4. THERE WERE two men aboard the elevator when the door opened. They were in long coats and striped trousers, dignified-looking gentlemen. Max stopped Blossom and Fang as they started to board the car. “Just a minute,” he said. “Let me interrogate these passengers first. I don’t intend to step into a nest of FLAG agents.” To the gray-haired, older of the two men, he said, “Name, rank and serial number, please. And I want the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Remember—it’s a sin to tell a lie!” The older gentleman looked him up and down stonily. “I’m Lord Alcorn—if that’s your question, sir,” he said. “Now, will you please either step inside or get your foot out of the door?” “Lord Alcorn, eh? Answer me this: Where were you at seven-thirty P.M. during the summer of ’61?” “London—if you must know.” “A-ha!
