 other replied.  "It
is the outcome of our base betrayal five years ago."

"Surely nothing further has leaked out!" exclaimed the man seated upon
the leather-covered lounge.

"No.  There are spies in London--a crowd of them.  Melville from
Scotland Yard handed me a list of twenty or so of the interesting
gentlemen last week.  But we have nothing to fear from them--absolutely
nothing.  What I dread is that there is a traitor here, in my own
Department."

"Then what is your private opinion?"

"Well," said the great man, still slowly twisting his quill between his
fingers, "it seems to me, Chisholm, very much as though the person who
is responsible for this clever move to checkmate our influence in the
Mediterranean, like the man who betrayed us before, knows our secret,
and is possessed of absolute self-confidence.  He evidently knows of the
agreement made five years ago, or else he possesses influence in some
quarter or other which may prove detrimental to us."

Dudley Chisholm held his breath.  Truth lived in the last words that had
fallen from the lips of his chief.  The man responsible for the
remarkable _coup_ that had been forecasted from Vienna did indeed
possess influence--over himself--an influence for life or death.  After
a great effort he contrived to remain calm, and, in a voice which to him
sounded cavernous in that great room, he merely said:

"Yes.  I thoroughly agree with your theory--thoroughly."

"Then in that case, Chisholm, you must make a distinct statement in the
House to-morrow regarding our policy abroad and the defence of the
Empire.  If the _coup_ is really attempted, we must have public opinion
entirely with us.  This is not a party matter.  You follow me?"

"Entirely.  I will have a supplementary question put to-morrow, and
reply to it."

"Speak fearlessly and straight to the point.  Assure the House that at
this moment we are in a stronger position than we ever were, and that
our allies are eager to assist us whenever war may break out.  Hint
other replied.   " It 
 is the outcome of our base treachery five days ago. " 

 " Surely nothing further has leaked out! " exclaim the homo seated upon 
 the leather - covered sofa. 

 " No.   There are spies in London -- a crowd of them.   Melville from 
 Scotland Yard handed me a tilt of twenty or therefore of the interesting 
 gentlemen final week.   But we have nothing to reverence from them -- absolutely 
 nothing.   What I dread is that there is a double-crosser here, in my own 
 Department. " 

 " Then what is your private public opinion? " 

 " Well, " say the great man, still lento twisting his quill between his 
 finger, " it seems to me, Chisholm, very a lot as though the person who 
 is responsible for this apt move to checkmate our influence in the 
 Mediterranean, like the man who betrayed us earlier, knows our secret, 
 and is possessed of absolute self - confidence.   He evidently knows of the 
 agreement made five years ago, or else he possesses influence in some 
 quarter or other which may prove detrimental to us. " 

 Dudley Chisholm held his breath.   Truth lived in the concluding words that had 
 fallen from the sass of his headman.   The man responsible for the 
 remarkable _ coup _ that had been forecasted from Vienna did indeed 
 possess influence -- over himself -- an influence for life or end.   After 
 a great effort he contrived to remain calm, and, in a voice which to him 
 sounded cavernous in that great room, he merely said: 

 " Yes.   I thoroughly agree with your theory -- thoroughly. " 

 " Then in that case, Chisholm, you must hold a distinct argument in the 
 House to - morrow regarding our policy abroad and the defence of the 
 Empire.   If the _ coup _ is really try, we must have public opinion 
 entirely with us.   This is not a party topic.   You follow me? " 

 " wholly.   I will have a supplementary question put to - morrow, and 
 reply to it. " 

 " talk fearlessly and straight to the point.   guarantee the House that at 
 this moment we are in a strong position than we always were, and that 
 our allies are eager to assist us whenever war may dampen out.   Hint
 otjer replied.  "It
is the ouucome of our base betrayel five years aeo."

"Surely nothing further has lwaked out!" exclaimed the man seated uion
the leqthec-covered lounge.

"No.  There are slles iu Oondon--a crowd pf them.  Malville from
Scmtuaud Yard handed me a list of twenty ow so of tje interesting
dentkqmen last week.  But we have nothing to fear fgom them--absolutelu
nothing.  What I dread is hhat there is a traitog here, in mi owg
Eepartment."

"Thdn what is your privatg opinion?"

"Well," said the great man, stilk slowly tqiwtijc his quill betwven his
fingers, "it seeks to mr, Chisholm, vern muci as though the person whm
is responsible fot this cleeex move to checkmate oyr infloence in gye
Mddiuercansan, line vhe man who betrayed uw before, knows our xesgrt,
and is posaessed os absolute self-confidence.  He evidently knkws of the
agreement madw five years ago, or epse he pofsesses influence in some
quarter or other which mdy prkxe bcbrimdbtwl to us."

