"Warrants have been issued for van Heerden and Milsom and the girl Glaum," he said. "I expect we shall find the nest empty, but I have sent men to all the railway stations--do you think we've moved too late?" "Everything depends on the system that van Heerden has adopted," replied Beale, "he is the sort of man who would keep everything in his own hands. If he has done that, and we catch him, we may prevent a world catastrophe." At the hotel they found Kitson waiting in the vestibule. "Well?" he asked, "I gather that you've lost van Heerden, but if the newspapers mean anything, his hand is down on the table. Everybody is crazy here," he said, as he led the way to the elevator, "I've just been speaking to the Under-Minister for Agriculture--all Europe is scared. Now what is the story?" he asked, when they were in his room. He listened attentively and did not interrupt until Stanford Beale had finished. "That's big enough," he said. "I owe you an apology--much as I was interested in Miss Cresswell, I realize that her fate was as nothing beside the greater issue." "What does it mean?" asked McNorton. "The Wheat Panic? God knows. It may mean bread at a guinea a pound--it is too early to judge." The door was opened unceremoniously and a man strode in. McNorton was the first to recognize the intruder and rose to his feet. "I'm sorry to interrupt you," said Lord Sevington--it was the Foreign Secretary of Great Britain himself. "Well, Beale, the fantastic story you told me seems in a fair way to being realized." "This is Mr. Kitson," introduced Stanford, and the grey-haired statesman bowed. "I sent for you, but decided I couldn't wait--so I came myself. Ah, McNorton, what are the chances of catching van Heerden?" "No man has ever escaped from this country once his identity was established," said the police chief hopefully. "If we had taken Beale's advice we should have the gentleman under lock and key," said the Foreign Minister, shaking his head. "You probably know that Mr. Beale has been in communication with the Foreign Office for some time?" he said, addressing Kitson. "I did not know," admitted the lawyer. "We thought it was one of those brilliant stories which the American newspaper reporter loves," smiled the minister. "I don't quite get the commercial end of it," said Kitson. "How does van Heerden benefit by destroying the crops of the world?" "He doesn't benefit, because the crops won't be destroyed," said the minister. "The South Russian crops are all right, the German crops are intact--but are practically all mortgaged to the German Government." "The Government?" "This morning the German Government have made two announcements. The first is the commandeering of all the standing crops, and at the same time the taking over of all options on the sale of wheat. Great granaries are being established all over Germany. The old Zeppelin sheds----"