How to Winkle Guns Out of the Press

I'd already been told by Scotland Yard that I was forbidden to place advertisements in the press offering money for guns. But what if someone else did? The next morning I contacted the London manager of a well-known firearms firm, an American chap. Immediately got him to sign the official Secrets Act and explained what was needed. Most gratifying, the most beautiful automatics began rolling in. Some in immaculate condition. So with only a few days remaining before the deadline, we had more than 200 serviceable weapons in storage. It was then my secretary got a rather unpleasant call from Scotland Yard. Could I please call them back immediately? Most unwelcome.