but he could not very well ask for details so irrelevant to his present purpose. He made a mental note to investigate the matter at lunch-time. Why had no one told him there was this connection between the two? Was it wise to have them on the job in hand together?
Suppressing the minor worry, Masterson put his elbows on his desk and his finger-tips together and said to Colin, âSince I saw you yesterday and made those arrangements for you to meet Mr. Scziliekowicz, M.I.5 tell me his society has reason to believe Sudenic is working for Sweden.ââ
âThe Baltic Trading Company, sir. Swedish exporters, London office off Kingsway. He landed the job for himself, as I think I told you yesterday.ââ
âYes, yes, you told me yesterday. So did Scziliekowicz. When I said working for Sweden naturally I meant spying for Sweden.ââ
âI see, sir. Mr. Scziliekowicz knows this, does he?ââ
âHe has reason to suspect it.ââ
âWeâve been pretty sure of it for a long time,ââ said Carfax quietly.
This was too much for Colin.
âDamn you, John, you might have told me!ââ he burst out and immediately apologized.
âPerhaps you were not aware that Carfax is in M.I.5?ââ suggested Masterson with malice.
âI did know, sir. It was he I first contacted from Higlett when Sudenic came ashore there to my â to my house.ââ
âWas it indeed?ââ
Masterson looked from one to the other but could make nothing of their closed faces.
âBe that as it may,ââ he said, using a favourite phrase that always allowed him to skid past a difficulty, âwe shall expect to find that the free Poles are losing interest in the improbable Mr. Sudenic. I understand their initial concern wasâââ
He seemed uncertain how to go on and turning, appealed to Carfax.
âYou explain it,ââ he said. âSecurity is not my favourite subject.ââ
âItâs like this,ââ Carfax said, coming round at last to Colinâs side of the desk between them. âWhen Sudenic landed there were two main possibilities: ( a ) he might be a genuine refugee, ( b ) he might be a plant. As he is a Pole one would expect if ( a ) is right that he would contact free Polish organizations here. If ( b ) that he would use his connection with your family, Colin, to get himself into a position to begin spying for his masters, the Russians. The point is that he seems to have done neither. He has led a blameless, but extremely active life, first teaching languages and then using them in this Swedish firm. He has changed his address several times, but quite in keeping with his growing prosperity.ââ
âMy brother-in-law lent him some money at the start,ââ Colin said.
Masterson intervened.
âBut you did not?ââ
âI saw no necessity,ââ Colin answered, stiffly. âIâd never met him before. It was the Langs, my wifeâs family, who knew him before the war.ââ
âQuite,ââ said Carfax, quickly. âThe point is, Colin, Scziliekowicz wanted to find out from us how he really stood with your family. Now they think heâs possibly acting for the Swedes â though how he does it they havenât a clue and no more have I. They may feel youâll resent their inquiry. We thought you ought to know that we are keeping an eye on the chap, but he isnât really our headache. I imagine his chief headache is his own.ââ
âI donât know what you mean by that,ââ Colin said. After a pause he added, âThe papers were full of him for a few days after he landed. Didnât the Russian Embassy make any sort of protest? They usually mention provocation or enticement on these occasions.ââ
Carfax laughed. Masterson said, âNothing more than the usual formal request to speak to him.
Suppressing the minor worry, Masterson put his elbows on his desk and his finger-tips together and said to Colin, âSince I saw you yesterday and made those arrangements for you to meet Mr. Scziliekowicz, M.I.5 tell me his society has reason to believe Sudenic is working for Sweden.ââ
âThe Baltic Trading Company, sir. Swedish exporters, London office off Kingsway. He landed the job for himself, as I think I told you yesterday.ââ
âYes, yes, you told me yesterday. So did Scziliekowicz. When I said working for Sweden naturally I meant spying for Sweden.ââ
âI see, sir. Mr. Scziliekowicz knows this, does he?ââ
âHe has reason to suspect it.ââ
âWeâve been pretty sure of it for a long time,ââ said Carfax quietly.
This was too much for Colin.
âDamn you, John, you might have told me!ââ he burst out and immediately apologized.
âPerhaps you were not aware that Carfax is in M.I.5?ââ suggested Masterson with malice.
âI did know, sir. It was he I first contacted from Higlett when Sudenic came ashore there to my â to my house.ââ
âWas it indeed?ââ
Masterson looked from one to the other but could make nothing of their closed faces.
âBe that as it may,ââ he said, using a favourite phrase that always allowed him to skid past a difficulty, âwe shall expect to find that the free Poles are losing interest in the improbable Mr. Sudenic. I understand their initial concern wasâââ
He seemed uncertain how to go on and turning, appealed to Carfax.
âYou explain it,ââ he said. âSecurity is not my favourite subject.ââ
âItâs like this,ââ Carfax said, coming round at last to Colinâs side of the desk between them. âWhen Sudenic landed there were two main possibilities: ( a ) he might be a genuine refugee, ( b ) he might be a plant. As he is a Pole one would expect if ( a ) is right that he would contact free Polish organizations here. If ( b ) that he would use his connection with your family, Colin, to get himself into a position to begin spying for his masters, the Russians. The point is that he seems to have done neither. He has led a blameless, but extremely active life, first teaching languages and then using them in this Swedish firm. He has changed his address several times, but quite in keeping with his growing prosperity.ââ
âMy brother-in-law lent him some money at the start,ââ Colin said.
Masterson intervened.
âBut you did not?ââ
âI saw no necessity,ââ Colin answered, stiffly. âIâd never met him before. It was the Langs, my wifeâs family, who knew him before the war.ââ
âQuite,ââ said Carfax, quickly. âThe point is, Colin, Scziliekowicz wanted to find out from us how he really stood with your family. Now they think heâs possibly acting for the Swedes â though how he does it they havenât a clue and no more have I. They may feel youâll resent their inquiry. We thought you ought to know that we are keeping an eye on the chap, but he isnât really our headache. I imagine his chief headache is his own.ââ
âI donât know what you mean by that,ââ Colin said. After a pause he added, âThe papers were full of him for a few days after he landed. Didnât the Russian Embassy make any sort of protest? They usually mention provocation or enticement on these occasions.ââ
Carfax laughed. Masterson said, âNothing more than the usual formal request to speak to him.
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