After the emergency meeting ended, Snape, having caught Yaxley's eye, stayed behind. So did the remaining veteran Death Eaters.
They looked at one another. Seeing how few of their old comrades remained, they all fell briefly silent.
They still remembered when the Dark Lord had just returned. Including those still in prison, there had been at least forty or fifty Death Eaters alive. Yet before even two years had passed, more than half of the original Death Eaters had been killed or wounded.
"I know you're all curious. Come with me."
Yaxley rose and left the meeting room, heading toward the sitting room outside.
They exchanged looks, none of them knowing what Yaxley was up to, but they followed anyway.
Once the Death Eaters had all taken their seats, Yaxley explained why he had kept them behind.
"I suspect there is a spy hidden among the Death Eaters."
At the mention of a spy, everyone turned to look at Snape, currently the most famous spy in the wizarding world.
However, he merely shook his head expressionlessly, indicating that it had nothing to do with him.
"If it isn't him, then who is the spy?"
"It's hard to say for now, but all the signs indicate that that Mudblood has indeed planted a spy among us."
Yaxley paused, then said with absolute certainty, "That's why that Mudblood always gets accurate intelligence at the first opportunity."
Yaxley had not guessed wrong. Albert really had been getting firsthand information from a spy.
Alecto Carrow keenly sensed something. She glared at Yaxley with open hostility and demanded, "Are you suspecting us?"
Yaxley, who had just poured himself half a glass of red wine, paused. He suddenly looked up at Alecto and said flatly, "Until we prove our innocence, everyone is a suspect, including me."