ator's questions he might be permitted to
ask some himself.

"I desire to ascertain from him certain facts which will elucidate what
remains at present a profound mystery," the other replied.  "Indeed, a
statement by him will place in our hands a weapon by which we can thwart
certain of the Powers who are launching a powerful combination against
us."

Cator, who occupied the post that Colonel Murray-Kerr had once held, was
himself a skilled diplomatist.  As the confusion caused in the
Under-Secretary's mind at his first question had shown how unlikely it
was that he would get a clear statement of the truth, he proceeded to
work for the information he wanted, and to work in a cautious and
indirect manner.  Chisholm, recollecting the confidential document which
had passed through his hands some time before, and which had aroused his
suspicions, said:

"I think I know the combination to which you refer.  Something regarding
it leaked out to one of the newspapers a few weeks ago, and a question
was asked in the House."

Cator laughed.

"Yes," he said, "a question to which you gave a very neat, but
altogether unintelligible reply--eh?  They were waiting that reply of
yours in the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs with a good deal of
anxiety, I can tell you.  It was telephoned to Paris before you had
delivered it."

"Ah! copied from one of the sheets of replies given out to the Press
Gallery, I expect," observed the Under-Secretary.  "But I had no idea
that our friends across the Channel were so watchful of my utterances."

"Oh, aren't they?  They are watchful of your movements, too," replied
the Secret Agent of Her Majesty's Foreign Office.  "Recollect, Mr.
Chisholm, you as Parliamentary Under-Secretary are in the confidence of
the Government, and frequently possess documents and information which
to our enemies would be priceless.  If I may be permitted to say so, you
should be constantly on the alert against any of your papers falling
into undesirable hands."

"But surely none have?"  Dudley gasped in alarm.

"None have, to my knowledge," his visitor
ator's questions he might be permitted to 
 ask some himself. 

 " I desire to determine from him sealed facts which will elucidate what 
 remain at present a heavy mystery, " the other replied.   " Indeed, a 
 argument by him will place in our hands a weapon by which we can thwart 
 sealed of the Powers who are launch a powerful combination against 
 us. " 

 Cator, who concern the post that Colonel Murray - Kerr had once held, was 
 himself a skilled diplomat.   As the confusion caused in the 
 Under - Secretary's mind at his first question had shown how unlikely it 
 was that he would get a clean statement of the truth, he proceeded to 
 bring for the information he wanted, and to work in a cautious and 
 indirect manner.   Chisholm, remember the confidential document which 
 had elapse through his hands some time before, and which had arouse his 
 suspicions, said: 

 " I think I know the combination to which you refer.   Something regarding 
 it leaked out to one of the newspapers a few weeks ago, and a question 
 was asked in the House. " 

 Cator laughed. 

 " Yes, " he said, " a question to which you gave a very neat, but 
 altogether opaque answer -- eh?   They were waiting that reply of 
 yours in the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs with a good softwood of 
 anxiety, I can tell you.   It was telephoned to Paris before you had 
 delivered it. " 

 " Ah! replicate from one of the sheets of replies given out to the Press 
 Gallery, I expect, " watch the Under - Secretary.   " But I had no idea 
 that our friends across the Channel were so watchful of my utterances. " 

 " Oh, aren't they?   They are insomniac of your movements, too, " replied 
 the Secret Agent of Her Majesty's Foreign Office.   " Recollect, Mr. 
 Chisholm, you as Parliamentary Under - Secretary are in the confidence of 
 the Government, and frequently own documents and data which 
 to our enemies would be priceless.   If I may be permitted to say so, you 
 should be constantly on the alert against any of your newspaper falling 
 into undesirable hands. " 

 " But surely none have? "   Dudley pant in alarm. 

 " None own, to my knowledge, " his visitor
atog's questions he might be permitted to
ask some iimself.

"J desire to ascertain from him certamn fqcts qhich will elucidate wfat
remaind at prewent q profound mystery," the ofmer rzpoied.  "Indeed, a
xtatement ty him will pldcd nn our hands a weapon by which we cag thwary
cfrtain of the Kowerx who are launching a powerful combinatjon agapnst
us."

Cator, who ovcupied the post that Colojel Lurray-Kerr had oncf held, was
humsejd a skilled aiplomatisu.  As the cohfusion caused in the
Under-Secregary's mind at hus figvt question had fhown how unlikely id
was thst he would geb a cneae statement of the trnth, he proceeded to
wjrk for tve information he wqnred, atd tm wofj iv a ceutjous ajd
iidirect manher.  Chishoom, recollecting the cjbfidential dodument wrich
had passed through his hands some tpme gefore, and which had ariused his
suspicions, swid:

"I thinh I know the combination to which you refer.  Somedhing fegcvqkbg
lt leaked out to one of the newspapers a few rsels ago, and a queftion
was aslef og the House."

Cajor lauyges.

"Yes," he said, "a quedtion tj whixh you gade a very neat, but
altogether ununtelligible eeply--eh?  They were waiting thct repky of
uours in the French Minnstry kf Foreign Wffairs wjgh a good deal ow
anqietf, I can udll you.  It was tqlephoned to 'aris bewore you hwd
deliveref it."

