The Kingdom of the Blind ..................................................................................................................................1

E. Phillips Oppenheim.............................................................................................................................1

Lady Anselman stood in the centre of the lounge at the Ritz Hotel and with a delicatelypoised forefinger

counted her guests. There was the great French actress who had every charm but youth, chatting vivaciously

with a tall, palefaced man whose French seemed to be as perfect as his attitude was correct. The popular

wife of a great actor was discussing her husband's latest play with a Cabinet Minister who had the air of a

schoolboy present at an illicit feast. A very beautiful young woman, tall and fair, with greyblue eyes and a

wealth of golden, almost yellow hair, was talking to a famous musician. A little further in the background, a

young man in the uniform of a naval lieutenant was exchanging what seemed to be rather impressive chaff

with a petite but exceedingly goodlooking girl. Lady Anselman counted them twice, glanced at the clock

"I can't remember whom we are waiting for!" she exclaimed a little helplessly to the remaining guest, a

somewhat tiredlooking publisher who stood by her side. "I am one short. I dare say it will come to me in a

"I have met Lord Romsey and also Madame Selarne," he observed. "For the rest, I was just thinking what a

"The man who talks French so well," Lady Anselman told him, dropping her voice a little, "is

SurgeonMajor Thomson. He is inspector of hospitals at the front, or something of the sort. The tall, fair

girlisn't she pretty!is Geraldine Conyers, daughter of Admiral Sir Seymour Conyers. That's her brother,

the sailor over there, talking to Olive Moreton; their engagement was announced last week. Lady Patrick of

course you know, and Signor Scobel, and Adelaide Cunninghamyou do know her, don't you, Mr. Daniell?

"And we should be twelve," Lady Anselman sighed. "Of course!" she added, her face suddenly brightening.

"What an idiot I am! It's Ronnie we are waiting for. One can't be cross with him, poor fellow. He can only

The fair girl, who had overheard, leaned across. The shade of newly awakened interest in her face, and the

curve of her lips as she spoke, added to her charm. A gleam of sunlight flashed upon the yellowgold of her

"Is it your nephew, Captain Ronald Granet, who is coming?" she asked a little eagerly.

"He only came home last Tuesday with dispatches from the front," she said. "This is his first day out."

"In the left arm and the right leg," Lady Anselman assented. "I believe that he has seen some terrible fighting,

and we are very proud of his D. S. O. The only trouble is that he is like all the othershe will tell us nothing.

"That is the principle you go on, nowadays, isn't it?" she remarked. "I am not sure that you are wise. When

one is told nothing, one fears the worst, and when time after time the news of these small disasters reaches us

piecemeal, about three weeks late, we never get rid of our forebodings, even when you tell us about victories.

. . . Ah! Here he comes at last," she added, holding out both her hands to the young man who was making his

somewhat difficult way towards them. "Ronnie, you are a few minutes late but we're not in the least cross

with you. Do you know that you are looking better already? Come and tell me whom you don't know of my

The young man, leaning upon his stick, greeted his aunt and murmured a word of apology. He was very fair,

and with a slight, reddish moustache and the remains of freckles upon his face. His grey eyes were a little

sunken, and there were lines about his mouth which one might have guessed had been brought out recently by

pain or suffering of some sort. His left arm reclined uselessly in a black silk sling. He glanced around the

"First of all," he said, bowing to the French actress and raising her fingers to his lips, "there is no one who

does not know Madame Selarne. Lady Patrick, we have met before, haven't we? I am going to see your

husband in his new play the first night I am allowed out. Mr. Daniell I have met, and Lord Romsey may

perhaps do me the honour of remembering me," he added, shaking hands with the Cabinet Minister.

He turned to face Geraldine Conyers, who had been watching him with interest. Lady Anselman at once

"I know that you haven't met Miss Conyers because she has been asking about you. This is my nephew

The girl murmured something inaudible as she shook hands. The young soldier looked at her for a moment.

"Olive, come and make friends with my nephew if you can spare a moment from your young man," Lady

Anselman continued. "Captain GranetMiss Olive Moreton. And this is Geraldine's brotherLieutenant

The two men shook hands pleasantly. Lady Anselman glanced at the clock and turned briskly towards the

As she moved forward, she was suddenly conscious of the man who ad been talking to Madame Selarne. He

had drawn a little on one side and he was watching the young soldier with a curious intentness. She turned

"Ronnie," she said, "I don't know whether you have met SurgeonMajor Thomson in France? Major

Granet turned at once and offered his hand to the other man. Only Geraldine Conyers, who was a young

woman given to noticing things, and who had also reasons of her own for being interested, observed the

rather peculiar scrutiny with which each regarded the other. Something which might almost have been a

"I may not have met you personally," Granet admitted, "but if you are the SurgeonMajor Thomson who has

been doing such great things with the Field Hospitals at the front, then like nearly every poor crock out there I

owe you a peculiar debt of gratitude. You are the man I mean, aren't you?" the young soldier concluded

Major Thomson bowed, and a moment later they all made their way along the corridor, across the restaurant,

searched for their names on the cards and took their places at the table which had been reserved for them.

Lady Anselman glanced around with the scrutinising air of the professional hostess, to see that her guests

were properly seated before she devoted herself to the Cabinet Minister. She had a word or two to say to

"I have put you next Miss Conyers, Ronnie," she remarked, "because we give all the good things to our men

when they come home from the war. And I have put you next Olive, Ralph," she went on, turning to the

sailor, "because I hear you are expecting to get your ship today or tomorrow, so you, too, have to be

spoiled a little. As a general rule I don't approve of putting engaged people together, it concentrates

conversation so. And, Lord Romsey," she added, turning to her neighbour, "please don't imagine for a

moment that I am going to break my promise. We are going to talk about everything in the world except the

war. I know quite well that if Ronnie has had any particularly thrilling experiences, he won't tell us about

them, and I also know that your brain is packed full of secrets which nothing in the world would induce you

to divulge. We are going to try and persuade Madame to tell us about her new play," she concluded, smiling

at the French actress, "and there are so many of my friends on the French stage whom I must hear about."

Lord Romsey commenced his luncheon with an air of relief. He was a man of little more than middleage,

powerfully built, inclined to be sombre, with features of a legal type, heavily jawed. "Always tactful, dear

hostess," he murmured. "As a matter of fact, nothing but the circumstance that it was your invitation and that

Madame Selarne was to be present, brought me here today. It is so hard to avoid speaking of the great

things, and for a man in my position," he added, dropping his voice a little, "so difficult to say anything worth

"We all appreciate that," Lady Anselman assured him sympathetically. "Madame Selarne has promised to

For a time they nearly all listened in absorbed silence. Her gestures, the tricks of her voice, the uplifting of

her eyebrows and shouldersall helped to give life and colour to the little sketch she expounded. Only those

at the remote end of the table ventured upon an independent conversation. Mrs. Cunningham, the woman

whom her hostess had referred to as being her particular friend, and one who shared her passion for

entertaining, chatted fitfully to her neighbour, Major Thomson. It was not until luncheon was more than

halfway through that she realised the onesidedness of their conversation. She studied him for a moment

curiously. There was something very still and expressionless in his face, even though the sunshine from the

"Tell me about yourself!" she insisted suddenly. "I have been talking rubbish quite long enough. You have

"I went with the first division. At that time I was in charge of a field hospital."

"Not exactly," he told her, a shade of stiffness in his manner. "I have to come over very often on details

"More or less," she admitted. "You see, I love people. I love having people around me. My friends find me a

perfect nuisance, for I am always wanting to give parties. You have the still, cold face of a surgeonand the

"I am also curious," she laughed, "as you are about to discover. Tell me why you are so interested in Ronnie

Almost for the first time he turned and looked directly at his neighbour. She was a woman whose fair hair

was turning grey, welldressed, sprightly, agreeable. She had a humorous mouth and an understanding face.

"Captain Granet was a stranger to me," he assented. "One is naturally interested in soldiers, however."

"You must have met thousands like him," she remarked,"goodlooking, very British, keen sportsman, lots

of pluck, just a little careless, hating to talk about himself and serious things. I have known him since he was

"Granet!" he said to himself thoughtfully, "Do I know any of his people, I wonder?"

"You know some of his connections, of course," Mrs. Cunningham replied briskly. "Sir Alfred Anselman, for

"They are both dead. There is a large family place in Warwickshire, and a chateau, just now, I am afraid, in

the hands of the Germans. It was somewhere quite close to the frontier. Lady Granet was an Alsatian. He was

to have gone out with the polo team, you know, to America, but broke a rib just as they were making the

selection. He played cricket for Middlesex once or twice, too and he was Captain of Oxford the year that they

"In sport, at any rate," his neighbour assented. "He has always been one of the most popular young men about

"He was missing twice, once for over a week," Mrs. Cunningham replied. "There are all sorts of stories as to

how he got back to the lines. A perfect young daredevil, I should think. I must talk to Mr. Daniell for a few

She leaned towards her neighbour on the other side and Major Thomson was able to resume the role of

attentive observer, a role which seemed somehow his by destiny. He listened without apparent interest to the

conversation between Geraldine Conyers and the young man whom they had been discussing.

"I think," Geraldine complained, "that you are rather overdoing your diplomatic reticence, Captain Granet.

You haven't told me a single thing. Why, some of the Tommies I have been to see in the hospitals have been

"I can assure you," he protested, "it isn't my fault. You can't imagine how fed up one gets with things out

there, and the newspapers can tell you ever so much more than we can. One soldier only sees a little bit of his

"But can't you tell me some of your own personal experiences?" she persisted. "They are so much more

"You're not taking me for a war correspondent, by any chance, are you?" he asked.

"Your language isn't sufficiently picturesque! Tell me, when are you going back?"

"You hope?" she repeated. "Do you really mean that, or do you say it because it is the proper thing to say?"

"The fact that I hope to get back," he remarked coldly, "has nothing whatever to do with my liking my job

when I get there. As a matter of fact, I hate it. At the same time, you can surely understand that there isn't any

"Of course not," she agreed softly. "I really am sorry that I bothered you. There is one thing I should like to

He shook his head but his amiability seemed to have wholly returned. His eyes twinkled as he looked at her.

"There we're up against a solid wall of impossibility," he replied. "You see, some of our other chaps may try

the dodge. I gave them the tip and I don't want to spoil their chances. Bythebye, do you know the man two

places down on your left?" he added dropping his voice a little. "Looks almost like a waxwork figure, doesn't

"You mean Major Thomson? Yes, I know him," she assented, after a moment's hesitation. "He is very quiet

The little party trooped out of the restaurant and made their way to a corner of the lounge, where tables had

already been prepared with coffee and liqueurs. Geraldine Conyers and Captain Granet, who had lingered

behind, found a table to themselves. Lady Anselman laid her fingers upon Major Thomson's arm.

"Please talk for a few more minutes to Selarne," she begged. "Your French is such a relief to her."

He obeyed immediately, although his eyes strayed more than once towards the table at which Captain Granet

and his companion were seated. Madame Selarne was in a gossipy mood and they found many mutual

"To speak a foreign language as you do," she told him, "is wonderful. Is it in French alone, monsieur, that

"I can scarcely call myself that," he replied, "but I do speak several other languages. In my younger days I

Lady Anselman's party was suddenly increased by the advent of some acquaintances from an adjoining table,

all of whom desired to be presented to Madame Selarne. Major Thomson, set at liberty, made his way at once

towards the small table at which Captain Granet and Geraldine Conyers were seated. She welcomed him with

A waiter paused before their table and offered a salver on which were several cups of coffee and liqueur

glasses. Captain Granet leaned forward in his place and stretched out his hand to serve his companion. Before

he could take the cup, however, the whole tray had slipped from the waiter's fingers, caught the corner of the

table, and fallen with its contents on to the carpet. The waiter himselfa small, undersized person with

black, startled eyes set at that moment in a fixed and unnatural staremade one desperate effort to save

himself and then fell backwards. Every one turned around, attracted by the noise of the falling cups and the

sharp, halfstifled groan which broke from the man's lips. Captain Granet sprang to his feet.

The maitre d'hotel and several waiters came hurrying up towards the prostrate figure, by the side of which

Major Thomson was already kneeling. The manager, who appeared upon the scene as though by magic, and

upon whose face was an expression of horror that his clients should have been so disturbed, quickly gave his

orders. The man was picked up and carried away. Major Thomson followed behind. Two or three waiters in a

few seconds succeeded in removing the debris of the accident, the orchestra commenced a favourite waltz.

The maitre d'hotel apologised to the little groups of people for the commotionthey were perhaps to blame

"He seemed to be a foreigner," Lady Anselman remarked, as the man addressed his explanations to her.

"He was a Belgian, madam. He was seriously wounded at the commencement of the war. We took him direct

"I hope the poor fellow will soon recover," Lady Anselman declared. "Please do not think anything more of

the affair so far as we are concerned. You must let me know later on how he is."

The maitre d'hotel retreated with a little bow. Geraldine turned to Captain Granet.

"There was something in your face when the man staggered back, a kind of horror almost. I am sure you felt

"In a battlefield," he observed slowly, "one naturally becomes a little callous, but here it is different. The

fellow did look ghastly ill, didn't he? I wonder what was really the matter with him."

Granet seemed scarcely to hear her words. A curious fit of abstraction had seized him. His head was turned

"Queer sort of stick, Thomson," he remarked presently. "Is he a great friend of yours, Miss Conyers?"

Something in her tone seemed to disturb him. He leaned towards her quickly. His face had lost its

She did not answer. She was looking over his shoulder towards where Major Thomson, who had just

"The man is in a shockingly weak state," he announced. "He is a Belgian, has been wounded and evidently

subjected to great privations. His heart is very much weakened. He had a bad fainting fit, but with a long rest

The little party broke up once more into groups. Granet, who had drawn for a moment apart and seemed to be

SurgeonMajor Thomson's silence was scarcely a hesitation. He was standing perfectly still, his eyes fixed

"At present," he said, "I am not quite clear about that. If you are ready, Geraldine?"

She nodded and they made their farewells to Lady Anselman. Granet looked after them with a slight frown.

"Why is Miss Conyers here without a chaperon?" he asked. "And why did she go away with Thomson?"

"Evidently," she remarked, "your progress with the young lady was not so rapid as it seemed, or she would

have told you her secretwhich, bythebye, isn't a secret at all. She and Major Thomson are engaged to be

A few rays of fugitive sunshine were brightening Piccadilly when Geraldine and her escort left the Ritz. The

momentary depression occasioned by the dramatic little episode of a few minutes ago, seemed already to

have passed from the girl's manner. She walked on, humming to herself. As they paused to cross the road, she

glanced as though involuntarily at her companion. His dark morning clothes and rather abstracted air created

"Why should I?" he replied. "After all, I am not really a fighting man, you see."

He seemed to catch the reminiscent flash in her eyes as she looked down the street, and a shadow of

"He certainly seems to be a most attractive type of young man," Thomson admitted.

"And how wonderful to have had such adventures!" she continued. "Life has become so strange, though,

during the last few months. To think that the only time I ever saw him before was at a polo match, and today

we sit side by side in a restaurant, and, although he won't speak of them, one knows that he has had all

manner of marvellous adventures. He was one of those who went straight from the playing fields to look for

glory, wasn't he, Hugh? He made a hundred and thirtytwo for Middlesex the day before the war was

"That's the type of young soldier who's going to carry us through, if any one can," Major Thomson agreed

"Hugh," she exclaimed, pointing to a placard which a newsboy was carrying, "that is the one thing I cannot

"That is the sort of thing," she groaned, "which makes one long to be not a man but a god, to be able to wield

"Good for you, Gerry," a strong, fresh voice behind them declared. "That's my job now. Didn't you hear us

"I've got what I wanted," the young man answered enthusiastically. "I've got a destroyer, one of the new

typeforty knots an hour, a dear little row of fourinch guns, and, my God! something else, I hope, that'll

teach those murderers a lesson," he added, shaking his fist towards the placard.

"Tomorrow night at Portsmouth," he replied. "I'm afraid we shall be several days before we are at work. It's

the Scorpion' they're giving me, Geraldor the mystery ship, as they call it in the navy."

The young man paused in his sentence. Thomson was looking towards him with a slight frown upon his

"Don't think I'm a fearful old woman," he said. "I know we are all rather fed up with these tales of spies and

that sort of thing, but do you think it's wise to even open your lips about a certain matter?"

"Nothing," Thomson assured him hastily, "nothing at all. I am only going by what you said yourself. If there

is any device on the Scorpion for dealing with these infernal craft, I'd never breathe a word about it, if I were

you. I'd put out to sea with a seal upon my lips, even before Geraldine here and Miss Moreton."

"Perhaps you're right," he admitted. "I was a little overexcited. To get the Scorpion was more, even, than I

had dared to hope fore. Still, before the girls it didn't seem to matter very much. There are no spies, anyhow,

"You won't be annoyed with me, will you?" he said to Conyers. "If you'd heard half the stories I had of the

"That's all right," the young man interrupted, "only you mustn't think I'm a gasbag just because I said a word

"I am so sorry," he replied, "but I must. I really have rather an important appointment this afternoon."

"An appointment!" she grumbled. "You are in London for so short a time and you seem to be keeping

appointments all the while. I sha'nt let you go unless you tell me what it's about."

"I have to inspect a new pattern of camp beadstead," he explained calmly. "If I may, I will telephone directly

She shrugged her shoulders but gave him a pleasant little nod as he stepped into the taxi.

"Sober old stick, Thomson," her brother observed, as they started off. "I didn't like his pulling me up like that

"I don't see what business it was of his and I think it was rather horrid of him," Olive declared. "As though

"A chap like Thomson hasn't very much discretion, you see," Ralph Conyers remarked. "You'll have to wake

There was just the faintest look of trouble in Geraldine's face. She remained perfectly loyal, however.

"Some of us take life more seriously than others," she sighed. "Hugh is one of them. When one remembers all

the terrible things he must have seen, though, it is very hard to find fault with him."

"I'm due at the Admiralty at four to receive my final instructions," he said. "I must move along at once."

The smile suddenly faded from his lips. He seemed to be listening to the calling of the newsboys down the

street. I don't know what my instructions are going to be," he continued, dropping his voice a little, "but I'm

sick of making war the way our chaps are doing it. If ever I'm lucky enough to get one of those murderous

For a moment or two they neither of them spoke. From out of the windows of the house before which they

were standing came the music of a popular waltz. Olive turned a way with a little shiver.

"You think I'm brutal, dear," Conyers went on, as he patted her hand. "Remember, I've seen men

killedthat's what makes the difference, Olive. Yes, I am different! We are all different, we who've tackled

the job. Thomson's different. You young man at luncheon, Geraldinewhat's his name?Granethe's

different. There's something big and serious grown up inside us, and the brute is looking out. It has to be. I'll

come in later, Olive. Tell the mater I shall be home to dinner, Geraldine. The governor's waiting down at the

He waved his hand and strode down towards the corner of the Square. Both girls watched him for a few

moments. His shoulders were as square as ever but something had gone from the springiness of his gait.

"They are all like that," Geraldine whispered "when they've been face to face with the real thing. And we are

SurgeonMajor Thomson had apparently forgotten his appointment to view camp bedsteads, for, a few

minutes after he had left Geraldine and her brother, his taxicab set him down before a sombrelooking house

in Adelphi Terrace. He passed through the open doorway, up two flights of stairs, drew a key of somewhat

peculiar shape from his pocket and opened a door in front of him. He found himself in a very small hall, from

which there was no egress save through yet another door, through which he passed and stepped into a large

but singularly barelooking apartment. Three great safes were ranged along one side of the wall, piles of

newspapers and maps were strewn all over a long table, and a huge Ordnance map of the French and Belgian

Frontiers stood upon an easel. The only occupant of the apartment was a man who was sitting before a

typewriter in front of the window. He turned his head and rose at Thomson's entrance, a rather short,

keenlooking young man, his face slightly pitted with smallpox, his mouth hard and firm, his eyes deepset

Thomson drew the thin sheet of paper from its envelope and swept a space for himself at the corner of the

table. Then he unlocked one of the safes and drew out from an inner drawer a parchment book bound in

brown vellum. He spread out the dispatch and read it carefully. It had been handed in at a town near the

Fifty thousand camp bedsteads are urgently required for neighbourhood of La Guir. Please do your best for

For a matter of ten minutes Thomson was busy with his pencil and the codebook. When he had finished, he

Plans for attack on La Guir communicated. Attack foiled. Believe Smith in London.

Thomson nodded but made no immediate reply. He first of all carefully destroyed the message which he had

received, and the transcription, and watched the fragments of paper burn into ashes. Then he replaced the

codebook in the safe, which he carefully locked, and strolled towards the window. He stood for several

The two men looked at one another for a moment in grave silence. Ambrose leaned back in his chair and

"Through our lines, through Boulogne, across the Channel, through Dover Station, out of CharingCross,

through our own men and the best that Scotland Yard could do for us. In London, eh?"

Thomson's face twitched convulsively. His teeth had come together with a little snap.

"You needn't play at being headquarters, Ambrose," he said hoarsely. "I know it seems like a miracle but

"Only a few weeks after the war began," Thsomson continued thoughtfully, "two French generals, four or

five colonels, and over twenty junior and noncommissioned officers were courtmartialled for espionage.

The French have been on the lookout for that sort of thing. We haven't. There isn't one of these men who are

sitting in judgment upon us today, Ambrose, who would listen to me for a single moment if I were to take

"I do," Thomson asserted. "It isn't only the fact of the attacks themselves miscarrying, but it's the knowledge

on the other side of exactly how best to meet that attack. It's the exact knowledge they have as to our

dispositions, our most secret and sudden change of tactics. We've suffered enough, Ambrose, in this country

from civil spiesthe Government are to blame for that. But there are plenty of people who go blustering

about, declaring that two of our Cabinet Ministers ought to be hung, who'd turn round and give you the life if

you hinted for a moment that the same sort of thing in a far worse degree was going on amongst men who are

"Look at me," Major Thomson continued thoughtfully. "Every secret connected with our present and future

plans practically passes through my hands, yet no one watches me. Whisper a word at the War Office that

perhaps it would be as welljust for a week, sayto test a few of my reports, and they'd laugh at you with

the air of superior beings listening to the chatter of a fool. Yet what is there impossible about it? I may have

some secret viceavarice, perhaps. Germany would give me the price of a kingdom for all that I could tell

them. Yet because I am an English officer I am above all suspicion. It's magnificent, Ambrose, but it's

The young man watched his chief for several moments. Thomson was standing before the window, the cold

spring light falling full upon his face, with its nervous lines and stronglycut, immobile features. He felt a

curious indisposition to speak, a queer sort of desire to wait on the chance of hearing more.

"A single kink in my brain," Thomson continued, "a secret weakness, perhaps even a dash of lunacy, and I

might be quite reasonably the masterspy of the world. I was in Berlin six weeks ago, Ambrose. There wasn't

There was a moment's silence. Thomson seemed to be considering the idea with strange intensity. Then he

"I think not," he decided. "When the history of this war is written, Ambrose, with flamboyant phrases and

copious rhetoric, there will be unwritten chapters, more dramatic, having really more direct effect upon the

final issue than even the great battles which have seemed the dominant factors. Sit tight here, Ambrose, and

Thomson pushed on one side the curtains which concealed an inner room, and passed through. In a quarter of

an hour he reappeared, dressed in uniform. His tone, his bearing, his whole manner were changed. He walked

with a springier step, he carried a little cane and he was whistling softly to himself.

"I am going to one or two places in the Tottenham Court Road, by appointment," he announced, "to inspect

some new patterns of camp bedsteads. You can tell them, if they ring up from Whitehall, that I'll report

Curiously enough, the other man, too had changed as though in sympathetic deference to his superior officer.

"Very good, sir," he said smoothly. "I'll do my best to finish the specifications before you return."

Lord Romsey, after his luncheonparty, spent an hour at his official residence in Whitehall and made two

other calls on his way home. His secretary met him in the spacious hall of his house in Portland Square, a few

"There is a gentleman here to see you who says that he made an appointment by telephone, sir," he

Lord Romsey stood for a moment without reply. His lips had come together in a hard, unpleasant line. It was

"I gave no appointment, Ainsley," he remarked. "I simply said that I would see the gentleman when he

arrived in England. You had better bring him to my study," he continued, "and be careful that no one

The young man withdrew and the Cabinet Minister made his way to his study. A little of the elasticity,

however, had gone from his footsteps and he seated himself before his desk with the air of a man who faces a

"The skeleton in the cupboard," he muttered to himself gloomily. "Even the greatest of us," he added, with a

There was a knock at the door and the secretary reappeared, ushering in this undesired visitor.

The Cabinet Minister rose in his place and held out his hand in his best official style, a discrete mixture of

reserve and condescension. His manner changed, however, the moment the door was closed. He withdrew his

"I am according you the interview you desire," he said, pointing to a chair, "but I shall be glad if you will

explain the purport of your visit in as few words as possible. You will, I hope, appreciate the fact that your

Mr. Sidney bowed. He was a tall and apparently an elderly man, dressed with the utmost sobriety. He

accepted the chair without undue haste, adjusted a pair of hornrimmed spectacles and took some papers

"Sir," he began, speaking deliberately but without any foreign accent, "I am here to make certain proposals to

Lord Romsey frowned ponderously and tapped the desk by his side with his thick forefinger.

"I cannot prevent your speaking, of course," he said, "but I wish you to understand from the first that I am not

in a position to deal with any messages or communications from your master, whoever he may be, or any one

An impulse of curiosity struggled through the gloom and apprehension of Lord Romsey's manner. He gazed

"But it is of consequence," Lord Romsey insisted. "You have dared to proclaim yourself an ambassador to me

from a country with whom England is at war. Even a discussion between us amounts almost to treason. On

He held out his hand towards the electric bell which stood on his study table. His visitor shook his head.

"I wouldn't adopt that attitude, if I were you," he said calmly. "You know why. If you are really curious about

my nationality, there is no harm in telling you that I am an American citizen, that I have held for three years

the post of American chaplain at Brussels. Better let me say what I have come to say."

Lord Romsey hesitated. His natural propensity for temporising asserted itself and his finger left the bell. The

"You are in the unfortunate position, Lord Romsey, of having failed absolutely in your duty towards your

own country, and having grossly and traitorously deceived a personage who has always treated you with the

greatest kindness. I am here to see if it is possible for you to make some amends."

"I deny every word you say," the Minister declared passionately, "and I refuse to hear your proposition."

"Do not be foolish," he advised. "Your last letter to a certain personage was dated June second. I have a copy

"You will listen, then to what I have to say," the envoy proceeded, "or that letter will be published in the

Times tomorrow morning. You know what that will meanyour political ruin, your everlasting disgrace.

