alton took and read aloud.

"Has the attention of the Home Secretary been drawn to a statement in
_The Tribune_ to the effect that it is the Government that is offering
the reward of L10,000 for information that will lead to the discovery
of the whereabouts of Mr. John Dene of Toronto, and if so can it
justify the offer of so large a sum of public money?"

"They haven't lost any time," remarked Sage quietly.

"They never do." There was an unaccustomed note of irascibility in Mr.
Llewellyn John's voice. "These questions are a scandal."

"Except when one happens to be in opposition, sir," said Sage,
apparently absorbed in examining the nails of his left hand.

Mr. Llewellyn John made no response, and Colonel Walton handed back to
him the slip, which he tossed upon the table.

"Well," he demanded, looking from Colonel Walton to Sage, "what are we
to reply?"

"The answer is in the affirmative, sir," said Malcolm Sage.

For a moment Mr. Llewellyn John looked at him, frowning, then he broke
into a smile.

"That's all very well, Sage, but it's not sufficient."

"If I may venture a suggestion----" began Sage.

"Do--do, that's why I sent for you--both," he added, as if in deference
to Colonel Walton.

"I would say that for reasons not unconnected with the prosecution of
the war, the discovery of Mr. John Dene's whereabouts is imperative."

"But that would be giving us away more than ever."

"I think it would be desirable to temporise," said Sage.

Mr. Llewellyn John made a movement of impatience.

"You might reply that it is not in the public interest to answer the
question," continued Sage.

"But that would be tantamount to acknowledging that we are offering the
reward," said Mr. Llewellyn John with a suspicion of irritation in his
voice.

Malcolm Sage looked at him steadily, but without speaking.

"There will inevitably be other questions arising out of this,"
continued Mr. Llewellyn John.

"I was going to suggest, sir, that if we could arrange for some
newspaper to make a definite statement that the Government is offering
the reward, we could prosecute it under D.O.R.A."

For fully a minute Mr. Llewellyn John gazed at Malcolm Sage, as if not
quite sure of his sanity. "But," he began, and then broke off, looking
helplessly across at Colonel Walton.

"Of course, sir, I'll relinquish the enquiry if you wish it."

"This is not the time to talk of relinquishing anything, Sage," said
Mr. Llewellyn Jo