“Oh, yes, like a native.”

“I’m sure I’m right. Listen, you two. Gerry Wade was at the Foreign Office. He appeared to be the same sort of amiable idiot⁠—excuse the term, but you know what I mean⁠—as Bill Eversleigh and Ronny Devereux. A purely ornamental excrescence. But in reality he was something quite different. I think Gerry Wade was the real thing. Our secret service is supposed to be the best in the world. I think Gerry Wade was pretty high up in that service. And that explains everything! I remember saying idly that last evening at Chimneys that Gerry couldn’t be quite such an ass as he made himself out to be.”

“And if you’re right?” said Bundle, practical as ever.

“Then the thing’s bigger than we thought. This Seven Dials business isn’t merely criminal⁠—it’s international. One thing’s certain, somebody has got to be at this house-party of Lomax’s.”

Bundle made a slight grimace.