His Chief shrugged his shoulders.
"The military spirit is hard to kill," he said. "It is in the blood of most Frenchmen. They are not big enough to understand that the world is moving on to greater things. What did they say to you before they left?"
"Nothing much, sir. The General just asked me whether I thought you would soon be content to leave London unpoliced."
"What rubbish! Any one else for me to see this morning?"
"You promised to give Lord Dorminster ten minutes," the young man reminded him. "He is in the anteroom now."
The Prime Minister frowned.
"Dorminster," he repeated. "He is a nephew of the man who was always worrying the Government to reëstablish the secret service. I remember he came to see me the other day, declared that his uncle had been murdered, and a secret dispatch from Germany stolen. I wonder he didn't wind up with a report that the Chinese were on their way to seize Ireland!"
"It is the same man, sir."
"Well, I suppose I'd better see him and get it over," his Chief declared irritably. "If only one could make these people realize how far behind the times they are!"
Nigel was shown in, a few minutes later. Mr. Mervin Brown was gracious but terse.