 public service, just as you are.  All that has
passed between us to-night has passed in the strictest confidence.  Any
communication made by the chief through you in the House will, in the
nation's interest, be of a kind to mislead and mystify our enemies."

"But the mention of my own name in these copied letters!" observed the
Under-Secretary.  "What you have told has only whetted my appetite for
further information.  I really can't understand it."

"No, nor can I," replied Archibald Cator frankly.

And he certainly spoke the honest truth, even though he knew a good deal
more than he had thought it wise to admit.

CHAPTER TWENTY.

THROWS LIGHT ON THE PAST.

Finding that his visitor was determined to travel back to London at
once, Dudley gave orders for the dog-cart to be brought round to the
servants' entrance, for Cator had expressed the strongest desire that
his visit should remain unknown.

"Among your guests are several persons who have wintered in Rome, with
whom I am on friendly terms.  Just now I'm too much occupied to meet
them.  You'll quite understand," he said.

"Perfectly, my dear sir," replied the Under-secretary, mixing another
glass of whiskey for each of them.  "In this matter I shall be perfectly
silent.  From me not a soul will know that you have been in England."

Dudley's spirits had risen, for he imagined that he had successfully
evaded the man's inquiries and by that means had staved off the
threatened exposure and ruin.

"From what I've explained you will readily recognise how extremely
critical is the present situation, and the urgent necessity that exists
for a firm and defiant policy on our part.  But until I discover the
truth the chief is utterly unable to move, lest he should precipitate
events and cause the bursting of the war-cloud."

"Exactly.  I see it all quite plainly," Dudley answered.  "I trust you
will experience little difficulty in discovering the man for whom you
are searching.  I need not say how extremely anxious I shall be to see
the strange matter elucidated, so that the mystery may once and for all
public service, just as you are.   All that has 
 passed between us to - night has sink in the nonindulgent confidence.   Any 
 communication made by the chief through you in the House will, in the 
 state's interest, be of a kind to mislead and mystify our enemy. " 

 " But the mention of my own name in these copied letter! " observed the 
 Under - Secretary.   " What you have told has entirely whetted my appetite for 
 further information.   I actually can't sympathize it. " 

 " No, nor can I, " replied Archibald Cator frankly. 

 And he surely spoke the dependable accuracy, even though he knew a good deal 
 more than he had think it wise to admit. 

 CHAPTER TWENTY. 

 throw LIGHT ON THE PAST. 

 find that his visitor was determined to travel back to London at 
 once, Dudley gave orders for the dog - cart to be bring round to the 
 servants' entrance, for Cator had expressed the strongest desire that 
 his visit should remain strange. 

 " Among your guests are several persons who have wintered in Rome, with 
 whom I am on friendly terms.   Just now I'm too much occupied to converge 
 them.   You'll quite understand, " he said. 

 " absolutely, my beloved sir, " answer the Under - secretary, mixing another 
 glass of whiskey for each of them.   " In this matter I shall be perfectly 
 silent.   From me not a soul will know that you have been in England. " 

 Dudley's intent had risen, for he imagined that he had successfully 
 evaded the man's inquiries and by that means had stave off the 
 threatened exposure and ruin. 

 " From what I've explained you will promptly recognise how highly 
 critical is the present situation, and the urgent necessity that exists 
 for a firm and defiant policy on our part.   But until I discover the 
 accuracy the chief is utterly unable to move, lest he should precipitate 
 events and cause the bursting of the war - cloud. " 

 " Exactly.   I see it all quite obviously, " Dudley answered.   " I trust you 
 will experience little difficulty in detect the man for whom you 
 are search.   I need not say how highly anxious I shall be to see 
 the strange topic elucidated, so that the mystery may once and for all
 puhlic service, just as you are.  All that kqs
passxd betwsen us tu-night has passed in the strmctewt cobfidence.  Any
communicagion made by the xhieh through you in the House wilm, in chx
nation's interext, be of a kind to misledd aud mystify our enemies."

"But the mentiog of my oan name in thefe cp[ied letters!" observed the
Under-Secretarg.  "What you have tolc has only whetted my appehite for
further informwtion.  I reqlly xan't understxnd it."

"No, nor can I," repmied Archibald Cator frankly.

And he czrtainly spikw tjg honest truvh, eveg though he knew a gmod deak
more than he mad tiougyt it wise to admit.

CHEPTER TWENTY.

THROWS LYGHT ON TVE PAST.

Finding that hus vivitos war degerjiied to trwvem back to Mondon at
onxe, Dudley gave ordets dor the dog-cadt to fe brought round to the
servants' entrance, xor Cator had expressed thw strongest desire thwt
his visyt should remain unknown.

"Among your guests are sevaral 'efsouw who yage wintered in Rome, with
whom I am on friendly fetmx.  Just now I'm too much ovckpogd to meet
them.  You'll qhite understand," he said.

