Part 16 (2/2)
”I can only guess who my predecessors were,” Nigel continued, smiling, ”but I will frankly confess that the object of my visit is to beg you to reestablish our secret service in Germany, Russia and China.”
”Nothing,” the other declared, ”would induce me to do anything of the sort.”
”Are you aware,” Nigel enquired, ”that there is a considerable foreign secret service at work in this country at the present moment?”
”I am not aware of it, and I don't believe it,” was the blunt retort.
”I have absolute proof,” Nigel insisted. ”Not only that, but two ex-secret service men whom my uncle sent out to Germany and Russia on his own account were murdered there as soon as they began to get on the track of certain things which had been kept secret. A report from one of these men got through and was stolen from my uncle's library in Belgrave Square on the day he was murdered. You will remember that I placed all these facts before you on the occasion of a previous visit.”
Mervin Brown nodded.
”Anything else?” he asked patiently.
”You know that a special envoy from China is on his way here at the present moment to meet Immelan?”
”Oscar Immelan, the German Commissioner?”
”The same,” Nigel a.s.sented.
”A most delightful fellow,” the Prime Minister declared warmly, ”and a great friend to this country.”
”I must take the liberty of disagreeing with you,” Nigel rejoined, ”because I know very well that he is our bitter enemy. Prince Shan, who is on his way from China to meet him, is the envoy of the one country outside Europe whom we might fear. We sit still and do nothing. We have no means of knowing what may be plotted against us here in London. At least a polite request might be sent to Prince Shan to ask him to pay you a visit and disclose the nature of his conference with Immelan.”
”If he cares to come, we shall be glad to see him,” Mervin Brown replied, ”but I for one shall not go out of my way to talk politics.”
”Do you know what politics are, sir?” Nigel asked, in a sudden fury.
The Prime Minister's eyes flashed for a moment. He controlled himself, however, and rang the bell.
”I have an idea that I do,” he answered. ”A few millions of my fellow countrymen believe the same thing, or I should not be here. I think that you know what my principles are, Lord Dorminster. I am here to govern this country for the benefit of the people. We don't want to govern any one else's country, we don't want to meddle in any one else's affairs.
Least of all do we want to revert to the times when your uncle was a young man, and every country in Europe was sitting with drawn sword, trusting n.o.body, fearing everybody, living in a state of nerves, with the roll of the drum always in their ears. The best preventative of war, in my opinion, is not to believe in it. Good morning, Lord Dorminster.”
It was a dismissal against which there was no appeal. Nigel followed the secretary from the room.
”You found the Chief a little bit ratty this morning, I expect, Lord Dorminster,” the latter remarked. ”We've had the French Mission here.”
”Mr. Mervin Brown has at least the virtue of knowing his own mind,”
Nigel replied dryly.
CHAPTER XIII
The automobile turned in through the great entrance gates of the South London Aeronautic Terminus and commenced a slow ascent along the broad asphalted road to what, a few years ago, had been esteemed a new wonder of the world. Maggie rose to her feet with a little exclamation of wonder.
”Do you know I have never been here at night before?” she exclaimed.
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