Microbes of Power (Wallace of the Secret Service Series) Read Online Free PDF Page B

those who selected you by a rank display of misconduct which merits severe punishment. I have nothing to do with selections or dismissals, but I presume that Sir James Masterson will give the necessary orders regarding your case to your direct superiors. All I wish to say is that you have rendered yourself liable to prosecution under the Official Secrets Act, and,if you are merely summarily dismissed, you can regard yourself as extremely fortunate.’
    ‘I think,’ observed the soft-hearted undersecretary, ‘that since he has made a clean breast of his – er – unprincipled curiosity, we may waive any consideration of prosecution we would otherwise have had. In losing his post as, of course, he must, without references and no hope of pension, he is perhaps being sufficiently punished.’
    Shannon, who was standing behind Wright, caught the expression on his chief’s face, and smiled slightly. Sir Leonard removed the pipe from his mouth; rose to his feet languidly.
    ‘I presume, gentlemen,’ he remarked, ‘that, as you have made up your minds regarding this fellow, there is no more to be said. I will leave him to you.’
    ‘Just a minute, Sir Leonard,’ begged the Secretary of State. ‘We should like to know, of course, if you have any objection to the procedure Sir James Masterson has suggested.’
    A fleeting smile passed quickly across Sir Leonard’s face. Abruptly he placed himself directly in front of Wright; his steel-grey eyes bored deeply into those of the night watchman, causing them to drop in confusion, or perhaps it was fear.
    ‘Do you repeat,’ he demanded, ‘that you bought and fixed up the microphone of your own accord?’
    ‘I do, sir,’ came huskily from the other, after a moment of hesitation.
    ‘You were not persuaded, bribed, coerced, or forced to take such an action?’
    ‘No, sir.’
    ‘A certain man or men did not come to you, give you the microphone, and ask you to listen in to conversations held in this room?’
    ‘N-no, sir.’
    ‘You are quite certain that your memory is not misleading you? You did not have a conversation yesterday or the day before with a foreigner who persuaded you into doing this thing? You did not take advantage of the fact that yesterday was Sunday to install the microphone?’
    The Secretary of State, Sir James Masterson, and Captain Shannon listened to the battery of questions with great interest. The first two noticed that Wright’s face had gone a sickly white. The watchman was visibly agitated; he looked a very much frightened man.
    ‘I tell you,’ he persisted, but in a voice that could hardly be heard, ‘that I bought the microphone myself, and only put it in because I was inquisitive like, and wanted to hear what was being talked about.’
    ‘Where did you purchase the microphone?’
    ‘In – in a shop in – in Lambeth.’
    Sir Leonard looked him up and down, an expression of the greatest contempt on his face. ‘You’re a liar!’ came in scornful, biting words from his lips. He turned to Sir Edwin Spencer. ‘I might have been disposed to believe his story,’ he added. ‘I say “might”, because it is unlikely, but, as it happens, I do not believe a word of it. The headphones he was using on the roof are stamped with the name of a firm in Athens. They came from Greece!’

CHAPTER THREE
    The Tale of a Microphone
    Sir Leonard’s announcement was received in varying ways by the men in the room. The colonial secretary’s face became harsh and full of contempt as he gazed at the culprit, Masterson appeared shocked, Shannon showed no particular emotion, but edged closer to Wright as though anticipating that the fellow might make a sudden break for freedom. He did nothing of the sort, however; seemed utterly crushed. Wallace eyed his drooping form for some seconds in silence. Then at last he spoke again.
    ‘Do you still hold to the same story?’ he asked. There was no answer. ‘A few minutes ago,’ went on the Chief of the