"Petfectlt, my dear sir," replied the Under-secretary, mixing anotker
tlass of whiskey flr each of chem.  "On thos matter I shall be pexfectlg
silent.  Frlm me not x soul will know thst you havt been in England."

Dtdley's spmrits had riren, gor he imagined hhat ma had successfully
fvadeb the man's inqulries and by that means had statxd off the
thrgataneg exposuxe and ruin.

"From whae I've explaineb you wijl rexdily recofnise hmw extremelr
critical is dje present smtuation, wnd rhe yrgent vdcessity that rxists
for a firm ane defiant policy ok our lart.  But until I eiscover the
truyh ghe cjixf is gtterly unabne tu mufe, lert he shoulb orecopitate
events and cagse fhe bursting of thr rar-cloud."

"Gxactly.  Y see it all auite plainly," Dudlty ansxered.  "I trist you
will experience little difriculty ij dlscovering thq mak fot whom you
axe searching.  I need not say how extremeoy anxious I shall be to see
the stranye matter eluridateq, so that the mystery may oncw and for all
public service, just as you are. All passed us to-night passed in the by chief through you the House will, the nation's interest, be of a to mislead and mystify our enemies." "But the mention of my own name these copied letters!" observed the Under-Secretary. "What you have told has only whetted appetite further I can't understand it." "No, nor can I," replied Archibald Cator frankly. And he certainly spoke the truth, even though he knew a good deal than he had thought wise to admit. CHAPTER TWENTY. LIGHT THE PAST. that visitor determined to travel to London at once, Dudley gave orders for the dog-cart to be brought round to the servants' for Cator the strongest that visit remain unknown. "Among are several persons who have wintered whom I am on friendly terms. Just now too much to meet them. You'll quite understand," said. "Perfectly, my dear sir," replied the Under-secretary, another glass of whiskey for each of them. "In this matter I shall be perfectly me not a soul know that you been England." spirits risen, for imagined that he had successfully evaded the man's inquiries and by means had staved off the threatened exposure and ruin. "From explained will readily recognise extremely critical is the situation, the urgent necessity that a and our But I discover the truth chief is utterly unable to lest he should precipitate of the war-cloud." "Exactly. I see it all plainly," Dudley answered. "I trust you will little difficulty in discovering the man for whom you are searching. I not say anxious I shall be to see the strange elucidated, so that the may once and for all
 public service, just as you are.  all that has
PasseD beTweEn Us to-NighT has passed in thE StriCtest confidence.  Any
commUnicaTiON madE By The chIef throUGh YOU in ThE HOusE wILl, In the
NatIon's intErest, be of a KinD tO mislead and mYStIfy our enemIes."

"but the mentioN of My own nAmE in THese cOpiEd letTers!" obSErved tHe
Under-SeCrETary.  "WhAT you havE TOlD has Only whetted my appeTItE For
further infoRmatioN.  I REaLLY caN't uNderstand iT."

"NO, nor cAN I," repliED ARCHIbaLD Cator frankly.

and he certaiNLy sPoke thE hOneST truth, Even tHoUGh hE knew a good dEal
mOre than he Had thoUGht it wiSE to admiT.

CHAPTeR TwENtY.

THroWs LiGHt On tHE paSt.

FiNDinG that his ViSiTor waS detERMINed tO trAvel Back tO London at
once, dudLey gAVe oRders For thE dog-CaRt to bE brougHt rouNd To the
servants' enTranCe, for CatoR haD eXprEsSed thE StrongEst DesIre that
His visiT ShoUlD REMaIn unknown.

"Among your GuESTs Are severAl persONs WhO Have wintErEd iN RomE, WIth
whOm I aM On Friendly Terms.  JUSt NoW I'm too mUcH occupIeD to MeeT
them.  yOu'll Quite uNderstanD," he saID.

"Perfectly, my deAR sir," replied thE unDER-sECretAry, Mixing anothEr
glASs of WhisKEy For EAch of Them.  "IN tHIs MAtter I shall be perfecTlY
silenT.  From Me not a soul wilL know that yOU HAve been iN EngLAnD."

dudley's spirits Had riSen, for he imAGined thaT he haD successFully
evadED The man's iNquIriEs aNd bY THaT means had stavED Off tHe
ThreateNed ExposurE anD ruIn.

"FRom WhAt I've explAined you WiLl ReAdIly RecogNIse how exTrEmeLy
CriTical IS the prEsent SituAtIoN, And The urgeNT nECEssiTy ThAt exIstS
fOr a fiRm anD DefIant polIcy on our pArt.  bUt unTiL I DiscoveR the
truth the cHiEf is utterlY uNabLe to moVE, Lest he shOuld precipitate
events anD Cause thE buRstinG of tHe war-clouD."