What use will this country, blinded at the present moment by prejudice, have for a statesman, who without

authority, pledged his Government to an alliance with Germany, who over his own signature"

"Stop!" Lord Romsey interrupted. "There is no purpose in this. What is it you want?"

"Your influence in the Cabinet. You are responsible for this war. It is for you to end it."

"Rubbish!" the other exclaimed hoarsely. "You are attempting to saddle me with a responsibility like this,

simply because my personal sympathies have always been on this die of the country you are representing."

"It is not a question of your personal sympathies," Mr. Sidney returned swiftly. "In black and white you

"How could I tell," the statesman protested, "that Germany was thinking of tearing up treaties, of entering

"You made no stipulations or conditions in what you wrote," was the calm reply. "You pledged your word

that your Government would never declare war against Germany. You alluded to the French entente as an

unnatural one. You spoke eloquently of the kinship of spirit between England and Germany."

Lord Romsey moved uneasily in his chair. He had expected to find this an unpleasant interview and he was

"Well, I was mistaken," he admitted. "What I said was true enough. I never did believe that the Government

with which I was associated would declare war against Germany. Even now, let me tell you that there isn't a

soul breathing who knows how close the real issue was. If your people had only chosen any other line of

"I have not come here to recriminate," Mr. Sidney declared. "That is not my mission. I am here to state our

terms for refraining from sending your lettersyour personal letters to the Kaiserto the English Press."

"Perfectly," the other replied. "I told you that my errand was a serious one. Shall I proceed?"

The Minister slowly resumed his seat. From behind the electric lamp his face was ghastly white. In that brief

pause which followed he seemed to be looking through the walls of the room into an ugly chapter of his

future. He saw the headlines in the newspapers, the leading articles, the culmination of all the gossip and

mutterings of the last few months, the end of his political careera disgraceful and ignoble end! Surely no

man had ever been placed in so painful a predicament. It was treason to parley. It was disgraceful to send this

"Germany wants peace," his visitor continued calmly. "She may not have accomplished all she wished to

have accomplished by this war, and she is still as strong as ever from a military point of view, but she wants

"Even if I had the influence, which I haven't," he began, "it isn't a matter of the Government at all. The

"Then you had better convert the country," was the prompt reply. "Look upon it as your duty. Remember

thisyou are the man in all this world, and not the Kaiser, who is responsible for this war. But for your

solemn words pledging your country to neutrality, Germany would never have forced the issue as she has

done. Now it is for you to repair the evil. I tell you that we want peace. The first overtures may come

ostensibly through Washington, if you will, but they must come in reality from you."

"You might as well ask me," he said simply, "to order our Fleet out of the North Sea."

"I think," he advised, "that you had better try what you can do, Lord Romsey. We shall give you little time.

We may even extend it, if we find traces of your influence. You have two colleagues, at least, who are

pacifists at heart. Take them on one side, talk in a whisper at first. Plant just a little seed but be careful that it

grows. We do not expect impossibilities, onlyremember what failure will mean to you."

Lord Romsey looked steadfastly at his visitor. Mr. Sidney was tall and spare, and there was certainly nothing

of the Teuton or the American in his appearance or accent. His voice was characterless, his restraint almost

unnatural. Relieved of his more immediate fears, the Minister was conscious of a renewed instinct of strong

"In no way," the other replied. "When I think it advisable I shall come to see you again."

"I am whichever I choose for the moment," was the cool response. "If you doubt my credentials, I can

perhaps establish myself in your confidence by repeating the conversation which took place between you and

the Kaiser on the terrace of the Imperial Palace at Potsdam between three and four o'clock on the afternoon of

April the seventh. You gave the Kaiser a little character sketch of your colleagues in the Cabinet, and you

treated with ridicule the bare idea that one or two of them, at any rate, would ever consent"

"Just as you will," the other observed. "I wish you goodday, sir. The issue is before you now quite plainly.

Lord Romsey touched his bell in silence and his visitor took a grave and decorous leave. He walked with the

"These are sad days for all of us," he said benignly. "I have been telling Lord Romsey of some of my

experiences in Brussels. I was American chaplain at the new church there when the war broke out. I have

seen sights which I shall never forget, horrors the memory of which will never leave me."

The secretary nodded sympathetically. He was trying to get off early, however, and he had heard a good deal

"I prefer to walk a little distance," Mr. Sidney replied. "I am quite at home in London. I was once, in fact,

invited to take up a pastorate here. I wish you goodday, sir. I have had a most interesting conversation with

The secretary bowed and Mr. Sidney walked slowly to the corner of the Square. Arrived there, he hailed a

passing taxicab which drew up at once by the side of the kerb. In stepping in, he brushed the shoulder of a

For a single moment his selfpossession seemed to desert him. He looked into the cold, incurious face of the

man in an officer's uniform who was already moving away, as though he had seen a ghost. His hesitation was

The room was a study in masculine luxury. The brown walls were hung with a choice selection of sporting

prints, varied here and there with silverpoint etchings of beautiful women in various poses. There were a

good many photographs, mostly signed, above the mantelpiece; a cigar cabinet, a case of sportingrifles and

shot guns, some fishing tackle, a case of books, distributed appropriately about the apartment. There were

some warlike trophies displayed without ostentation, a handsome writingtable on which stood a telephone.

On a thick green rug stretched in front of the fireplace, a fox terrier lay blinking at the wood fire. The room

was empty and silent except for the slow ticking of an ancient clock which stood underneath an emblazoned

coat of arms in the far corner. The end of a log broke off and fell hissing into the hearth. The fox terrier rose

reluctantly to his feet, shook himself and stood looking at the smoking fragment in an aggrieved manner.

Satisfied that no personal harm was intended to him, however, he presently curled himself up once more.

Again the apartment seemed to become the embodiment of repose. The clock, after a hoarse wheezing

warning, struck seven. The dog opened one eye and looked up at it. A few minutes later, the peace of the

place was broken in a different fashion. There was the sound of a key being hastily fitted into the lock of the

outside door. The dog rose to his feet expectantly. The door which led into the apartment was thrown open

and hastily slammed to. A man, breathing heavily, stood for a moment upon the threshold, his head stooped a

little as though listening. Then, without a glance, even, at the dog who jumped to greet him, he crossed the

room with swift, stealthy footsteps. Before he could reach the other side, however, the door which faced him

The man gilded away, his master following close behind. From somewhere further inside the flat, the sound

of water running into a bath was heard. The door was closed, again there was silence. The fox terrier, after a

few moments' scratching at the door, resumed his place upon the rug and curled himself up to renewed

The next interruption was of a different nature. The sharp, insistent summons of an electric bell from outside

rang through the room. In a moment or two the manservant appeared from the inner apartment, crossed the

"Captain Granet is changing for dinner at present, sir," he explained. "If you will take a seat, however, he will

The servant wheeled an easychair up towards the fire and placed by its side a small table on which were

some illustrated papers. Then, with a little bow, he disappeared through the inner door. Major Thomson, who

had been fingering the Sketch, laid it down the moment the door was closed. He leaned forward, his face a

little strained. He had the air of listening intently. After a brief absence the man returned.

The man withdrew and once more Thomson and the dog were alone. The latter, having made a few overtures

of friendship which passed unnoticed, resumed his slumbers. Major Thomson sat upright in his easychair,

an illustrated paper in his hand. All the time, however, his eyes seemed to be searching the room. His sense of

listening was obviously quickened; he had the air, even, of thinking rapidly. Fiveten minutes passed. Then

voices were heard from within and the door was suddenly opened. Captain Granet emerged and crossed the

"Awfully sorry to keep you like this," he remarked pleasantly. "The fact is I'd just got into my bath."

"Glad to see you, anyway," the other declared, pausing at his smokingcabinet and bringing out some

There was a moment's pause. Major Thomson seemed in no hurry to explain himself.

"Jolly luncheon party, wasn't it?" Granet remarked, lighting a cigarette for himself with some difficulty.

"From what one reads of the fighting around Ypres," the other replied, "you were lucky to get out of it so

Captain Granet nodded amiably. He had made himself comfortable in an easychair and was playing with the

"I had some conversation on Thursday last," Major Thomson began, "with the ProvostMarshal of Boulogne.

As you, of course, know, we have suffered a great deal, especially around Ypres, from the marvellous success

of the German Intelligence Department. The ProvostMarshal, who is a friend of mine, told me that there

was a special warning out against a person purporting to be an American chaplain who had escaped from

"Can't remember that I have," he replied. "They've been awfully clever, those fellows, though. The last few

nights before our little scrap they knew exactly what time our relief parties came along. Several times we

"Well," he continued, "I happened to catch sight of a man who exactly resembled the photograph which my

friend the ProvostMarshal showed me, only a few minutes ago, and although I could not be sure of it, I

fancied that he entered this building. It occurred to me that he might be paying a call upon you."

"He is an exceedingly plausible fellow," Thomson explained, "and as you are just back from the Front, and

"Can't make bricks without straw," Granet laughed, "and I know no more about the campaign than my two

eyes have seen. I was saying only yesterday that, unless you have a staff billet, it's wonderful how little the

ordinary soldier picks up as to what is going on. As a matter of fact, though," he went on, twisting the fox

terrier's ear a little, "no one has called here at all except yourself, during the last hour or two. There aren't

"The groundfloor here," the other replied, "belongs to a prosperous cigarette manufacturer who lives himself

upon the first floor. This is the second and above us are nothing but the servants' quarters. I should think," he

concluded thoughtfully, "that you must have been mistaken about the fellow turning in here at all."

"Bythebye," Granet inquired curiously, looking up from the dog, "how did you know that I roomed here?"

"I happened to see you come in, or was it go out, the other dayI can't remember which," Major Thomson

The telephone upon the table tinkled out a summons. Granet crossed the room and held the receiver to his ear.

"I shall be delighted," he answered into the instrument. "It is really very kind of you. . . .About a quarter past

eight? . . . Certainly! You'll excuse my not being able to get into mufti, won't you? . . . Ever so many thanks. .

"Rather a coincidence," he observed. "Seems I am going to see you tonight at dinner. That was Miss

Geraldine Conyers who just rang upasked me if I'd like to meet her brother again before he goes off. He is

Major Thomson's face was expressionless and his murmured word noncommittal. Granet had approached

"Let me mix you a cocktail," he suggested. "By Jove! That fellow Conyers would be the fellow for your

American chaplain to get hold of. If he is spending the afternoon down at the Admiralty, he'll have all the

latest tips about how they mean to deal with the submarines. I hear there are at least three or four new

Thomson had risen to his feet and leaned forward towards the mirror for a moment to straighten his tie. When

he turned around, he glanced at the collection of bottles Granet had been handling.

"I am really very sorry," he said. "I did not mean to put you to this trouble. I never drink cocktails."

"If you will excuse me," he said, "I will drink your health at dinnertime. I have no doubt that your cocktails

are excellent but I never seem to have acquired the habit. What do you put in them?"

"Oh! just both sorts of vermouth and gin, and a dash of something to give it a flavour," Granet explained

"A mixture of absinth and some West Indian bitters," Granet replied. "A chap who often goes to the States

"Rather a curious odour," he remarked. "We shall meet again, then, Captain Granet."

There was a second's pause. His right hand was half extended but his departing guest seemed not to notice the

"It is a small world," he said, "especially, although it sounds paradoxical, in the big places."

He passed out. Granet listened to the sound of his retreating footsteps with a frown upon his forehead. Then

he came back and stood for a moment upon the rug in front of the fire, deep in thought. The fox terrier played

unnoticed about his feet. His face seemed suddenly to have become older and more thoughtful. He glanced at

Thomson walked slowly to the end of Sackville Street, crossed the road and made his way to the Ritz Hotel.

"I was lunching here today and attended one of the waiters who was taken ill afterwards. I should be very

"I remember you quite well, sir," he said. "A Belgian waiter, was it not? He has been taken away by a lady

"The lady who was giving the luncheonLady Anselmancalled and saw the manager about an hour ago,"

the man explained. "She has interested herself very much in the matter of Belgian refugees and is entertaining

a great many of them at a house of hers near the seaside. The man is really not fit to work, so we were very

"He recovered consciousness before he was removed, I suppose?" Thomson inquired.

"I believe so, sir. He seemed very weak and ill, though. In fact he had to be carried to the automobile."

"Thank you very much indeed," he said to the clerk. "The man's case rather interested me. I think I shall ask

"Her ladyship did not mention the exact locality," the man replied. "I believe, however, that it is near the Isle

"A most suitable neighbourhood," Major Thomson murmured, as he turned away from the hotel.

"I wonder why you don't like Captain Granet?" Geraldine asked her fiance, as they stood in the

"Not like him?" Thomson repeated. "Have I really given you that impression, Geraldine?"

"Perhaps I ought not to say that, though," she confessed. "You are never particularly enthusiastic about

She made a charming little grimace but a moment afterwards she was serious again.

"But really," she continued, "to me Captain Granet seems just the type of young Englishman who is going to

save the country. He is a keen soldier, clever, modest, and a wonderful sportsman. I can't think what there is

Major Thomson glanced across the room. In a way, he and the man whom he felt instinctively was in some

sense of the word his rival, even though an undeclared one, were of exactly opposite types. Granet was the

centre of a little group of people who all seemed to be hanging upon his conversation. He was full of high

spirits and humour, debonair, with all the obvious claims to popularity. Thomson, on the other hand, although

goodlooking, even distinguished in his way, was almost too slim and pale. His face was more the face of a

scholar than of one interested in or anxious to shine in the social side of life. His manners and his speech

were alike reserved, his air of breeding was apparent, but he had not the natural ease or charm which was

making Granet, even in those few minutes, persona grata with Geraldine's mother and a little circle of

"At least I appreciate your point of view," Major Thomson admitted, with a faint sigh.

"Don't be such a dear old stick," Geraldine laughed. "I want you to like him because I find him so interesting.

You see, as he gets to know one a little better he doesn't seem to mind talking about the war. You others will

scarcely say a word of what you have seen or of what is being done out there. I like to be told things by

people who have actually seen them. He happened to be ten minutes early this evening and he gave me a

"You must remember," Thomson told her, "that personally I do not, in an ordinary way, see a great deal of

fighting until the whole show is over. It may be a fine enough panorama when an attack is actually taking

place, but there is nothing very inspiring in the modern battlefield when the living have passed away from it."

"Really, I almost wish that you were a soldier, too," she declared. "Your work seems to me so horribly

gruesome. Come along, you know you are going to take me to dinner. Think of something nice to say. I really

"I will make a suggestion, then," he remarked as they took their places. "I don't know whether you will find it

amusing, though. Why shouldn't we do like so many of our friends, and get married?"

"Hugh," she exclaimed, "I can see through you! You've suddenly realised that this is your chance to escape a

ceremony and a reception, and all that sort of thing. I call it a most cowardly suggestion."

"It rather appeals to me," he persisted. "It may be," he added, dropping his voice a little, "because you are

"Or it may be," he repeated, "a man's desire to be absolutely sure of the thing he wants more than anything

There was a moment's silence. As though by some curious instinct which they both shared, they glanced

across the table to where Granet had become the centre of a little babble of animated conversation. Geraldine

averted her eyes almost at once, and looked down at her plate. There was a shade of uneasiness in her

"That is rather a failing of mine, isn't it?" he replied. "At any rate, I am very much in earnest."

There was another brief silence, during which Geraldine was addressed by her neighbour on the other side.

Thomson, who was watching her closely, fancied that she accepted almost eagerly the opportunity of

diversion. It was not until dinner was almost over that she abandoned a conversion into which she had thrown

"Am I usually a farceur?" he replied. "I think that my tendencies are rather the other way. I really mean it,

"If you like," she agreed simply, "but somehow I believe that I would rather wait. Look at mother's eye,

Thomson moved his chair next to his host's Geraldine's father, Admiral Sir Seymour Conyers, was a very

garrulous old gentleman with fixed ideas about everything, a little deaf and exceedingly fond of conversation.

He proceeded to give his prospective soninlaw a detailed lecture concerning the mismanagement of the

field hospitals at the front, and having disposed of that subject, he opened a broadside attack upon the

Admiralty. The rest of the men showed indications of breaking into little groups. Ralph Conyers and Granet

were sitting side by side, engrossed in conversation. More than once Thomson glanced towards them.

"Wish I understood more about naval affairs," Granet sighed. "I'm a perfect ass at any one's job but my own. I

can't see how you can deal with submarines at all. The beggars can stay under the water as long as they like,

they just pop up and show their heads, and if they don't like the look of anything near, down they go again. I

"We've a few ideas left still which the Germans haven't mopped up," he declared.

"Personally," the Admiral observed, joining in the conversation, "I consider the submarine danger the greatest

to which this country has yet been exposed. No one but a nation of pirates, of ferocious and conscienceless

"Good for you, dad!" his son exclaimed. "They're a rotten lot of beggars, of course, although some of them

have behaved rather decently. There's one thing," he added, sipping his port, "there isn't a job in the world I'd

"Every one to his taste," Granet remarked goodhumouredly. "Give me my own company at my back, my

artillery well posted, my reserves in position, the enemy not too strongly entrenched, and our dear old

There was a little murmur of sympathy. Ralph Conyers, however, his cigar in the corner of his mouth, smiled

"Sounds all right," he admitted, "but for sheer excitement give me a misty morning, the bows of a fortyknot

destroyer cutting the sea into diamonds, decks cleared for action, and old Dick in oilskins on the

"See page seven Admiralty instructions this afternoon," the other replied, smiling. "We're not taking it sitting

"I think," he said, "if you are quite sure, all of you, that you will take no more port, we should join the ladies."

They trooped out of the room together. Thomson kept close behind Ralph Conyers and Captain Granet, who

were talking no more of submarines, however, but of the last ballet at the Empire. Geraldine came towards

"Hugh," she begged, passing her arm through his, "would you mind playing bridge?" The Mulliners are going

on, and mother does miss her rubber so. And we can talk afterwards, if you like," she added.

Thomson glanced across the room to where Granet was chatting with some other guests. Young Conyers for

"I'll play, with pleasure, Geraldine," he assented, "but I want to have a word with Ralph first."

"He's at the telephone," she said. "The Admiralty rang up about something and he is talking to them. I'll tell

The little party settled down to their gameLady Conyers, Sir Charles Hankins,a celebrated

lawyer,another man and Thomson. Geraldine, with Olive Moreton and Captain Granet, found a sofa in a

remote corner of the room and the trio were apparently talking nonsense with great success. Presently Ralph

"Hugh can wait," he declared, as he passed his arm through Olive's. "This is my last night on shore for

heaven knows how long and I am going to take Olive off to see my photographs of the 'Scorpion.' Old

The two young people disappeared. Captain Granet and Geraldine remained upon the couch, talking in low

voices. Once Thomson, when he was dummy, crossed the room and approached them. Their conversation

"I told Ralph," Geraldine said, looking up, "that you wanted to speak to him, but he and Olive have gone off

somewhere. Bythebye, Hugh," she went on curiously, "you didn't tell me that you'd called on Captain

"Well, it wasn't a matter of vital importance, was it?" he answered, smiling. "My call, in any case, arose from

"Major Thomson," came a voice from the other side of the room, "it is your deal."

Thomson returned obediently to the bridgetable. The rubber was over a few minutes later and the little party

"I think, if I may," he said, "I'll go into the morning room and have a whisky and soda. I dare say I'll find the

He took his leave of the others and made his way to the bachelor rooms at the back of the house. He looked

first into the little apartment which Geraldine claimed for her own, but found it empty. He passed on into the

smokingroom and found all four of the young people gathered around the table. They were so absorbed that

they did not even notice his entrance. Ralph, with a sheet of paper stretched out before him and a pencil in his

hand, was apparently sketching something. By his side was Granet. The two girls with arms interlocked, were

"You see," Ralph Conyers explained, drawing back for a moment to look at the result of his labours, "this

scheme, properly worked out, can keep a channel route such as the Folkestone to Boulogne one, for instance,

They all started and turned their heads. Thomson drew a step nearer and his hand fell upon the paper. There

"Ralph, old fellow," he said, "don't think me too much of an interfering beggar, will you? I don't think even to

your dearest friend, not to the girl you are going to marry, to me, or to your own mother, would I finish that

They all stared at him. Granet's face was expressionless, the girls were bewildered, Ralph was frowning.

"Dash it all, Hugh," he expostulated, "do have a little common sense. Here's a fellow like Granet, a keen

soldier and one of the best, doing all he can for us on land but a bit worried about our submarine danger. Why

shouldn't I try and reassure him, eh?let him see that we've a few little things up our sleeves?"

"That sounds all right, Ralph," Thomson agreed, "but you're departing from a principle, and I wouldn't do it.

It isn't a personal risk you're running, or a personal secret you're sharing with others. It may sound absurd

"Perhaps Thomson's right, Conyers," he intervened. "You keep your old scheme at the back of your head.

We'll know all about it when the history of the war's written. There's always the thousand to one chance, you

know. I might get brain fever in a German hospital and begin to babble. Tear it up, old fellow."

"Hugh," she protested, "don't you think you're carrying principle almost too far? It's so fearfully interesting

for us when Ralph's at sea, and we wait day by day for news from him, to understand a little what he's doing."

"I think you're a horrid nuisance, Major Thomson," Olive grumbled. "We'd just reached the exciting part."

"I am sorry," Thomson said, "but I think, Ralph, you had better do what Captain Granet suggested."

The young man shrugged his shoulders, his face was a little sulky. He took the plan up and tore it into pieces.

"If you weren't my prospective brotherinlaw, you know, Thomson," he exclaimed, "I should call your

interference damned cheek! After all, you know, you're only a civilian, and you can't be expected to

Thomson was silent for a moment. He read in the others' faces their sympathy with the young sailor's

They all wished him goodnightnobody stirred. He walked slowing into the front hall, waited for a

moment and then accepted his coat and hat from a servant. Lady Conyers waved to him from the staircase.

In a way, their meeting the next morning was fortuitous enough, yet it had also its significance for both of

"You are not going to scold me for my memory, are you?" Captain Granet asked, looking down at her with a

"I don't even remember telling you that I came into the Park in the mornings," Geraldine replied.

"You didn'tthat is to say you didn't mention the Park particularly," he admitted. "You told me you always

took these five dogs out for a walk directly after breakfast, and for the rest I used my intelligence."

"In which case," he observed, "I should have walked up and down until I had had enough of it, and then gone

"Don't be foolish," she laughed. "I decline absolutely to believe that you had a single thought of me when you

"Well, since we do happen to have met," he suggested, "might I walk with you a little way? You see," he

"Of course you may, if you like," she assented, glancing sympathetically at his stick. "How is your leg getting

"It's bettergetting on finely. So far as my leg is concerned, I believe I shall be fit to go out again within ten

days. It's my arm that bothers me a little. One of the nerves, the doctor said, must be wrong. I can only just

lift it. You've no idea," he went on, "how a game leg and a trussedup arm interfere with the little round of

one's daily life. I can't ride, can't play golf or billiards, and for an unintelligent chap like me," he wound up

"Why do you call yourself unintelligent?" she protested. "You couldn't have got through your soldiering so

"Oh! I know all the soldier stuff," he admitted, "know my job, that is to say, all right, and of course I am

moderately good at languages, but that finishes me. I haven't any brains like your friend Thomson, for

"And a little censorious, I am afraid," Granet added with a slight grimace. "I suppose he thinks I am a

garrulous sort of ass but I really can't see why he needed to go for your brother last night just because he was

gratifying a very reasonable curiosity on my part. It isn't as though I wasn't in the Service. The Army and the

Navy are the same thing, any way, and we are always glad to give a Navy man a hint as to how we are getting

She looked away for a moment. Her tone, when she replied, was meant to convey some slight annoyance at

Captain Granet kicked a pebble away from the path in front of him with his sound foot.

"I should think he must be a very good surgeon," he remarked in a measured tone. "Looks as though he had

lots of nerve, and that sort of thing. To tell you the truth, though, he rather frightens me. I don't think that he

"Fairly obvious, I am afraid," he confessed, with a sigh. "I love my soldiering, of course, and I am ashamed to

think how keen I have been on games, and should be still if I had the chance. Outside that I don't read much, I

am not musical, and I am very much predisposed to let the future look after itself. There are thousands just

like me," he continued thoughtfully. "We don't do any particular harm in the world but I don't suppose we do

"Don't be silly," she protested. "For one thing, it is splendid to be a capable soldier. You are just what the

They were silent for a few moments. Then they began to talk more lightly. They discussed dogs and horses,

their mutual friends, and their engagements for the next few days. They did not once refer to Thomson.

Presently Geraldine paused to speak to some friends. Granet leaned upon his stick in the background and

watched her. She was wearing a plain tailor made suit and a becoming little hat, from underneath which little

wisps of golden hair had somehow detached themselves in a fascinating disorder. There was a delicate pink

colour in her cheeks, the movements and lines of her body were all splendidly free and graceful. As she

talked to her friends her eyes for the moment seemed to have lost their seriousness. Her youth had reasserted

itselfher youth and splendid physical health. He watched her eagerly, and some shadow seemed to pass

from his own facethe shadow of his suffering or his pain. He, too, seemed to grow younger. The simplest

and yet the most wonderful joy in life was thrilling him. At last she bade farewell to her friends and came

"I am so sorry to have kept you all this time!" she exclaimed. "Lady Anne has just told me the time and I am

horrified. I meant to walk here for an hour and we have been here for two. Stop that taxi for me, please. I

He handed her into the cab and whistled for the dogs, who all scrambled in after her.

"Thanks to much for looking after a helpless cripple," he said pleasantly, as they shook hands. "You mustn't

He tactfully avoided any mention of a future meeting and was rewarded with a little wave of her hand from

the window of the cab. He himself left the Park at the same time, strolled along Piccadilly as far as Sackville

Street and let himself into his rooms. His servant came forward to meet him from the inner room, and took

Granet moved towards the easychair. On the way he stopped. The door of one of the cupboards in the

"Haven't I told you, Jarvis, that I wish those cupboards kept locked?" he asked a little curtly.

"I am very sorry, sir," he said. "I certainly believed that I locked it last night."

Granet opened it wide and looked inside. His first glance was careless enough, then his expression changed.

He stared incredulously at the small array of bottles and turned swiftly around.

Granet closed the cupboard slowly. Then he walked to the window for a moment, his hands behind his back.

The master and servant exchanged quick glances. The latter was looking pale and nervous.

"Yes!" Granet replied. "Did you notice the gentleman who called last eveningSurgeonMajor Thomson?"

