It did so now. When Helen returned to the room which the other diners had already forsaken, she found him calm. Her ten minutes’ absence had wrought in him a palpable change for the better. “Some pow-wow with the U. P.” Her laugh was light, but it could not quite conceal a powerful undercurrent of annoyance. “Mr. Fuller himself! Up till now, one has always had a high respect for his intelligence, but really he can be crass!” “To order--no doubt.” “No,” she said quickly, “believe me, there is not the slightest reason to think that.” He was forced to admire a loyalty that would admit no breath of innuendo. “I am convinced it is no more than the red tape of the high official. The truth is, of course, they are all terribly afraid of the Chief.” “That’s easily understandable.” “Most unluckily in this case, they simply decline to act without his explicit orders.” “What! They take it upon themselves to publish a speech that has never been made. And they know, of course, that I have to speak to-morrow at Hellington.” “Yes, I told them all that. But the rule of the office forbids their canceling a special wire--unless they have Mr. Hartz’s own authority to do so.” “Quite!” The voice of Endor grew grim. “And they don’t need to be told that it may be absolutely impossible to get that authority by eleven o’clock.” “Of course. I made a strong point of that. Finally, I got Mr. Fuller’s promise to keep your speech off the machines until a quarter to twelve. That is the very latest moment he can allow. But at least it gives us a little more time in which to do something.” “Pray, what can one do?” “We must get through at once to the Chief himself.” “To Hartz?” “Yes, to the mountain! Miss Mahomet is now going to ring up Carlton House Terrace.” Before Endor could interpose any real effort to hold her back, she was off again to the telephone. The Club brandy continued to soothe his fretted nerves, but the calmer he grew, the higher his conviction mounted that the plot was deep laid, and that one woman, of no matter what will or what capacity, would not be allowed to undo it. All the same, it would be instructive to see how the game was played. The predestined victim could take at least a morbid zest in observing the workings of “the machine.” It had hardly started to move as yet, but all too soon his head would be in the basket. Helen was back this time in three minutes. She looked decidedly crestfallen. “Such bad luck! Of course, one guessed he’d be dining out. But they don’t know where. At one of his clubs, they think, and he may have gone on to the opera. Still, they can’t say. They only know that he may return at any time from now on until after midnight.” Endor smiled rather sadly. “Never mind. Let us accept the omen. There can be no contending with Destiny.”