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families. I am going to follow this through to the bitter end, Bill.’ His eyes glinted fiercely. ‘Do you realise that our own royal family is threatened? At the moment our knowledge is extremely vague, but think of it! God! The very thought is intolerable.’
    Brien had seldom seen him so profoundly moved. Gone for the time being was the nonchalant-seeming, unruffled man; in his place a fiery, vehement individual who made no effort to cloak his feelings. The deputy chief nodded in full agreement.
    ‘It’s going to be as desperate a venture as you have ever undertaken,’ he murmured.
    Wallace laughed, perhaps a trifle harshly.
    ‘What of it?’ he returned. ‘I’ll wipe out this association somehow. It will be a change from the usual kind of job.’
    ‘And even more dangerous, I’m afraid.’ Brien sighed. He wasthinking of Sir Leonard’s wife, the beautiful Molly Wallace, whose life was bound up with rare devotion in that of her husband to the exclusion of practically everything else. ‘Once this society knows you are on its track, you will be in hourly peril. Obviously its ramifications are pretty extensive, since it has agents in nearly every capital of Europe – I suppose there is no doubt that the names in the book we found are those of agents.’
    ‘The society will not know I am on its track, if I can help it. If it finds out, well, I’ll have to take my chance.’ He rose from his desk, and began to pace the room. ‘Do you realise that of all reigning families ours has always been the most secure and free from threats of assassination until now? To think that a band of miserable, fanatic devils hidden away in some hole in Europe, should dare to plot against them! Heavens! If Providence is kind, and I get in touch with the leaders, I’ll more than earn the title of ruthless which some people have bestowed on me.’
    Brien watched him in silence for a few moments.
    ‘We don’t really know that there is a plot against our royalty,’ he observed presently.
    ‘Isn’t that letter enough to convince you? The man Dimitrinhov, whoever he may be, speaks of the first real blow to be struck against the royal families of the world. And even if Great Britain was not included in the scheme, are we to stand by while attempts are being made to exterminate royalty in other countries?’
    ‘How about passing on the information concerning the secret hiding place in Constantinople to the Turkish government and putting them in possession of the facts?’
    Sir Leonard came to a halt and faced his friend.
    ‘Great Scott, man!’ he cried. ‘What facts have we that we can pass on? Do you think any government would act on themeanderings of a terror-stricken man? And what else have we to offer? A book with a list of names and addresses in it that may mean anything; a letter written in German from one fanatic to another, which would probably be passed over with a polite shrug of the shoulders; two names, Modjeska and Dimitrinhov, of men, against whom we have not an item of proof, who might be in any part of Europe. Can’t you see the Turkish government administering a well-deserved snub? No, Bill, nothing can be done in the way you suggest. I am going to investigate this affair myself. When I have my proof, then I can demand action.’
    ‘How will you set about it?’
    ‘First I shall go to Vienna and find out all I can from Beust. The information concerning the attempt to be made on King Peter came from him, remember. It was in Vienna that the gang of international anarchists held the meetings which resulted in Pestalozzi, Zanazaryk and Haeckel coming to England. Although Constantinople may contain their hiding place, their headquarters may actually be in Vienna. However, whether I afterwards go on to Constantinople depends a lot upon what I learn from Beust.’
    ‘Do you intend to go alone?’
    ‘I haven’t made any plans yet. Probably not. I’m afraid it is going to be too big a job to tackle without an