on, sir," he
said, "but for action. If you hesitate in this publicity, I must ask
your permission to see the Prime Minister;" then with a sudden change
of tone and speaking with an air of great seriousness he added, "This
is a matter of vital importance. The announcement should be made in
the late editions of all the evening papers, and the full story must
appear in to-morrow's papers. There is not much time. Have I your
permission to proceed?"

"No, sir, you have not," thundered Sir Lyster. "I shall report this
matter to Colonel Walton."

"That, sir, you are quite at liberty to do," said Sage calmly.
"Incidentally you might report that I have resigned from my position at
Department Z. I wish you good afternoon, gentlemen," and with that
Malcolm Sage left the room.

"Good Lord! Grayne, you've done it now," said Sir Bridgman. "L. J.
thinks the world of that chap."

"He's a most impertinent fellow," said Sir Lyster with heat.

"Clever men frequently are," laughed Sir Bridgman. "It seems to me
that everybody's getting under the influence of John Dene. I suppose
it's Bolshevism," he muttered to himself.

Half an hour later Colonel Walton was seated in earnest conversation
with Mr. Llewellyn John.

"It's very awkward, very awkward," said Mr. Llewellyn John; "still, you
must act along your own lines. It's no good creating a department and
then allowing another department to dictate to it; but it's very
awkward," he added.

"It would be more awkward, sir, if Sage were allowed to go," said
Colonel Walton.

"Of course, of course," said Mr. Llewellyn John, "that's unthinkable.
If I were only told," he muttered, "if I were only told. They keep so
much from me." Then after a pause he added, "I'm inclined to blame
you, though, Walton, for not--not----" Mr. Llewellyn John hesitated.

"Keeping John Dene under proper observation," suggested Colonel Walton
quietly.

"Exactly." Mr. Llewellyn John looked at him quickly.

"He was always guarded."

"Then you----" began Mr. Llewellyn John.

"Our men were tricked."

"Tricked!" Mr. Llewellyn John looked startled.

"Yes," continued Colonel Walton. "McLean was on duty that night.
Immediately he saw John Dene hail a taxi, he jumped into his own taxi;
but he had hardly started when he was run into by a small runabout, and
the other taxi got away."

"But the number of----"

"Fictitious both, the taxi and the run-about. We thought it expedient
not to detain