It was Lammersfield who spoke first. "I was sorry to bother you, Frinton," he said pleasantly, "but the matter has so much to do with your department I thought you ought to be present." Sir George waved away the apology. "You were perfectly right, Lord Lammersfield--perfectly right. I should have come over in any case. It is an astounding story. I have been amazed--positively amazed--at Mr. Casement's revelations. Can it be possible there is no mistake?" "Absolutely none," answered Latimer calmly. "Our people have moved with the utmost discretion, and we have the entire evidence in our hands." He turned to Casement. "You have acquainted Sir George with the whole of this morning's events?" The quiet man nodded. "Everything," he observed, in rather fatigued voice. "I understand," said the Home Secretary, "that this man Lyndon is actually here." With a graceful gesture Lord Lammersfield indicated where I was standing. "Let me introduce you to each other," he said. "Mr. Neil Lyndon--Sir George Frinton." I bowed respectfully, and when I raised my head again I saw that the Home Secretary was contemplating me with a puzzled stare. "You--your face seems strangely familiar to me," he observed. "You evidently have a good memory, Sir George," I replied. "I had the honour and pleasure of travelling up from Exeter to London with you about a fortnight ago." A sudden light came into his face, and adjusting his spectacles he stared at me harder than ever. "God bless my soul!" he exclaimed. "Of course, I remember now." He paused. "And do you mean to tell me that you--an escaped convict--were actually aware that you were travelling with the Home Secretary?" I saw no reason for dimming the glory of the incident. "You were kind enough to give me one of your cards," I reminded him. "Why, yes, to be sure; so I did--so I did." Again he paused and gazed at me with a sort of incredulous amazement. "You must have nerves of steel, sir. Most men in such a situation would have been paralysed with terror." The idea of Sir George paralysing anybody with terror struck me as so delightful that I almost burst out laughing, but by a great effort I just managed to restrain myself. "As an escaped convict," I said, "one becomes used to rather desperate situations." Lammersfield, the corner of whose mouth was twitching suspiciously, broke into the conversation. "It was a remarkable coincidence," he said, "but you see how it confirms Casement's story if any further confirmation were needed." Sir George nodded. "Yes, yes," he said. "I suppose there can be no doubt about it. The proofs of it all seem beyond question." He turned to me. "Taking everything into consideration, Mr. Lyndon, you appear to have acted in a most creditable and patriotic manner. I understand that the moment you discovered the nature of the plot in which you were involved you placed yourself entirely at the disposal of the Secret Service. That is right, Mr. Latimer, is it not?"