paintings was missing。
Cooper hurried into the adjoining room。 There was no one there but the guard and an elderly hunchback seated at his easel； copying the Clothed Maja。 All the paintings were in place。 But something was wrong。 Cooper knew it。
He hurried back to the harassed director； whom he had met earlier。 〃I have reason to believe；〃 Cooper blurted out； 〃that a painting has been stolen from here in the past few minutes。〃
Christian Machada stared at the wild…eyed American。 〃What are you talking about？ If that were so； the guards would have sounded the alarm。〃
〃I think that somehow a fake painting was substituted for real one。〃
The director gave him a tolerant smile。 〃There is one small thing wrong with your theory； se？or。 It is not known to the general public； but there are sensors hidden behind each painting。 If anyone tried to lift a painting from the wall… which they would certainly have to do to substitute another painting… the alarm would instantly sound。〃
Daniel Cooper was still not satisfied。 〃Could your alarm be disconnected？〃
〃No。 If someone cut the wire to the power； that also would cause the alarm to go off。 Se？or； it is impossible for anyone to steal a painting from this museum。 Our security is what you call proof from fools。〃
Cooper stood there shaking with frustration。 Everything the director said was convincing。 It did seem impossible。 But then why had Tracy Whitney deliberately spilled those paints？
Cooper would not give up。 〃Humor me。 Would you ask your staff to go through the museum and check to make sure nothing is missing？ I'll be at my hotel。〃
There was nothing more Daniel Cooper could do。
At 7：00 that evening Christian Machada telephoned Cooper。 〃I have personally made an inspection； se？or。 Every painting is in its proper place。 Nothing is missing from the museum。〃
So that was that。 Seemingly； it had been an accident。 But Daniel Cooper； with the instincts of a hunter； sensed that his quarry had escaped。
**********
Jeff had invited Tracy to dinner in the main dining room of the Ritz Hotel。
〃You're looking especially radiant this evening；〃 Jeff plimented her。
〃Thank you。 I feel absolutely wonderful。〃
〃It's the pany。 e with me to Barcelona next week； Tracy。 It's a fascinating city。 You'd lo