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； 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 could send over to France to…morrow and how many we could get through in three months' time。 They know the private views of every one of the Cabinet Ministers。 They knew in Berlin yesterday what took place at the Cabinet Council the day before。 You must realise yourself that some of this is true。 How does the information get through？〃
〃There are spies； of course；〃 the Chief admitted。
〃The ordinary spy could make no such reports as the Germans are getting hour by hour。 If I am to make a success of my job； I want the letters of Sir Alfred Anselman。〃
The Chief considered for several moments。 Then he wrote a few lines on a sheet of paper。
〃There'll be the perfect devil to pay；〃 he said simply。 〃We shall have Cabinet Ministers running about the place like black beetles。 What's the matter with your head？〃
〃I was shot at in the Park；〃 Thomson explained。 〃A man had a flying go at me from a motor…car。〃
〃Was he caught？〃
Thomson shook his head。
〃I didn't try；〃 he replied。 〃I want him at liberty。 His time will come when I break up this conspiracy； if I do it at all。〃
The Chief looked a little aggrieved。
〃No one's even let off a pop…gun at me；〃 he grumbled。 〃They must think you're the more dangerous of the two； Thomson。 You'd better do what you can with that order as soon as possible。 No telling how soon I may have to rescind it。〃
Thomson took the hint and departed。 He walked quickly back to his room； thrust the order he had received into an envelope； and sent it round to the Censor's Department。
CHAPTER XXVII
Mr。 Gordon Jones； who had moved his chair a little closer to his host's side； looked reflectively around the dining…room as he sipped his port。 The butler remained on sufferance because of his grey hairs； but the footmen； who had been rather a feature of the Anselman establishment； had departed； and their places had been filled by half a dozen of the smartest of parlourmaids； one or two of whom were still in evidence。
〃Yours is certainly one of the most patriotic households； Sir Alfred； which I have entered；〃 he declared。 〃Tell me again； how many servants have you sent to the war？〃
Sir Alfred smiled with the air of one a little proud of his record。
〃Four footmen and two chauffeurs from here； eleven gardeners and three indoor servants from the country；〃 he replied。 〃That is to say nothing about the farms； where I have left matters in the hands of my agents。 I am paying the full wages to every one of them。〃
〃And thank heavens you'll still have to pay us a little super…tax；〃 the Cabinet Minister remarked； smiling。
Sir Alfred found nothing to dismay him in the prospect。
〃You shall have every penny of it； my friend；〃 he promised。 〃I have taken a quart of a million of your war loan and I shall take the sam amount of your next one。 I spend all my time upon your committees； my own affairs scarcely interest me； and yet I thought to…day； when my car was stopped to let a company of the London Regiment march down to Charing…Cross； that there wasn't one of those khaki…clad young men who wasn't offering more than I。〃
The Bishop leaned forward from his place。
〃Those are noteworthy words of yours； Sir Alfred；〃 he said。 〃There is nothing in the whole world so utterly ineffective as our own passionate gratitude must seem to ourselves when we think of all those young fellowsnot soldiers； you know； but young men of peace； fond of their pleasures； their games； their sweethearts； their workthrowing it all on one side； passing into another life； passing into the valley of shadows。 I； too； have seen those young men； Sir Alfred。〃
The conversation became general。 The host of this little dinner…party leaned back in his place for a moment； engrossed in thought。 It was a very distinguished； if not a large company。 There were three Cabinet Ministers； a high official in the War Office； a bishop； a soldier of royal blood back for a few days from the Front； and his own nephewGranet。 He sat and looked round at them and a queer little smile played upon his lips。 If only the truth were known； the world had never seen a stranger gathering。 It was a company which the King himself might have been proud to gather around him； serious； representative EnglishmenEnglishmen； too； of great position。 There was not one of them who had not readily accepted his invitation； there was not one of them who was not proud to sit at his table； there was not one of them who did not look upon him as one of the props of the Empire。
There was a little rustle as one of the new parlourmaids walked smoothly to his side and presented a silver salver。 He took the single letter from her； glanced at it for a moment carelessly and then felt as though the fingers which held it had been pierced by red…hot wires。 The brilliant little company seemed suddenly to dissolve before his eyes。 He saw nothing but the marking upon that letter； growing larger and larger as he gazed； the veritable writing of fate pressed upon the envelope by a rubber stampby the hand； perchance； of a clerk〃Opened by Censor。〃
There was a momentary singing in his ears。 He looked at his glass； found it full； raised it to his lips and drained it。 The ghastly moment of suspended animation passed。 He felt no longer that he was in a room from which all the air had been drawn。 He was himself again but the letter was there。 Mr。 Gordon Jones； who had been talking to the bishop； leaned towards him and pointed to the envelope。
〃Is that yours； Sir Alfred？〃 he asked。
Sir Alfred nodded。
〃Becoming a little more stringent； I see；〃 he observed； holding it up。
〃I thought I recognised the mark；〃 the other replied。 〃A most outrageous mistake！ I am very glad that it came under my notice。 You are absolutely free from the censor； Sir Alfred。〃
〃I thought so myself；〃 Sir Alfred remarked。 〃However； I suppose an occasional mistake can scarcely be wondered at。 Don't worry them about it； please。 My Dutch letters are simply records of the balances at my different banks； mere financial details。〃
〃All the