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"But why has it all cropped up again? The war's over."

A hint of alertness came into Mr. Carter's manner.

"Because it seems that the papers were not destroyed after all, and that they

might be resurrected to-day with a new and deadly significance."

Tuppence stared. Mr. Carter nodded.

"Yes, five years ago, that draft treaty was a weapon in our hands; to-day it is a

weapon against us. It was a gigantic blunder. If its terms were made public, it

would mean disaster.... It might possibly bring about another war--not with

Germany this time! That is an extreme possibility, and I do not believe in its

likelihood myself, but that document undoubtedly implicates a number of our

statesmen whom we cannot afford to have discredited in any way at the present

moment. As a party cry for Labour it would be irresistible, and a Labour

Government at this juncture would, in my opinion, be a grave disability for

British trade, but that is a mere nothing to the REAL danger."

He paused, and then said quietly:

"You may perhaps have heard or read that there is Bolshevist influence at work

behind the present Labour unrest?"

Tuppence nodded.

That is the truth. Bolshevist gold is pouring into this country for the specific

purpose of procuring a Revolution. And there is a certain man, a man whose real

name is unknown to us, who is working in the dark for his own ends. The

Bolshevists are behind the Labour unrest--but this man is BEHIND THE

BOLSHEVISTS. Who is he? We do not know. He is always spoken of by the

unassuming title of 'Mr. Brown.' But one thing is certain, he is the master

criminal of this age. He controls a marvellous organization. Most of the Peace

propaganda during the war was originated and financed by him. His spies are

everywhere."

"A naturalized German?" asked Tommy.

On the contrary, I have every reason to believe he is an Englishman. He was pro-

German, as he would have been pro-Boer. What he seeks to attain we do not

know--probably supreme power for himself, of a kind unique in history. We have

The Secret Adversary