"It will be better for everybody if you will try and control yourself," he said gently, "and above all tell us the truth." As if surprised at the gentleness of his tone, she slowly raised her drawn face and looked at him in wonder. "Now listen to me," continued Malcolm Sage, drawing up a chair and seating himself beside her, "and tell me if I am wrong. Whilst you were acting as Sir Lyster's secretary you met Paul Cressit at the Admiralty, and you were attracted to him." She nodded, with a quick indrawing of her breath. "He made violent love to you and you succumbed. Later you took him into your confidence in regard to a certain matter and he promised to marry you. He put you off from time to time by various excuses. You were almost distracted at the thought of the disgrace. He persuaded you to take a wax impression of Sir Lyster's key, on the chance of it one day being useful." Again she nodded, whilst the three men listened as if hypnotised. "Finally he swore that he would marry you if you would steal this document, and he showed you a special license. Am I right?" She nodded again, and then buried her head in her arms. "I suppose," said Malcolm Sage quietly, "he did not happen to mention that he was already married?" "Married!" She started up, her eyes blazing. "It isn't true, oh! it isn't true," she cried. "I'm afraid it is," said Malcolm Sage, with feeling in his voice. With a moan of despair her head fell forward upon the table, and hard dry sobs shook her frail body. "Miss Blair," said Malcolm Sage presently, when she had somewhat regained her self-control, "my advice to you is to write out a full confession and bring it to me at my office to-morrow morning. It is your only chance: and now you must go to your room." He rose, assisted her to her feet, and led her to the door, which he closed behind her. "That I think concludes the enquiry," he said, as he walked over to the fireplace and, leaning against the mantelpiece, he began to fill his pipe. "Unless," he added, turning to Mr. Llewellyn John, "you would like to see Cressit." The Prime Minister looked across at Sir Lyster and then at Lord Beamdale. Both shook their heads. "What we should like, Sage," said Mr. Llewellyn John, "is a little information as to what has been happening." With great deliberation Malcolm Sage proceeded to light his pipe. When it was drawing to his entire satisfaction, he turned to Mr. Llewellyn John and, with the suspicion of a fluttering at the corners of his mouth, remarked: "I hope you have not been inconvenienced about the telephone." "We could get no reply from the exchange," said Sir Lyster, "and the wire to the Admiralty is out of order." "I had to disconnect you after I left this morning," said Malcolm Sage quietly. "My chauffeur swarmed up one of the standards. Incidentally he wrecked an almost new pair of breeches."