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of the man before him harder than ever.
    ‘What the devil are you talking about?’ he demanded. ‘The latest I have been at the War Office for three or four months is seven in the evening. I was certainly not there late at night ten days ago.’
    ‘Ah!’ A little sigh escaped from Cousins. ‘You are quite certain of that?’
    ‘Of course I’m certain. Who told you I went there late at night ten days ago?’
    ‘The head watchman, sir.’
    ‘He’s a fool – must have been drunk.’
    ‘He seemed very certain. In fact he told me that your going there was such an unusual event that it caused a certain amount of comment.’
    ‘What is behind all this?’ The General frowned portentously. ‘The night staff must be mad, if they think they saw me there after seven. What time did this very – er – unusual event take place?’
    Cousins smiled slightly at the sarcastic intonation.
    ‘As far as I could gather,’ he replied, ‘you were seen to arrive just after ten, and left about quarter past eleven. All that time you were shut up in your room with the officer who accompanied you.’
    ‘Rubbish!’ The Chief of Staff turned away, but almost immediately swung round to face Cousins again. ‘What is this leading up to?’ he snapped. ‘Am I to understand that I am suspected of copying and selling those plans?’
    ‘Hardly.’ This time the little Secret Service man smiled so broadly, and the wrinkles on his face became such a mass of cheery-looking creases, that in spite of his evident annoyance the General smiled also. ‘It would be almost a crime to suspect you of such an offence, sir.’
    ‘You’re wasting your time listening to such cock-and-bull stories. I—’
    ‘I don’t think I’ve wasted my time at all. In fact,’ went on the little man, ‘I believe I have discovered how the copies were obtained.’
    ‘How?’ he queried eagerly.
    ‘I’ll tell you when I have had a chat with the Air-Marshal,’ returned Cousins. ‘May I use your phone? It will save my going all the way to Teddington where he lives.’
    ‘You needn’t bother,’ was the reply. ‘He is due to dine here tonight. If you like to wait, you’ll be able to speak to him personally.’
    ‘That,’ declared Cousins, ‘is what I might describe as a bit of luck. As Virgil has it: “ Audentes fortuna juvat. ” I’ll wait.’
    Attempts to draw him failed, rather to the General’s chagrin, He was presently conducted to the morning room, and supplied with refreshment, while his host completed his dressing. It was not very long before the Air-Marshal arrived. The General drew him apart from the other guests, and explained who was waiting to see him. Together they entered the morning room. The Air-Marshal, who, as a slim, alert flying wonder, had performed great deeds during the war, had grown, under the weight of authority, somewhat pompous and fussy, as well as stout. Cousins noted that he was about the same height as the General, though he appeared shorter, owing to a slight stoop.
    ‘I understand you want to see me,’ he observed, after introductions had been effected. ‘In connection with the alleged offer of copies of the plans of the Masterson monoplane to foreign countries, I presume?’
    Cousins nodded.
    ‘That is so, sir,’ he responded. ‘May I ask, though, why you speak of the alleged offer? Don’t you think it is genuine?’
    ‘No; I don’t,’ returned the Air-Marshal bluntly. ‘The plans inquestion are in a particularly strong safe to which only the Air Vice-Marshal and myself have access. It is utterly impossible for anyone else to obtain them, and make copies of them, without our knowledge.’
    ‘About ten days ago,’ declared the little man quietly, ‘you and a group-captain of your staff arrived at the Air Ministry about midnight, and spent nearly two hours closeted in your room. Would you mind telling me why you were there?’
    General Warrington appeared startled. He had been asked a similar sort of