ssed to them. Sir Alfred Anselman is
upon that list."

Thomson nodded gravely.

"So I have been given to understand," he remarked.

The Chief leaned back in his chair. His cold grey eyes were studying the
other's face.

"Thomson," he continued, "I know that you are not a sensationalist. At
the same time, this request of yours is a little nerve-shattering, isn't
it? Sir Alfred Anselman has been the Chancellor's right-hand man. It was
mainly owing to his efforts that the war loan was such a success. He
has done more for us in the city than any other Englishman. He has given
large sums to the various war funds, his nephew is a very distinguished
young officer. Now there suddenly comes a request from you to have the
censor pass you copies of all his Dutch correspondence. There'd be the
very devil to pay if I consented."

Thomson cleared his throat for a moment.

"Sir," he said, "you and I have discussed this matter indirectly more
than once. You are not yet of my opinion but you will be. The halfpenny
Press has sickened us so with the subject of spies that the man who
groans about espionage to-day is avoided like a pestilence. Yet it is
my impression that there is in London, undetected and unsuspected, a
marvellous system of German espionage, a company of men who have sold
themselves to the enemy, whose names we should have considered above
reproach. It is my job to sift this matter to the bottom. I can only do
so if you will give me supreme power over the censorship."

"Look here, Thomson," the Chief demanded, "you don't suspect Sir Alfred
Anselman?"

"I do, sir!"

The Chief was obviously dumbfounded. He sat, for a few moments,
thinking.

"You're a sane man, too, Thomson," he muttered, "but it's the most
astounding charge I've ever heard."

"It's the most astounding conspiracy," Thomson replied. "I was in
Germany a few weeks ago, as you know."

"I heard all about it. A very brilliant but a very dangerous exploit,
that of yours, Thomson."

"I will tell you my impressions, sir," the latter continued. "The
ignorance displayed in the German newspapers about England is entirely
a matter of censorship. Their actual information as regards every detail
of our military condition is simply amazing. They know exactly what
munitions are reaching our shores from abroad, they know how we are
paying for them, they know exactly our financial condition, they know
all about our new guns, they know just how many men we coul