Malcolm Sage read the newspapers with obvious relish. Mr. Llewellyn John, on the other hand, frowned heavily at finding his administration attacked. The Home Secretary rang up the Deputy-Commissioner at Scotland Yard, telling him that something must be done, and the Deputy-Commissioner had replied with some heat that if the Home Secretary would step across to the Yard, he would see what actually was being done. He further intimated that the whole work of the Yard had been disorganised.
The Prime Minister sent over for Colonel Walton. "Look here, Walton," he cried as the chief of Department Z. entered the room. "This affair is getting rather out of hand, and it looks dangerous. You've seen the papers?"
Colonel Walton nodded. He was a man to whom words came with difficulty.
"Well, I don't like the look of it," continued Mr. Llewellyn John. "Sir Roger has just rung through that he's been urging Scotland Yard to greater efforts."
"They can do no harm," remarked Colonel Walton drily.
"I want Sage to go round and see the Deputy-Commissioner."
"I doubt if he'll do it," was the grim response.
"Not do it!" cried Mr. Llewellyn John, with a note of anger in his voice.
"In fact, I'm quite sure he won't."
"If you tell him that those are my instructions——" began Mr. Llewellyn John.