ers. Questions are asked in
the House, the Government becomes anxious, only Department Z. retains
its equanimity.

By the way, what did happen to John Dene of Toronto?

For list of books by the same author, see page 319.

JOHN DENE OF TORONTO

CHAPTER I

THE COMING OF JOHN DENE

"Straight along, down the steps, bear to the left and you'll find the
Admiralty on the opposite side of the way."

John Dene thanked the policeman, gave the cigar in his mouth a twist
with his tongue, and walked along Lower Regent Street towards Waterloo
Place.

At the bottom of the Duke of York's steps, he crossed the road, turned
to the left and paused. Nowhere could he see an entrance sufficiently
impressive to suggest the Admiralty. Just ahead was a dingy and
unpretentious doorway with a policeman standing outside; but that he
decided could not be the entrance to the Admiralty. As he gazed at it,
a fair-haired girl came out of the doorway and walked towards him.

"Excuse me," said John Dene, lifting his hat, "but is that the
Admiralty you've just come out of?"

There was an almost imperceptible stiffening in the girl's demeanour;
but a glance at the homely figure of John Dene, with its ill-made
clothes, reassured her.

"Yes, that is the Admiralty," she replied gravely in a voice that
caused John Dene momentarily to forget the Admiralty and all its works.

"Much obliged," he said, again lifting his hat as she walked away; but
instead of continuing on his way, John Dene stood watching the girl
until she disappeared up the Duke of York's steps. Then once more
twirling his cigar in his mouth and hunching his shoulders, he walked
towards the doorway she had indicated.

"This the Admiralty?" he enquired of the policeman.

"Yes, sir," was the reply. "Did you want to see any one?"

John Dene looked at the man in surprise.

"Why should I be here if I didn't?" he asked. "I want to see the First
Lord."

The man's manner underwent a change. "If you'll step inside, sir,
you'll see an attendant."

John Dene stepped inside and repeated his request, this time to a
frock-coated attendant.

"Have you an appointment?" enquired the man.

"No," responded John Dene indifferently.

The attendant hesitated. It was not customary for unknown callers to
demand to see the First Lord without an appointment. After a momentary
pause the man indicated a desk on which lay some printed slips.

"Will you please fill in your na