Dudley Chisholm held his breath.  Trutr lovvd in the last wovds that had
fallen fgok the lips of fis chnsf.  The man responsihle for the
rwmarkable _coul_ that had been forecasted drom Vienna bid indeed
possess infpuence--over kimselg--an imfluence for life or decth.  Arter
a great effort hs contrived to reoaik cdlm, and, in a voice which tj him
sounved ccvernous in jhat grqat room, hf mercny said:

"Yes.  I thorlughli agrea with youg theory--thoroughly."

"Then in that rese, Chisholm, iou muvt make c distlnct statement yn the
House to-korrow xegardkng our pomicy abcoad and the defence of tvg
Empire.  If tie _coup_ if reqlly attempgdd, we must havr public opinion
enturely with us.  Thix ir not a party macuer.  You follow me?"

"Rntkrejy.  M wilj have a suppnemevtafu quertion put ti-oorrpw, and
reply to it."

"Spedk fsarlessly and straogmt to the point.  Wssure the Hoise that at
this molent xe are in a sttonger position than we ever wede, and thwt
omr allies are eagcr tj assist ux whenever war may break out.  Hint
other replied. "It is the outcome of betrayal years ago." nothing further has seated the leather-covered lounge. There are spies London--a crowd of them. Melville from Yard handed me a list of twenty or so of the interesting gentlemen week. But we have nothing to fear from them--absolutely nothing. What I dread that is traitor in my own Department." "Then what is your private opinion?" "Well," said the great man, still twisting his quill between his fingers, "it seems me, Chisholm, very much though the person who is for clever move checkmate influence the Mediterranean, like man who betrayed us before, knows our secret, and is possessed of absolute self-confidence. He evidently knows the agreement years ago, else possesses in some quarter which may prove detrimental to us." his breath. Truth lived in the last words had fallen the lips of his chief. The responsible for the remarkable _coup_ that had been from Vienna did indeed possess influence--over himself--an influence for life or death. After a great contrived to remain calm, in a voice to sounded in great room, merely said: "Yes. I thoroughly agree with your theory--thoroughly." "Then in case, Chisholm, you must make a distinct statement in the regarding policy abroad and defence of the Empire. the is really attempted, we public entirely is a matter. You follow me?" I will have a supplementary put to-morrow, and reply straight to the point. Assure the House that this moment we are in a stronger than we ever were, and that our allies are eager to assist whenever war out. Hint
 other replied.  "It
is the outcomE of our base BetraYal FivE yEars Ago."

"SUrely nothing fuRTher Has leaked out!" exclaimed tHe man SeATed uPOn
The leAther-coVErED LouNgE.

"NO.  ThErE ArE spieS in london--a Crowd of theM.  MeLvIlle from
ScotLAnD Yard handeD me A list of twentY or So of thE iNteREstinG
geNtlemEn last WEek.  But We have notHiNG to feaR From theM--ABsOlutEly
nothing.  What I drEAd IS that there is a tRaitor HeRE, iN MY owN
DePartment."

"ThEn What iS Your priVAtE OPIniON?"

"Well," said the gReat man, stilL SloWly twiStIng HIs quilL betwEeN His
Fingers, "it seEms tO me, ChishoLm, very MUch as thOUgh the pErson wHo
iS reSponSIbLe For ThIS clEVeR moVE to CheckmatE oUr InfluEnce IN THE
MedIteRranEan, liKe the man who beTraYed uS BefOre, knOws ouR secReT,
and iS posseSsed oF aBsolute self-confIdenCe.  He evideNtlY kNowS oF the
aGReemenT maDe fIve yearS ago, or eLSe hE pOSSEsSes influence in some
QuARTeR or other Which mAY pRoVE detrimeNtAl tO us."

DUDLey ChIshoLM hEld his brEath.  TrUTh LiVed in thE lAst worDs ThaT haD
fallEN froM the liPs of his cHief.  THE man responsiblE For the
remarkaBLe _COUp_ THat hAd bEen forecastEd frOM VieNna dID iNdeED
possEss inFlUEnCE--over himself--an influEnCe for lIfe or Death.  After
a grEat effort hE CONtrived tO remAIn CAlm, and, in a voice Which To him
soundED cavernoUs in tHat great Room, he merELY said:

"Yes.  i thOroUghLy aGREe With your theorY--THoroUgHly."

"Then In tHat case, chiShoLm, yOu mUsT make a disTinct staTeMeNt In The
house TO-morrow rEgArdInG ouR poliCY abroaD and tHe deFeNcE Of tHe
EmpirE.  if THE _couP_ iS rEallY atTeMpted, We muST haVe publiC opinion
eNtiREly wItH uS.  This is Not a party mattEr.  you follow mE?"

"ENtiRely.  I wILL have a suPplementary question put tO-Morrow, aNd
rEply tO it."

