He held himself deferentially, body compact, eyes clear and steady, face blank and controlled, without distinction, without significance, a man mediocre as a crowd. His hands were joined loosely behind his back; his glance, without deviating, remained persistently on the profile of the Honorable Secretary, as though in that historic room the human note alone could compel his curiosity. The thin squeak of the pen faded into the silences of the great room. The Secretary of Justice ran his fingers over his forehead, looked up, and met the Inspector's gaze--fixed, profound, and mathematical. With a sudden unease he pushed back his chair, troubled by the analysis of his banal man, who, in another turn of Fate, might pursue him as dispassionately as he now stood before him for his commands. With a few rapid strides he crossed the room, lit a cigar, blew into the swirl of smoke this caprice of his imagination, and returned stolidly, as became a man of facts and figures. Flinging himself loosely in an easy chair, he threw a rapid glance at his watch, locked his fingers, and began with the nervous directness of one who wishes to be rid of formalities: "Well, Inspector, you returned this morning?" "An hour ago, sir." "A creditable bit of work, Inspector Frawley--the department is pleased." "Thank you indeed, sir." "Does the case need you any more?" "I should say not, sir--no, sir." "You are ready to report for duty?" "Oh, yes, sir." "How soon?" "I think I'm ready now, sir--yes, sir." "Glad to hear it, Inspector, very glad. You're the one man I wanted." As though the civilities had been sufficiently observed, the Secretary stiffened in his chair and continued rapidly: "It's that Toronto affair; you've read the details. The government lost $350,000. We caught four of the gang, but the ringleader got away with the money. Have you studied it? What did you make of it? Sit down." Frawley took a chair stiffly, hanging his hat between his knees and considering. "It did look like work from the States," he said thoughtfully. "I beg pardon, did you say they'd caught some of the gang?" "Four--this morning. The telegram's just in." The Honorable Secretary, a little strange yet to the routine of the office, looked at Frawley with a sudden desire to test his memory. "Do you know the work?" he asked; "could you recognize the ringleader?" "That might not be so hard, sir," said Frawley, with a nod; "we know pretty well, of course, who's able to handle such jobs as that. Would you have a description anywhere?"