in my room if you'd care to see it?"

Mr. Jacks listened to his companion's words with unchanged face.

"If it isn't troubling you," he said, "it would be of some
interest to me."

Mr. Coulson rose to his feet.

"You sit right here," he declared. "I'll be back in less than
five minutes."

Mr. Coulson was as good as his word. In less than the time
mentioned he was seated again by his companion's side with a
square sheet of foolscap spread out upon the round table. The
Inspector ran it through hurriedly. The paper was stamped
American Embassy,' and it was the digest of several opinions as
to the effect of the new patent law upon the import of articles
manufactured under processes controlled by the Coulson & Bruce
syndicate. At the end there were a few lines in the Ambassador's
own handwriting, summing up the situation. Mr. Coulson produced
another packet of letters and documents.

"If you've an hour or so to spare, Mr. Jacks," he said, "I'd like
to go right into this with you, if it would interest you any.
It's my business over here, so naturally I am glad enough of an
opportunity to talk it over."

Mr. Jacks passed back the paper promptly.