o solve mysteries?" demanded
Sir Roger aggressively.

"I think that is a question for Scotland Yard, sir," said Colonel
Walton.

Sir Roger flushed angrily, and was about to speak when Mr. Llewellyn
John stepped into the breach.

"You know, Walton, we have to consider the political aspect," he said.

"What is Department Z.'s conception of the detective then?" demanded
Sir Roger.

"To watch for the other side's mistakes and take advantage of them,"
was the reply, "just as in politics," with a smile at Mr. Llewellyn
John.

Mr. Llewellyn John nodded agreement.

"You remember the Winthorpe murder case, Sir Roger?"

"I do," said the Home Secretary.

"There Scotland Yard tracked a man who had been three weeks at large.
He made the mistake of calling somewhere for his washing, and the
police had been watching the place for three weeks."

"That's all very well," said Sir Roger, obviously annoyed. "But you
must remember, Colonel Walton, that this John Dene business has a
political significance. It's--it's embarrassing the Government."

"But while they are worrying about that," remarked Colonel Walton
imperturbably, "they're dropping the 'intern all aliens' cry."

Mr. Llewellyn John smiled.

"I'm convinced," he said, "that there's quite a large section of the
public that would like me to intern everybody whose name is not Smith,
Brown, Jones or Robinson."

"Or Sage," suggested Colonel Walton slyly.

"Sage!" cried Mr. Llewellyn John, "he ought to be in the Tower. But
seriously, Walton. What I want to know is how long this will last?"

"In all probability until the full four months have expired," was the
rejoinder.

"Good heavens!" cried Mr. Llewellyn John in consternation.

"I should not be alarmed, sir, if I were you," said Colonel Walton with
a smile. "The public will soon get another cry. Sage suggests they
may possibly hang an ex-minister."

Mr. Llewellyn John laughed. Colonel Walton's reference was to a
previous Prime Minister who on one occasion had enquired of a
distinguished general if he had ever contemplated the effect on the
public of the possibility of Great Britain losing the war. "They'd
hang you, sir," the general had replied, leaning forward and tapping
the then Prime Minister on the knee with an impressive forefinger.

For a few moments there was silence, broken at length by Sir Roger.

"But that does not relieve my congested Department," he said
complainingly.

"I'm afraid," s