 moment when it would be so highly useful,
suddenly closed."

"Fortunate that it was not closed before you could obtain the document
which gave you the clue to what was really taking place," remarked the
Under-Secretary.  "Cannot you tell me more regarding the plot?  From
which _Chancellerie_ did the document emanate?"

"Ah, I regret that at this juncture I am not at liberty to say!  The
matter is still in the most confidential stage.  The slightest betrayal
of our knowledge may result in disaster.  It is the chief's policy to
retain the facts we have gathered and act upon them as soon as the
inquiry is complete.  For the past three weeks all my endeavours and
those of my staff have been directed towards unravelling the mystery
presented by the document I have mentioned.  In every capital active
searches have been made, copies of correspondence secured, prominent
statesmen sounded as to their views, and photographs taken of certain
letters and plans, all of which go to show the deep conspiracy that is
in progress, with the object of striking a staggering blow at us.  Yet,
strangest of all, there is mention of a matter which is hinted at so
vaguely that up to the present I have been unable to form any theory as
to what it really is.  To put it plainly," he added, with his eyes fixed
upon Chisholm's face, "in certain parts of the correspondence the name
of Mayne Lennox is mentioned in connection with your own."

"In connection with my own!" gasped Dudley, his face blanching again in
an instant.  "What statements are made?"

"Nothing is stated definitely," replied his shabby visitor.  "There are
only vague hints."

"Of what?"

"Of the existence of something that I have up to the present failed to
discover."

Dudley Chisholm breathed more freely, but beneath that cold, keen gaze
of the man of secrets his eyes wavered.  Nevertheless, the fact that
Cator was still in ignorance of the truth reassured him, and in an
instant he regained his self-possession.

"Curious that I should be mentioned in the same breath, as it were, with
a
moment when it would be so highly useful, 
 suddenly shut. " 

 " Fortunate that it was not close before you could obtain the document 
 which give you the hint to what was really taking place, " note the 
 Under - Secretary.   " Can not you tell me more regarding the plot?   From 
 which _ Chancellerie _ did the text file exhale? " 

 " Ah, I regret that at this juncture I am not at familiarity to say!   The 
 matter is however in the most confidential stage.   The slightest betrayal 
 of our knowledge may leave in disaster.   It is the chief's policy to 
 retain the facts we have meet and act upon them as soon as the 
 question is complete.   For the past three workweek all my endeavours and 
 those of my staff have been direct towards unravelling the mystery 
 presented by the document I have mention.   In every capital active 
 searches have been made, copies of correspondence secured, prominent 
 statesmen sounded as to their views, and photographs taken of certain 
 letters and plans, all of which go to show the bass conspiracy that is 
 in progress, with the object of strike a astonishing blow at us.   Yet, 
 strangest of all, there is mention of a matter which is hinted at so 
 vaguely that up to the present I have been ineffective to form any theory as 
 to what it really is.   To put it plainly, " he added, with his eyes fixed 
 upon Chisholm's face, " in certain parts of the correspondence the name 
 of Mayne Lennox is mention in connection with your own. " 

 " In association with my own! " gasped Dudley, his face blanching again in 
 an instant.   " What statements are cook? " 

 " Nothing is stated definitely, " replied his moth-eaten visitor.   " There are 
 entirely vague hints. " 

 " Of what? " 

 " Of the universe of something that I have up to the present fail to 
 discover. " 

 Dudley Chisholm emit more freely, but beneath that cold, keen gaze 
 of the serviceman of secrets his eye wavered.   however, the fact that 
 Cator was still in ignorance of the truth reassured him, and in an 
 moment he regained his self - self-control. 

 " Curious that I should be mentioned in the same breath, as it were, with 
 a
 molent when it would be so highly useful,
sodeenly rlosed."

"Fkrtunate that it was not closed befoce yiu coyld obtain the documeng
which gane you thw clne to what was rxzlly taking pmwce," xenarked the
Undet-Secretary.  "Wannot you teln oe more regarding the plot?  From
which _Chanceklfrie_ did the djcumtnt emahate?"

"Ah, I regret that at this juncthre I ak not at libetty to say!  The
matter is shill in the most confifential state.  Eye slightest betrayal
of our knowlesge may result in disaster.  It ks thz chief's pooixy hm
retain the factf we have gabnered dnd act upon them as xooi as the
inquiry is compleve.  For the past thrge weeks anl my endeavours ane
tyose mf mf stxdf favt bxen direched towards uhravelling rhe mystery
presentec fj the documenf I hade mentioned.  In every capital active
searbhes have been made, copies if correspondence secored, promigent
statesmen sounded as to their views, and photocrapha tajek of xegtain
letters and plans, all of which go to shor tne deep conspiragy that is
in progrrsd, eyth the objecj of stxjkjng a staggering bpow at os.  Yer,
strangesu of sll, there is mention of a mqtter which ps hunted at so
vaguely that up to the presrnt I have been unable co forj any theorj as
to whzg it really is.  Go iut ht plainly," he added, with hys eyes fmxed
u'on Chisfolm'x face, "in certaij parbv of the corresponfence tve name
of Layne Lennox is mentioned in coiiection with ious ofn."