Granet stood, for a moment, thinking. The servant remained motionless. The silence in the room was

"Jarvis," his master said at last, "remember this. I am not finding fault. I know you are always careful. But

from tonight be more vigilant than ever. There is a new hand in the game. He may not suspect us yet but he

The man withdrew noiselessly. Once more Granet walked to the window. He looked down for a few minutes

at the passersby but he saw nothing. Grave thoughts were gathering together in his mind. He was travelling

along the road of horrors and at the further end of it a man stood waiting. He saw himself draw nearer and

nearer to the meeting his name almost frame itself upon his lips, the name of the man whom he had grown to

Considering the crowded state of the waitingroom and the number of highly important people who were

there for the same purpose, SurgeonMajor Thomson seemed to have remarkably little difficulty in procuring

the interview he desired. He was conducted by a boy scout into a room on the second floor of the War Office,

within a few minutes of his arrival. A tall, greyhaired man in the uniform of a general looked up and nodded

"I am afraid you will be disappointed," he said. "I received your report and I went to a certain official

myselfsaw him in his own house before breakfast this morning. I had reports of three other men occupying

responsible positions in the city, Thomson, against whom there was really tangible and serious evidence. Our

"These damned civilians!" he murmured softly. "They've done their best to ruin Great Britain by crabbing

every sort of national service during the last ten years. They feed and pamper the vermin who are eating away

the foundations of the country, and, damn it all, when we put a clear case to them, when we show them men

whom we know to be dangerous, they laugh at us and tell us that it isn't our department! They look upon us

as amateurs and speak of Scotland Yard with bated breath. My God! If I had a free hand for ten minutes,

there'd be two Cabinet Ministers eating bread and water instead of their dinners tonight."

The General raised his eyebrows. He knew Thomson well enough to be aware how unusual such an ebullition

"Isn't it enough to make any man's blood boil?" the other replied. "The country today looks to its army and

its navy to save it from the humiliation these blackcoated parasites have encouraged, and yet even now we

haven't a free hand. You and I, who control the secret service of the army, denounce certain men, upon no

slight evidence, either, as spies, and we are laughed at! One of those very blatant idiots whose blundering is

costing the country millions of money and thousands of brave men, has still enough authority to treat our

"I am bound to say I agree with you, Thomson," the General declared, a little hopelessly. "It's the weakest

spot of our whole organisation, this depending on the civil powers. Tow of my cases were absolutely flagrant.

As regards yours, Thomson, I am not at all sure that we shouldn't be welladvised to get just a little more

"And meanwhile," Thomson retorted bitterly, "leave him a free hand to do what mischief he can. But for the

merest accident in the world, the night before last he would have learnt our new scheme for keeping the

"No one who is to be blamed," Thomson replied. "Can't you realise the position? Here's a fellow Service

man, a soldier, a D. S. O., who has been specially mentioned for bravery and who very nearly got the Victoria

Cross, comes here with the halo of a brilliant escape from the Germans, wounded, a young man of good

family and connections, and apparently as keen as mustard to get back again in the fighting line. Good

Heavens! The most careful sailor in the world might just drop a hint to that sort of man. What nearly

happened last night may happen a dozen times within the next week. Even our great secret, General,"

Thomson continued, dropping his voice a little, "even that might come to his ears."

The General was undoubtedly disturbed. He searched amongst the papers on his desk and brought out at last a

Thomson rose and looked over his shoulder. The letter was an autograph one of a few lines only, and dated

This is a special request to you. Arrange it any way you please but don't send me Captain Grent out again in

any capacity. Keep him at home. Mind, I am not saying word against him as a soldier. He has done some

splendid work on more than one occasion, but notwithstanding this I do not wish to see him again with any of

"I gave him a digest of its contents," the General replied. "He smiled in a supercilious manner and said I had

Thomson said nothing for a moment. His face was very set and he had the air of a man desperately but

"As a matter of fact," General Brice continued, glancing at the clock on his desk, "Granet is in my anteroom

"Have him in, if you don't mind," the other suggested. "I can sit at the empty desk over there. I can be making

some calculations with reference to the number of hospital beds for each transport. I want to hear him talk to

Thomson took his place in the far corner of the room and bent over a sheaf of papers. Presently Granet was

ushered in. He was leaning a little less heavily upon his stick and he had taken his arm from the sling for a

moment. He saluted the General respectfully and glanced across the room towards where Thomson was at

"Wonderfully, sir," was the brisk reply. "I have seen my own doctor this morning and he thinks I might come

The General stroked his grey moustache and looked searchingly at the young officer. He was standing full in

the light of a ray of sunshine which came streaming through the high, uncurtained windows. Although he was

still a little haggard, his eyes were bright, his lips were parted in an anticipatory smile, his whole expression

was engaging. General Brice, studying him closely, felt compelled to admit the improbability of his vague

"That's all very well, you know," he reminded him quietly, "but you won't be fit enough for active service for

"I don't want to disappoint you, young fellow," he continued, "but I heard from your Brigadier only

yesterday. He has been obliged to fill up your place and I don't think he has room for any one on his staff."

"This is no time to consider individuals," the General pointed out. "What about finding you a billet at home

Thomson had risen slowly from his place and, with a sheet of foolscap in his hand, closely covered with

There was a moment's rather tense silence. The young man's lips had come together, his eyes flashed.

"I did not recognise you, Major Thomson," he said calmly. "Have you found a new billet?"

"My old one is sufficiently absorbing just at present," the other replied laying his calculations on the

General's desk. "Forgive my interrupting you, sir, but you told me to let you have this as soon as I had

finished. That is my estimate of the number of beds we could stow away in the cubic feet you offer us."

"Don't go, Thomson," he said. "I'll talk to you about this later on. Well, Captain Granet," he added, "you'd

"I shall be very disappointed if I don't get out to the Front again soon, sir," the young man declared simply.

Granet was shown out and the door was closed. General Brice turned towards his companion.

"Thomson," he said, "frankly, I can't believe it. However, we'll find him a billet where he can't possibly do

"If you found him a billet where I should like to see him," SurgeonMajor Thomson observed bitterly, "he

would never do any more mischief in this world! Any dispatches from the Front, sir?"

"I am going to see that young man's General," Thomson replied. "I shall cross over today and be back

"Perhaps you are right," he assented. "Yes, I shall have a few reports. You'd better let them know at the

SurgeonMajor Thomson awoke about twelve hours later with a start. He had been sleeping so heavily that

he was at first unable to remember his whereabouts. His mind moved sluggishly across the brief panorama of

his hurried journeythe special train from Victoria to Folkestone; the destroyer which had brought him and

a few other soldiers across the Channel, black with darkness, at a pace which made even the promenade deck

impossible; the landing at Boulogne, a hive of industry notwithstanding the darkness; the clanking of

waggons, the shrieking of locomotives, the jostling of crowds, the occasional flashing of an electric torch.

And then the ride in the great automobile through the misty night. He rubbed his eyes and looked around him.

A grey morning was breaking. The car had come to a standstill before a white gate, in front of which was

stationed a British soldier, with drawn bayonet. SurgeonMajor Thomson pulled himself together and

He leaned from the car for a moment and held out something in the hollow of his hand. The man saluted and

drew back. The car went along a rough road which led across a great stretch of pastureland. On the ridge of

the hills on his right, little groups of men were at work unlimbering guns. Once or twice, with a queer,

screeching sound, a shell, like a little puff of white smoke, passed high over the car and fell somewhere in the

grey valley below. In the distance he could see the movements of a body of troops through the trees, soldiers

on the way to relieve their comrades in the trenches. As the morning broke, the trenches themselves came

into viewlong, zigzag lines, silent, and with no sign of the men who crawled about inside like ants. He

passed a great brewery transformed into a canteen, from which a line of waggons, going and returning, were

passing all the time backwards and forwards into the valley. Every now and then through the stillness came

the sharp crack of a rifle from the snipers lying hidden in the little stretches of woodland and marshland away

on the right. A motoromnibus, with its advertisement signs still displayed but a great red cross floating

above it, came rocking down the road on its way to the field hospital in the distance. As yet, however, the

They passed several small houses and farms, in front of each of which was stationed a sentry. Once, form the

hills behind, a great whitewinged aeroplane glided over his head on its way to make a reconnaissance.

Queerest sight of all, here and there were peasants at work in the fields. One old man leaned upon his spade

and watched as the car passed. Not a dozen yards from him was a great hole in the ground where a shell had

burst, and a little further away a barn in ruins. The car was forced to stop here to let a cavalcade of

ammunition waggons pass by. SurgeonMajor Thomson leaned from his seat and spoke to the old man.

"Monsieur," the old man answered, "one must live or dieit does not matter which. For the rest, if one is to

live, one must eat. Therefore I work. Four sons I have and a nephew away yonder," he added, waving his

hand southwards. "That is why I dig alone. Why do you not send us more soldiers, Monsieur l'Anglais?"

"It is always 'wait,'" he muttered, "and one grows old and tired. Bonjour, monsieur!"

The car passed on again and suddenly dropped into a little protected valley. They came to a standstill before a

tiny chateau, in front of which stretched what might once have been an ornamental garden, but which was

now torn to pieces by gun carriages, convoy waggons, and every description of vehicle. From the top of the

house stretched many wires. A sentry stood at the iron gates and passed Major Thomson after a perfunctory

challenge. An office with mudstained boots and windtossed hair, who looked as though he had been out all

"Nothing to speak of," the other replied. "We've just had a message in that the French have been giving them

a knock. We've had a quit time the last two days. They're bringing up some more Bavarians, we think."

"Come in and have some coffee. Yes, he'll see you, of course. He is in his own room with two of the flying

They passed into an apartment which had once been the diningroom of the chateau, and in which a long

table was laid. One or two staff officers greeted Thomson, and the man who had brought him in attended to

"The General had his breakfast an hour ago," the latter observed. "We're pretty well forward here and we

have to keep on the qui vive. We got some shells yesterday dropped within a quarter of a mile of us. I think

we're going to try and give them a push back on the left flank. I'll go in and see about you, Thomson."

"Good fellow! You might tell them to give my chauffeur something. The destroyer that brought me over is

"London! My God!" he muttered. "There is still a London, I suppose? Savoy and Carlton going still? Pall

"And very much as it was," Thomson assured him. "London's wonderfully unchanged. You been out long?"

"September the second," was the cheerful reply. "I keep on getting promised a week but I can't bring it off."

"He's such a nut with the telephones," the man by his side explained, helping himself to marmalade. "The

"Oh, chuck it!" the other exclaimed in disgust. "What about you?the only man with an eye to a

Heavenordained gun position, as old Wattles declared one day. We're all living wonders, Major," he went

on, turning to Thomson, "but if I don't get a Sole Colbert and a grill at the Savoy, and a front seat at the

Alhambra, before many weeks have passed, I shall get stalethat's what'll happen to me."

"Hope you'll have your hair cut before you go back, a man from the other end of the table remarked. "Your

"Chap who was going to cut it for me got shot yesterday," he grumbled. "Anything doing as you came over

"That would be Johnny Oates going out in his Bleriot," some one remarked. "He'll be back here before long

Thomson followed his guide into a small back room. An officer was seated before a desk, writing, another

was shouting down a telephone, and a third was making some measurements upon a large Ordnance map

nailed upon one of the walls. The General was standing with his back to the fire and a pipe in his mouth. He

"Nine o'clock last evening, sir," Thomson replied. "Rather a record trip. We had a special down and a

"And I'm going to tell you what you want to know," the General continued glancing at a document in his

"We've reasons of our own for wishing to know exactly what you meant by asking the War Office not to send

"They are a little intangible, sir," Thomson confessed, "but exceedingly important. Without any direct

evidence, I have come to the conclusion that Captain Granet is a mysterious person and needs watching. As

usual, we are in trouble with the civil authorities, and, to be frank with you, I am trying to strengthen my

"Very well," he decided, "under the circumstances you have the right to know what my message meant. We

sent Granet back because of a suspicion which may be altogether unjustifiable. The suspicion was there,

however, and it was sufficiently strong for me to make up my mind that I should prefer not to have him back

again. Now you shall know the facts very briefly. Granet was taken prisoner twice. No one saw him

takenas a matter of fact, both of the affairs were night attacks. He seemed suddenly to disappeargot too

far ahead of his men, was his explanation. All I can say is that he was luckier than most of them. Anything

wandering about loose in a British uniformbut there, I won't go on with that. He came back each time with

information as to what he had seen. Each time we planned an attack on the strength of that information. Each

time that information proved to be misleading and our attack failed, costing us heavy losses. Of course,

dispositions might have been changed since his observations were made, but there the fact remains. Further,"

the General continued, filling his pipe slowly and pressing in the tobacco, "on the second occasion we had

four hundred men thrown forward into the village of Ossray. They were moved in the pitch darkness, and

silently. It was impossible for any word of their presence in Ossray to have been known to the Germans. Yet

the night of Granet's capture the village was shelled, and those who escaped were cut off and made prisoners.

"Those are just the facts," the General concluded. "Now on the other hand, Granet has handled his men well,

shown great personal bravery, and has all the appearance of a keen soldier. I hate to do him a wrong even in

my thoughts but there were others besides myself to whom these coincidences seemed amazing. We simply

decided that they'd better give Granet a billet at home. That's the reason of my message."

"I am very much obliged to you, sir," Thomson said slowly. "You have given me exactly the information

The General was called away for a moment to give some instructions to the young officer who was sitting in

a distant corner of the room with a telephone band around his head. He signed to Thomson, however, to

"Now that I have gratified your curiosity," he said, when he returned, "perhaps you will gratify mine? Will

you tell me just how you over in England have come to have suspicions of this man?"

"That," Thomson explained, "is almost a personal matter with me. Three months ago I spent the night with

the Third Army Corps up by Niemen. I was there on other business, as you may imagine, but there was some

hot fighting and I went out to help. I was attending to some of our fellows and got very near to the German

lines. I became separated from the others a little and was groping about when I heard voices talking German

within a few feet of me. I couldn't hear what they said but I could just distinguish two figures. One of them

made off towards the German lines. The other, after standing still for a moment, came in my direction. I took

out my revolver, and to tell you the truth I very nearly fired on sight, for it would have been an exceedingly

awkward matter for me to have been taken prisoner just then. Just as my finger was on the trigger, I became

conscious that the man who was approaching was humming 'Tipperary.' I flashed my light on his face and

saw at once that he was a British officer. He addressed me quickly in German. I answered him in English. I

fancied for a moment that he seemed annoyed. 'We'd better get out of this,' he whispered. 'We're within a

hundred yards of the German trenches and they are bringing searchlights up.' 'Who were you talking to just

now?' I asked, as we stole along. 'No one at all,' he answered. I didn't take the thing seriously for the moment,

although it seemed to me queer. Afterwards I regretted, however, that I hadn't set myself to discover the

meaning of what was apparently a deliberate lie. The next time I met Granet was at a luncheon party at the

Ritz, a few days ago. I recognised his face at once, although I had only seen it by the flash of my electric

"It's a hateful thing to believe," he said, "that any one wearing his Majesty's uniform could ever play such a

dastardly part. However, on the whole I am rather glad that I passed in that request to the War Office.

Thomson took the hint and departed. A few minutes later he was in his car and on his way back to Boulogne.

Olive Moreton gave a little start as the long, grey, racing car came noiselessly to a standstill by the side of the

kerbstone. Captain Granet raised his hat and leaned from the driving seat towards her.

"Isn't she! My uncle's present to me to pass away the time until I can do some more soldiering. They only

"Do you know, I guessed that," he remarked, leaning on one side and opening the door. "Do let me take you.

"As a matter of fact," she told him, "I was looking for a taxicab. I have had a telegram from Ralph. He wants

us to go down to Portsmouth by the first train we can catch this morning. He says that if we can get down

there in time to have lunch at two o'clock, he can show us over the 'Scorpion.' After today she will be closed

to visitors, even his own relations. I was just going to see if Geraldine could come."

Granet was thoughtful for a moment. He glanced at the little clock on the dashboard opposite to him.

"I tell you what," he suggested, "why not let me motor you and Miss Conyers down? I don't believe there's

another fast train before one o'clock, and we'd get down in a couple of hours, easily. It's just what I'm longing

"I should love it," the girl exclaimed, "and I should think Geraldine would. Will you wait while I run in and

"Of course," Granet replied. "Here we are, and there's Miss Conyers at the window. You go in and talk her

over and I'll just see that we've got lots of petrol. I'll have you down there within two hours, all right, if we

She hurried into the house. Geraldine met her on the threshold and they talked together for a few moments.

"Geraldine would simply love it," she announced. "She will be here in five minutes. Could we just stop at my

"Certainly!" Granet agreed, glancing at his watch. "This is absolutely ripping! We shall be down there by one

"I don't know," she answered indifferently. "Some Admiralty regulation, I suppose."

"After all," he declared, "I am not sure whether I chose the right profession. There is so much that is

mysterious about the Navy. They are always inventing something or trying something new."

"This is the most delightful idea!" she exclaimed, as Granet held the door open. "Do you really mean that you

"I am not going to worry your brother," he answered, smiling, "but I am going to take you down to

Portsmouth, if I may. We shall be there long before you could get there by train, andwell, what do you

"Simply wonderful," Geraldine declared. "Olive told me that your uncle had just given it you. What a lucky

"Do you think so?" he answered. "Well, I am lucky in my uncle, at any rate. He is one of those few people

who have a great deal of money and don't mind spending it. I was getting bored to death with my game leg

and arm, and certainly this makes one forget both of them. Six cylinders, you see, Miss Conyers, and I

"For a time," he remarked, "I am your chauffeur. I just want to see what she'll doto experiment a little."

>From that point conversation became scanty. The girls leaned back in their seats. Granet sat bolt upright,

with his eyes fixed upon the road. Shortly before one o'clock they entered Portsmouth.

"Marvelous!" Olive echoed. "Captain Granet, Ralph promised that there should be a pinnace at number seven

"Number seven dock is there," he said, "and there's the pinnace. I shall go back to the hotel for lunch and wait

"You will do nothing of the sort," Geraldine insisted. "Ralph would be furious if you didn't come with us."

"Of course!" Olive interposed. "How could you think of anything so ridiculous! It's entirely owing to you that

"You see, just now," he explained, "I know the regulations for visiting ships in commission are very strict.

"How can you be so absurd!" Geraldine protested. "Youa soldier! Why, of course he'd be delighted to have

Granet swung the car around into the archway of a hotel exactly opposite the dock.

"All right," he agreed. "We'll leave the car here. Of course, I'd like to come all right."

They crossed the cobbled street and made their way to the dock. The pinnace was waiting for them and in a

very few minutes they were on their way across the harbour. The "Scorpion" was lying well away from other

craft, her four squat funnels emitting faint wreaths of smoke. She rode very low in the water and her

"Personally," Geraldine observed, leaning a little forward to look at her, "I think a destroyer is one of the

most vicious, the most hideous things I ever saw. I do hope that Ralph will be quick and get a cruiser."

"Did you ever see anything so ugly? She looks as though she would spit out death from every little crevice."

"Our speeds are only nominal, any way," he remarked. "If our chief engineer there ad the proper message,

there's none of us would like to say what he could get out of those new engines."

He turned and shouted an order. In a moment or two they swung around and drew up by the side of the

"Well done, you people!" he exclaimed. "Hullo Granet! Have you brought the girls down?"

"In the most wonderful racing car you ever saw!" Geraldine told him, as they climbed up the gangway. "We

"I met Captain Granet this morning by accident," Olive explained, as she stepped on deck, "and he insisted on

"I hope I'm not in the way at all?" Granet asked anxiously. "If I am, you have only to say the word and put me

on shore, and I'll wait, with pleasure, until the young ladies come off. I have a lot of pals down here, too, I

"Don't be silly, Conyers replied. "Our dear old lady friend Thomson isn't here to worry so I think we can

make you free of the ship. Come along down and try a cocktail. Mind your heads. We're not on a battleship,

They drank cocktails cheerfully, and afterwards Geraldine exclaimed, taking a long breath. "If Olive weren't

Exactly opposite to them was an erection of light framework, obviously built around some hidden object for

purposes of concealment. A Marine was standing on guard before it, with drawn cutlass. Granet was in the

act of addressing him when an officer ran lightly down the fore part of the ship, and saluted.

"Very sorry, sir," he said, "but would you mind keeping to the other side? This deck is closed, for the

"What on earth have you got there?" Granet asked goodhumouredly,"that is if it's anything a landsman

"It's just a little something we are not permitted to talk about just now," he replied. "I didn't know the

commander expected any visitors today or we should have had it roped off. Anything I can show you on this

"Nothing at all, thanks," Geraldine assured him. "We'll just stroll about for a little time."

They leaned over the rail together. The young officer saluted and withdrew. A freshening breeze blew in their

faces and the sunshine danced upon the foamflecked sea. The harbour was lively with small craft, an

aeroplane was circling overhead, and out in the Roads several warships were lying anchored.

"So were we," Geraldine replied. "I never enjoyed motoring more. Your new car is wonderful."

"She is a beauty, isn't she?" Granet assented enthusiastically. "What she could touch upon fourth speed I

wouldn't dare to say. We were going over sixty plenty of times this morning, and yet one scarcely noticed it.

"He is rather a brick," Granet acknowledged. "He's done me awfully well all my life."

"You really are rather to be envied, aren't you, Captain Granet? You have most of the things a man wants.

You've had your opportunity, too of doing just the finest things a man can, and you've done them."

She kept her head turned from him. Somehow or other, she divined quite well what was in his mind. She tried

to think of something to say, something to dispel the seriousness which she felt to be in the atmosphere, but

She did not answer him at once. She still kept her eyes resolutely turned away from his. When at last she

He leaned a little closer towards her. His voice sounded to her very deep and firm. It was the voice of a man

"I am going to be an awful rotter," he said. "I suppose I ought to take your answer to my question as final. I

won't that's all. He came along first but that isn't everything. It's a fair fight between him and me. He hates me

and takes no pains to hide it. He hates me because I care for youyou know that. I couldn't keep it to myself

She drew a little away but he forced her to look at him. There was something else besides appeal in her eyes.

"You've been the victim of a mistake," he insisted, his hand resting upon hers. "I don't believe that you really

care for him at all. He doesn't seem the right sort for you, he's so much older and graver. You mustn't be

angry. You must forgive me, please, if I have said more than I oughtif I say more nowbecause I am

going to tell you, now that we are alone together for a moment, that I love you."

She turned upon him a little indignantly, though the distress in her face was still apparent.

"Captain Granet!" she exclaimed. "You should not say that! You have no rightno right at all."

"On the contrary, I have every right, he answered doggedly. "It isn't as though Thomson were my friend. He

hates me and I dislike him. Every man has a right to do his best to win the girl he cares for. It's the first time

I've felt anything of this sort. I've never wanted the big things before from any woman. And now"

She turned impetuously away from him. Over their head an electric message was sparkling and crackling.

"I cannot listen any more," she declared. "If you say another word I shall go below."

He remained for a moment gloomily silent. A young officer stepped out of the wireless room and saluted

"Very sorry for you people, Miss Conyers," he announced, "but I am afraid we'll have to put you on shore.

The officer saluted and handed over a folded piece of paper. Conyers read it with a frown and stepped at once

"Gels," he explained, "and you, Granet, I'm frightfully sorry but I can't keep you here another second. I have

ordered the pinnace round. You must get on shore and have lunch at the 'Ship.' I'll come along as soon as I

can. Frightfully sorry, Granet, but I needn't apologise to you, need I? War's war, you know and this is a

"It isn't that," he replied. "We've got some engineers coming over to do some work on deck, and I've had a

"Is it anything to do with this wonderful screenedup thing?" Olive asked, strolling towards the

"Can't disclose Government secrets! Between just us fourour friend Thomson isn't here, is he?" he added,

"Secretive chaps, you sailors," he observed. "Never mind, I have a pal in the Admiralty who gives me a few

"Don't you breathe a word about having been board the 'Scorpion,'" Conyers begged quickly. "They wink at it

down here, so long as it's done discreetly, but it's positively against the rules, you know."

They raced across the mile of broken water to the landingstage. They were all a little silent. Olive was

frankly disappointed, Geraldine was busy with her thoughts. Granet's gaze seemed rivetted upon the

"Scorpion." Another pinnace had drawn up alongside and a little company of men were boarding her.

"I only hope that they really have hit upon a device to rid the sea of these cursed submarines!" he remarked,

as they made their way across the dock. "I see the brutes have taken to sinking fishing boats now."

"Ralph believes that they have got something," Olive declared eagerly. "He is simply aching to get to work."

"Sailors are all so jolly sanguine," Granet reminded her. "They are doing something pretty useful with nets, of

course, in the way your brother was beginning to explain to me when Major Thomson chipped in, but they

could only keep a fixed channel clear in that way. What they really need is some way of tackling them when

they are under water. Here we are at last. I hope you girls are as hungry as I am."

They lunched in leisurely fashion, Olive in particular glancing often towards the door, and afterwards they sat

about in the lounge, drinking their coffee. Granet had seemed to be in high spirits throughout the meal, and

told the girls many little anecdotes of his adventures at the Front. Afterwards, however, he became silent, and

finally, with a word of excuse, strolled off alone. Olive looked once more at the clock.

"Ralph doesn't seem to be coming back, does he?" she sighed. "Let's walk a little way down to the

The two girls strolled out and made their way towards the harbour. They could see the "Scorpion" but there

was no sign of any pinnace leaving her. Reluctantly they turned back towards the hotel.

Geraldine stopped short. There was a little frown gathering upon her forehead. She pointed up to the roof of

the hotel, where a man was crouching with a telescope glued to his eyes. He lowered it almost as they paused,

"Can't see any sign of Conyers," he shouted. "I'm waiting for the pinnace. Come up here. There's such a

They made their way to the top of the house and were escorted by a buxom chambermaid to what was

practically a stepladder opening out on to a skylight. From here they crawled on to the roof, where they

found Granet comfortably ensconced with his back to a chimney, smoking a cigarette.

"I borrowed it from downstairs," he answered. "Do come and have a look. You can see the Scorpion quite

distinctly. All the officers seem to be gathered around that mysterious structure on the upper deck. I thought

Olive held out her hand for the telescope but Geraldine shook her head. There was a troubled expression in

"I suppose it's awfully silly, Captain Granet," she said, "but honestly, I don't think Ralph would take it as a

joke at all if he knew that we were up here, trying to find out what was going on."

"Perhaps you are right," he admitted. "All the same, we are a little exceptionally placed, aren't we?his

He broke off suddenly. A hand had been laid upon his shoulder. A small, dark man, who had come round the

"I must trouble you all for your names and addresses, if you please," he announced quietly.