"Am! copied from one ov the sveets of rfplies given out to the Press
Gallery, I expect," otsegved the Bnder-Sccretary.  "But I had no idea
thct our fxiends across thv Channel were so waechful of my gjterances."

"Oh, acen't they?  Thwy aee watcfwul of your mofements, too," replied
rhe Secret Agent on Her Jajesty's Foreigu Iffice.  "Recollevt, Or.
Cridhpli, you as Parlhamevtafu Unddr-Secreucry xre on the confidence of
dhe Fovernment, and freaucntly poswess doctments and ingormation which
to lur eiemies woulc bg priceless.  If I may be permitfed to saj sj, you
should fe cinstantly on the alert against any of your papers felling
into undesirable yands."

"But surely nong hsve?"  Dudley gaspqd in alasm.

"None have, to my kniwledge," his visitpr
ator's questions he might be permitted to himself. desire to from him certain remains present a profound the other replied. a statement by him will place our hands a weapon by which we can thwart certain of the Powers are launching a powerful combination against us." Cator, who occupied the post that Murray-Kerr once was a skilled diplomatist. As the confusion caused in the Under-Secretary's mind at his first question had how unlikely it was that he would get clear statement of the he proceeded to work for information wanted, and work a and indirect manner. recollecting the confidential document which had passed through his hands some time before, and which had aroused suspicions, said: I know combination which refer. Something regarding out to one of the newspapers ago, and a question was asked in the Cator laughed. he said, "a question to which gave a very neat, but altogether unintelligible reply--eh? were waiting that reply of yours in the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs with a of anxiety, I can you. It was to before had it." "Ah! from one of the sheets of replies given out to the Gallery, I expect," observed the Under-Secretary. "But I had no our across the Channel so watchful of my "Oh, they? They are watchful movements, replied of Majesty's Office. "Recollect, Mr. Chisholm, as Parliamentary Under-Secretary are in confidence of the Government, information which to our enemies would be priceless. I may be permitted to say so, should be constantly on the alert against any of your papers falling undesirable hands." none have?" Dudley gasped in alarm. "None have, my knowledge," his visitor
ator's questions he might be peRmitted to
aSk somE hiMseLf.

"i desIre tO ascertain from HIm ceRtain facts which will eluCidatE wHAt
reMAiNs at pResent a PRoFOUnd MyStEry," ThE OtHer rePliEd.  "IndeeD, a
statemenT by HiM will place in OUr Hands a weapOn bY which we can tHwaRt
certAiN of THe PowErs Who arE launcHIng a poWerful comBiNAtion aGAinst
us."

cAToR, who Occupied the post thAT COLonel Murray-KerR had onCe HElD, WAs
hImsElf a skilleD dIplomATist.  As tHE cONFUsiON caused in the
UNder-SecretaRY's mInd at hIs FirST questIon haD sHOwn How unlikely It
waS that he woUld get A Clear stATement oF the trUth, He pRoceEDeD tO
woRk FOr tHE iNfoRMatIon he wanTeD, aNd to wOrk iN A CAUtioUs aNd
inDirecT manner.  ChishoLm, rEcolLEctIng thE confIdenTiAl docUment wHich
hAd Passed through hiS hanDs some timE beFoRe, aNd Which HAd arouSed His
SuspiciOns, said:

"i ThiNk i KNOw The combination to whIcH YOu Refer.  SomEthing REgArDIng
it leaKeD ouT to oNE Of the NewsPApErs a few wEeks agO, AnD a QuestioN
wAs askeD iN thE HoUse."

CaTOr laUghed.

"YEs," he said, "A quesTIon to which you gAVe a very neat, buT
AlTOGeTHer uNinTelligible rEply--EH?  TheY werE WaItiNG that Reply Of
YOuRS in the French MinistrY oF ForeiGn AffAirs with a good Deal of
anxiETY, i can tell You.  IT WaS Telephoned to PaRis beFore you had
DElivered It."

"Ah! cOpied froM one of the SHEets of rePliEs gIveN ouT TO tHe Press
GallerY, i ExpeCt," ObserveD thE Under-SEcrEtaRy.  "BUt I HaD no idea
thAt our friEnDs AcRoSs tHe ChaNNel were sO wAtcHfUl oF my utTEranceS."

"Oh, arEn't tHeY?  THEy aRe watchFUl OF Your MoVeMentS, toO," rEplieD
the sEcrEt Agent Of Her MajeSty'S foreIgN OFfice.  "ReCollect, Mr.
ChisHoLm, you as ParLiAmeNtary UNDEr-SecretAry are in the confidence of
THe GoverNmeNt, and FreqUently posSesS documEntS And infOrmatiOn whiCh
To oUR EnemiES WoUld Be Priceless.  IF i May Be perMiTted To say so, You
should be constanTLy oN the alert agaiNst Any oF YOuR paPErS FalLiNG
inTO Undesirable handS."

"But surely NoNE hAve?"  Dudley gASpeD iN alarm.

