u know, then," he said at length, addressing Sir Lyster,
"only three people in the house were acquainted with the existence
of the document; you, the Prime Minister, and Lord Beamdale."

Sir Lyster inclined his head.

"You are certain of that?" Malcolm Sage looked up swiftly and keenly.
"Your secretary and Lady Grayne, for instance, they knew nothing
about it?"

"Nothing; of that I am absolutely certain," replied Sir Lyster
coldly.

"And the nature of the document?" enquired Malcolm Sa'ge.

Sir Lyster looked across at Mr. Llewellyn John, who turned
interrogatingly to Lord Beamdale.

"I am afraid it is of too private a nature to----" he hesitated.

"If you require me to trace something," said Malcolm Sage evenly,
"you must at least tell me what that something is."

"It is a document which----" began Lord Beamdale, then he, too,
paused.

"But, surely, Sage," broke in Mr. Llewellyn John, "is it not
necessary to know the actual contents?"

"If you had lost something and would not tell me whether it was a
dog or a diamond, would you expect me to find it?"

"But----" began Mr. Llewellyn John.

"I'm afraid we are wasting time, gentlemen," said Malcolm Sage,
rising. "I would suggest Scotland Yard. The official police must
work under any handicap imposed. I regret that I am unable to do
so."

He walked across to the chair where lay his cap and coat.

"Now, Sage," said Mr. Llewellyn John tactfully, "you mustn't let us
down, you really mustn't." Then turning to Sir Lyster, he said, "I
can see his point. If he doesn't know the nature of the document, he
cannot form a theory as to who is likely to have taken it. Perhaps
under the circumstances, Grayne, we might take Sage into our
confidence; at least to such extent as he thinks necessary."

Sir Lyster made no response, whilst Lord Beamdale, whose economy in
words had earned for him the sobriquet of "Lord Dumbeam," sat with
impassive face.

"Perhaps I can help you," said Malcolm Sage, still standing by the
chair on which lay his cap and coat. "At the end of every great war
the Plans Departments of the Admiralty and the War Office are busy
preparing for the next war. I suggest that this document was the
Admiralty draft of a plan of operations to be put into force in the
event of war occurring between this country and an extremely
friendly power. It was submitted to the War Office for criticism and
comment as far as land-operations were concerned. Another power,