And then a clerk came in. Lomas read the letter he brought and said: “Good Gad! You’re an offensive person, Fortune. Why did you tell me to go to the Foreign Office? Here is the Foreign Office. Now we shall be in the affair for life. The Foreign Office wants me to see His Excellency Mustapha Firouz.” “Accompanied by Sindbad the Sailor and Chu Chin Chow?” said Reggie. “Who is he?” “Oh, he’s quite real. He’s the Median Minister. He--Why what is it now?” The question was to the clerk, who had come back with a card. “Says he’s anxious to see you immediately, sir. It’s very urgent, and he won’t keep you long.” “Major Dean,” Lomas read, and lifted an eyebrow. “Oh rather. Let ’em all come,” said Reggie. It was Major Dean, and Major Dean ill at ease. He had a difficulty in beginning. He discovered Reggie. “Hallo! I say, can you tell me anything?” he blurted out. “I can’t,” said Reggie sharply. “I don’t know why your father died,” and Major Dean winced. “I thought you had something to tell us, Major,” Lomas said. “Do you believe he was murdered? I’ve a right to ask that.” “But it’s a very grave suggestion,” Lomas purred. “Do you know of anyone who had a motive for killing your father?” “It’s this filthy mystery,” the Major cried. “If he was murdered, I suppose he was poisoned. But how?” “Or why?” said Reggie. The Major fidgeted. “I dare say he knew too much,” he said. “You know he was the adviser to the Median Government. He had some pretty serious stuff through his hands. I don’t know what. He was always great on official secrecy. But I know he thought it was pretty damning for some one.” “Ah, thanks very much,” Lomas said. But the Major seemed unable to go. “I mean to say, make sure you have all his papers and stick to ’em.” Lomas and Reggie studied him. “I wonder why you say that?” Lomas asked. “The papers would naturally pass to Colonel Osbert.” “I know. Osbert was the guv’nor’s best pal, worse luck. I wouldn’t trust him round the corner. That’s what I mean. Now I’ve done it, I suppose”; he gave a grim chuckle. “It is done, anyway”; and he was in a hurry to go. Reggie stood up and stretched himself. “This is pretty thick,” said he, “and we’ve got His Excellency the Pasha of Nine Tales on the doorstep.”