"In conuectiok with my own!" gwsped Dudley, hns face ylanchkng again pn
an instent.  "What stwtements are kwde?"

"Nothing iv stated defunitwly," repuked his shabby visitor.  "There are
inly vague hints."

"Of whxf?"

"Of the existenet od something thay I hade u' to eve present fdilea tu
ciscoxer."

Dudltv Cmisfolm breathed more freelf, buf beneath that colc, heen gazg
of the mwn of secrets his eyes wavered.  Nevecthelers, thr fwct that
Cator was still in ignkrance of thc truth reasstred him, and in cn
instant he regained his self-possession.

"Rurious that I should bw mentioned in the xsme breath, es it rere, with
d
moment when it would be so highly closed." that it not closed before which you the clue what was really place," remarked the Under-Secretary. "Cannot you me more regarding the plot? From which _Chancellerie_ did the document emanate?" "Ah, regret that at this juncture I am not at liberty to say! The is in most stage. The slightest betrayal of our knowledge may result in disaster. It is the chief's policy retain the facts we have gathered and act them as soon as inquiry is complete. For the three all my and of staff have been towards unravelling the mystery presented by the document I have mentioned. In every capital active searches have made, copies secured, prominent sounded to views, and photographs certain letters and plans, all of show the deep conspiracy that is in progress, the object striking a staggering blow at us. strangest of all, there is mention of a which is hinted at so vaguely that up to the present I have been unable any theory as to it really is. put plainly," added, his eyes upon Chisholm's face, "in certain parts of the correspondence the name Mayne Lennox is mentioned in connection with your own." "In my gasped Dudley, his blanching again in an "What are made?" "Nothing is replied shabby only hints." what?" "Of the existence something that I have up the present failed to freely, but beneath that cold, keen gaze of man of secrets his eyes wavered. Nevertheless, fact that Cator was still in ignorance of the truth reassured him, in an regained his self-possession. "Curious that I should be in the same breath, it were, with a
 moment when it would be so highLy useful,
suDdenlY clOseD."

"FOrtuNate That it was not clOSed bEfore you could obtain the DocumEnT
WhicH GaVe you The clue TO wHAT waS rEaLly TaKInG placE," reMarked tHe
Under-SecRetArY.  "Cannot you teLL mE more regarDinG the plot?  From
WhiCh _ChanCeLleRIe_ did The DocumEnt emaNAte?"

"Ah, I Regret thaT aT This juNCture I aM NOt At liBerty to say!  The
mattER iS Still in the most ConfidEnTIaL STagE.  ThE slightest BeTrayaL
Of our knOWlEDGE maY Result in disasTer.  It is the cHIef'S policY tO
reTAin the Facts We HAve Gathered and Act uPon them as Soon as THe
inquiRY is compLete.  FoR thE paSt thREe WeEks AlL My eNDeAvoURs aNd
those oF mY sTaff hAve bEEN DIrecTed TowaRds unRavelling the mYstEry
pREseNted bY the dOcumEnT I havE mentiOned.  IN eVery capital actiVe
seArches havE beEn MadE, cOpies OF correSpoNdeNce secuRed, promINenT
sTATEsMen sounded as to theiR vIEWs, And photoGraphs TAkEn OF certain
LeTteRs anD PLans, aLl of WHiCh go to shOw the dEEp CoNspiracY tHat is
iN pRogResS, with THe obJect of Striking A stagGEring blow at us.  YET,
strangest of aLL, tHERe IS menTioN of a matter wHich IS hinTed aT So
VagUEly thAt up tO tHE pREsent I have been unablE tO form aNy theOry as
to what it Really is.  To PUT It plainlY," he aDDeD, With his eyes fixEd
upoN Chisholm's FAce, "in cerTain pArts of thE correspoNDEnce the nAme
Of MAynE LeNNOx Is mentioned in CONnecTiOn with yOur Own."

"In coNneCtiOn wIth My Own!" gasped dudley, hiS fAcE bLaNchIng agAIn in
an inStAnt.  "whAt sTatemENts are Made?"

"NOthiNg Is STatEd definITeLY," ReplIeD hIs shAbbY vIsitoR.  "TheRE arE
only vaGue hints."

"OF whAT?"

"Of tHe ExIstence Of something thAt i have up to tHe PreSent faILEd to
discOver."

Dudley Chisholm breatHEd more fReeLy, but BeneAth that coLd, kEen gazE
of THe man oF secreTs his EyEs wAVEred.  NEVErTheLeSs, the fact tHAT
CaTor waS sTill In ignorAnce of the truth reasSUreD him, and in an
inStaNt he REGaIneD HiS SelF-pOSseSSIon.

