Page:The council of seven.djvu/37

 her undaunted. They turned down the street to Universe Lane, on the off-chance that the Mercury might be able to throw light on the whereabouts of the great man. This the Mercury could not do; nor was the Office itself in the adjacent Cosmos Alley able to provide a clue to the movements of the august controller of the U. P.

"We'll now draw his clubs," said Helen, undefeatedly. "He may be at the Game in Piccadilly playing bridge. Or he may be in Pall Mall smoking a quiet cigar at the Imperium."

Both, alas! were drawn blank. The Colossus was not nor had been that evening at either. "Dead out of luck, aren't we?" said Helen. "It's very vexing."

One other course only occurred to her now. That was to go on to Carlton House Terrace, and if Mr. Hartz had not returned home to await his arrival. They went there accordingly only to learn that he had not yet come in; moreover, so uncertain, as a rule, were his nocturnal movements that the butler did not care to commit himself as to the hour his master was likely to do so. "May be here any moment, miss, or he may even not be here at" The butler's discretion did not allow him to complete his sentence.

"Well, I'll wait for him," said Helen, with an air of quiet decision, "for an hour, at any rate." She glanced at a watch on her wrist. "Nearly eleven already."

She went down the steps to the taxi and John Endor.