"Then I'll spend the time writing the History of Department Z., sir," was the quiet reply. The two men went out, and Mr. Llewellyn John rang for his secretary. "You have rather----" began Colonel Walton, but he stopped short. Sage suddenly knocked him roughly with his elbow. "I have never seen the Mons Star," he said. "Can we go round by Whitehall? The Horse Guards sentries, I believe, wear it." The two men had reached the top of the steps leading down into St. James's Park. Without a moment's pause Sage turned quickly, and nearly cannoned into a pretty and stylishly dressed girl, who was walking close behind them. He lifted his hat and apologised, and he and Colonel Walton passed up Downing Street into Whitehall. For the rest of the walk back to St. James's Square, Sage chatted about medals. Seated once more one on either side of Colonel Walton's table, Sage proceeded to light his pipe. "Clever, wasn't it?" he asked. "She's fairly new, too." "Who was she?" "Vera Ellerton, employed as a Temporary Ministry typist," Sage replied drily. "So that was it," remarked Colonel Walton, cutting the end of a cigar with great deliberation. "She was following us on the chance of catching any odd remarks that might be useful. On the way back here two others picked us up on the relay system." "Do you think she knew who we were?" enquired Colonel Walton. "No, just an off chance. We were callers on the Skipper, and might let something drop. It's a regular thing, picking up the callers, generally when they've got some distance away though." "They must have learned quite a deal about numismatics," said Colonel Walton drily. "A constitutional government is a great obstacle to an efficient Secret Service, it imposes limitations," remarked Sage regretfully. Colonel Walton looked across in the act of lighting his cigar. "There are six hundred and seventy of them at Westminster. In war-time we require a system of the _lettre-de-cachet_. And now," said Sage, rising, "I think I'll get a couple of hours' sleep, I've been pretty busy. By the way," he said, with his hand upon the door-handle, "I think we might get the papers of that fellow on the Bergen boat, also a photograph, clothing, and full details of his appearance." Colonel Walton nodded and Malcolm Sage took his departure. II "It's curious." Malcolm Sage was seated at his table carefully studying several sheets of buff-coloured paper fastened together in the top left-hand corner with thin green cord. In a tray beside him lay a number of similar documents. He glanced across at a small man with a dark moustache and determined chin sitting opposite. The man made a movement as if to speak, then apparently thinking better of it, remained silent. "How many false calls did you say?" enquired Sage. "Nine in five days, sir," was the response. Malcolm Sage nodded his head several times, his eyes still fixed on the papers before him.