He was fortunate in finding the Ambassador at home, and had ten minutes interview with that gentleman, which opened the latter’s eyes considerably. It left him also feeling a trifle resentful that his country should entrust a task to him which brought an unwelcome visit from a stern, grey-eyed Englishman who, though exceedingly polite, spoke caustically and to the point. On returning to his office, Sir Leonard found Brien waiting for him, eager to know how he had fared. He related the events of the afternoon to his deputy, afterwards, at the latter’s request, giving him an account of his adventures of the previous night on the Isle of Sheppey. Brien listened entranced, occasionally giving vent to an exclamation of amazement or horror, but not otherwise interrupting. ‘Good Gad!’ he cried at the end, ‘what a fiend this bloke Ictinos appears to be. Seems to me, Leonard my boy, he’s somewhat the same jat as our old friends Levinsky and Dorin.’ Wallace smiled reminiscently.