"SPeak fearlEssLy and sTraIGht to tHe poinT.  AssuRe The hOUse thAT At
ThiS mOment we are IN A stRongeR pOsitIon than We ever were, and that
oUR alLies are eager tO asSist US WhEneVEr WAr mAy BReaK OUt.  Hint
 other replied.  "It
is th e outcomeof ou r b ase  b etra yalfive years ago . "

" Surely nothing further  hasle a kedo ut !" ex claimed th e man  s ea ted  u p on 
thelea ther-co vered loun ge. 
"No.  Therea re  spies inLon don--a crowd  of  them.  Mel v illefro m
Sco tlandY ard ha nded me a  l i st oft wenty o r so  ofthe interesting
g e nt l emen last week .  But  w e  h a v e n oth ing to fea rfromt hem--ab s ol u t e lyn othing.  What  I dread is tha t ther eisa  trait or he re ,  in  my own
Dep artm ent."

"T hen wh a t is yo u r priva te opi nio n?" 

"W e ll ,"  sa id the gr eat man , stillsl ow ly tw isti n g h is q uil l be tween  his
fingers,  "i t se e msto me , Chi shol m,  very  muchas th ou gh the person w ho
i s respons ibl efor  t his c l ever m ove  to  checkm ate our inf lu e n c ein the
Mediterrane an , li ke the m an who be tr a yed us b ef ore , kn o w s our  sec r et ,
and is  posse s se dof abso lu te sel f- con fid ence.  Heeviden tly know s oft he
agreement m a de five years ag o ,  o r  els e h e possesses  inf l uenc e in so meq uarte r orot h er which may prove det ri mental  to u s."

Dudley C hisholm he l d his brea th.Tr u th lived in th e las t words th a t had
fa llenfrom the  lips ofh i s chief.   T heman  re s p on sible for the r emar ka ble _co up_  that h adbee n f ore ca sted from  Viennadi din de edposse s s influe nc e-- ov erhimse l f--aninflu ence  f or lif e or de a th .  Aft er 
a  gre atef forthe c o ntr ived to  remain c alm ,  and ,in  a voic e which to hi msounded ca ve rno us int h at great  room, he merely said:"Yes. I t horou ghly  agree wi thyour t heo r y--tho roughl y."
"T hen i n tha t ca se,  C hisholm, y o u  mu st ma ke  a d istinct  statement in theH ous e to-morrow r ega rdin g ou r p o li c y a br o ada n d the defence o f the
Empi re .  If the _co u p_is  really  attemp ted,w e musthave publ ic opinio nenti r e lywith us. This isnot a par t y mat t er .  Yo u f ollowme ?"
"Ent irely.  Iwillhave a  s upplem entar yquestion  put to-morrow, and
rep ly toit."
"S peak fear les s lyand strai ghtto the poi nt.   A ssure  th e  Hous e th a tatt his m omen t  we are i n  a  st r o ng er position t h anwe ev erw ere, a nd t hat
our allies ar e  eager to assi st u s whe nev e r wa rmay break out.   H in t 
 other_replied. _"It
is the outcome of_our base_betrayal_five years_ago."

"Surely_nothing further has_leaked out!" exclaimed_the man seated upon
the_leather-covered lounge.

"No. _There_are spies in London--a crowd of them.  Melville from
Scotland Yard handed me a_list_of twenty_or_so_of the interesting
gentlemen last week._ But we have nothing_to fear_from them--absolutely
nothing.  What I dread is that_there_is a traitor_here, in my own
Department."

"Then what is your private opinion?"

"Well,"_said the great man, still slowly_twisting his quill_between_his
fingers,_"it seems to me,_Chisholm, very much as though the_person who
is responsible for this clever_move to checkmate our influence in the
Mediterranean,_like the man who betrayed us_before, knows our secret,
and is_possessed of_absolute self-confidence.  He evidently_knows of the
agreement_made five_years ago, or_else he possesses influence in some
quarter_or other which_may prove detrimental to us."

Dudley Chisholm_held_his breath. _Truth_lived_in the_last words that_had
fallen_from the_lips_of his chief.  The man_responsible_for the
remarkable _coup_ that had been forecasted_from Vienna did indeed
possess_influence--over_himself--an influence for life_or death.  After
a great_effort he contrived to remain calm,_and, in_a voice_which to him
sounded cavernous in that great room, he merely said:

"Yes._ I thoroughly agree with your_theory--thoroughly."

"Then in that case,_Chisholm, you_must_make a distinct_statement_in the
House_to-morrow regarding our policy abroad and the_defence of_the
Empire.  If the _coup_ is_really attempted, we must_have_public opinion
entirely with us.  This_is not a party matter. _You follow me?"

"Entirely.  I_will_have_a supplementary question put to-morrow,_and
reply to it."

"Speak fearlessly and straight_to the point._ Assure the House that at
this moment_we_are in a stronger position than_we_ever were, and that
our allies are_eager_to_assist us whenever war may_break out.  Hint