"Curious that I Should be meNtIOnEd in the samE BreAtH, as it weRe, with
a
 moment when it would be s o highly u seful ,
s udd en ly c lose d."

"Fortunat e  tha t it was not closed be foreyo u  cou l dobtai n the d o cu m e ntwh ic h g av e  y ou th e c lue towhat was r eal ly  taking plac e ,"  remarkedthe 
Under-Secre tar y.  "C an not you t ell  me m ore re g arding  the plot ?From
w h ich _Ch a n ce ller ie_ did the docum e nt emanate?"

"Ah , I re gr e tt h atatthis junct ur e I a m  not at li b e r tyt o say!  The
m atter is st i llin the  m ost confid entia ls tag e.  The sli ghte st betray al
ofo ur know l edge ma y resu ltindisa s te r.   I ti s t h echi e f's  policyto 
r etain  the f a c ts w e h avegathe red and act u pon  the m  as  soon  as t he
i nq uiryis com plete . For the past t hree  weeks al l m yend ea vours and
th ose  of  my sta ff have bee nd i r ec ted towards unrave ll i n gthe myst ery
pr e se nt e d by the  d ocu ment I  have  men t io ned.  In  every ca pi tal act iv e
sear ch eshav e bee n  mad e, cop ies of c orres p ondence secure d , prominent
s t at e s me n  sou nde d as to the ir v i ews,  and ph oto g raphs  take no fc ertain
letters andpl ans, a ll of  which go toshow the d e e p  conspir acyt ha t  is
in progres s, wi th the obj e ct of st rikin g a stag gering bl o w  at us. Ye t,str ang e s tof all, there i s me nt ion ofa m atter w hic h i s h int ed  at so
va guely th at  u pto  th e pre s ent I ha ve  be en  un ablet o form  anytheo ry  a s 
to  what i t  r e a llyis . Toput  i t pla inly , " h e added , with hi s e y es f ix ed 
upon C hisholm's fac e,  "in certa in  pa rts of t he corre spondence the name
of M a yne Len nox  is m enti oned in c onn ection  wi t h your  own." 

"In  c onn e c tionw i th  my  o wn!" gaspe d Dud ley,hi s fa ce blan ching again in
ani nst ant.  "What s tat emen t s  a rem ad e ?"
" N oth i n g is stated def initely,"re p li ed his sha b byvi sitor. "There  areo nly vag ue hints. "

"Of wh at ?"
" O f t he existen ce of so mething t h at Ih av e uptothe pr es ent  fail ed tod isc over. "

Dud le y Chis holmbr eathed m ore freely, but beneath  thatcold,  ke en gaze
o f t h e m an of sec rets  his eyeswav ere d.  N eve r thele ss,t he  fa c t tha t
Ca t or was st i ll  in i gn orance of t h e tru th re ass u red hi m, a nd in an
instanth e regained his  sel f - pos ses s ion. 
"Curious thatI s ho u l d be men ti oned in the  same br ea t h, as  it we re, wi th
a
 moment_when it_would be so highly_useful,
suddenly closed."

"Fortunate_that_it was_not_closed before you_could obtain the_document
which gave you the_clue to what_was_really taking place," remarked the
Under-Secretary.  "Cannot you tell me more regarding the plot?__From
which _Chancellerie__did_the_document emanate?"

"Ah, I regret that_at this juncture I am_not at_liberty to say!  The
matter is still in_the_most confidential stage._ The slightest betrayal
of our knowledge may result in_disaster.  It is the chief's_policy to
retain the_facts_we_have gathered and act_upon them as soon as the
inquiry_is complete.  For the past_three weeks all my endeavours and
those of_my staff have been directed towards_unravelling the mystery
presented by the_document I_have mentioned.  In every_capital active
searches have_been made,_copies of correspondence_secured, prominent
statesmen sounded as to their_views, and photographs_taken of certain
letters and plans, all_of_which go to_show_the_deep conspiracy_that is
in progress,_with_the object_of_striking a staggering blow at us.__Yet,
strangest of all, there is mention of_a matter which is_hinted_at so
vaguely that up_to the present I have_been unable to form any theory_as
to what_it really_is.  To put it plainly," he added, with his eyes_fixed
upon Chisholm's face, "in certain parts_of the correspondence the_name
of Mayne_Lennox_is mentioned in_connection_with your_own."

"In connection with my own!" gasped Dudley,_his face_blanching again in
an instant.  "What_statements are made?"

"Nothing is_stated_definitely," replied his shabby visitor. _"There are
only vague hints."

"Of what?"

"Of the_existence of something that I_have_up_to the present failed to
discover."

Dudley_Chisholm breathed more freely, but beneath_that cold, keen_gaze
of the man of secrets his eyes_wavered._ Nevertheless, the fact that
Cator was_still_in ignorance of the truth reassured_him,_and_in an
instant he regained his_self-possession.

"Curious that I should be mentioned_in the same breath, as it were, with
a