Page:The Prime Minister by Hall Caine.djvu/168

This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
144
THE PRIME MINISTER

Sir Robert.
Perfectly.

Sir Malcolm.
It now meets secretly in the apartment of Dr. Gottfried Schiller. It met there to-night, and was sitting within closed doors, in a darkened room, when your daughter's governess reached the house.

Sir Robert.
Then you suspect——

Sir Malcolm.
We suspect that it was concocting one of those criminal outrages with which the enemy nation is trying to beat and bludgeon its way through the war.

Sir Robert.
And you think this young woman—this mere girl——

Sir Malcolm.
We think she is the centre of the whole conspiracy, sir.

Sir Robert.
What evidence have you?

Sir Malcolm.
No direct and definite evidence, I admit. But sufficient to justify us in warning you. The young woman came to you in a false name and character. She has been two months here. She was sent for this morning, and has spent the evening with a group of enemy aliens whom we have good cause to regard with suspicion. The inference seems obvious, sir.