The two girls stared at him, dumbfounded. Granet, however, remained perfectly at his ease. He laid down the

"I really don't altogether see," he remarked good humouredly, "why I should give my name and address to a

"Well, I am Captain Granet, back from the Front with dispatches a few days ago," Granet told him. "This is

Miss Conyers, sister of Commander Conyers of the 'Scorpion,' and Miss Olive Moreton, his fiancee. We are

waiting for Commander Conyers at the present moment, and we were just looking to see if the pinnace had

The man made a few notes in his pocketbook. Then he opened the trapdoor and stood on one side.

"No one is allowed out here, sir," he said. "The hotel people are to blame for not having the door locked. I

shall have to make a report but I have no doubt that your explanation will be accepted. Will you be so good as

"The fellow's quite right," he decided. "I am only glad that the Government are looking after things so. The

Admiralty are much more goahead in this way than we are. I vote we have out the car and go down the front

to Southseaunless we are under arrest?" he added pleasantly, turning towards the man who had accosted

"You are at liberty to do whatever you please, sir," was the polite reply. "In any case, I think it would be quite

"The Scorpion has just received orders to leave on this evening's tide, madam," the man announced. "You can

They looked out across the harbour. The smoke was pouring from the funnels of the destroyer. Already she

"She's off, right enough!" Granet exclaimed. "Nothing left for us, then, but London."

Geraldine, a few hours later, set down the telephone receiver with a little sigh of resignation. Lady Conyers

"Was that some one wanting to come and see you at this time of night, Geraldine?" she asked.

"It's Hugh," she explained. "He has rung up from the War Office or somewheresays he has just got back

from France and wants to see me at once. I think he might have waited till tomorrow morning. I can

"It isn't really so late," she remarked, "and I dare say, if the poor man's been travelling all day, he'd like to say

"I shall go into the morning room and wait for him," she announced. "He'll very likely find me asleep."

"Where's that nice young fellow Granet?" he asked. "Why didn't you bring him in to dinner?"

"Well, we didn't get back until nearly eight," Geraldine reminded her father. "I didn't think he'd have time to

"Fine young chap, that," Sir Seymour remarked. "The very best type of young English soldier. We could do

Geraldine left the room without remark. She could hear her father rustling his paper as she disappeared.

"Can't think why Geraldine didn't pick up with a smart young fellow like Granet instead of an old stick like

"Major Thomson has a charming disposition," Lady Conyers declared warmly. "Besides, he will be very well

"Who cares about that?" her husband grunted. "Gerald has all the family shee needs, and all the money. How

Geraldine, notwithstanding her fatigue, welcomed her lover very charmingly when he arrived, a few minutes

later. Major Thomson was still in travelling clothes, and had the air of a man who had been working at high

pressure for some time. He held her fingers tightly for a moment, without speaking. Then he led her to the

"You know that I do not like Captain Granet, yet you took him with you down to Portsmouth today and even

"In the first place, because he offered to motor us down after we had missed the train. There are heaps of

"Well, Olive and I preferred having an escort and Captain Granet was a most agreeable one. He took us down

in a car his uncle has just given hima sixty horsepower Panhard. I never enjoyed motoring more in my

"You are all very foolish," Thomson said slowly. "I am going to tell you something now, dear, which you

may not believe, but it is for your good, and it is necessary for me to have some excuse for the request I am

"Nothing has been proved against him," Thomson continued, "and I tell you frankly that in certain quarters

the idea is scouted as absurd. On the other hand, he is under observation as being a possible German spy."

Geraldine for a moment sat quite still. Then she broke into a peal of laughter. She sat up, a moment later,

"Hugh, dear," she sighed, patting his hand, "you do so much better looking after your hospitals and your

wounded than unearthing mare'snests like this. I don't think that you'd be a brilliant success in the

Intelligence Department. As to the War Office, well, you know what I think of them. Captain Granet a

"Neither the War Office nor I myself," Thomson continued, "have arrived at these suspicions without some

reason. Perhaps you will look at the matter a little more seriously when I tell you that Captain Granet will not

"I have never been more serious in my life," he insisted. "I am not in a position to tell you more than the bare

facts or I might disclose some evidence which even you would have to admit throws a rather peculiar light

upon some of this young man's actions. As it is, however, I can do no more than warn you, and beg you," he

went on, "to yield to my wishes in the matter of your further acquaintance with him."

There was a moment's rather curious silence. Geraldine seemed to be gazing through the walls of the room.

"I shall send for him to come and see me the first thing tomorrow morning," she decided.

She turned her head and looked at him. He was conscious of the antagonism which had sprung up like a wall

"By reminding you of your duty to your country," he answered. "Geraldine, dear, I did not expect to have to

talk to you like this. When I tell you that responsible people in the War Office, officials whose profession it is

to scent out treachery, have declared this young man suspect, I am certainly disappointed to find you

embracing his cause so fervently. It is no personal matter. Believe, me," he added, after a moment's pause,

"whatever my personal bias may be, what I am saying to you now is not actuated in the slightest by any

feelings of jealousy. I have told you what I know and it is for you to make your choice as to how much or

how little in the future you will see of this young man. But I do forbid you, not in my own name but for our

"It comes to this, then," she said, "that you make accusations against a man and deny him the right of being

"If you choose to put it like that, yes," he assented. "Only I fancied that consideringconsidering the things

He leaned a little towards her. If she had been looking she could scarcely have failed to have been touched by

the sudden softness of his dark eyes, the little note of appeal in his usually immobile face. Her eyes, however,

were fixed upon the diamond ring which sparkled upon her third finger. Slowly she drew it off and handed it

"Hugh," she said, "the things you speak of do not exist any more between us. I am sorry, but I think you are

narrow and suspicious. You have your own work to do. It seems to me mean to spend your time suspecting

soldiers who have fought for their king and their country, of such a despicable crime."

"In what way?" she demanded. "I judge only by the facts, the things you have said to me, your accusations

against Captain Granet. Why should you go out of your way to investigate cases of suspected espionage?"

"You cannot believe that I would do so unless I was convinced that it was my duty?"

"I am very sorry, Geraldine," he said. "I will keep this ring. You are quite free. Butlook at me."

Against her will she was forced to do as he bade her. Her own attitude, which had appeared to her so

dignified and right, seemed suddenly weakened. She had the feeling of a peevish child.

"Geraldine," he begged, "take at least the advice of a man who loves you. Wait."

Even when he had opened the door she felt a sudden inclination to call him back. She heard him go down the

hall, heard the front door open and close. She sat and looked in a dazed sort of way at the empty space upon

her finger. Then she rose and went into the drawingroom, where her father and mother were still reading.

"Damned good job, too!" he declared. "That young fellow Granet's worth a dozen of him. Never could stick

At a little after noon on the following day Captain Granet descended from a taxicab in the courtyard of the

Milan Hotel, and, passing through the swing doors, made his way to the inquiry office. A suave,

"Can you tell me," Granet inquired, "whether a gentlemen named Guillot is staying here?"

"Monsieur Guillot arrived last night, sir," he announced. "He has just rung down to say that if a gentlemen

called to see him he could be shown up. Here, page," he went on, turning to a diminutive youth in the

Granet followed the boy to the lift and was conducted to a room on the third floor. The door was opened by a

The Frenchman ushered him in. The door was closed and carefully locked. Then Monsieur Guillot swung

around and looked at his visitor with some curiosity. Granet was still wearing his uniform.

"My friend," he confessed, "for a moment I was surprised. It did not occur to me to see you in this guise."

"But an English officer?" Monsieur Guillot remarked dubiously. "I do not quite understand, then. The nature

"I do not think that you should be so much surprised," he said simply. "If the war is grievous for your

country, it is ruin to mine. We do not, perhaps, advertise our apprehensions in the papers. We prefer to keep

them locked up in our own brain. There is one great fact always before us. Germany is unconquerable. One

Monsieur Guillot listened with a curious look upon his face. His forefinger tapped the copy of the Times

"Yes," he continued, "I know that our Press is carrying on a magnificent campaign of bluff. I know that many

of the ignorant people of the country believe that this war is still being prosecuted with every hope of success.

We who have been to the Front, especially those who have any source of information in Germany, know

differently. The longer the war, the more ruinous the burden which your country and mine will have to bear."

"It is my opinion also," Monsieur Guillot declared, "and furthermore, listen. It is not our war at all, that is the

cruel part of it. It is Russia's war and yours. Yet it is we who suffer most, we, the richest part of whose

country is in the hands of the foe, we whose industries are paralysed, my country from whom the lifeblood

is being slowly drained. You English, what do you know of the war? No enemy has set foot upon your soil,

no Englishman has seen his womankind dishonoured or his home crumble into ashes. The war to you is a

thing of paper, an abstractionthat same war which has turned the better half of my beloved country into a

"Our time has not yet come," Granet admitted, "but before long, unless diplomacy can avert it, fate will be

knocking at our doors, too. Listen. You have friends still in power, Monsieur Guillot?friends in the

"You have, too," Granet continued, "a great following throughout France. You are the man for the task I

bring to you. You, if you choose, shall save your country and earn the reward she will surely bestow upon

Monsieur Guillot's cheeks were flushed a little. With long, nervous fingers he rolled a cigarette and lit it.

"Monsieur," he said, "I listen to you eagerly, and yet I am puzzled. You wear the uniform of an English

"In bald words that may be true," Granet confessed, "yet I would remind you of two things. First, that the

more dominant part of the personality which I have inherited comes to me from Alsatian ancestors; and

secondly, that this peace for which I am striving may in the end mean salvation for England, too."

"I hear you with relief," Monsieur Guillot admitted. "In this transaction it is my great desire to deal with a

Granet drew a thin packet from the breast pocket of his coat. He laid it on the table between them.

"I received this," he announced, "less than three weeks ago from the hands of the Kaiser himself."

"It was very simple," Granet continued. "I was taken prisoner near the village of Ossray. I was conducted at

once to headquarters and taken by motorcar to a certain fortified place which I will not specify, but which

was at that time the headquarters of the German Staff. I received this document there in the way I have told

you. I was then assisted, after some very remarkable adventures, to rejoin my regiment. You can open that

document, Monsieur Guillot. It is addressed to you. Guard it carefully, though, for it is signed by the Kaiser

himself. I have carried it with me now for more than a fortnight in the inner sole of my shoe. As you can

Monsieur Guillot was engrossed in reading the few lines of the missive. When he had finished, he covered

the paper with the palm of his hand and leaned forward. There was a queer light in his eyes.

"Germany will give up Alsace and Lorraine," he said hoarsely, "and will retire within her own frontiers. She

"Simple enough," Granet pointed out. "A great politician like you should easily realise the actual conditions

which prompt such an offer. What good is territory to Germany, territory over which she must rule by force,

struggling always against the accumulated hatred of years? Alsace and Lorraine have taught her her lesson. It

is not French territory she wants. Russia has far more to give. Russia and England between them can pay an

indemnity which will make Germany rich beyond the dreams of avarice. Form your party, Monsieur Guillot,

spread your tidings in any way that seems fit to you, only until the hour comes, guard that document as you

"It will be a peace that will cost us much, but nothing more than we deserve. For generations the war has

been the perfectly obvious and apparent sequence of European events. It threw its warning shadow across our

path for years, and our statesmen deliberately turned their heads the other way or walked blindfolded. Not

only our statesmen, mind, but our people, our English people. Our young men shirked their duty, our

philosophers and essayists shirked theirs. We prated of peace and conventions, and we knew very well that

we were living in times when human nature and red blood were still the controlling elements. We watched

Germany arm and prepare. We turned for comfort towards our fellow sinners, America, and we prattled about

conventions and arbitration, and hundred other silly abstractions. A father can watch the punishment of his

child, Monsieur Guillot. Believe me, there are many other Englishmen besides me who will fell a melancholy

satisfaction in the chastisement of their country, many who are more English, even, than I."

Monsieur Guillot passed away from the personal side of the matter. Already his mind was travelling swiftly

"This is the chance which comes to few men," he muttered. "There is Dejane, Gardine, Debonnot, Senn,

besides my own followers. My own journal, too! It is a great campaign, this which I shall start."

"After today I breathe more freely," he confessed. "There have been enemies pressing closely around me, I

have walked in fear. Today I am a free man. Take care, monsieur. Take care especially whilst you are in

"My young friend," he said, "in the years to come you and I shall perhaps meet in our wonderful Paris, and if

I may not tell the world so, I shall yet feel, as we look upon her greatness, that you and I together have saved

Granet made his way along the empty corridor, rang for the lift and descended into the hall. A smile was

upon his lips. The torch at last was kindled! In the hall of the hotel he came across a group of assembling

guests just starting for the luncheon room. A tall, familiar figure stepped for a moment on one side. His heart

She glanced towards where the little group of people were already on their way to the stairs.

"I must not stay for a second, she continued, dropping her voice, "but I wanted to tell youI am no longer

A rush of words trembled upon his lips but she was gone. He watched her slim, graceful figure as she passed

swiftly along the vestibule and joined her friends. He even heard her little laugh as she greeted one of the men

"Decidedly," Granet said to himself triumphantly as he turned towards the door, "this is my day!"

Monsieur Guillot was a man of emotional temperament. For more than an hour after Granet had left him, he

paced up and down his little room, stood before the high windows which overlooked the Thames, raised his

hands above his head and gazed with flashing eyes into the futuresuch a future! All his life he had been a

schemer, his eyes turned towards the big things, yet with himself always occupying the one glorified place in

the centre of the arena. He was, in one sense of the word, a patriot, but it was the meanest and smallest sense.

There was no great France for him in which his was not the commanding figure. In every dream of that

wonderful future, of a more splendid and triumphant France, he saw himself on the pinnacle of fame, himself

acclaimed by millions the strong great man, the liberator. France outside himself lived only as a phantasy.

And now at last his chance had come. The minutes passed unnoticed as he built his way up into the future. He

was shrewd and calculating, he took note of the pitfalls he must avoid. One by one he decided upon the men

whom gradually and cautiously he would draw into his confidence. Finally he saw the whole scheme

complete, the bombshell thrown, France hysterically casting laurels upon the man who had brought her

The doorbell rang. He answered it a little impatiently. A slim, fashionably dressed young Frenchman stood

"I am the Baron D'Evignon," he announced, "second secretary at the Embassy here."

Monsieur Guillot held the card and looked at his visitor. He was very puzzled. Some dim sense of foreboding

"Be so kind as to come in, Monsieur le Baron," he invited. "Will you not be seated and explain to me to what

I am indebted for this honour? You do not, by any chance, mistake me for another? I am Monsieur Guillot,

"There is no mistake, Monsieur Guillot," he said. "I come to you with a message from my Chief. He would be

greatly honoured if you would accompany me to the Embassy. He wishes a few minutes' conversation with

"But what have I to do with the Ambassador, or with diplomatic matters of any sort?" he protested. "I am

here on business, to see what can be saved from the wreck of my affairs. Monsieur the Ambassador is

"There is no mistake, my dear sir," he insisted. "We all recognise," he added, with a bow, "the necessities

which force the most famous of us to live sometimes in the shadow of anonymity. If the Chief could find

little to say to Monsieur Guillot of Lille, he will, I am sure, be very interested in a short conversation with

There was a brief, tense silence. The man who had called him self Guillot was transformed. The dreams

which had uplifted him a few minutes ago, had passed. He was living very much in the presentan ugly and

foreboding present. The veins stood out upon his forehead and upon the back of his hands, his teeth gleamed

In silence they left the hotel and drove to the Embassy, in silence the young man ushered his charge into the

large, pleasant apartment on the ground floor of the Embassy, where the ambassador was giving instructions

to two of his secretaries. He dismissed them with a little wave of his hand and bowed politely to his visitor.

There was no longer any pretext on the part of Monsieur Guillot. He recognised its complete futility.

"Monsieur Pailleton," the ambassador began, "will you take a seat? It is very kind of you to obey so quickly

"I had no idea," the latter remarked, "that my presence in England was known. I am here on private business."

"Precisely, my friend! You see, I use the epithet 'my friend' because at a time like this all Frenchmen must

forget their differences and work together for the good and honour of their country. Is it not so, monsieur?"

"That is indeed true," Monsieur Pailleton admitted slowly. "We may work in different ways but we work

"No one has ever doubted your patriotism, Monsieur Pailleton," the ambassador continued. "It is my privilege

now to put it to the test. There is a little misunderstanding in Brazil, every particular concerning which, and

the views of our Government, is contained in the little parcel of documents which you see upon this table. Put

them in your pocket, Monsieur Pailleton. I am going to ask you to serve your country by leaving for

Monsieur Pailleton had been a little taken aback by the visit of the Baron. He sat now like a man temporarily

stupefied. He was too amazed to find any sinister significance in this mission. He could only gasp. The

ambassador's voice, as he continued talking smoothly, seemed to reach him from a long way off.

"It may be a little contrary to your wishes, my friend," the latter proceeded, "to find yourself so far from the

throb of our great struggle, yet in these days we serve best who obey. It is the wish of those who stand for

Monsieur Pailleton began in some measure to recover himself. He was still, however, bewildered.

"Monsieur," he protested, "I do not understand. This mission to Brazil of which you speakit can have no

"Alas! No, my dear sir," was the uncompromising reply. "It is youMonsieur Pailletonwhom the

"I am to be got out of the way!" he exclaimed. "The President fears me politically, he fears my following!"

The ambassador drew himself a little more upright, a stiff unbending figure. His words seemed suddenly to

Pailleton gripped at the back of his chair. The room for a moment swam before his eyes.

"Take it as an insult if in your heart there is no shadow of treachery towards the France that is today, towards

"I refuse to accept this extraordinary mission," Pailleton declared, rising to his feet. "You can send whom you

"I shall not press you," he said. "I shall only put before you the alternative. You are at this present moment

upon French soil. If you refuse this mission which has been offered to you, I shall detain you here until I have

"On the charge of treason," was the quiet reply. "I shall have you stripped and searched in this room. I shall

have your luggage and your room searched at the Milan Hotel. And now, Monsieur Pailleton?"

Once more the man was bewildered. This time, however, it was bewilderment of a different sort. He thought

"What is the nature of this document, monsieur, which you expect to find amongst my belongings?" he

"An authorised offer of peace from Germany to the French people," the ambassador answered slowly. "It is

the second attempt which has been made. The first was torn into fragments before the face of the person who

had the effrontery to present it. The second, Monsieur Pailleton, is in your possession. You may keep it if you

The ambassador struck a bell upon his table. One of his secretaries promptly appeared.

There was a brief pause. The ambassador was busy writing at his table. Pailleton, who was breathing heavily,

"Monsieur le Colonel," the ambassador said, stretching out his hand towards Pailleton, "you will accept the

charge of this man, whom you will consider under arrest. I take the full responsibility for this proceeding.

You will conduct him to your rooms here and you will search him. Any document found in his possession

you will bring to me. When you have finished, let me know and I will give you an authority to proceed to his

The Admiralty report that they received last night a message from Commander Conyers of the destroyer

"Scorpion," announcing that he has destroyed German submarines U 22 and 27, with all hands.

"Well, I'm damned!" the Admiral exclaimed, as he laid down the newspaper a few mornings later. "Ralph's

"I knew at seven o'clock," she declared. "Harris brought me the paper up. They are all so excited about it in

"I want to know how it was done," the Admiral speculated. "Can't have been ramming if he bagged two of

them, and they surely never came to the surface voluntarily, with a destroyer about."

"Don't you remember when Olive and I were at Portsmouth?" she said. "Ralph has been absolutely dumb

about it but he did just give us a hint that he had a little surprise in store for the submarines. There was

something on deck, covered all up and watched by a sentry, and just before we sat down to lunch, you know,

we were turned off and had to go to the Ship. Ralph wouldn't tell us a word about it but I'm sure he's got some

"There may be something in it," the Admiral admitted cheerfully. "I noticed the Morning Post naval man the

other day made a very guarded reference to some secret means of dealing with these vermin."

They pored over the telegram and the newspaper until the breakfast was cold. The Admiral was like a boy

"If we can get rid of these curses of the sea," he said, settling down at last to his bacon and eggs, "and get

those Germans to come out, the war will be over months before any one expected. I shall go down to the

Admiralty after breakfast and see if they've got anything to tell. Ralph gave me a hint about the net scheme

Geraldine left her place at once and hastened into the library. She took up the receiver.

"I felt that I must ring you up," he declared, "to congratulate you, Miss Conyers, upon your brother's exploit. I

have had half a dozen soldier fellows in already this morning to talk about it, and we're simply mad with

"Father's going down to the Admiralty to try and find out," Geraldine replied. "Ralph doesn't say a word

"It really doesn't matter much, does it," Granet went on, "so long as we get rid of the brutes. I was perfectly

certain, when we were down at Portsmouth, that your brother had something up his sleeve. Does give one a

thrill, doesn't it, when one's ashore and doing nothing, to read of things like this?"

"I don't know," he sighed. "They talk about giving me a home job and I don't think I could stick it. Are you

"If you like," she assented. "After four o'clock, though, because I am staying out to lunch."

"Captain Granet just wanted to congratulate us all," she announced, "and to know if he could come in to tea

"Better ask him to dinner, my dear," the Admiral suggested hospitably. "He's a fine young fellow, Granet.

Lady Conyers made no comment. Geraldine was bending over her plate. The Admiral rose to his feet. He was

"I shall walk down to the Admiralty and see if I can get hold of old Wilcock," he continued. "If he won't tell

The Admiral left the house a few minutes later and Lady Conyers walked arm in arm with her daughter into

the pleasant little morningroom which looked out upon the Square. The former paused for a moment to look

at Thomson's photograph, which stood upon one of the side tables. Then she closed the door.

"Perhaps because I like Hugh," Lady Conyers went on quietly, "perhaps, too, because I am not sure that you

have done wisely. You haven't given me any reason yet, have you, for breaking your engagement?"

Geraldine was silent for a moment. Then she came back and sat on the rug at her mother's feet. She kept her

"It's so hard to put it into words, mother," she said thoughtfully, "only Hugh never seemed to give me any of

his confidence. Of course, his is very dull work, looking after hospitals and that sort of thing, but still, I'd

have liked to try and take an interest in it. He must have seen exciting things in France, but it is only by the

merest chance that one ever realises that he has been even near the Front. He is so silent, so secretive."

"Some men are like that, dear," she remarked. "It is just temperamental. Perhaps you haven't encouraged him

"But I have," Geraldine insisted. "I have asked him no end of questions, but before he has answered any of

"Men don't like talking about the war, you know," Lady Conyers went on. "There was that nice Major

Tyndale who was back from the Front the other day with a V. C. and goodness knows what. Not a word

would he say about any one of the fights, and he is cheery enough in a general way, isn't he, and fond of

"Even then," Geraldine protested, "Hugh's work is different. I can understand why he doesn't like to talk a lot

about the wounded and that sort of thing, but he must have had some interesting adventures."" "I don't think,"

"Hugh doesn't talk about anything," she complained. "He goes about looking as though he had the cares of

the world upon his shoulders, and then he has thewell, the cheek, I call it, to lecture me about Captain

Granet. He does talk about Captain Granet in the most absurd manner, you know, mother."

"Now what reasons could he have for not liking Captain Granet and suspecting him of all manner of

ridiculous things?" she asked. "Did you ever know a more harmless, ingenuous, delightful young man in your

"Perhaps it is because you find him all these things," Lady Conyers suggested, "that Hugh doesn't like him."

Lady Conyers raised her head from her knitting and looked across at her daughter. A little flush of colour had

suddenly streamed into Geraldine's face. She drew back as though she had been sitting too near the fire.

"Of course it is," she declared. "I have only known Captain Granet for a very short time. I like him, of

"Do you know," Lady Conyers said, a moment later, "I almost hope that it is all."

"Because I consider Hugh is a great judge of character. Because we have known Hugh since he was a boy,

"I do not dislike him," Lady Conyers replied thoughtfully. "I do not see how any one could."

"Hugh does. He hinted things about himthat he wasn't honestand then forbade me to tell him. I think

"You had better go and get ready, dear, if you have promised to be at Ranelagh at halfpast ten," she said.

"You're just a little impulsive, dear, at times, although you seem so thoughtful," Lady Conyers continued.

"Don't rush at any conclusion about these two men. Sometimes I have fancied that there is a great well of

feeling behind Hugh's silence. And more than thatthat there is something in his life of which just now he

cannot speak, which is keeping him living in great places. His abstractions are not ordinary ones, you know.

It's just an idea of mine, but the other daywell, something happened which I thought rather queer. I saw a

closed car turn into St. James's Park and, evidently according to orders, the chauffeur drove very slowly.

There were two men inside, talking very earnestly. One of them was Hugh; the other waswell, the most

"You mean to say that he was alone, talking confidentially with Hugh?" Geraldine exclaimed incredulously.

"He was, dear," her mother assented, "and it made me think. That's all. I have a fancy that some day when the

time comes that Hugh is free to talk, he will be able to interest youwell, quite as much as Captain Granet. .

. . Now then, dear, hurry. There's the car at the door for you and you haven't your hat on."

Geraldine went upstairs a little thoughtfully. As she drew on her gloves, she looked down at the empty space

The two men who had walked up together arm in arm from Downing Street, stood for several moments in

Pall Mall before separating. The pressman who was passing yearned for the sunlight in his camera. One of

the greatest financiers of the city in close confabulation with Mr. Gordon Jones, the Chancellor of the

"It is a source of the greatest satisfaction to me, Sir Alfred," the Minister was saying earnestly, "to find such

royal and wholehearted support in the city. I am afraid," he went on, with a little twinkle in his eyes, "that

"The capitalists must always hate the man who tries to make wealth pay its just share in the support of the

Empire," Mr. Gordon Jones remarked. "The more one has, the less one likes to part with it. However, those

days have passed. You bankers have made my task easier at every turn. You have met me in every possible

way. To you personally, Sir Alfred, I feel that some day I shall have to express my thanksmy thanks and

"You are very kind," the banker acknowledged. "Times like this change everything. We remember only that

The Minister hailed a passing taxi and disappeared. The banker strolled slowly along Pall Mall and passed

through the portals of an augustlooking club. The hallporter relieved him of his coat and hat with great

deference. As he was crossing the hall, after having exchanged greetings with several friends, he came face to

"I am afraid you don't remember me, Sir Alfred," he said, "but I have been hoping for an opportunity of

thanking you personally for the six ambulance cars you have endowed. I am SurgeonMajor Thomson, chief

"I remember you perfectly, Major," he declared. "I am very glad that my gift is acceptable. Anything one can

do to lessen the suffering of those who are fighting our battle, is almost a charge upon our means."

"It is very fortunate for us that you feel like that," the other replied. "Thank you once more, sir."

"I am expecting my nephew in to dine," he said,"Captain Granet. Bring him into the smokingroom, will

Sir Alfred passed on across the marble hall. Thomson, whose hand had been upon his hat, replaced it upon

the peg. He looked after the great banker and stood for a moment deep in thought. Then he addressed the

"Bythebye, Charles," he inquired, "if you ask a nonmember to dinner, you have to dine in the strangers'

"Certainly, sir," the man replied. "It is just at the back of the general diningroom."

