Page:The council of seven.djvu/77

 Saul Hartz threw up his head sharply. "Very well, see that they don't get a word out of us. That's a game for two and we're in a position to play it as well as most people."

"Judging by the temperature in Whitehall at eight o'clock this morning, Verity is inclined to think they can tell us more than we can tell them. At any rate, we are warned to go slow."

"Warned to go slow! What do you mean, Gage?"

"We are to be specially careful how we treat the news so that it may not conflict with the public interest."

"Oh, be damned to that!" The eyes of the Colossus blazed arrogantly. "We shall treat the news as we please. I wonder if they think we are going to take dictation from a pack of old women."

Mr. Gage looked rather dubious.

"By the way," said Saul Hartz, in the sharp crackling tones that were used only on great occasions, "have you spoken to New York? It's possible they know a little more than anybody at the moment."

"Oh, yes, Barrington rang them up as soon as the news came in."

"Quite right. Bright fellow that. I hope he got Manvile Lewis himself."

"Yes—Manvile Lewis. He didn't think it wise to discuss it with any one else."

"Just so. Had their end anything to tell us?"

"Only that Garland had been warned before he left