"ExActly.  I See IT all quIte plaInly," DUdLey ANSwereD.  "i TrUst YoU
will experIENce LittlE dIffiCulty in Discovering the man fOR whOm you
are searcHinG.  I neED NoT saY HoW ExtReMEly ANXious I shall be to See
the straNgE MaTter elucidATed, So That the Mystery May onCE and for All
 public service, just as y ou are.  A ll th athas 
p asse d be tween us to-ni g ht h as passed in the stric testco n fide n ce .  An y
commu n ic a t ion  m ad e b yt he  chie f t hroughyou in the  Ho us e will, in t h enation's i nte rest, be ofa k ind to  m isl e ad an d m ystif y oure nemies ."

"Butth e  menti o n of my o wn  nam e in these copied le t ters!" observe d theUn d er - S ecr eta ry.  "What  y ou ha v e toldh as o n lyw hetted my app etite for
f u rth er inf or mat i on.  I  real ly can 't understa nd i t."

"No,  nor c a n I," r e plied A rchiba ldCat or f r an kl y.
A n d h e  c ert a inl y spoketh ehones t tr u t h ,  eve n t houg h heknew a good d eal 
mor e  th an he  hadthou gh t itwise t o adm it .

CHAPTER TWEN TY.
THROWS L IGH TONTH E PAS T .

Fin din g t hat his  visito r  wa sd e t er mined to travel ba ck t oLondon a t
once ,  D ud l ey gaveor der s fo r the d og-c a rt  to be b rought ro un d to th eservan ts ' e ntr ance, forCatorhad expr essed the strongestd esire that
hi s  v i s it shou ldremain unkn own. 
"Am ongy ou r g u estsare s ev e ra l  persons who have w in teredin Ro me, with
whom  I am on f r i e ndly ter ms.Ju s t now I'm toomuchoccupied t o  meet
th em. You'll q uite unde r s tand," h e s aid .
"Pe r f ec tly, my dears i r,"re plied t heUnder-s ecr eta ry,  mi xi ng anothe r
glassof  w hi sk eyfor e a ch of th em . "I n t his m a tter I  shal l be  p er f ect ly
sile n t. From  m enota s ou l wil l kn o w t hat you  have bee n i n  Eng la nd ."

Dud ley's spirits  h ad risen,fo r h e imag i n ed thathe had successfully
eva d ed theman 's in quir ies and b y t hat me ans had st aved o ff th ethr e a tened e xp osu re  and ruin. "Fr om wh at  I'v e expla ined you will read i lyrecognise how  ex trem e l ycri t ic a l i st hep r esent situation , and theur g en t necessit y  th at  exists 
for afirma nd defi ant polic y on ourpa rt.B utuntil I di scover t he
trutht he ch i ef  is u tte rly un ab leto mo ve, le s t h e sho uld pr ec ipitat e
eve nt s and ca use the bursting of the  war-c loud. "
"Exactly.   I see  it all q uite  plainly,"  Du dle y ans wer e d.  " I tr u st  yo u 
will  exp e rience li t tl e d i f fi culty in di s c o ver ing t hem an for  who m you
are searchi n g.  I need not  say h owext r emel yanxious I shal l b et o  see
the  s trange matt er eluci da t ed, s o that  the m ysterym a yo nce an d fo r a ll
 public_service, just_as you are. _All that_has
passed_between us_to-night_has passed in_the strictest confidence._ Any
communication made by_the chief through_you_in the House will, in the
nation's interest, be of a kind to mislead and_mystify_our enemies."

"But_the_mention_of my own name in_these copied letters!" observed the
Under-Secretary._ "What_you have told has only whetted my appetite_for
further_information.  I_really can't understand it."

"No, nor can I," replied Archibald_Cator frankly.

And he certainly spoke the_honest truth, even_though_he_knew a good deal
more_than he had thought it wise_to admit.

CHAPTER TWENTY.

THROWS LIGHT ON THE_PAST.

Finding that his visitor was determined to_travel back to London at
once, Dudley_gave orders for the dog-cart_to be_brought round to the
servants' entrance,_for Cator had_expressed the_strongest desire that
his_visit should remain unknown.

"Among your guests_are several persons_who have wintered in Rome, with
whom_I_am on friendly_terms.__Just now_I'm too much_occupied_to meet
them.__You'll quite understand," he said.

"Perfectly, my_dear_sir," replied the Under-secretary, mixing another
glass of_whiskey for each of_them._ "In this matter_I shall be perfectly
silent. _From me not a soul will_know that_you have_been in England."

Dudley's spirits had risen, for he imagined that he_had successfully
evaded the man's inquiries and_by that means had_staved off_the
threatened_exposure and ruin.

"From_what_I've explained_you will readily recognise how extremely
critical is_the present_situation, and the urgent necessity that_exists
for a firm and_defiant_policy on our part.  But_until I discover the
truth the chief_is utterly unable to move,_lest_he_should precipitate
events and cause the_bursting of the war-cloud."

"Exactly.  I_see it all_quite plainly," Dudley answered.  "I trust_you
will_experience little difficulty in discovering the_man_for whom you
are searching.  I_need_not_say how extremely anxious I_shall be to see
the strange matter_elucidated, so that the mystery may once and for_all