rom Germany stolen. I wonder he didn't
wind up with a report that the Chinese were on their way to seize
Ireland!"

"It is the same man, sir."

"Well, I suppose I'd better see him and get it over," his Chief declared
irritably. "If only one could make these people realize how far behind
the times they are!"

Nigel was shown in, a few minutes later. Mr. Mervin Brown was gracious
but terse.

"I haven't had the opportunity of congratulating you upon becoming one
of our hereditary legislators, Lord Dorminster, since you took your seat
in the House of Lords," he said. "Pray let me do so now. I hope that we
may count upon your support."

"My support, sir," Nigel replied, "will be given to any Party which will
take the urgent necessary steps to protect this country against a great
danger."

"God bless my soul!" the Prime Minister exclaimed. "Another of you!"

"I can only guess who my predecessors were," Nigel continued, smiling,
"but I will frankly confess that the object of my visit is to beg you to
reestablish our secret service in Germany, Russia and China."

"Nothing," the other declared, "would induce me to do anything of the
sort."

"Are you aware," Nigel enquired, "that there is a considerable foreign
secret service at work in this country at the present moment?"

"I am not aware of it, and I don't believe it," was the blunt retort.

"I have absolute proof," Nigel insisted. "Not only that, but two
ex-secret service men whom my uncle sent out to Germany and Russia on
his own account were murdered there as soon as they began to get on the
track of certain things which had been kept secret. A report from one of
these men got through and was stolen from my uncle's library in Belgrave
Square on the day he was murdered. You will remember that I placed all
these facts before you on the occasion of a previous visit."

Mervin Brown nodded.

"Anything else?" he asked patiently.

"You know that a special envoy from China is on his way here at the
present moment to meet Immelan?"

"Oscar Immelan, the German Commissioner?"

"The same," Nigel assented.

"A most delightful fellow," the Prime Minister declared warmly, "and a
great friend to this country."

"I must take the liberty of disagreeing with you," Nigel rejoined,
"because I know very well that he is our bitter enemy. Prince Shan, who
is on his way from China to meet him, is the envoy of the one country
outside Europe whom we might fear. We sit still and