SurgeonMajor Thomson made his way to the telephone booth. When he emerged, he interviewed the

"Keep a small table for me in the strangers' room," he ordered. "I shall require dinner for two."

Major Thomson seemed for a moment deaf. He was looking through the open door of the smokingroom to

"Sir Alfred has a guest at eight o'clock, sir," the man replied. "There are several others, I think, but they have

"At a quarter past eight, if you please. I shall be in the billiardroom, Charles," he added, turning to the

Sir Alfred wearied soon of the pages of his review and leaned back in his chair, his hands folded in front of

him, gazing through the window at the opposite side of the way. A good many people, passing backwards and

forwards, glanced at him curiously. For thirty years his had been something like a household name in the city.

He had been responsible, he and the great firm of which he was the head, for international finance conducted

on the soundest principles, finance which scorned speculation, finance which rolled before it the great

snowball of automatically accumulated wealth. His father had been given the baronetcy which he now

enjoyed, and which, as he knew very well, might at any moment be transferred into a peerage. He was a

short, rather thickset man, with firm jaws and keen blue eyes, carefully dressed in somewhat oldfashioned

style, with hornrimmed eyeglass hung about his neck with a black ribbon. His hair was a little

closecropped and stubbly. No one could have called him handsome, no one could have found him

undistinguished. Even without the knowledge of his millions, people who glanced at him recognised the

"Wonder what old Anselman's thinking about," one man asked another in an opposite corner.

"Money bags," was the prompt reply. "The man thinks money, he dreams money, he lives money. He lives

like a prince but he has no pleasures. >From ten in the morning till two, he sites in his office in Lombard

Other people had wondered, too. Still the keen blue eyes looked across through the misty atmosphere at the

grey building opposite. Men and women passed before him in a constant, unseen procession. No one came

and spoke to him, no one interfered with his meditations. The two men who had been discussing him passed

"After all, I suppose," he observed, as he passed down the hall, "there is something great about wealth or else

one wouldn't believe that old Anselman there was thinking of his moneybags. Why, here's Granet. Good

"I haven't," he explained. "You have to be a millionaire, don't you, and a great political bug, before they'd let

"Poor devil!" his friend remarked sympathetically,"best cooking, best wines in London. These Service men

"Sir Alfred's in there, waiting for you," his friend told him, indicating the door,"he has been sitting at the

The two men passed out and Granet was ushered into the smokingroom. Sir Alfred came back from his

reverie and was greeted by his nephew cordially. The two men sat by the window for a few moments in

"Nothing fresh," Granet replied. "The whole worlds excited about this submarine affair. Looks as though

"It does indeed," Sir Alfred agreed. "Two submarines, one after the other, two of the latest class, too,

destroyed within a few miles and without a word of explanation. No wonder every one's excited about it!"

"They're fearfully bucked at the Admiralty, I believe," Granet remarked. "Of course, they'll pretend that they

"Well," he said, "come in to dinner, young fellow. You shall entertain me with tales of your adventures whilst

They passed on into the strangers' diningroom, a small but cheerful apartment opening out of the general

diningroom. The headwaiter ushered them unctuously to a small table set in the far corner of the room.

"I have obeyed your wishes, Sir Alfred," he announced, as they seated themselves. "No one else will be

"Knowing how modest you soldiers are in talking of your exploits," he remarked to Granet, "I have pleaded

for seclusion. Here, in the intervals of our being served with dinner, you can spin me yarns of the Front. The

They seated themselves, and Sir Alfred studied the menu for a moment through his eyeglass. After the service

"Ronnie," he said, "I thought it was better to ask you here than to have you down at the city."

"This seems all right," he admitted, glancing around. "Well, one part of the great work is finished. I have

lived for eleven days not quite sure when I wasn't going to be stood up with my back to the light at the

Sir Alfred ate soup for several moments as though it were the best soup on earth and nothing else was worth

"Magnificent!" he said. "Now listenthese submarines. There was a Taube close at hand and I can tell you

something which the Admiralty here are keeping dark, with their tongues in their cheeks. Both those

"I guessed it," Granet replied coolly. "I not only guessed it but I came very near the key of the whole thing."

A waiter appeared with the next course, followed by the wine steward, carrying champagne. Sir Alfred

"Just four minutes in the ice," he instructed, "not longer. What you tell me about the champagne country is, I

must confess, a relief," he added, turning to Granet. "It may not affect us quite so much, but personally I

believe that the whole world is happier and better when champagne is cheap. It is the bottled gaiety of the

nation. A nation of ginger ale drinkers would be doomed before they reached the second generation. 1900

Pommery, this, Ronnie, and I drink your health. If I May be allowed one moment's sentiment," he added,

raising his glass, "let me say that I drink your health from the bottom of my hear, with all the admiration

which a man of my age feels for you younger fellows who are fighting for us and our country."

"I met Conyers the other day," Granet proceeded, "the man who commands the 'Scorpion.' I managed to get

an invitation down to Portsmouth to have lunch with him on his ship. I went down with his sister and the

young lady he is engaged to marry. On deck there was a structure of some sort covered up. I tried to make

inquires about it but they headed me off pretty quick. There was even a sentry standing on guard before

itwouldn't let me even feel the shape of it. However, I hadn't given up hope when there came a

wirelessno guests to be allowed on board. Conyers had to pack us all off back to the hotel, without

stopping even for lunch. From the hotel I got a telescope and I saw a pinnace with halfadozen workmen,

and a pilot who was evidently an engineer, land on board. They seemed to be completing the adjustments of

"A busy life, yours, Ronnie," Sir Alfred remarked, after a moments pause. "What about it now? I've had two

"It's pretty difficult," Granet acknowledged. "The Scorpion's out in the Channel or the North Sea. No getting

at her. And I don't believe there's another destroyer yet fitted with this apparatus, whatever it may be."

"To think," he muttered, "that we've two hundred men spread out at Tyneside, Woolwich and Portsmouth,

and not one of them go on to this! A nation of spies, indeed! They're mugs, uncle."

"Not altogether that," the banker replied. "We have some reports, although they don't go far enough. I can put

you on to the track of the thing. The apparatus you saw is something in the nature of an inverted telescope,

with various extraordinary lenses treated by a new process. You can see forty feet down under the surface of

the water for a distance of a mile, and we believe that attached to the same apparatus is an instrument which

"It did," Sir Alfred said. "Further than that, the main part of the instrument is being made under the

supervision of Sir Meyville Worth, in a large workshop erected on his estate in a village near Brancaster in

"The plans of the instrument should be worth a hundred thousand pounds," Sir Alfred continued calmly. "If

that is impossible, the destruction of the little plant would be the next consideration."

"You do, Ronnie," his uncle replied. "The name of the village where Sir Meyville Worth lives is Market

Burnham, which, as I think I told you, is within a few miles of Brancaster. Geoffrey, at my instigation, has

arranged a harmless little golf party to go to Brancaster the day after tomorrow. You will accompany them.

In the meantime, Miss Worth, Sir Meyville Worth's only daughter, is staying in London until Wednesday.

She is lunching with your aunt at the Ritz tomorrow. I have made some other arrangements in connection

with your visit to Norfolk, which will keep for the present. I see that some strangers have entered the room.

Granet turned a little around. There was a queer change in his face as he looked back at his uncle.

"Very slightly. I spoke to him an hour ago. He thanked me for some ambulances. He is the chief inspector of

Granet struggled for a moment with an idea and rejected it. He drained his glass and leaned across the table.

"He's a dull enough person really," he remarked, a little under his breath, "but I seem to be always running up

Sir Alfred smiled. He called the wine steward and pointed to his nephew's glass.

"The best thing in the world," he observed drily, as he watched the wine being poured out, "for

Lady Anselman stood once more in the foyer of the Ritz Hotel and counted her guests. It was a smaller party

this time, and in its way a less distinguished one. There were a couple of officers, friends of Granet's, back

from the Front on leave; Lady Conyers, with Geraldine and Olive; Granet himself; and a tall, dark girl with

pallid complexion and brilliant eyes, who had come with Lady Anselman and who was standing now by her

"We are so little in London, Lady Anselman," she murmured. "You know how difficult father is, and just

now he is worse than ever. In fact, if he weren't so hard at work I don't believe he'd have let me come even

"These scientific men," Lady Anselman declared, "are great boons to the country, but as parent I am afraid

they are just a little thoughtless. Major Harrison and Colonel Grey, let me present you to my young

chargefor the day only, unfortunatelyMiss Worth. Now, Ronnie, if you can be persuaded to let Miss

Granet promptly abandoned his whispered conversation with Geraldine. The little company moved in and

took their places at the round table which was usually reserved for Lady Anselman on Tuesdays.

"Some people," the latter remarked, as she seated herself, "find fault with me for going on with my luncheons

this season. Even Alfred won't come except now and then. Personally, I have very strong views about it. I

think we all ought to keep on doing just the same as usualto a certain extent, of course. There is no reason

why we should bring the hotel proprietors and shopkeepers to the brink of ruin because we are all feeling

"Quite right," her neighbour, Colonel Grey, assented. "I am sure it wouldn't do us any good out there to feel

that you were all sitting in sackcloth and ashes. Besides, think how pleasant this is to come home to," he

added, looking around the little table. "Jove! What a goodlooking girl Miss Conyers is!"

"She has just broken her engagement to SurgeonMajor Thomson. I wonder whether you know him?"

"Inspector of Field Hospitals or something, isn't he?" the other remarked carelessly. "I came across him once

"I am afraid Geraldine found him so," she agreed. "Her mother is very disappointed. I can't help thinking

"Seems to me I've heard something about Thomson somewhere," he said, half to himself. "Bythebye, who

is the pale girl with the wonderful eyes, to whom your nephew is making himself so agreeable?"

"That is Isabel Worth," Lady Anselman replied. "She is the daughter of Sir Meyville Worth, the great

scientist. I am afraid she has rather a dull time, poor girl. Her father lives in an outoftheway village of

Norfolk, spends all his time trying to discover things, and forgets that he has a daughter at all. She has been in

London for a few days with an aunt, but I don't believe that the old lady is able to do much for her."

"I asked him specially to look after her," Lady Anselman confided, "and Ronnie is always such a dear at

"Didn't I hear you mention Thomson's name just now?" he inquired. "I saw him the other day in Boulogne.

Awful swell he was about something, too. A destroyer brought him across, and a Government motorcar was

waiting at the quay to rush him up to the Front. We all thought at Boulogne that royalty was coming, at least."

There was a slight frown on Granet's forehead. He glanced half unconsciously towards Geraldine.

"Mysterious sort of fellow, Thomson," Major Harrison continued, in blissful ignorance of the peculiar

significance of his words. "You see him in Paris one day, you hear of him at the furthermost point of the

French lines immediately afterwards, he reports at headquarters within a few hours, and you meet him

"Inspector of Field Hospitals is a post which I think must have been created for him," Colonel Grey

"Was Major Thomson going or returning from France when you saw him last?" Geraldine asked, looking

"Coming back. When we left Boulogne, the destroyer which brought him over was waiting in the harbour. It

passed us in midChannel, doing about thirty knots to our eighteen. Prince Cyril was rather sick. He was

bringing dispatches but no one seemed to have thought of providing a destroyer for him."

"After all," Lady Anselman murmured, "there is nothing very much more important than our hospitals."

The conversation drifted away from Thomson. Granet was making himself very agreeable indeed to Isabel

Worth. There was a little more colour in her cheeks than at the commencement of luncheon, and her manner

"Tell me about the village where you live?" he inquired"Market Burnham, isn't it?"

"When we first went there," she replied, "I thought that it was simply Paradise. That was four years ago,

She shivered a little, half closing her eyes as though to shut out some unpleasant memory.

"The house," she explained, "is on a sort of tongue of land, with a tidal river on either side and the sea not

fifty yards away from our drawingroom window. When there are high tides, we are simply cut off from the

"You mustn't draw too gloomy a picture of your home," Lady Anselman said. "I have seen it when it was

"And I have seen it," the girl retorted, with a note of grimness in her tone, "when it was a great deal more like

the other placestillness that seems almost to stifle you, grey mists that choke your breath and blot out

everything; nothing but the gurgling of a little water, and the sighingthe most melancholy sighing you ever

heardof the wind in our ragged elms. I am talking about the autumn and winter now, you must remember."

"It doesn't sound attractive," Granet admitted. "Bythebye, which side of Norfolk are you? You are

"We are within four miles of it," the girl replied quickly. "You don't ever come there, do you?"

"This is really rather a coincidence!" he exclaimed. "I've never been to Brancaster in my life but I've

promised one or two fellows to go down to the Dormy House there, tomorrow or the next day, and have a

The girl was for a moment almost goodlooking. Her eyes glowed, her tone was eloquently appealing.

"If I may, I'd be delighted," Granet promised heartily. "When are you going back?"

"I shall come all right," Granet assured her. "I'm not so keen on golf as some of the fellows, and my arm's still

a little dicky, but I'm fed up with London, and I'm not allowed even to come before the Board again for a

fortnight, so I rather welcome the chance of getting right away. The links are good, I suppose?"

"Wonderful," Miss Worth agreed eagerly, "and I think the clubhouse is very comfortable. There are often

some quite nice men staying there. If only father weren't so awfully peculiar, the place would be almost

tolerable in the season. That reminds me," she went on, with a little sigh, "I must warn you about father. He's

"I'm not shy," Granet laughed. "Bythebye, pardon me, but isn't your father the Sir Meyville Worth who

invents things? I'm not quite sure what sort of things," he added. "Perhaps you'd better post me up before I

"I sha'n't tell you a thing." Isabel Worth declared. "Just now it's very much better for you to know nothing

whatever about him. He has what I call the inventors' fidgets, for some reason or other. If a strange person

"I can assure you that you will, Captain Granet," she said. "If father chooses to behave like a bear, well, I'll

She glanced at him impressively and Granet bowed. A few minutes later in obedience to Lady Anselman's

signal, they all made their way into the lounge, where coffee was being served. Granet made his way to

"I have been doing my aunt's behests," he explained. "My strict orders were to make myself agreeable to a

young woman who lives in a sort of bluebeard's house, where no visitors are allowed and smiling is

"I never met Miss Worth before," she said. "I believe her father is wonderfully clever. Did I hear you say that

"I am going away for a few days. I am going away," he added, dropping his voice, "ostensibly for a change of

He looked at her steadfastly and she forgot her vague misgivings of a few minutes ago. After all, his

"I hope the change will do you good," she said quietly. "I think, perhaps, you are right to go."

Granet, a few days later, brought his car to a standstill in front of an ordinary fivebarred gate upon which

was painted in white letters "Market Burnham Hall." A slight grey mist was falling and the country inland

was almost blotted from sight. On the other side of the gate a sandy driver disappeared into an avenue of

ragged and stunted elm trees, which effectually concealed any view of the house.

"Seems as though the girl were right," Granet muttered to himself. "However, here goes."

He backed his car close to the side of the hedge, and laying his hand upon the latch of the gate, prepared to

"Captain Granet of the Royal Fusiliers, home from the Front on leave," Granet replied. "I was going up to the

He stepped back into the sentry box and spoke through a telephone. In a moment or two he reappeared.

Granet walked slowly up the avenue, his hands behind him, a frown upon his forehead. Perhaps, after all,

things were not to be so easy for him. On either side he could see the stretches of sand, and here and there the

long creeks of salt water. As he came nearer to the house, the smell of the sea grew stronger, the tops of the

trees were more bowed than ever, sand was blown everywhere across the hopeless flowerbeds. The house

itself, suddenly revealed, was a grim weatherbeaten structure, built on the very edge of a queer, barrowlike

tongue of land which ended with the house itself. The sea was breaking on the few yards of beach sheer

below the windows. To his right was a walled garden, some lawns and greenhouses; to the left, stables, a

garage, and two or three labourer's cottages. At the front door another soldier was stationed doing sentry duty.

The door was opened almost immediately by a womanservant. She did not wait for Granet to announce

himself but motioned him to follow her into a large, circular, stone hall, across which she led him quickly and

threw open the door of the drawingroom. Isabel Worth was standing just inside the room, as though

"Captain Granet," she said almost in a whisper, "of course you'll think we are all mad, but would you mind

"Of course not," Granet acquiesced. "I'll come anywhere, with pleasure. What a view you have from here!"

He glanced through the high windows at the other end of the room. She laid her fingers upon his arm and led

"Quietly, please," she whispered. "Try and imagine that you are in a house of conspirators."

She led him up the quaint stone staircase, spiralshaped, to the first floor. Arrived there, she paused to listen

for a moment, then breathed a little more freely and led him to a small sittingroom at the end of a long

passage. It was a pleasant little apartment and looked sheer out over the sea. She threw herself down upon a

"Do sit down, Captain Granet," she begged. "I am really not in the least insane but father is. You know, I got

back on Wednesday night and was met at once with stern orders that no visitors of any sort were to be

received, that the tradespeople were to be interviewed at the front gatesin fact that the house was to be in a

"Simply because dad has gone out of his senses," she replied wearily. "Look here."

She led him cautiously to the window and pointed downwards. About fifty yards out at sea was a queer

wooden structure, set up on strong supports. From where they were, nothing was to be seen but a windowless

wall of framework and a rope ladder. Underneath, a boat was tethered to one of the supports. About thirty

"That's where father spends about twelve hours a day," she said. "What he is doing no one knows. He won't

even allow me to speak of it. When we meet at meals, I am not supposed to allude to the fact that he has been

out in that crazy place. If ever he happens to speak of it, he calls it his workshop."

"Oh, no! There are two or three men from London, and an American, working with him. Then do you see the

She pointed to a long barn or boathouse almost upon the beach. Before the door two sentries were standing.

"There are twenty men at work in there," she said. "They all sleep in the barn or the potting sheds. They are

not allowed even to go down to the village. Now, perhaps, you can begin to understand, Captain Granet, what

"Well, it all sounds very interesting," he remarked, "but I should think it must be deadly for you. Your father

"If he does, he never speaks about it," the girl answered a little bitterly. "All that he wants from me is my

absence or my silence. When I came back the other night, he was furious. If he'd thought about it, I'm sure

he'd have had me stay in London. Now that I am here, though, I am simply a prisoner."

Granet resumed his seat and lit the cigarette which she insisted upon his smoking.

"Well," he observed, "it does seem hard upon you, Miss Worth. On the other hand, it really is rather

"I suppose so," she admitted, "but then, you see, father is almost brutal about taking any one into his

confidence. He never tells even me a thing, or encourages me to ask a question. I think for that reason I have

grown rather to resent his work and the ridiculous restriction he places upon my freedom because of it."

A parlourmaid entered with tea, a few minutes later, and Granet moved to his hostess' side upon the sofa. He

showed no more interest in outside happenings. He was an adept at light conversation and he made himself

"It has been so nice to have you here," she said, "but if you only knew how difficult it was to arrange, it,

"I believe I could," she assented. "Captain Chalmers has a small motorcar he'd lend me, and if I go out with

my golf clubs it would be all right. Very likely father will sleep out there and we sha'n't see anything of him

Granet stepped once more to the window. The mists had rolled up more thickly than ever and the queer little

structure was almost invisible. A bright light, however, fell upon the water a little distance away.

"Yes, they have a wire from the shed," she told him. "Whatever he's trying to do, he needs a very intense and

"Well, I hope it's something that'll do us a bit of good," he said. "We need it. The Germans are miles ahead of

She opened her lips and closed them again. Granet, who had suddenly stiffened into rigid attention, felt a

"I have rung the bell for my own maid," she said. "She will show you out of the place. Don't let any one see

Granet was conducted almost stealthily down the stairs and into the avenue. Halfway to the gate he paused

to listen. He was hidden from sight now by the gathering twilight and the rolling mists. From behind the

house came the softly muffled roar of the tide sweeping in, and, with sharper insistence, the whirr of

machinery from the boathouse. Granet lit a cigarette and walked thoughtfully away. Just as he climbed into

the car, a peculiar light through the trees startled him. He stood up and watched. From the top of the house a

It was a very cheerful little party dining that night at the Dormy House Club. There was Granet; Geoffrey

Anselman, his cousin, who played for Cambridge and rowed two; Major Harrison, whose leave had been

extended another three weeks; and the secretary of the club, who made up the quartette.

"Bythebye, where were you this afternoon, Captain Granet?" the latter asked. "You left Anselman to play

"Went out for a spin," Granet explained, "and afterwards fell fast asleep in my room. Wonderful air, yours,

"I slept like a top last night," Major Harrison declared. "The first three nights I was home I never closed my

"Dickens," he remarked, "that's a queerlooking fellow at the further end of the room. Who is he?"

"You mean that little fellow with the glasses and the stoop? He arrived last night and asked for a match this

morning. You see what a miserable wizenedup looking creature he is? I found him a twelve man and he

"Scratch at St. Andrews," Dickens told them. "His name's Collins. I don't' know anything else about him. He's

"Let's play billiards," Granet suggested. "The stretching across the table does me good."

They played for some time. The wizenedlooking little man came and watched them benevolently, peering

every now and then through his spectacles, and applauding mildly any particularly good stroke. At eleven

o'clock they turned out the lights and made their way to their rooms. Shortly before midnight, Granet, in his

dressinggown, stole softly across the passage and opened, without knocking, the door of a room opposite to

him. The wizenedlooking little man was seated upon the edge of the bed, halfdressed. Granet turned the

The tenant of the room nodded. He had taken off his glasses and their absence revealed a face of strong

"Proves that we are on the right track, any way. What's that building that seems to stand out in the water?"

"I sailed out this evening, hired a boat at Brancaster Staithe. The fellow wouldn't go anywhere near Market

Burnham, though, and I'm rather sorry I tried to make him. They've got the scares here, right enough, Granet.

I asked him to let me the boat for a week and he wasn't even civil about it. Didn't want no strangers around

these shores, he told me. When I paid him for the afternoon he was surly about it and kept looking at my

"It isn't going to be an easy matter," he confessed. "I hear the Admiralty are going to take over the whole

They glanced at their watches. It was five minutes before midnight. As though by common consent, they both

crossed to the window and stood looking out into the darkness. A slight wind was moving amongst the

treetops, the night was clear but moonless. About half a mile away they could just discern a corner of the

clubhouse. They stood watching it in silence. At five minutes past twelve, Granet shut his watch with a

"Germany lost two submarines in one day," he murmured. "The device which got them came from that little

workshop of Worth's. The plans are probably there or on the premises somewhere."

"AS a matter of fact I have been within a few yards of the thing," he said. "It was all fenced around with

"I had the rottenest luck," he declared. "I took Miss Conyers and her friend down to see her brother,

Commander Conyers. We were invited to lunch on board. At the last moment we were turned off. Through

some glasses from the roof of the Ship I saw some workmen pull down the matchboarding, but I couldn't

"I can give you an idea," Collins remarked. "This fellow Worth has got hold of some system of concentric

lenses, with extraordinary reflectors which enable him to see distinctly at least thirty feet under water. Then

they have a recording instrument, according to which they alter the gradient of a new gun, with shells that

explode under water. Von Lowitz was on the track of something of this sort last year, but he gave it up

"Krupps gave it up a little too soon, then," Granet muttered. "Collins, if we can't smash up this little

establishment there'll be a dozen destroyers before long rigged up with this infernal contrivance."

"They'll be here this week," he said confidently. "You'd better go now, Granet. It's all over for tonight."

Granet nodded and left the room quietly. Every one in the Dormy House was sound asleep. He made his way

back to his own apartment without difficulty. Only the little man remained seated at the window, with his

Isabel Worth leaned back in the comfortable seat by Granet's side and breathed a little sigh of content. She

had enjoyed her luncheon party a deux, their stroll along the sands afterwards, and she was fully prepared to

"What a wonderful car yours is!" she murmured. "But do tell mewhat on earth have you got in behind?"

"It's just a little experimental invention of a friend of mine," he explained. "Some day we are going to try it

"Don't try it anywhere near us," she laughed. "Two of the fishermen from Wells sailed in a little too close to

"Do you know I am becoming most frightfully curious about your father's work?" he observed.

"Are you really?" she replied carelessly. "For my part, I wouldn't even take the trouble to climb up the ladder

"I really don't," she assured him. "It's some wonderful invention, I believe, but I can't help resenting anything

that makes us live like hermits, suspect even the tradespeople, give up entertaining altogether, give up even

seeing our friends. I hope you are not going to hurry away, Captain Granet. I haven't had a soul to speak to

"I don't think I shall go just yet," he answered. "I want first to accomplish what I came here for."

She turned her head very slowly and looked at him. There was quite a becoming flush upon her cheeks.

He was silent for a moment. Already his foot was on the brake of the car; they were drawing near the plain,

"I hate to send you away," she sighed, "it seems so inhospitable. Will you come in for a little time? The worst

"It isn't my secret," he said, "and besides, I don't think my friend has the patent for it yet."

The sentry stood by and allowed them to pass, although he looked searchingly at Granet. They walked slowly

up the scrubby avenue to the house. Once Granet paused to look down at the long arm of the sea on his left.

"That used to be the principal waterway from Burnham village. Quite a large boat can get down now at high

They entered the house and Isabel gave a little gesture of dismay. She clutched for a moment at Granet's arm.

An elderly man, dressed in somber black clothes disgracefully dusty, collarless, with a mass of white hair

blown all over his face, was walking up and down the hall with a great pair of hornrimmed spectacles

clutched in his hand. He stopped short at the sound of the opening door and hurried towards them. There was

nothing about his appearance in the least terrifying. He seemed, in fact, bubbling over with excited

"Isabel, my dear," he exclaimed, "it is wonderful! I have succeeded! I have changed the principles of a

lifetime, made the most brilliant optical experiment which any man of science has ever ventured to essay,

with the resultwell, you shall see. I have wired to the Admiralty, wired for more workpeople. Captain

Chalmers, is it not?" he went on. "You must tell your men to double and redouble their energies. This place is

He turned and led them hastily towards the back door. Isabel gripped Granet's arm.

