er she said, "You must have been very wicked, lovie,
or you'd never have had such a daughter to plague you. I'm your
cross;" but Mrs. West merely smiled.

CHAPTER IX

DEPARTMENT Z. AT WORK

"Naylor isn't satisfied then." Colonel Walton glanced across at
Malcolm Sage, who was gazing appreciatively at his long, lender fingers.

"He's the shyest bird I've ever come across," said Sage without looking
up. "He gave Finlay a rare wigging for that call. Now he's having him
watched."

"I expected that," said Colonel Walton, engrossed in cutting the end of
a cigar.

"I think it's jealousy," continued Sage. "He's afraid of the special
agent getting all the kudos--and the plunder," he added. "It was a
happy chance getting that Bergen chap."

"I'm rather concerned about Finlay," said Colonel Walton.

"Good man, Finlay." There was a note of admiration in Sage's voice.
"He's quite cut adrift from us. He's nothing if not thorough. I can't
get in touch with him."

"Of course he knows?"

"That he's being watched? Yes."

"Who's looking after him?"

"Hoyle." Sage drew his pipe from his pocket and proceeded to charge it
from a chamois-leather tobacco-pouch. "I've had to call Thompson off,
I think they linked him up with us."

"That's a pity," said Colonel Walton, gazing at the end of his cigar.
"He's a better man than Hoyle."

"It's that little chap they've got," continued Sage, "lives at
Wimbledon, retired commercial-traveller, clever devil." Malcolm Sage
never grudged praise to an opponent.

"How about John Dene?"

"He's not taking any risks," said Sage, as he applied a match to his
pipe. "But they'll never let him go north."

"Then we must prevent him."

"Perhaps you'd like to take on that little job, chief." There was a
momentary suspicion of a twinkle in Sage's eye before a volume of
tobacco smoke blotted it out.

"I'm afraid it'll force our hand," said Colonel Walton.

"That burglary business complicated things," said Sage, as he sucked in
his lips, with him a sign of annoyance. "It was a mistake to keep it
dark."

"That was Sir Lyster."

"It made Naylor suspicious."

"Has Finlay seen him since?" enquired Colonel Walton.

"Naylor must have given him the secret-code. They've met several
times; but I believe Naylor is determined to act on his own. He's a
weird creature. I wish I could get in touch with Finlay, however."

"Why not try the taxi?"

"I've had Rogers following him