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 New York last Tuesday that he would not be allowed to proceed to Australia."

"We could have told them that. By the way, I wonder if they know that in Whitehall?"

"Verity suspects so, but he's not sure."

"He's right, no doubt." Saul Hartz spoke keenly. "And that's their reason for making all this fuss. Do you suppose they are up in those other two cases?"

"Kornichef and Yamotoga?"

"Yes."

"Verity thinks they must be. He didn't ask the question but he gave Scotland Yard every opportunity to bring them into the picture. But there was nothing to be got out of it."

"No, I expect not," said the Colossus, impatiently. "However, this thing looks pretty ugly to me."

Mr. Gage agreed.

The silence which followed was rather embarrassing for the editor of the Planet. Instinctively, he knew one, at least, of the thoughts that was already in possession of the Chief's mind. For one so expert in the signs as Bennet Gage the face of the man before him was easy to read. As the Colossus sat now at his writing table with eyes shrouded, lips locked like a trap and the tips of his fingers pressed together, he seemed to exude a growing pugnacity. Scotland Yard might be tempted to take this dark thing lying down, but it was not in Saul Hartz's nature to take anything lying down.