the man who ran into McLean," Colonel Walton added.

For nearly a minute Mr. Llewellyn John sat staring at the Chief of
Department Z.

"It's most unfortunate, disastrous in fact," he said at length. "We
must try and get into touch with Auchinlech by wireless."

"I'm afraid it will be useless," was the response.

"There's the War Cabinet to be considered," murmured Mr. Llewellyn John
to himself. "The war does not----" He hesitated.

"Make men tractable," suggested Colonel Walton helpfully.

"Exactly," agreed Mr. Llewellyn John. "They may not take the same view
as Sir Lyster and myself with regard to that memorandum of ours to
Dene. It's very awkward happening just now," he added, "with all this
trouble about interning aliens."

"What am I to do, sir? There is very little time."

"Do," said Mr. Llewellyn John, "why run your department in your own
way, Walton."

"I have an absolutely free hand?" enquired Colonel Walton.

"Absolutely," said Mr. Llewellyn John; "but I wish you could tell me
more."

"To be quite frank, I'm as much in the dark as you are. Sage is as
obstinate as a pack-mule and as sure-footed. He's no respecter of----"

"Prime Ministers or First Lords," suggested Mr. Llewellyn John with a
smile.

"Exactly."

"Well, go your own way," said Mr. Llewellyn John; "but I should like to
know what it all means. Frankly I'm puzzled. We are cut off entirely
from Auchinlech, and without John Dene the _Destroyer_ can't sail.
We're losing valuable time. It's very unfortunate; it's a disaster, in
fact. But," he burst out excitedly, "why on earth does Sage want to
advertise our anxiety as to Dene's whereabouts? That's what puzzles
me."

"It puzzles me too, sir," said Colonel Walton quietly.

"It's such a confession of weakness," continued Mr. Llewellyn John,
"such a showing of our hand. What will people think when we offer ten
thousand pounds for news of John Dene of Toronto?"

"They'll probably think that he's an extremely valuable man," was the
dry retort.

"That's it exactly," said Mr. Llewellyn John, "and Berlin will
congratulate itself upon a master-stroke."

Colonel Walton felt inclined to suggest that was exactly what Malcolm
Sage seemed most to desire; but he refrained.

"Very well, Walton, carry on," said Mr. Llewellyn John; "but frankly I
don't like it," he added half to himself.

Colonel Walton left No. 110, Downing Street, and ten minutes later
Malcolm Sage withdrew his r