"He thinks you are the officer in command of the platoon here," she whispered. "Better let him go on thinking

They had hard work to keep up with Sir Meyville as he led them hastily down the little stretch of shingle to

where a man was sitting in a boat. They all jumped in. The man with the oars looked doubtfully for a moment

at Granet, but pulled off at once when ordered to do so. They rowed round to the front of the queer little

structure. A man from inside held out his hand and helped them up. Another young man, with books piled on

the floor by his side, was making some calculations at a table. Almost the whole of the opening of the place

was taken up by what seemed to be a queer medley of telescopes and lenses pointing different ways. Sir

"Now," he promised, "you shall see what no one has ever seen before. See, I point that arrow at that spot,

The girl stooped forward, was silent for a moment, then she gave a little cry of wonder. She clutched Granet's

arm and made him take her place. He, too, called out softly. He saw the sandy bottom covered with shells, a

rock with tentacles of seaweed floating from it, several huge crabs, a multitude of small fishes. Everything

"That is my share," he said. "Down in the other workshop my partners are hard at it. They, too, have met with

success. You must tell your men, Captain Chalmers, never to relax their vigil. This place must be watched by

night and by day. My last invention was a great step forward, but this is absolute success. For the next few

"I am Captain Granet of the Royal Fusiliers, back from the Front, wounded," Granet replied. "I can assure

"I came to call upon your daughter," Granet explained. "I had the pleasure of meeting her at lunch at Lady

"My fault," he muttered,"my fault. Captain Granet, I thought that my daughter knew my wishes. I am not

at present in a position to receive guests or visitors of any description. You will pardon my apparent

inhospitality. I shall ask you, sir, to kindly forget this visit and to keep away from here for the present.

"I shall obey your wishes, of course, sir," Granet promised. "I can assure you that I am quite a harmless

"I do not doubt it, sir," Sir Meyville replied, "but it is the harmless people of the world who do the most

mischief. An idle word here or there and great secrets are given away. If you will allow me, I will show you a

"You can go in, Isabel," her father directed curtly. "I will see Captain Granet off."

She obeyed and took leave of her guest with a little shrug of the shoulders. Sir Meyville took Granet's arm

"Captain Granet," he said gravely, "I am an indiscreet person and I have an indiscreet daughter. Bearing in

mind your profession, I may speak to you as man to man. Keep what you have seen absolutely secret. Put a

seal upon your memory. Go back to Brancaster and don't even look again in this direction. The soldiers round

this place have orders not to stand on ceremony with any one, and by tonight I believe we are to have an

escort of Marines here as well. What you have seen is for the good of the country."

"I congratulate you heartily, sir," Granet replied, shaking hands. "Of course I'll keep away, if I must. I hope

when this is all over, though, you will allow me to come and renew my acquaintance with your daughter."

Granet stepped into his car and drove off. The inventor stood looking after him. Then he spoke to the sentry

"I ought to have known it from the first," he muttered. "Reciprocal refraction was the one thing to think

Granet, as he drove back to the Dormy House, was conscious of a curious change in the weather. The wind,

which had been blowing more or less during the last few days, had suddenly dropped. There was a new

heaviness in the atmosphere, little banks of transparent mist were drifting in from seawards. More than once

he stopped the car and, standing up, looked steadily away seawards. The long stretch of marshland, on which

the golf links were situated, was empty. A slight, drizzling rain was falling. He found, when he reached the

Dormy House, that nearly all the men were assembled in one of the large sittingrooms. A table of bridge

had been made up. Mr. Collins was seated in an easychair close to the window, reading a review. Granet

"I agree with you, sir," he said. "I endeavoured to persuade one of these gentlemen to play another nine

"Well," he remarked, "it's too far to get down to the links again but I'll play you a game of bowls, if you like."

"It is an excellent suggestion," he declared. "If you will give me five minutes to fetch my mackintosh and

galoshes, it would interest me to see whether I have profited by the lessons I took in Scotland."

They met, a few moments later, in the garden. Mr. Collins threw the jack with great precision and they played

an end during which his superiority was apparent. They strolled together across the lawn, well away now

"It's just what they were waiting for," the other replied. "What about this afternoon?"

"I am not scientist, worse luck," Granet replied impatiently, "but I saw enough to convince me that they've

got the right idea. Sir Meyville thought i was the man commanding the escort they've given him,actually

rowed me out to the workshop and showed me the whole thing. I tell you I saw it just as you described

it,saw the bottom of the sea, even the colour of the seaweed, the holes in the rocks."

"And they've got the shells, too," Collins muttered, "the shells that burst under water."

They paused in the middle of the lawn. Granet held up his handkerchief and turned his cheek seaward. There

was still little more than a floating breath of air but his cheek was covered with moisture.

"I have everything ready," he said. "Just before we go to bed tonight I shall swear that I hear and aeroplane.

"I am as sure that it is right," the other replied grimly, "as I am that tonight you and I my young friend, are

going to play with our lives a little more carelessly than with this china ball. A good throw, that I think," he

went on, measuring it with his eye carefully. "Come, my friend, you'll have to improve. My Scotch practice is

Granet glanced at his opponent, with his bent shoulders, his hard face, hooked nose and thin gold spectacles.

At about halfpast ten that evening, Granet suddenly threw down his cue in the middle of a game of billiards,

They all followed him. He was standing just outside the Frenchwindows of the sittingroom, upon the

gravel walk, his head upturned, listening intently. There was scarcely a breath of wind, no moon nor any

stars. Little clouds of grey mist hung about on the marshes, shutting out their view of the sea. The stillness

"No chance of Zepps over here, I should say," Collins declared, a little didactically. "I was looking at your

They all made their way back to the house. Granet, however, seemed still dissatisfied.

"I'm going to see that my car's all right," he told them. "I left it in the open shed."

He was absent for about twenty minutes. When he returned, they had finished the game of snooker pool

without him and were all sitting on the lounge by the side of the billiard table, talking of the war. Granet

listened for a few minutes and then said goodnight a little abruptly. He lit his candle outside and went

slowly to his room. Arrived there, he glanced at his watch and locked the door. It was halfpast eleven. He

changed his clothes quickly, put on some rubbersoled shoes and slipped a brandy flask and a revolver into

his pocket. Then he sat down before his window with his watch in his hand. He was conscious of a certain

foreboding from which he had never been able to escape since his arrival. In France and Belgium he had

lived through fateful hours, carrying more than once his life in his hands. His risk tonight was an equal one

but the exhilaration seemed lacking. This work in a country apparently at peace seemed somehow on a

different level. If it were less dangerous, it was also less stimulating. In those few moments the soldier blood

in him called for the turmoil of war, the panorama of life and death, the fierce, hot excitement of juggling

with fate while the heavens themselves seemed raining death on every side. Here there was nothing but

silence, the soft splash of the distant sea, the barking of a distant dog. The danger was vivid and actual but

without the stimulus of that bloodred background. He glanced at his watch. It wanted still ten minutes to

twelve. For a moment then he suffered his thoughts to go back to the new thing which had crept into his life.

He was suddenly back in the Milan, he saw the backward turn of her head, the almost wistful look in her eyes

as she made her little pronouncement. She had broken her engagement. Why? It was a battle, indeed, he was

fighting with that still, cold antagonist, whom he half despised and half feared, the man concerning whose

actual personality he had felt so many doubts. What if things should go wrong tonight, if the whole dramatic

story should be handed over for the glory and wonder of the halfpenny press! He could fancy their headlines,

imagine even their trenchant paragraphs. It was skating on the thinnest of iceand for what? His fingers

gripped the damp windowsill. He raised himself a little higher. His eyes fell upon his watchstill a minute

or two to twelve. Slowly he stole to his door and listened. The place was silent. He made his way on tiptoe

across the landing and entered Collins' room. The latter was seated before the wideopen window. He had

blown out his candle and the room was in darkness. He half turned his head at Granet's entrance.

"Two minutes!" he exclaimed softly. "Granet, it will be tonight. Are you ready?"

They stood by the open window in silence. Nothing had changed. It was not yet time for the singing of the

earliest birds. The tiny village lay behind them, silent and asleep; in front, nothing but the marshes,

uninhabited, lonely and quiet, the golf clubhouse empty and deserted. They stood and watched, their faces

turned steadfastly in a certain direction. Gradually their eyes, growing accustomed to the dim and changing

light, could pierce the black line above the grey where the sea came stealing up the sandy places with low

Suddenly Granet's fingers dug into his shoulder. From out of that pall of velvet darkness which hung below

the clouds, came for a single moment a vision of violet light. It rose apparently from nowhere, it passed away

into space. It was visible barely for five seconds, then it had gone. Granet spoke with a little sob.

Collins was already on his feet. He had straightened himself wonderfully, and there was a new alertness in his

manner. He, too, wore rubber shoes and his movements were absolutely noiseless. He carried a little electric

torch in his hand, which he flashed around the room while he placed several small articles in his pocket. Then

he pushed open the door and listened. He turned back, held up his finger and nodded. The two men passed

down the stairs, through the sittingroom, out on to the lawn by a door left unfastened, and round the house

to the shed. Together they pushed the car down the slight incline of the drive. Granet mounted into the

"Remember," Granet whispered, "we heard something and I met you in the hall. Sit tight."

They sped with all the silence and smoothness of their sixcylinder up the treehung road, through the

sleeping village and along the narrow lane to Market Burnham. When they were within about a hundred

"There are at least two sentries that way," he said, "and if Sir Meyville told me the truth, they may have a

special guard of Marines out tonight. This is where we take to the marshes. Listen. Can you hear anything?"

Granet hurried to the back of the car, ripping open the coverings. In a few moments they had dragged over

the side a small collapsible boat of canvas stretched across some bamboo joints, with two tiny sculls. They

This time they could hear the sound of an engine beating away in the boathouse on the other side of the

Hall. Through the closelydrawn curtains, too, they could see faint fingers of light from the house on the sea.

"They are working still," Granet continued. "Look out, Collins, that's the creek."

They pushed the boat into the middle of the black arm of water and stepped cautiously into it. Taking one of

the paddles, Granet, kneeling down, propelled it slowly seaward. Once or twice they ran into the bank and

had to push off, but very soon their eyes grew accustomed to the darkness. By degrees the creek broadened.

They passed close to the walls of the garden, and very soon they were perceptibly nearer the

They heard the regular pacing of a sentinel in the drive. Nearer to them, on the top of the wall, they fancied

that they heard the clash of a bayonet. Granet dropped his voice to the barest whisper.

"We are close there now. Stretch out your hand, Collins. Can you feel a shelf of rock?"

For a few moments Collins was busy. Then, with a little gasp, he gripped Granet's arm. His voice, shaking

Both men turned seaward. Far away in the clouds, it seemed, they could hear a faint humming, some new

sound, something mechanical in its regular beating, yet with clamorous throatiness of some human force

cleaving its way through the resistless air. With every second it grew louder. The men stood clutching one

Collins assented silently. The reverberations became louder and louder. Soon the air was full of echoes. From

far away inland dogs were barking, from a farm somewhere the other side of the road they heard the shout of

Collins leaned forward. The fuse in his hand touched the dark substance which he had spread out upon the

rock. In a moment a strange, unearthly, green light seemed to roll back the darkness. The house, the

workshop, the trees, the slowly flowing sea, their own ghastly faceseverything stood revealed in a blaze of

hideous, awful light. For a moment they forgot themselves, they forgot the miracle they had brought to pass.

Their eyes were rivetted skyward. High above them, something blacker than the heavens themselves,

stupendous, huge, seemed suddenly to assume to itself shape. The roar of machinery was clearly audible.

From the house came the mingled shouting of many voices. Something dropped into the sea a hundred yards

away with a screech and a hiss, and a geyserlike fountain leapt so high that the spray reached them. Then

He seized his scull. Even at that moment there was a terrific explosion. A stream of lurid fire seemed to leap

from the corner of the house, the wall split and fell outwards. And then there came another sound, hideous,

sickly, a sound Granet had heard before, the sound of a rifle bullet cutting its way through flesh, followed by

an inhuman cry. For a moment Collins' arms whirled around him. Then, with no other sound save that one

cry, he fell forward and disappeared. For a single second Granet leaned over the side of the boat as though to

drive after him. Then came another roar. The sand flew up in a blinding storm, the whole of the creek was

suddenly a raging torrent. The boat was swung on a precipitous mountain of salt water and as quickly

capsized. Granet, breathless for a moment and half stunned, found his way somehow to the side of the

marshland, and from there stumbled his way towards the road. The house behind him was on fire, the air

seemed filled with hoarse shoutings. He turned and ran for the spot where he had left the car. Once he fell

into a salt water pool and came out wet through to the waist. In the end, however, he reached the bank,

clambered over it and slipped down into the road. Then a light was flashed into his eyes and a bayonet was

Granet calmly flashed his own electric torch. There were at least a dozen soldiers standing around, and a little

company were hurrying down from the gates. He switched off his light almost immediately.

"The captain's coming down the road," one of the men said. "Lay on to him, Tim!"

Granet sauntered in to breakfast a few minutes late on the following morning. A little volley of questions and

"If you fellows hadn't slept like oxen last night," he remarked, "you'd have known a lot more about it. I saw

"I heard the thing just as I was beginning to undress," Granet explained. "I rushed downstairs and found

"Well, we could hear the vibration like anything, coming from over the marsh there. I got the car out and we

were no sooner on the road than I could see it distinctly, right above usa huge, cigarshaped thing. We

raced along after it, along the road towards Market Burnham. Just before it reached the Hall it seemed to turn

inland and then come back again. We pulled up to watch it and Collins jumped out. He said he'd go as far as

the Hall and warn them. I sat in the car, watching. She came right round and seemed to hover over those

queer sort of outbuildings there are at Market Burnham. All at once the bombs began to drop."

"I've seen 'em beforeplenty of them, too," he remarked, "but they did rain them down. Then all of a sudden

there was a sort of glareI don't know what happened. It was just as though some one had lit one of those

coloured lights. The Hall was just as clearly visible as at noonday. I could see the men running about,

shouting, and the soldiers tumbling out of their quarters. All the time the bombs were coming down like hail

and a corner of the Hall was in flames. Then the lighted stuff, whatever it was, burnt out and the darkness

seemed as black as pitch. I hung around for some time, looking for Collins. Then I went up to the house to

"Better send up and see," Granet proposed. "I waited till I couldn't stick it any longer."

They sent a servant up. The reply came back quicklyMr. Collins bed had not been slept in. Granet frowned

"I suppose he'll think I let him down," he said. "I waited at least an hour for him."

"No one seemed to be much the worse," Granet replied. "I didn't think of anything of that sort in connection

"We'll all go over and have a look for him this afternoon if he hasn't turned up," Anselman suggested. "What

"Suit me all right," Granet agreed. "I'd meant to lay up because of my arm, but it's better this morning. We'll

They motored down to the clubhouse and played their round. It was a wonderful spring morning, with a soft

west wind blowing from the land. Little patches of sea lavender gave purple colour to the marshland. The

creeks, winding their way from the sea to the village, shone like quicksilver beneath the vivid sunshine. It

was a morning of utter and complete peace. Granet notwithstanding a little trouble with his arm, played

carefully and well. When at last they reached the eighteenth green, he hold a wonderful curly putt for the hole

"A great game," his cousin declared, as they left the green. "Who the devil are these fellows?"

There were two soldiers standing at the gate, and a military motorcar drawn up by the side of the road. An

Granet nodded and stretched out his hand for the note. The fingers which drew it from the envelope were

perfectly steady, he even lifted his head for a moment to look at a lark just overhead. Yet the few hastily

The officer in command at Market Burnham Hall would be obliged if Captain Granet would favour him with

"Do you mean that you want me to go at once, before luncheon?" he asked the orderly.

"Some one from the War Office has arrived and is waiting to speak to Captain Granet," he announced.

"We're all coming over after lunch," young Anselman protested. "Wouldn't that do?"

The man made no answer. Granet, with a shrug of the shoulders, stepped into the motorcar. The two soldiers

mounted motorcycles and the little cavalcade turned away. Granet made a few efforts at conversation with

his companion, but, meeting with no response, soon relapsed into silence. In less than twenty minutes the car

was slowing down before the approach to the Hall. The lane was crowded with villagers and people from the

neighbouring farmhouses, who were all kept back, however, by a little cordon of soldiers. Granet, closely

attended by his escort, made his way slowly into the avenue and up towards the house. A corner of the left

wing of the building was in ruins, blackened and still smouldering, and there was a great hole in the

sandblown lawn, where a bomb had apparently fallen. A soldier admitted them at the front entrance and his

guide led him across the hall and into a large room on the other side of the house, an apartment which seemed

to be half library, half morningroom. Sir Meyville and a man in uniform were talking together near the

window. They turned around at Granet's entrance and he gave a little start. For the first time a thrill of fear

chilled him, his selfconfidence was suddenly dissipated. The man who stood watching him with cold

It was a queer little gathering in the drawingroom of Market Burnham Hall, queer and in a sense ominous.

Two soldiers guarded the door. Another one stood with his back to the wideflung window, the sunlight

flashing upon his drawn bayonet. Granet, although he looked about him for a moment curiously, carried

Sir Meyville, who was in a state of great excitement, took absolutely no notice of the young man's greeting.

"I have sent for you, Captain Granet," the former began, "to ask you certain questions with reference to the

"Delighted to tell you anything I can," Granet replied. "Isn't this a little out of your line, though, Thomson?"

"That is the young man," he declared. "I took him to be the officer in command here and I showed him over

"It was a mistake for which you could scarcely hold me responsible," Granet protested, "and you must really

excuse me if I fail to see the connection. Perhaps you will tell me, Major Thomson, what I am here for?"

Major Thomson seated himself before the desk and leaned a little back in his chair.

"We sent for you," he said, "because we are looking for two men who lit the magnesium light which directed

the Zeppelin last night to this locality. One of them lies on the lawn there, with a bullet through his brain. We

"That is our impression," Major Thomson admitted. "Perhaps you will be so good as to tell us what you were

"Certainly," Granet replied. "About halfpast ten last night I thought I heard the engine of an airship. We all

went out on the lawn but could see nothing. However, I took that opportunity to get my car ready in case

there was any excitement going. Later on, as I was on my way upstairs, I distinctly heard the sound once

more. I went out, started my car, and drove down the lane. It seemed to be coming in this direction so I

followed along, pulled up short of the house, climbed on the top of the bank and saw that extraordinary

illumination from the marshland on the other side. I saw a man in a small boat fall back as though he were

shot. A moment or two later I returned to my car and was accosted by two soldiers, to whom I gave my name

"I am going to make a remark, Captain Granet," he said, "upon which you can comment or not, as you

choose. Was not your costume last night rather a singular one for the evening? You say that you were on your

way upstairs to undress when you heard the Zeppelin. Do you wear rubber shoes and a Norfolk jacket for

"I laid out those things in case there was anything doing," he said. "As I told you, I felt sure that I had heard

an airship earlier in the evening, and I meant to try and follow it if I heard it again.

There was a brief silence. Granet lounged a little back in his chair, but though his air of indifference was

prefect, a sickening foreboding was creeping in upon him. He was conscious of failure, of blind, idiotic folly.

Never before had he been guilty of such miserable shortsightedness. He fought desperately against the toils

"Captain Granet," he questioner continued, in his calm, emotionless tone, "according to your story you

changed your clothes and reached here at the same time as the Zeppelin, after having heard its approach. It is

four miles and a half to the Dormy House Club, and that Zeppelin must have been travelling at the rate of at

"Perhaps I may spare you the trouble," Thomson proceeded drily, "of further explanations, Captain Granet,

when I tell you that your car was observed by one of the sentries quite a quarter of an hour before the arrival

of the Zeppelins and the lighting of that flare. Your statements, to put it mildly, are irreconcilable with the

facts of the case. I must ask you once more if you have any other explanation to give as to your movements

"What other explanation can I give?" Granet asked, his brain working fiercely. "I have told you the truth.

"You have told me," Major Thomson went on, and his voice seemed like the voice of fate, "that you arrived

here in hot haste simultaneously with the lighting of that flare and the dropping of the bombs. Not only one of

the sentries on guard here, but two other people have given evidence that your car was out there in the lane

for at least a quarter of an hour previous to the happenings of which I have just spoken. For the last time,

There was a little movement at the further end of the room. A curtain was drawn back and Isabel Worth came

slowly towards them. She stood there, the curtains on either side of her, ghastly pale, her hands clasped in

They stared at her in amazement. Only Granet, with an effort, kept his face expressionless. Sir Meyville

"God bless my soul!" he mumbled. "Isabel, what do you want, girl? Can't you see that we are engaged?"

"Can you send the soldiers away for a moment?" she begged. "I don't think that they will be needed."

Major Thomson gave a brief order and the men left the room. Isabel came a little nearer to the table. She

"I am very sorry indeed," she went on, "if anything I have done has caused all this trouble. Captain Granet

came down here partly to play golf, partly at my invitation. He was here yesterday afternoon, as my father

There was a breathless silence. Isabel was standing at the end of the table, her fingers still clasped nervously

together, a spot of intense colour in her cheeks. She kept her eyes turned sedulously away from Granet. Sir

"What do you mean, girl?" he demanded harshly. "What do you mean by all this rubbish? Speak out."

"Don't," he begged. "I can clear myself, Miss Worth, if any one is mad enough to have suspicions about me. I

"The truth may just as well be told," she interrupted. "There is nothing to be ashamed of. It is hideously dull

down here, and the life my father has asked me to lead for the last few months has been intolerable. I never

sleep, and I invited Captain Granet to come over here at twelve o'clock last night and take me for a motor

ride. I was dressed, meaning to go, and Captain Granet came to fetch me. It turned out to be impossible

because of all the new sentries about the place, but that is why Captain Granet was here, and that," she

concluded, turning to Major Thomson, "is why, I suppose, he felt obliged to tell you what was not the truth. It

There was a silence which seemed composed of many elements. Sir Meyville Worth stood with his eyes fixed

upon his daughter and an expression of blank, uncomprehending dismay in his features. Granet, a frown upon

his forehead, was looking towards the floor. Thomson, with the air of seeing nobody, was studying them all

"As you justly remark, Miss Worth," he observed, "this sort of thing has been done before. We will leave it

there for the present. Will you come this way with me, if you please, Captain Granet? I won't trouble you,

The two men passed together side by side, in momentous silence, across the stone hall, out of the house, and

round the back of the garden to a wooden shed, before which was posted a sentry. The man stood on one side

to let them pass. On the bare stone floor inside was stretched the dead body of Collins. The salt water was

still oozing from his clothes and limbs, running away in little streams. There was a small blue hole in the

"This, apparently," Thomson said, "is the man who lit the magnesium light which showed the Zeppelin where

"Identify him?" Granet exclaimed. "Why, I was playing bowls with him yesterday afternoon. He is a Glasgow

merchant named Collins, and a very fine golf player. He is staying at the Dormy House Club."

"He has also another claim to distinction," Major Thomson remarked drily, "for he is the man who fired those

lights. The sergeant who shot him fancied that he heard voices on the creek, and crept up to the wall just

before the flare came. The sergeant, I may add, is under the impression that there were two men in the boat."

"I know nothing whatever of the man or his movements," he declared, "beyond what I have told you. I have

scarcely spoken a dozen words to him in my life, and never before our chance meeting at the Dormy House."

"You do not, for instance, happen to know how he came here from the Dormy House?"

"If you mean did he come in my car," Granet answered easily, "please let me assure you that he did not. My

errand here last night was indiscreet enough, but I certainly shouldn't have brought another man, especially a

"Thank you," Major Thomson concluded, "that is all I have to say to you for the present."

They had reached the corner of the avenue. Granet glanced down towards the road.

"You will find the car in which you came waiting to take you back, Captain Granet, he announced.

The two men had paused. Granet was on the point of departure. With the passing of his sudden apprehension

"Do you mind telling me, Major Thomson," he asked, "how it is that you, holding, I presume, a medical

appointment, were selected to conduct an inquiry like this? I have voluntarily submitted myself to your

questioning, but if I had had anything to conceal I might have been inclined to dispute your authority."

Thomson's face was immovable. He simply pointed to the gate at the end of the avenue.

"If it had been necessary, Captain Granet," he said coldly, "I should have been able to convince you that I was

Granet hesitated, but only for a moment. Then he shrugged his shoulders and turned away.

He made his way down to the lane, which was still crowded with villagers and loungers. He was received

"Not much damage done that I can hear," he told them all. "The corner of the house caught fire and the lawn

He was driven in silence back to the Dormy House. When he arrived there the place was deserted. The other

men were lunching at the golf club. He made his way slowly to the impromptu shed which served for a

garage. His own car was standing there. He looked all around to make sure that he was absolutely alone.

Then he lifted up the cushion by the drivingseat. Carefully folded and arranged in the corner were the

hornrimmed spectacles and the silk handkerchief of the man who was lying at Market Burnham with a

Mr. Gordon Jones rose to his feet. It had been an interesting, in some respects a momentous interview. He

glanced around the plain but handsomely furnished office, a room which betrayed so few evidences of the

"After all, Sir Alfred," he remarked, smiling, "I am not sure that it is Downing Street which rules. We can

touch our buttons and move armies and battleships across the face of the earth. You pull down your ledger,

"Let us be thankful, then," he said, "that the powers we wield are linked together in the great cause."

"Such things, I know, are little to you, Sir Alfred," he continued, "but at the same time I want you to believe

that his Majesty's Government will not be unmindful of your help at this juncture. To speak of rewards at

such a time is perhaps premature. I know that ordinary honours do not appeal to you, yet it has been

suggested to me by a certain person that I should assure you of the country's gratitude. In plain words, there is

nothing you may ask for which it would not be our pleasure and privilege to give you."

"You are very kind," he said. "Later on, perhaps, one may reflect. At present there seems to be only one stern

The two men parted. Sir Alfred rose from the chair in front of his desk and threw himself into the easychair

which his guest had been occupying. A ray of city sunshine found its way through the tangle of tall buildings

on the other side of the street, lay in a zigzag path across his carpet, and touched the firm lines of his

thoughtful face. He sat there, slowly tapping the sides of the chair with his pudgy fingers. So a great soldier

might have sat, following out the progress of his armies in different countries, listening to the roar of their

guns, watching their advance, their faltering, their success and their failures. Sir Alfred's vision was in a sense

more sordid in many ways more complicated, yet it too, had its dramatic side. He looked at the

moneymarkets of the world, he saw exchanges rise and fall. He saw in the dim vista no khakiclad army

with flashing bayonets, but a long, thin line of blackcoated men with sallow faces, clutching their

"Show my nephew in at once," he directed. "I shall be engaged with him for at least a quarter of an hour.

Kindly go round to the Bank of England and arrange for an interview with Mr. Williams for three o'clock this

The clerk silently withdrew. Granet entered, a few minutes later. The banker greeted him pleasantly.

"Well, Ronnie," he exclaimed, "I thought that you were going to be down in Norfolk for a week! Come in.

