Chapter 29 - PRIORITY OF CLAIM

A gentleman-a Permanent Under-secretary-stood one noon, his back to a fireplace in a bright-carpeted room at the Foreign Office, letting his eyes move over some opened letters submitted to him, and presently came upon the following document, its crest a flag, containing in blue the letters "R. F.":

"17 LEADENHALL STR., E.G.

"To the Most Hon.,