ck down the despoiler of
their cars. Walters had rendered the lives of the domestic staff
intolerable by insisting upon search for the missing key being made
in the most unlikely and inaccessible places, although in his own
mind he was convinced that it had been stolen by the errant Japanese.

In the library sat the three Ministers, for the most part gazing
either at one another or at nothing in particular. They were waiting
for something to happen: none knew quite what.

Dinner passed, a dreary meal; the ladies withdrew to the
drawing-room; but still the heavy atmosphere of foreboding remained.
It was nearly half-past nine when Walters entered and murmured
something in Sir Lyster's ear.

An eager light sprang into Mr. Llewellyn John's eyes as the First
Lord rose, made his apologies, and left the room. It was only by the
exercise of great self-control that the Prime Minister refrained
from jumping up and bolting after him.

Two minutes later Walters again entered the dining-room, with a
request that Mr. Llewellyn John and Lord Beamdale would join Sir
Lyster in the library.

As Walters threw open the library-door, they found Malcolm Sage
seated at the table, his fingers spread out before him, whilst Sir
Lyster stood by the fireplace.

"Ask Miss Blair if she will come here to take down an important
letter, Walters," said Sir Lyster.

"Well?" cried Mr. Llewellyn John, as soon as Walters had closed the
door behind him. "Have you got it?"

"The document is now in a strong-room at the General Post Office,"
said Malcolm Sage without looking up. "I thought it would be safer
there."

"Thank God!" cried Mr. Llewellyn John, collapsing into a chair.

Malcolm Sage glanced across at him and half rose.

"I'm all right, Sage," said Mr. Llewellyn John; "but coming after
this awful day of anxiety, the news was almost too much for me."

"Who took it from the safe then?" enquired Sir Lyster. "I----" he
stopped short as the door opened, and Miss Blair entered, notebook
in hand, looking very dainty in a simple grey frock, relieved By a
bunch of clove carnations at the waist. Closing the door behind her,
she hesitated for a moment, a smile upon her moist, slightly-parted
lips.

"I'm sorry to disturb you, Miss Blair," began Sir Lyster, "but Mr.
Sage----" he paused.

"It was Miss Blair who removed the document from the safe," said
Malcolm Sage quietly, his eyes bent upon the finger-tips of his
right hand.

"Miss Blair!" cr