Granet silently obeyed. Sir Alfred glanced around the room. There was no possible hidingplace, not the

"We did our share," Granet answered. "Collins was there at the Dormy House Club. We got the signal and we

lit the flare. They came down to within two or three hundred feet, and they must have thrown twenty bombs,

at least. They damaged the shed but missed the workshop. The house caught fire, but they managed to put

"They got Collins," Granet said, dropping his voice almost to a whisper. "He was shot by my side. They

caught me, too. I've been in a few tight corners but nothing tighter than that. Who do you think was sent

"Supposed to be," Granet answered grimly. "I am beginning to wonderTell me, you haven't heard anything

"Nothing except that I have an uncomfortable feeling about him," Granet went on. "I wish I felt sure that he

was just what he professes to be. He is the one man who seems to suspect me. If it hadn't been for Isabel

Worth, I was done forfinisheddown at that wretched hole! He had me where I couldn't move. The girl

The young man shrugged his shoulders. His face certainly seemed to have grown thinner during the last few

"I don't mind it so much abroad," he declared. "It seems a different thing there, somehow. But over here it's

all wrong; it's the atmosphere, I suppose. And that fellow Thomson means mischiefI'm sure of it."

"Yes," he confessed. "If I hadn't begun this, if I hadn't gone so far into it that no other course was possible, I

think that I should have been content to be just what I seem to bebecause of her."

Sir Alfred leaned back in his chair. He was looking at his nephew as a man of science might have looked at

"Well," he said, "I suppose you simply confirm the experience of the ages, but, frankly, you amaze me. You

are moving amongst the big places of life, you are with those who are making history, and you would be

content to give the whole thing up. For what? You would become a commonplace, easygoing young animal

of a British soldier, for the sake of the affection of a goodlooking, wellbred, commonplace British young

woman. I don't understand you, Ronald. You have the blood of empiremakers in your veins. Your education

and environment have developed an outward resemblance to the thing you profess to be, but behinddon't

"I feel them, right enough," Granet replied. "I have felt them for the last seven or eight years. But I am feeling

something else, too, something which I dare say you never felt, something which I have never quite believed

"In a way," he admitted, "this is disappointing. You are right. I have never felt the call of those other things.

When I was a young man, I was frivolous simply when I felt inclined to turn from the big things of life for

purposes of relaxation. When an alliance was suggested to me, I was content to accept it, but thank heavens I

have been Oriental enough to keep women in my life where they belong. I am disappointed in you, Ronnie."

"No, but the soft spot's there," was the grim reply. "However, let that go. Tell me why you came up? Wasn't it

"Perhaps," his nephew assented. "My arm came on a little rocky and I had to chuck golf. Apart from that, I

wasn't altogether comfortable about things at Market Burnham. I was obliged to tell Thomson that I saw

nothing of Collins that night but they know at the Dormy House Club that he started with me in the car and

"Saved you by a lie, didn't she?" the banker remarked. "That may be awkward later on."

"I'm sick of my own affairs," Granet declared gloomily. "Is there anything fresh up here at all?"

"Nothing very much," he said. "At the same time, there are distinct indications of a change which I don't like.

With certain statesmen here at the top of the tree, it was perfectly easy for me to carry out any schemes which

I thought necessary. During the last few weeks, however, there has been a change. Nominally, things are the

same. Actually, I seem to find another hand at work, another hand which works with the censorship, too. One

of my very trusted agents in Harwich made the slightest slip the other day. A few weeks ago, he would either

have been fined twenty pounds or interned. Do you know what happened to him on Wednesday? Of course

you don't he was arrested at one o'clock and shot in half an hour. Then you saw the papers this morning? All

sailings between here and a certain little spot we know of have been stopped without a moment's warning. I

"Not for the moment," he replied, "but there will be very soon. Take hold of yourself Ronnie. Don't look

downwards so much. You and I are walking in the clouds. It is almost as bad to falter as to slip.

"I have," Granet admitted, "not afraid of death but afraid of what might follow upon discovery. I am half

inclined, if just one thing in the world came my way, to sail for New York tomorrow and start again."

"When those fears come to you," Sir Alfred continued slowly, "consider me. I run a greater risk than you.

There are threads from this office stretching to many corners of England, to many corners of America, to

most cities of Europe. If a man with brains should seize upon any one of them, he might follow it

Sir Alfred touched his chest for a moment. Then his hand dropped to his side and he proceeded.

"For twentyeight years I have ruled the moneymarkets of the world. No Cabinet Council is held in this

country at which my influence is not represented. The Ministers come to me one by one for help and advice. I

represent the third great force of war, and there isn't a single member of the present Government who doesn't

look upon me as the most important person in the country. Yet I, too, have enemies, Ronnie. There is the

halfpenny Press. They'd give a million for the chance that may come at any day. They'd print my downfall in

blacker lines than the declaration of war. They'd shriek over my ruin with a more brazenthroated triumph

even than they would greet the heralds of peace. And the threads are there, Ronald. Sometimes I feel one

shiver a little. Sometimes I have to stretch out my arm and brush too curious an inquirer into the place where

curiosity ends. I sit and watch and I am well served. There are men this morning at Buckingham Palace with

a V.C. to be pinned upon their breast, who faced dangers for ten minutes, less than I face day and night."

"For a moment," he exclaimed, "I had forgotten!. . . Tell me," he added, with sudden vigour, "what have we

don't it for? You made your great name in England, you were Eton and Oxford. Why is it that when the giant

struggle comes it should be Germany who governs your hear, it should be Germany who calls even to me?"

"Ronnie," he said, "have you ever wondered why in a flock of sheep every lamb knows its mother? Germany

was the mother of our stock. Birth, life and education count for nothing when the great days come, when the

mother voice speaks. It isn't that we are false to England, it is that we are true to our own. You must go now,

Geraldine welcomed her unexpected visitor that afternoon cordially enough but a little shyly.

"I thought that you were going to stay at Brancaster for a week," she remarked, as they shook hands.

"We meant to stay longer," Granet admitted, "but things went a little wrong. First of all there was this

Zeppelin raid. Then my arm didn't go very well. Altogether our little excursion fizzled out and I came back

"Rather more than I wanted," he answered grimly. "I was motoring along the road at the time, and I had to

attend a perfect court martial next day, with your friend Thomson in the chair. Can you tell me, Miss

Conyers," he continued, watching her closely, "how it is that a medical major who is inspector of hospitals,

"He was, and very officially," Granet replied. "If it weren't that I had conclusive evidence to prove what I was

"I'm afraid I cannot," she admitted. "Hugh certainly seems to have become a most mysterious person, but

then, as you know, I haven't seen quite so much of him lately. Your change, Captain Granet, doesn't seem to

"Do you care whether my wound is troubling me or not?" he asked. "Do you care anything at all about me?"

He seemed suddenly a changed person. The lines which had certainly appeared in his face during the last few

"Miss Conyers," he went on, "Geraldine, I want you to careenough for the big things. Don't interrupt me,

please. Listen to what I have to say. Somehow or other, the world has gone amiss with me lately. They won't

have me back, my place has been filled up, I can't get any fighting. They've shelved me at the War Office;

they talk about a home adjutancy. I can't stick it, I have lived amongst the big things too long. I'm sick of

waiting about, doing nothingsick to death. I want to get away. There's some work I could do in America.

"It's my fault," he declared. "The words all seem to be tumbling out anyhow and I don't know how to put

them in the right order. Can't you see that I love you, Geraldine? I want you to be my wife, and I want to get

right away as quickly as ever I can. Why not America? Why couldn't we be married this week and get away

She looked at him in sheer amazement, amazement tempered just a little with a sort of tremulous uncertainty.

"But, Captain Granet," she exclaimed, "you can't be serious! You couldn't possibly think of leaving England

"Why not?" he protested. "They won't let me fight again. I couldn't stand the miserable routine of home

"I am sure you are not in earnest," she said quietly. "No Englishman could feel like that."

"He could if he cared for you," Granet insisted. "I'm afraid of everything here, afraid that Thomson will come

back and take you away, afraid of all sorts of hideous things happening during the next few months."

"You mustn't talk like this, please," she begged. "You know as well as I do that neither you nor I could turn

He opened his lips to speak but stopped short. It was obvious that she was deeply in earnest.

"And as for the other thing you spoke of," she continued, "please won't you do as I beg you and not refer to it

again for the present? Perhaps," she added, "when the war is over we may speak of it, but just now everything

is so confused. I, too, seem to have lost my bearings. . . .You know that I am going out to Boulogne in a few

days with Lady Headley's hospital? Don't look so frightened. I am not an amateur nurse, I can assure you. I

"Major Thomson arranged it for me, a few days ago. We may meet there at any time," she added, smiling. "I

am perfectly certain that the War Office will find you something abroad very soon."

For a moment that queer look of boyish strength which had first attracted her, reasserted itself. His teeth came

"And I am quite sure," she interrupted, "that when you are yourself again you will agree with me. These are

"Until a few weeks ago," he told her, "I thought of nothing but the war and my work in ituntil you came,

"Please remember," she begged, "that it is too soon. I can't bear to have you talk to me like that.

"You mustn't talk like that," she protested, "you with your splendid courage and opportunities! Think what

you have done already. England wants the best of her sons today. Can't you be content to give that and to

wait? We have so much gratitude in our hearts, we weak women, for those who are fighting our battle."

Her words failed to inspire him. He took her hand and lifted her fingers deliberately to his lips.

Geraldine was alone when her mother came into the room a few minutes later. Lady Conyers was looking a

Granet brought his car to a standstill outside the portals of that very august club in Pall Mall. The hallporter

"America's off," he announced shortly. "I thought I'd better let you know. It must be the whole thing now."

"Very well," he said at last, "only remember this, my boythere must be no more risks. You've been sailing

"I did and I saw General Brice. He admitted in confidence that they weren't very keen about your rejoining.

Nothing personal," he went on quickly, "nothing serious, that is to say. There is a sort of impression out there

"Well," he said, "they know their own business best. What I am afraid of is being saddled with some rotten

"Do you mean that they don't want to give me anything at all?" he demanded anxiously.

"You are too impetuous, Ronnie. They're willing enough to give you a home command, but I have asked that

Sir Alfred looked out of the window for a moment. Then he laid his hand upon his nephew's shoulder.

"I think I can promise you, Ronnie," he said seriously, "that before many days have passed you shall have all

SurgeonMajor Thomson reeled for a moment and caught at the paling by his side. Then he recovered

himself almost as quickly, and, leaning forward, gazed eagerly at the long, grey racingcar which was

already passing Buckingham Palace and almost out of sight in the slight morning fog. There was a very small

cloud of white smoke drifting away into space, and a faint smell of gunpowder in the air. He felt his cheek

and, withdrawing his fingers, gazed at them with a little nervous laughthey were wet with blood.

He looked up and down the broad pathway. For nine o'clock in the morning the Birdcage Walk was

marvellously deserted. A girl, however, who had been driving a small car very slowly on the other side of the

"Don't be silly!" she exclaimed. "I felt certain that I heard a shot just now, and I saw you reel and spin round

"A bullet did come my way and just graze my cheek," he admitted. "Most extraordinary thing. I wonder

He glanced thoughtfully across towards where a number of khakiclad figures were dimly visible behind the

"Of course," she began, "if you really think that I don't know the difference between the report of a pistol and

"I was wrong," he confessed. "Forgive me. You see, my head was a little turned. Some one did deliberately

fire at me, and I believe it was from a grey racingcar. I couldn't see who was driving it and it was out of

"But I never heard of such a thing!" she exclaimed. "Why on earth should they fire at you? You haven't any

"Take your handkerchief away," she ordered. "Don't be foolish. You forget that I am a certificated nurse."

He raised his handkerchief and she looked for a moment at the long scar. Her face grew serious.

"Another halfinch," she murmured,"Hugh, what an abominable thing! A deliberate attempt at murder

"Get into my car at once," she directed. "I'll drive you to a chemist's and put something on that. You can't go

"Of course, I'm a little bewildered about it still," she went on. "I suppose you ought to go to the

policestation. It was really a deliberate attempt at assassination, wasn't it? If you had been"

"If I had been a person of importance, eh? Well, you see, even I must have been in somebody's way."

"Hugh," she asked abruptly, "why did the War Office send you down to Market Burnham after that Zeppelin

"Captain Granet came to see me yesterday afternoon. He seemed as much surprised as I was. You were a

"But why were you sent down?" she persisted. "I can't imagine what you have to do with a Zeppelin raid."

"I really don't think it is worth while your bothering about the bandage," he said.

"Hugh, you make me so angry!" she exclaimed. "Of course, you may say that I haven't the right to ask, but

still I can't see why you should be so mysterious. . . . Here's the chemist's. Now come inside with me, please."

He followed her obediently into the shop at the top of Trafalgar Square. She dressed his wound deftly and

"If you keep that on all day," she said, "I thinkbut I forgot. I was treating you like an ordinary patient.

Don't laugh at me, sir. I am sure none of your professional nurses could have tied that up any better."

"Of course they couldn't," he agreed. "Bythebye, have you obtained your papers for Boulogne yet?"

"I expect to be going next week. Lady Headley promised to let me know this afternoon. Now I'll take you

"None whatever," he replied, "no definite idea, that is to say. It was some one who as driving a low, grey car.

"Only Captain Granet," she remarked, "and I suppose even your dislike of him doesn't go so far as to suggest

"It certainly does seem a rather rash and unnecessary proceeding," he assented, "but the fact remains that

"Some one with a grudge against the Chief Inspector of Hospitals," she observed drily.

She made a little grimace. Suddenly her manner became more earnest. She laid her fingers upon his arm as he

"Hugh," she said, "before you go let me tell you something. I think that the real reason why I lost some of my

affection for you was because you persisted in treating me without any confidence at all. The little things

which may have happened to you abroad, the little details of your life, the harmless side of your

professionthere were so many things I should have been interested in. And you told me nothing. There

were things which seemed to demand an explanation with regard to your position. You ignored them. You

seemed to enjoy moving in a mysterious atmosphere. It's worse than ever now. I am intelligent, am I

"You are both," he admitted gravely. "Thank you very much for telling me this, Geraldine."

She nodded, slipped in her clutch and drove off. SurgeonMajor Thomson entered the War Office and made

his way up many stairs and along many wide corridors to a large room on the top floor of the building. Two

men were seated at desks, writing. He passed them by with a little greeting and entered an inner apartment. A

pile of letters stood upon his desk. He examined them one by one, destroyed some, made pencil remarks upon

"Chief's compliments and he would be glad if you would step round to his room at once, sir," he announced.

Thomson locked his desk, made his way to the further end of the building and was admitted through a door

by which a sentry was standing, to an anteroom in which a dozen people were waiting. His guide passed him

through to an inner apartment, where a man was seated alone. He glanced up at Thomson's entrance.

"Good morning, Thomson!" he said brusquely. "Sit down, please. Leave the room, Dawkes, and close the

"I felt bound to bring the matter before you, sir," Thomson replied. "I made my application to the censor and

"Look here," he said, "the censor's department has instructions to afford you every possible assistance in any

researches you make. There are just twentyfour names in the United Kingdom which have been admitted to

the privileges of free correspondence. The censor has no right to touch any letters addressed to them. Sir

The Chief leaned back in his chair. His cold grey eyes were studying the other's face.

"Thomson," he continued, "I know that you are not a sensationalist. At the same time, this request of yours is

a little nerveshattering, isn't it? Sir Alfred Anselman has been the Chancellor's righthand man. It was

mainly owing to his efforts that the war loan was such a success. He has done more for us in the city than any

other Englishman. He has given large sums to the various war funds, his nephew is a very distinguished

young officer. Now there suddenly comes a request from you to have the censor pass you copies of all his

"Sir," he said, "you and I have discussed this matter indirectly more than once. You are not yet of my opinion

but you will be. The halfpenny Press has sickened us so with the subject of spies that the man who groans

about espionage today is avoided like a pestilence. Yet it is my impression that there is in London,

undetected and unsuspected, a marvellous system of German espionage, a company of men who have sold

themselves to the enemy, whose names we should have considered above reproach. It is my job to sift this

matter to the bottom. I can only do so if you will give me supreme power over the censorship."

"Look here, Thomson," the Chief demanded, "you don't suspect Sir Alfred Anselman?"

"You're a sane man, too, Thomson," he muttered, "but it's the most astounding charge I've ever heard."

"It's the most astounding conspiracy," Thomson replied. "I was in Germany a few weeks ago, as you know."

"I heard all about it. A very brilliant but a very dangerous exploit, that of yours, Thomson."

"I will tell you my impressions, sir," the latter continued. "The ignorance displayed in the German

newspapers about England is entirely a matter of censorship. Their actual information as regards every detail

of our military condition is simply amazing. They know exactly what munitions are reaching our shores from

abroad, they know how we are paying for them, they know exactly our financial condition, they know all

about our new guns, they know just how many men we could send over to France tomorrow and how many

we could get through in three months' time. They know the private views of every one of the Cabinet

Ministers. They knew in Berlin yesterday what took place at the Cabinet Council the day before. You must

realise yourself that some of this is true. How does the information get through?"

"The ordinary spy could make no such reports as the Germans are getting hour by hour. If I am to make a

The Chief considered for several moments. Then he wrote a few lines on a sheet of paper.

"There'll be the perfect devil to pay," he said simply. "We shall have Cabinet Ministers running about the

"I was shot at in the Park," Thomson explained. "A man had a flying go at me from a motorcar."

"I didn't try," he replied. "I want him at liberty. His time will come when I break up this conspiracy, if I do it

"No one's even let off a popgun at me," he grumbled. "They must think you're the more dangerous of the

two, Thomson. You'd better do what you can with that order as soon as possible. No telling how soon I may

Thomson took the hint and departed. He walked quickly back to his room, thrust the order he had received

Mr. Gordon Jones, who had moved his chair a little closer to his host's side, looked reflectively around the

diningroom as he sipped his port. The butler remained on sufferance because of his grey hairs, but the

footmen, who had been rather a feature of the Anselman establishment, had departed, and their places had

been filled by half a dozen of the smartest of parlourmaids, one or two of whom were still in evidence.

"Yours is certainly one of the most patriotic households, Sir Alfred, which I have entered," he declared. "Tell

"Four footmen and two chauffeurs from here, eleven gardeners and three indoor servants from the country,"

he replied. "That is to say nothing about the farms, where I have left matters in the hands of my agents. I am

"And thank heavens you'll still have to pay us a little supertax," the Cabinet Minister remarked, smiling.

"You shall have every penny of it, my friend," he promised. "I have taken a quart of a million of your war

loan and I shall take the sam amount of your next one. I spend all my time upon your committees, my own

affairs scarcely interest me, and yet I thought today, when my car was stopped to let a company of the

London Regiment march down to CharingCross, that there wasn't one of those khakiclad young men who

"Those are noteworthy words of yours, Sir Alfred," he said. "There is nothing in the whole world so utterly

ineffective as our own passionate gratitude must seem to ourselves when we think of all those young

fellowsnot soldiers, you know, but young men of peace, fond of their pleasures, their games, their

sweethearts, their workthrowing it all on one side, passing into another life, passing into the valley of

The conversation became general. The host of this little dinnerparty leaned back in his place for a moment,

engrossed in thought. It was a very distinguished, if not a large company. There were three Cabinet Ministers,

a high official in the War Office, a bishop, a soldier of royal blood back for a few days from the Front, and

his own nephewGranet. He sat and looked round at them and a queer little smile played upon his lips. If

only the truth were known, the world had never seen a stranger gathering. It was a company which the King

himself might have been proud to gather around him; serious, representative EnglishmenEnglishmen, too,

of great position. There was not one of them who had not readily accepted his invitation, there was not one of

them who was not proud to sit at his table, there was not one of them who did not look upon him as one of the

There was a little rustle as one of the new parlourmaids walked smoothly to his side and presented a silver

salver. He took the single letter from her, glanced at it for a moment carelessly and then felt as though the

fingers which held it had been pierced by redhot wires. The brilliant little company seemed suddenly to

dissolve before his eyes. He saw nothing but the marking upon that letter, growing larger and larger as he

gazed, the veritable writing of fate pressed upon the envelope by a rubber stampby the hand, perchance, of

There was a momentary singing in his ears. He looked at his glass, found it full, raised it to his lips and

drained it. The ghastly moment of suspended animation passed. He felt no longer that he was in a room from

which all the air had been drawn. He was himself again but the letter was there. Mr. Gordon Jones, who had

"I thought I recognised the mark," the other replied. "A most outrageous mistake! I am very glad that it came

"I thought so myself," Sir Alfred remarked. "However, I suppose an occasional mistake can scarcely be

wondered at. Don't worry them about it, please. My Dutch letters are simply records of the balances at my

"All the same," Mr. Gordon Jones insisted, "there has been gross neglect somewhere. I will see that it is

"Very kind of you," Sir Alfred declared. "As you know, I have been able to give you fragments of

information now and then which would cease at once, of course, if my correspondence as a whole were

There was another interruption. This time a message had come from the houseMinisters would be required

within the next twenty minutes. The little partyit was a men's dinnerparty onlybroke up. Very soon Sir

Alfred and his nephew were left alone. Sir Alfred's fingers shook for a moment as he tore open the seal of his

letter. He glanced through the few lines it contained and breathed a sigh of relief.

They left the diningroom and, eschewing the inviting luxuries of the billiard room and library, passed into a

small room behind, plainly furnished as a business man's study. Granet seized his uncle by the arm.

"It's coded, Ronnie, and between you and me I don't believe they'll be able to read it, but whose doing is

"I don't know," he said. "Mistakes of this sort don't often occur. As I Looked around tonight, Ronnie, I

thoughtI couldn't help thinking that our position was somewhat wonderful. Does it mean that this is the

first breath of suspicion, I wonder? Was it really only my fancy, or did I hear tonight the first mutterings of

"No one can possibly suspect," Granet declared, "no one who could have influence enough to override your

Sir Alfred reentered the larger library and was absent for several minutes. When he returned, the message

Leave London June 4th. Have flares midnight Buckingham Palace, St. Paul's steps, gardens in front of Savoy.

Granet glanced eagerly back at the original message. It consisted of a few perfectly harmless sentences

"It isn't the thing itself I worry about," Sir Alfred said thoughtfully,"they'll never decode that message. It's

the something that lies behind it. It's the pointing finger, Ronnie. I thought we'd last it out, at any rate. Things

look different now. You're serious, I suppose? You don't want to go to America?"

"I don't," Granet replied grimly. "That's all finished, for the present. You know very well what it is I do

"There are plenty of wild enterprises afoot," he admitted, "but I don't know, after all, that I wish you

"I can't hang about here much longer," his nephew grumbled. "I get the fever in my blood to be doing

Granet thrust his hands into his trousers pockets. There was a frown upon his fine forehead.

"It's that man I told you about," he said bitterly,"the man I hate. He's nobody of any account but he always

seems to be mixed up in any little trouble I find myself in. I got out of that affair down at Market Burnham

without the least trouble, and then, as you know, the War Office sent him down, of all the people on earth, to

hold an inquiry. Sometimes I think that he suspects me. I met him at a critical moment on the battlefield near

Niemen. I always believed that he heard me speaking Germanit was just after I had come back across the

lines. The other daywell, I told you about that. Isabel Worth saved me or I don't know where I should have

There was a moment's silence. Sir Alfred's expression was curiously tense. He leaned across the table towards

"Thomson?" he repeated. "My God! I knew there was something I meant to tell you. Don't you know,

"He is the man with the new post," Sir Alfred declared hoarsely. "He is the head of the whole Military

Intelligence Department! They've set him up at the War Office. They've practically given him unlimited

"A blind!" his uncle groaned. "He is nothing of the sort. He's Kitchener's own man, and this," he added,

SurgeonMajor Thomson looked up almost eagerly as Ambrose entered his room the next morning. The

young man's manner was dejected and there were black lines under his eyes. He answered his chief's

"No luck, sir," he announced. "I spent the whole of last night at it, toonever went to bed at all. I've tried it

with thirtyone codes. Then I've taken the first line or two and tried every possible change."

"I couldn't make anything of it myself," Thomson confessed, looking at the sheet of paper which even at that

moment was spread out before him. "All the same, Ambrose, I don't believe in it."

"Neither do I, sir." The other assented eagerly. "I am going to have another try this afternoon. Perhaps there'll

"I've a sort of feeling, Ambrose," he said, "that we sha'n't have many of these letters."

"I heard by telephone, just before you came," Thomson announced, "that a certain very distinguished person

was on his way to see me. Cabinet Ministers don't come here for nothing, and this one happens to be a friend

"More interference, sir," he groaned. "I don't see how they can expect us to run our department with the

civilians butting in wherever they like. They want us to save the country and they're to have the credit for it."

There was a knock at the door. A boy scout entered. His eyes were a little protuberant, his manner betokened

Mr. Gordon Jones entered without waiting for any further announcement. Thomson rose to his feet and

received a genial handshake, after which the newcomer glanced at Ambrose. Thomson signed to his assistant

"Major Thomson," the Cabinet Minister began impressively, as he settled down in his chair, "I have come

here to confer with you, to throw myself, to a certain extent, upon your understanding and your common

sense," he added, speaking with the pleased air of a man sure of his ground and himself.

"You have come to protest, I suppose," Thomson said slowly, "against our having"

"To protest against nothing, my dear sir," the other interrupted. "Simply to explain to you, as I have just

explained to your Chief, that while we possess every sympathy with, and desire to give every latitude in the

world to the military point of view, there are just one or two very small matters in which we must claim to

have a voice. We have, as you know, a free censorship list. We have put no one upon it who is not far and

away above all suspicion. I am given to understand that a letter addressed to Sir Alfred Anselman was opened

yesterday. I went to see your Chief about it this morning. He has referred me to you."

"I happened," Mr. Gordon Jones went on, "to be dining at Sir Alfred's house when the letter was presented.

Sir Alfred, I must say, took it exceedingly well. At the same time, I have made it my business to see that this

"The country," his visitor continued, "will know some day what it owes to Sir Alfred Anselman. At present I

can only express, and that poorly, my sense of personal obligation to him. He has been of the greatest

assistance to the Government in the city and elsewhere. His contributions to our funds have been magnificent;

his advice, his sympathy, invaluable. He is a man inspired by the highest patriotic sentiments, one of the first

Thomson listened in silence and without interruption. He met the wellsatisfied peroration of his visitor

"I am hoping to hear," the latter concluded, with some slight asperity in his manner, "that the circumstance to

Major Thomson glanced thoughtfully at a little pile of documents by his side. Then he looked coldly towards

his visitor and provided him, perhaps, with one of the most complete surprises of his life.

"I am sorry, Mr. Gordon Jones," he said, "but this is not a matter which I can discuss with you."

