A stellar collection of short stories in a very difficult form--episodes and espionage. Featured are two thoroughly deadly, delightful old retainers of one of the British intelligence agencies. They live in stodgy but highest security splendor outside the orbit of London and always on call. The elderly Messrs. Calder and Behrens repeatedly leave the comforts of their neighboring homes in Kent to practice their devious trade in a series of highly diverting, sometimes touching, stories of international intrigues short circuited. A coup.