8Victoria Street
London, England
September 1905
The middle-aged gentleman fumbled with his keys as he stood in front of his office on the Victoria Embankment. Finally unlocking the door, he entered his office on the first floor. The directory listed the occupant of the nondescript office as W. Morgan, General Agent, but that wasn’t his real name. His real name was William Melville, and for over ten years he had served Scotland Yard as the head of the Special Branch, known among inner circles as the British Secret Service.
As he entered his office, Melville thought back to the evening several weeks ago when he was summoned to 10 Downing Street by Prime Minister Arthur Balfour. On many occasions, he had briefed virtually every senior member of His Majesty’s government; he didn’t suspect
