Page:The council of seven.djvu/74

 *den roar that almost shook Cosmos Alley to its foundations. "My compliments to dear old Dalling. He's quite on his top notch this morning. A full four-ounce packet of desiccated Pecksniff. Enough to turn the stomach of a horse!"

"Is today's meeting at Hellington to be reported?"

"If he is able to hold it, no," was the prompt answer. "If he is not able to hold it, yes."

"And the book? Are we to review it?"

"No. By the way, who are the publishers?"

"Burberry and Walker."

"Refuse all their advertisements until further notice. Who is publishing it in New York?"

"Ireson."

"When?"

"The tenth of next month."

"They had better be stopped. I suppose they can be."

"Oh, yes," Mr. Gage's nod was conclusive. "Ireson is on the red list, fortunately."

"What an egotistical ass this fellow Endor must be." The voice of Saul Hartz had declined suddenly to a whisper. "However, this young man is not the first dweller in fairyland who has committed hari-kari."

With a stealthy smile Mr. Gage agreed.

"So much for that—for the moment," said the Chief, with a little purr of satisfaction. "Now, for more important things. What are we featuring to-night?"

"The attack on the British Consul at Peking."