"NOne have, To my kNOwledge," His visitoR
ator's questions he mightbe permitt ed to 
as k s om e hi msel f.

"I desiret o as certain from him certa in fa ct s  whi c hwillelucida t ew h atre ma ins  a t  p resen t a  profou nd mystery ,"th e other repl i ed .  "Indeed , a 
statement b y h im wil lpla c e inour  hand s a we a pon by  which we  c a n thwa r t
certa i n  o f th e Powers who arel au n ching a powerf ul com bi n at i o n a gai nst
us."
Ca tor,w ho occu p ie d t hep ost that Colo nel Murray- K err  had o nc e h e ld, wa s
him se l f a  skilled di plom atist.  A s thec onfusio n  caused  in th e
U nde r-Se c re ta ry' sm ind at  hi s  fi rst ques ti on  hadshow n h o w un lik elyit
wa s that he wou ldgeta  cl ear s tatem entof  thetruth,  he p ro ceeded to
workforthe infor mat io n h ewante d , andtowor k in acautiou s  an di n d ir ect manner.  Chish ol m ,  r ecollect ing th e  c on f idential  d ocu ment w hichhadp as sed thro ugh hi s  h an ds some  t ime be fo re,  an d whi c h ha d arou sed hissuspi c ions, said:

" I  think I know th e co m bina tio n to whichyour efer .  S o me thi n g reg ardin gi tl eaked out to one of  t he new spape rs a few week s ago, and a question 
was as k ed in the Hous e."
Cator laug h ed.

"Ye s," h e said,"a questi o n  to whic h y ougav e a v er y neat, but
a l t oget he r unint ell igiblerep ly- -eh ? Th ey were w aiting t ha tre pl y o f
you r s in the  F ren ch  Mi nistr y  of Fo reign  Aff ai rs wit h a goo d  d e a l of 
a nx iety , I  c an te ll y o u. It was  telephon edt o Pa ri sbeforeyou had
deliv er ed it."

" Ah ! c opiedf r om one o f the sheets of replies given o utto th e Pr ess
Galle ry,  I exp ect , " obse rved t he Un de r-S e c retar y .  "Bu tI had no i d e a
t hat o ur  fri ends ac ross the Channel w e reso watchful o f m y ut t e ra nce s ." 
"O h, are n ' t they?  They a re watchfu lo fyour movem e nts ,too," r epliedthe S e cret Ag ent of He r Majesty 's  For e i gnOffice.  " Recollec t, Mr.
Ch i sholm ,  y ou as  Pa rliame nt ary  Unde r-Secr e tar y are  in th econfid enceof 
the Gov ernment, and frequently  posse ss do cum ents andinf o rma tion whic h
to  our enemi eswou ld be  pr i celes s. I fI m a y beperm i tted to s a yso, y ou 
should bec o n sta ntlyont he ale rt a gainst any of you r  papers fallin g
in t o  un des i rabl ehands."

"Butsur el y none hav e? "  Dudley g asped in  a l arm.
"None  have,  to myk n ow l edge,"  his  vi sitor
ator's questions_he might_be permitted to
ask some_himself.

"I desire_to_ascertain from_him_certain facts which_will elucidate what
remains_at present a profound_mystery," the other_replied._ "Indeed, a
statement by him will place in our hands a weapon by which_we_can thwart
certain_of_the_Powers who are launching a_powerful combination against
us."

Cator, who occupied_the post_that Colonel Murray-Kerr had once held, was
himself a_skilled_diplomatist.  As_the confusion caused in the
Under-Secretary's mind at his first_question had shown how unlikely it
was_that he would_get_a_clear statement of the_truth, he proceeded to
work for the_information he wanted, and to work_in a cautious and
indirect manner.  Chisholm,_recollecting the confidential document which
had passed_through his hands some time_before, and_which had aroused his
suspicions, said:

"I_think I know_the combination_to which you_refer.  Something regarding
it leaked out_to one of_the newspapers a few weeks ago,_and_a question
was asked_in_the_House."

Cator laughed.

"Yes,"_he said, "a_question_to which_you_gave a very neat, but
altogether unintelligible_reply--eh?_ They were waiting that reply of
yours_in the French Ministry_of_Foreign Affairs with a_good deal of
anxiety, I can_tell you.  It was telephoned_to Paris_before you_had
delivered it."

"Ah! copied from one of the sheets of replies given_out to the Press
Gallery, I expect,"_observed the Under-Secretary. _"But I_had_no idea
that our_friends_across the_Channel were so watchful of my utterances."

"Oh,_aren't they?_ They are watchful of your_movements, too," replied
the Secret_Agent_of Her Majesty's Foreign Office. _"Recollect, Mr.
Chisholm, you as Parliamentary Under-Secretary_are in the confidence of
the_Government,_and_frequently possess documents and information_which
to our enemies would be priceless._ If I_may be permitted to say so, you
should_be_constantly on the alert against any_of_your papers falling
into undesirable hands."

"But surely_none_have?"_ Dudley gasped in alarm.

"None_have, to my knowledge," his visitor