The Incident at Fives Castle (An Angela Marchmont Mystery #5) by Clara Benson Read Free Book Online Page A

All I can tell you is that he has been conducting experiments on certain chemical substances with the aim of breaking them down into their constituent atoms. I believe he has been attempting to make these atoms react to each other in such a way as to create energy. Beyond that, however, I’m as much in the dark as you.’
    Gabe Bradley now addressed the Foreign Secretary: ‘If this weapon is as powerful as Professor Klausen seems to think, then I guess the United States and Great Britain won’t be the only countries to be interested in it, is that right, sir?’
    ‘Yes,’ said Buchanan. ‘We already know of two or three other countries that are working on the same thing. According to our intelligence sources, one country in particular—I think we can all guess which one—has come close to a solution. It’s vital that we get there before them—all the more so, as we know that until recently someone here was informing them of our progress.’
    ‘Ah, yes,’ said Aubrey Nash. ‘The famous Whitehall spy scandal that blew up so spectacularly last year.’
    ‘And cost Ogilvy both his ministry and his seat in Parliament,’ agreed Buchanan. ‘His constituents would never forgive him for his part in allowing a spy to operate so close to the heart of the Government, practically in full view of everybody. He pleaded incompetence, of course, but there were mutterings at the time that he must have been involved himself, which is nonsense, although I must say he didn’t exactly cover himself with glory. His wife was very ill at the time, however, so that must be his excuse for not paying attention to what was happening right there under his very nose.’
    ‘They caught the fellow, though,’ said Claude.
    ‘Yes, but not before he’d passed on who knows what highly confidential information to his superiors,’ said Buchanan. ‘It was all extremely embarrassing for the Government and quite frankly it’s a wonder we survived the scandal.’
    ‘Are you quite sure the whole thing was cleared up?’ said Aubrey Nash. ‘I seem to recall there was some suggestion that this spy, whatever his name was, was not working alone.’
    ‘We’re as sure as we can be, which is not very,’ said Henry Jameson frankly. ‘Golovin was clever—he knew his job all right, but he swore he was a lone agent.’
    ‘And you think he may have passed on news of Klausen’s work?’ said Nash.
    ‘It’s possible,’ said Jameson, ‘although he can’t have passed on anything of great importance in that respect, since even we don’t know very much about it. Klausen didn’t want to reveal all until he was quite sure of his facts.’
    ‘And now he is?’
    ‘So he says,’ said Jameson. ‘He told us only last week that he’d finally confirmed his theories. He was terribly excited about it and wanted to share the news immediately. That’s why this meeting was arranged at such late notice. I’m sorry if you had to cancel your other plans.’
    Aubrey Nash waved his hand.
    ‘Don’t worry about that,’ he said. ‘We had nothing planned that couldn’t wait. This is much more important.’
    ‘I only hope he manages to get here, then,’ said the Earl. He looked worried.
    ‘I’m sure he will,’ said Jameson. ‘Besides, he promised to telephone if there were any difficulties.’
    ‘What if he doesn’t come, though?’ said Gabe Bradley. ‘It’s a pity he didn’t let us have a copy of the documents before the meeting.’
    ‘Oh, he did,’ said Sandy Buchanan, and the other men looked at him in astonishment. Henry Jameson was sure the Foreign Secretary was enjoying the sensation he had caused.
    ‘Then why didn’t you say so?’ said Nash. ‘We might have taken a look at them in preparation.’
    Buchanan shook his head.
    ‘Klausen entrusted me with a copy on sufferance, only because I insisted that it would be better for security purposes if he did—and on condition that I show the documents to nobody before he got here.’
    ‘But