"Certain responsibilities," he continued quietly, "with regard to the safe conduct of this country, have been

handed over to the military authorities, which in this particular case I represent. We are in no position for

amenities or courtesies. Our country is in the gravest danger and nothing else is of the slightest possible

significance. The charge which we have accepted we shall carry out with regard to one thing only, and that is

"You mean, in plain words," Mr. Gordon Jones exclaimed, "that no requests from me or say, for instance, the

"None whatever," Major Thomson replied coolly. "Without wishing to be in any way personal, I might say

that there are statesmen in your Government, for whom you must accept a certain amount of responsibility,

who have been largely instrumental in bringing this hideous danger upon the country. As a company of

lawmakers you may or may not be excellent peoplethat is, I suppose, according to one's political

opinions. As a company of men competent to superintend the direction of a country at war, you must permit

me to say that I consider you have done well in placing certain matters in our hands, and that you will do

"Major Thomson," he said at last, "I have never heard of your before, and I am not prepared for a moment to

say that I sympathise with your point of view. But it is at least refreshing to hear any one speak his mind with

such frankness. I must now ask you one question, whether you choose to answer it or not. The letter which

you have opened, addressed to Sir Alfredyou couldn't possibly find any fault with it?"

"Look here," he said, with an attempt at goodhumour, "you can at least abandon the official attitude for a

moment with me. Tell me why, of all men in the world, you have chosen to suspect Sir Alfred Anselman?"

"I am sorry," Thomson replied stiffly, "but this is not a matter which I can discuss in any other way except

officially, and I do not recognise you as having any special claims for information."

The Minister rose to his feet. Those few minutes marked to him an era in his official life.

"You are adopting an attitude, sir," he said, "which, however much I may admire it from one point of view,

Thomson made no reply. He had risen to his feet. His manner clearly indicated that he considered the

"When you are wanting a civil job, Major Thomson," he concluded, "come and give us a call. Good

Granet turned quickly around in his chair. Almost instinctively he pulled down the roll top of the desk before

which he was seated. Then he rose to his feet and held out his hand. He managed with an effort to conceal the

She came towards him confidently, her hands outstretched, slim, dressed in sober black, he cheeks as pale as

ever, her eyes a little more brilliant. She threw her muff into a chair and a moment afterwards sank into it

"I have been hoping to hear from you," he said. "You told me, if you remember, not to write."

"It was better not," she assented. "Even after you left I had a great deal of trouble. That odious man, Major

Thomson, put me through a regular crossexamination again, and I had to tell him at last"

"That we were engaged to be married," she confessed. "There was really no other way out of it."

"He pressed me very hard," she went on, "and I am afraid I made some admissionswell, there were

necessarywhich, to say the least of it, were compromising. There was only one way out of it decently for

"I had to," she explained, smoothing her muff. "He was there all the time that Thomson man was

"He does," she answered drily, "or I am afraid you would have heard a little more from Major Thomson

before now. Ever since that night, father has been quite impossible to live with. He says he has to being a part

"Yes," she acknowledged, "they did more harm than any one knows. The place is like a fortress now. They

say that if they can find the other man who helped to light that flare, he will be shot in five minutes."

Granet, who had been standing with his elbow upon the mantelpiece, leaned over and took a cigarette from a

Granet stood and looked at her steadfastly, the match burning in his fingers. Then he threw it away and lit

another. The interval had been full of unadmitted tension, which suddenly passed.

"Shall you think I am horribly greedy," she asked, "if I say that I should like something to eat? I am dying of

"How absurd of me!" he exclaimed. "Of course, you have just come up, haven't you?"

She met his gaze without flinching. There was a little spot of colour in her cheeks, however, and her lips

"You see," she explained, "things became absolutely impossible for me at Market Burnham. I won't say that

they disbelieved menot my father, at any ratebut he seems to think that it was somehow my faultthat

if you hadn't been there that night the thing wouldn't have happened. I am watched the whole of the time, in

fact not a soul has said a civil word to mesince you left. I just couldn't stand it any longer. I packed up this

"Well, the first thing to do is to get you something to eat," he said; ringing the bell. "Do you mind having

"I should much prefer having it here," she declared. "I am not fit to go anywhere, and I am tired."

He rang the bell and gave Jarvis a few orders. The girl stood up before the glass, took off her hat and

"I have a dressingbag and a few things downstairs on a taxicab," she said. "I told the man to stop his engine

There was a very slight smile upon her lips, the glimmer of something that was almost appealing, in her eyes.

"It's very sweet of you to trust me like this," he said. "Jarvis will bring you something to eat, then I'll take you

round to your aunt's. Where is it she livessomewhere in Kensington, isn't it? Tomorrow we must talk

"Just as you please," he said, "only Jarvis will be in with your sandwiches directly."

"I was obliged," she continued, "to say that I was engaged to you, to save you from somethingI don't know

what. The more I have thought about it, the more terrible it has all seemed. I am not going to even ask you for

Granet looked at his cigarette for a moment thoughtfully. Then he threw it into the fire.

"Perhaps you are wise," he said coolly. "All the same, when the time comes there is an explanation."

"It is the present which has become such a problem," she went on. "I was driven to leave home and I don't

think I can go back again. Father is simply furious with me, and every one about the place seems to have an

"It isn't unjust at all," she replied brusquely. "I've told them all lies and I've got to pay for them. I came to

youwell, there really wasn't anything else left for me to do, was there? I hope you don't think that I am

horribly forward. I am quite willing to admit that I like you, that I liked you from the first moment we met at

Lady Anselman's luncheon. At the same time, if that awful night hadn't changed everything, I should have

behaved just like any other stupidly and properly broughtup young womanwaited and hoped and made an

idiot of myself whenever you were around, and in the end, I suppose, been disappointed. You see, fate has

rather changed that. I had to invent our engagement to save youand here I am," she added, with a little

Jarvis entered with the sandwiches and arranged them on a small table by her side. Granet poured out the

wine for her, mixed himself a whiskeyandsoda and took a sandwich also from the plate.

"Now tell me," he began, as soon as Jarvis had disappeared, "what is there at the back of your mind about my

She laid down her sandwich. For the first time her voice trembled. Granet realised that beneath all this

"I have told you that I do not want to think of that night," she said firmly. "I simply do not understand."

"You have something in your mind?" he persisted. "You don't believe, really, that that man Collins, who was

"I couldn't sleep that night," she interrupted. "I heard your car arrive, I saw you both together, you and the

man who was shot. I sawmore than that. I hadn't meant to tell you this but perhaps it is best. I ask you for

no explanation. You see, I am something of an individualist. I just want one thing, and about the rest I simply

don't care. To me, to myself, to my own future, to my own happiness the rest is very slight, and I never

pretend to be anything else but a very selfish person. Only you know now that I have lied, badly."

"I understand," he said. "Finish your sandwiches and I will take you to your aunt's. Tomorrow I will write to

"You weren't pretending altogether?" she pleaded. "Don't make me feel a perfect beast. You did care a little?

"Listen," he said, "when I tell you that I am going to write to your father tomorrow, you know what that

means. For the rest, I must think. Perhaps this is the only way out. Of course, I like you but the truth is best,

isn't it? I hadn't any idea of this. As a matter of fact, I am rather in love with someone else."

She caught at her breath for a moment, half closed her eyes as thought to shut out something disagreeable.

"I don't care," she muttered. "You see how low I have fallenI'll bear even that. Come," she added,

springing up, "my aunt goes to bed before eleven. You can drive me down there, if you like. Are you going to

He bent over her a little gravely and his lips touched her forehead. She caught his face suddenly between her

"Of course, I am horribly ashamed," she exclaimed, "but thenwell, I'm myself. Come along, please."

"You'll try and like me a little, please?" she begged. "There hasn't been any one who cared for so many

yearsnot all my life. When I came outever since I came outI have behaved just like other properly,

wellbroughtup girls. I've just sat and waited. I've rather avoided men than otherwise. I've sat and waited.

Girls haven't liked me much. They say I'm odd. I'm twentyeight now, you know. I haven't enjoyed the last

six years. Father's wrapped up in his work. He thinks he has done his duty if he sends me to London

sometimes to stay with my aunt. She is very much like him, only she is wrapped up in missions instead of

"Year after year of it," she murmured. "If I had been goodlooking, I should have run away and gone on the

stage. If I had been clever, I should have left home and done something. But I am like millions of othersI

am neither. I had to sit and wait. When I met you, I suddenly began to realise what it would be like to care for

some one. I knew it wasn't any use. And then this miracle happened. I couldn't help it," she went on

doggedly. "I never thought of it at first. It came to me like a great flash that the only way to save you"

"From being shot as a spy," she answered quickly. "There! I'm not a fool, you know. You may think I'm a

fool about you but I am not about things in general. Goodbye! This is my aunt's. Don't come in. Ring me up

He watched her go, a little dazed. A trim parlourmaid came out and, after a few words of explanation,

superintended the disposal of her luggage in the hall. Then the taxicab man returned.

Granet, on his return to Sackville Street, paid the taxicab driver, ascended the stairs and let himself into his

rooms with very much the air of a man who has passed through a dream. A single glance around, however,

brought him vivid realisations of his unwelcome visitor. The little plate of sandwiches, half finished, the

partly emptied bottle of wine, were still there. One of her gloves lay in the corner of the easychair. He

picked it up, drew it for a moment through his fingers, then crushed it into a ball and flung it into the fire.

"Clear these things away, Jarvis,' his master ordered. "Leave the whiskey and soda and tobacco on the table. I

Jarvis silently obeyed. As soon as he was alone, Granet threw himself into the easychair. He was filled with

a bitter sense of being entrapped. He had been a little rash at Market Burnham, perhaps, but if any other man

except Thomson had been sent there, his explanations would have been accepted without a word, and all this

miserable complication would have been avoided. He thought over Isabel's coming, all that she had said. She

had left him no loophole. She had the air of a young woman who knew her own mind excellently well. A

single word from her to Thomson and the whole superstructure of his ingeniously builtup life might tumble

to pieces. He sat with folded arms in a grim attitude of unrest, thinking bitter thoughts. They rolled into his

brain like black shadows. He had been honest in the first instance. With ancestors from both countries, he had

deliberately chosen the country to which he felt the greatest attachment. He remembered his long travels in

Germany, he remembered on his return his growing disapproval of English slackness, her physical and moral

decadence. Her faults had inspired him not with the sorrow of one of her real sons, but with the contempt of

one only half bound to her by natural ties. The ground had been laid ready for the poison. He had started

honestly enough. His philosophy had satisfied himself. He had felt no moral degradation in wearing the

uniform of one country for the benefit of another. All this selfdisgust he dated from the coming of Geraldine

Conyers. Now he was weary of it all, face to face, too, with a disagreeable and insistent problem.

He started suddenly in his chair. An interruption ordinary enough, but never without a certain startling effect,

had broken in upon his thoughts. The telephone on his table was ringing insistently. He rose to his feet and

glanced at the clock as he crossed the room. It was five minutes past twelve. As he took up the receiver a

"Is that Ronnie? Yes, this is Lady Anselman. Your uncle told me to ring you up to see if you were in. He

"Do come, Ronnie," his aunt continued. "I don't suppose it's anything important but your uncle seems to want

it. No, I sha'n't see you. I'm just going to bed. I have been playing bridge. I'm sure the duchess cheatsI have

never won at her house in my life. I'll tell your uncle you'll come, then, Ronnie. . . . Good night!"

Granet laid down the receiver. Somehow or other, the idea of action, even at that hour of the night was a

relief to him. He called to Jarvis and gave him a few orders. Afterwards he turned out and walked through the

streetscuriously lit and busy it seemed to himto the corner of Park Lane, and up to the great mansion

fronting the Park, which had belonged to the Anselmans for two generations. There were few lights in the

"Sir Alfred is in the study, sir," the latter announced, "if you will kindly come this way."

Granet crossed the circular hall hung with wonderful tapestry, and passed through the sumptuouslyfurnished

library into the smaller, business man'' study, in which Sir Alfred spent much of his time. There were

telephones upon his desk, a tape machine, and a private instrument connected with the telegraph department.

There was a desk for his secretary, now vacant, and beyond, in the shadows of the apartment, winged

bookcases which held a collection of editions de luxe, first editions, and a great collection of German and

Russian literature, admittedly unique. Sir Alfred was sitting at his desk, writing a letter. He greeted his

"Wait before you go, Harrison," he said to his valet. "Will you take anything, Ronald? There are cigars and

cigarettes here but nothing to drink. Harrison, you can put the whiskey and soda on the side, anyhow, then

you can wait for me in my room. I shall not require any other service tonight. Some one must stay to let

"If you don't mind, Ronnie, I will finish this letter while he brings the whiskey and soda," Sir Alfred said.

Captain Granet strolled around the room. There was no sound for a moment but the scratching of Sir Alfred's

quill pen across the paper. Presently Harrison returned with the whiskey and soda. Sir Alfred handed him a

The man withdrew, closing the door behind him. Sir Alfred, with his hands in his pockets, walked slowly

around. When he came back he turned out all the lights except the heavily shaded one over his desk, and

"Well, Ronnie," he said, "I suppose you are wondering why I have sent for you at this hour of the night?"

"I am," Granet admitted frankly. "Is there any news?anything behind the news, perhaps I should say?"

"What there is, is of no account," Sir Alfred replied. "We are going to talk pure human nature, you and I for

the next hour. The fate of empires is a matter for the historians. It is your fate and mine which just now

"None whatever," Sir Alfred repeated firmly. "My position was never more secure than it is at this second. I

am the trusted confidant of the Cabinet. I have done, not only apparently but actually, very important work

for them. Financially, too, my influence as well as my resources have been of vast assistance to this country."

Granet nodded and waited. He knew enough of his uncle to be aware that he would develop his statement in

"When all has gone well," Sir Alfred continued, "when all seems absolutely peaceful and safe, it is sometimes

the time to pause and consider. We are at that spot at the present moment. You have been lucky, in your way,

Ronnie. Three times, whilst fighting for England, you have managed to penetrate the German lines and

receive from them communications of the greatest importance. Since your return home you have been of use

in various ways. This last business in Norfolk will not be forgotten. Then take my case. What Germany

knows of our financial position, our strength and our weakness, is due to me. That Germany is at the present

time holding forty millions of money belonging to the city of London, is also owing to me. In a dozen other

ways my influence has been felt. As I told you before, we have both, in our way, been successful, but we

"It means this," Sir Alfred explained. "When this war was started, I, with every fact and circumstance before

me, with more information, perhaps, than any other man breathing, predicted peace within three months. I

was wrong. Germany today is great and unconquered, but Germany has lost her opportunity. This may be a

war of attrition, or even now the unexpected may come, but to all effects and purposes Germany is beaten."

"Absolutely," his uncle assured him. "Remember that I know more than you do. There is a new and imminent

danger facing the dual alliance. What it is you will learn soon enough. The war may drag on for many months

but the chances of the great German triumph we have dreamed of, have passed. They know it as well as we

do. I have seen the writing on the wall for months. Today I have concluded all my arrangements. I have

broken off all negotiations with Berlin. They recognise the authority and they absolve me. They know that it

will be well to have a friend here when the time comes for drawing up the pact."

Granet gripped the sides of his chair with his hand. It seemed to him impossible that with these few

"I still believe that impossible," he said, "but the peace of exhaustion will come, and come surely, before

many months have passed. It is time for us to think of ourselves. So far as I am concerned, well, there is that

one censored letternothing in itself, yet damning if the code should be discovered. As for you, well, you

are safe from anything transpiring in France, and although you seem to have been rather unlucky there, you

appear to be safe as regards Norfolk. You must make up your mind now to follow my lead. Take a home

command, do the rest of your soldiering quietly, and shout with the others when the day of peace comes.

These last few months must be our great secret. At heart we may have longed to call ourselves sons of a

"You've taken my breath away," Granet declared. "Let me realise this for a moment."

He sat quite still. A rush of thoughts had crowded into his brain. First and foremost was the thought of

Geraldine. If he could cover up his traces! If it were true that he was set free now from his pledges! Then he

"Look here," he confessed, "in a way this is a huge relief. I, like you, thought it was to last for three months

and I thought I could stick it. While the excitement of the thing was about it was easy enough, but listen,

"Thomson, of course," Granet assented, "but the real trouble has come to me in a different way. I told you

that the girl got me out of it. She couldn't stand the second crossexamination. She was driven into a corner,

and finally, to clear herself, said that we were engaged to be married. She has come up to London, came to

"Everything," Granet groaned. "It was she who had told me of the waterway across the marshes. She saw me

there with Collins, just before the flare was lit. She knew that I lied to them when they found me."

"It's a big price, Ronnie," he said, "but you'll have to pay it. The sooner you marry the girl and close her

"If it hadn't been for that damned fellow Thomson," Granet muttered, "there would never have been a

"If it hadn't been for the same very enterprising gentleman," Sir Alfred observed, "my correspondence would

"Thomson is our one remaining danger," he said. "I have had the feeling since first he half recognised me.

We met, you know, in Belgium. It was just when I was coming out of the German lines. Somehow or other

he must have been on my track ever since. I took no notice of it. I thought it was simply becausebecause

"Thomson," Sir Alfred murmured to himself,"SurgeonMajor Hugh Thomson. He seems to be the only

man, Ronnie, from whom we have the least danger to fear. Personally, I think I am secure. I do not believe

that that single letter will be ever deciphered, and if it is, threeparts of the Cabinet are my friends. I could

ruin the Stock Exchange tomorrow, bring London's credit, for a time, at any rate, below the credit of

"All the same, it seems to me," Granet declared grimly, "that we should both be more comfortable if there

The very last dispatches I had to deal with," Sir Alfred continued, "made allusion to him. They don't love

some of his work in Berlin, I can tell you. What sort of a man is he, Ronnie? Can he be bought? A hundred

"There is only one way of dealing with him," Granet said fiercely. "I have tried it once. I expect I'll have to

"Don't be rash, Ronnie," he advised. "And yet, remember this. The man is a real danger, both to you and to

me. He is the only man who has had anything to do with the Intelligence Department here, who is worth a

snap of the fingers. Now go home, Ronnie. You came herewell, never mind what you were when you

came here. You are going back an Englishman. If they won't send you to the Front again, bother them for

some work here, and stick to it. You will get no reports nor any visitors. I have strangled the whole system.

You and I are cut loose from it. We are freelances. Mind, I still believe that in the end German progress and

German culture will dominate the world, but it may not be in our day. It just happens that we have stuck a

little too soon. Let us make the best of things, Ronnie. You have many years of life. I have some of unabated

"You're young, of course, Ronnie," he continued indulgently. "You haven't yet fitted your burden on to your

shoulders properly. England or Germany, you have some of both in you. After all, it isn't a vital matter under

which banner you travel. It isn't quite like that with me. I have lived here all my life and I wouldn't care to

live anywhere else, but that's because I carry my own country with me. It's English air I breathe but it's a

German heart I still carry with me. Good night, Ronnie! Remember about Thomson."

"About Thomson," he repeated to himself, as the servant conducted him towards the door.

Ambrose announced a visitor, early on the following morning, with some show of interest.

"Captain Granet to see you, sir. We've a good many notes about him. Would you like the book?"

"Thank you," he answered drily, "I have it in my desk but I think I can remember. Is he outside now?"

"Yes, sir! He said he wouldn't keep you for more than a few minutes, if you could spare him a short

"I was up till three o'clock again. Once I thought I was on the track of it. I have come to the conclusion now

that it's one of those codes that depend upon shifting quantities. I shall start again tonight on a different idea.

Thomson assented, and a few minutes later Granet entered the room. He made no attempt to shake hands or

"I don't suppose you can do anything," Granet replied, "but I am going to spend today and tomorrow, too,

if necessary, in this place, bothering every one I ever heard of. You have some influence, I know. Get me a

"Anywhereanyhow! If they won't have me back in France, although heaven knows why not, can I be sent

to the Dardanelles, or even East Africa? I'll take out Territorials, if you like. I'll do anything sooner than be

ordered to one of these infernal country towns to train young tradespeople. If I don't worry, I know I shall get

Major Thomson drew a little locked book towards him, unfastened it with a key from his chain and held his

hand over the page. It was noticeable that his right hand slipped open a few inches the righthand drawer of

"You have come to me, Captain Granet," he said, "to ask my aid in getting you a job. Well, if I could give

you one where I was perfectly certain that you would be shot in your first skirmish, I would give it to you,

with pleasure. Under present conditions, however, it is my impression that the further you are from any

British fighting force, the better it will be fore the safety and welfare of that force."

Granet's face was suddenly rigid. He had turned a little paler and his eyes flashed.

"There are a few notes here about you," he said. "I will not read them all but I will give you some extracts.

There is your full name and parentage, tracing out the amount of foreign blood which I find is in your veins.

There is a verbatim account of a report made to me by your BrigadierGeneral, in which it seems that in the

fighting under his command you were three times apparently taken prisoner, three times you apparently

escaped; the information which you brought back led to at least two disasters; the information which exactly

at the time you were absent seemed to come miraculously into the hands of the enemy, resulted in even

"I insinuate nothing," Thomson replied quietly. "So far as you and I are concerned, we may as well, I

presume, understand one another. You are, without doubt, aware that my post as inspector of hospitals is a

blind. I am, as a matter of fact, chief of the Intelligence Department, with a rank which at present I do not

choose to use. I have been myself to your BrigadierGeneral and bought home this report, and if it is any

satisfaction to you to know it, I brought also an urgent request that you should not be allowed to rejoin any

"I come here to a few more notes," Thomson proceeded. "I meet you some weeks ago at a luncheon party at

the Ritz. A Belgian waiter, who I learned, by later inquiries was present as a prisoner in the village where you

were being entertained as a guest at the German headquarters, recognised you and was on the point of making

a disclosure. The excitement, however, was too much for him and he fainted. He was at once removed, under

your auspices, and died a few days later, at one of your uncle's country houses, before he could make any

"This is ridiculous!" Granet exclaimed. "I never saw the fellow before in my life."

"Ridiculous, doubtless, but a coincidence," Major Thomson replied, turning over the next page of his book.

"A little later I find you taking an immense interest in our new destroyers, trying, in fact, to induce young

Conyers to explain our wire netting system, following him down to Portsmouth and doing your best to

"That is simply absurd," Granet protested. "I was interested in the subject, as any military officer would be in

an important naval development. My journey to Portsmouth was simply an act of courtesy to Miss Conyers

"I find you next," Thomson went on immovably, "visiting the one French statesmen whom we in England

had cause to fear, in his hotel in London. I find that very soon afterwards that statesman is in possession of an

autograph letter from the Kaiser, offering peace to the French people on extraordinary terms. Who was the

"These," he declared, "are fairy tales. Pailleton was a friend of mine. During my visit we did not speak of

"More coincidences," Major Thomson remarked. "We pass on, then, to that night at Market Burnham Hall,

when a Zeppelin was guided to the spot where Sir Meyville Worth was experimenting on behalf of the British

Government, and dropped destructive bombs. A man was shot dead by the side of the flare. That man was

"I neither spoke to him nor saw him there, except as a casual visitor," Granet insisted.

"That I venture to doubt," Major Thomson replied. "At any rate, there is enough circumstantial evidence

against you in this book to warrant my taking the keenest interest in your future. As a matter of fact, you

would have been at the Tower, or underneath it, at this very moment, but for the young lady who probably

perjured herself to save you. Now that you know my opinion of you, Captain Granet, you will understand that

I should hesitate before recommending you to any post whatever in the service of this country."

Granet made a stealthy movement forward. He had been edging a little closer to the desk and he was barely

two yards away. He suddenly paused. Thomson had closed the drawer now and he was holding a small

"Granet," he said, "that sort of thing won't do. You know now what I think of you. Besides these little

incidents which I have related, you are suspected of having, in the disguise of an American clergyman,

delivered a message from the German Government to an English Cabinet Minister, and, to come to more

personal matters, I myself suspect you of having made two attempts on my life. It is my firm belief that you

The veins were standing out like whipcord on Granet's flushed forehead. He swayed on his feet. Twice he had

"Now listen to me," Thomson continued. "On Monday I am going from Southampton to Boulogne for

fortyeight hours, to attend a court martial there. There is only one decent thing you can do. You know what

that is. I'll have you exchanged, if you are willing, into a line regiment with your present rank. Your colonel

will have a hint. It will be your duty to meet the first German bullet you can find. If you are content with that,

Major Thomson paused. There was a queer twisted smile at the corners of his lips.

"If not," he concluded, "there is one more little note to add in this book and the account will be full. You

know now the terms, Captain Granet, on which you can go to the Front. I will give you ten days to consider."

"If I accept an offer like this," Granet protested, "I shall be pleading guilty to all the rubbish you have talked."

"If it weren't for the fact," Major Thomson told him sternly, "that you have worn his Majesty's uniform, that

you are a soldier, and that the horror of it would bring pain to every man who has shared with you that

privilege, I have quite enough evidence here to bring your career to a disgraceful end. I give you your chance,

He walked out of the room without any attempt at farewell, pushed his way along the corridors, down the

steps and out into Whitehall. His face was distorted by a new expression. A sudden hatred of Thomson had

blazed up in him. He was at bay, driven there by a relentless enemy, the man who had tracked him down, as

he honestly believed, to some extent through jealousy. The thoughts framed themselves quickly in his mind.

With unseeing eyes he walked across Trafalgar Square and made his way to his club in Pall Mall. Here he

wrote a few lines to Isabel Worth, regretting that he was called out of town on military business for

fortyeight hours. Afterwards he took a taxi and called at his rooms, walked restlessly up and down while

Jarvis threw a few clothes into a bag, changed his own apparel for a rough tweed suit, and drove to

Granet emerged from the Tregarten Hotel at St. Mary's on the following morning, about halfpast eight, and

strolled down the narrow strip of lawn which bordered the village street. A couple of boatmen advanced at

"Yes, I want a boat," he admitted. "I'd like to do a bit of sailing. A friend of mine was here and had a chap

"My name's Matthew Nichols," he announced, "and this is my brotherinlaw, Joe Lethbridge. We've both of

us got stout sailing craft and all the recommendations a man need have. As for Job Rowsell, well, he ain't

"Well," he decided, "it seems to me I must talk to this chap Rowsell before I do anything. I'm under a sort of

The two boatmen looked at one another. The one who had addressed him first turned a little away.

"Just as you like, sir," he announced. "No doubt Rowsell will be up this way towards afternoon."

Matthew Nichols removed his pipe from his mouth and spat upon the ground thoughtfully.

"I doubt whether you'll get Job Rowsell to shift before midday. I'm none so sure he'll go out at all with this

"He's no lazy, sir," he said. "That's not the right word. But he's come into money some way or other, Job

Rowsell has. There's none of us knows how, and it ain't our business, but he spends most of his time in the

publichouse and he seems to have taken a fancy for night sailing alone, which to my mind, and there are

others of us as say the same, ain't none too healthy an occupation. And that's all there is to be said of Job

"Fourth house on the left in yonder street," Matthew Nichols replied, pointing with his pipe. "Maybe he'll

"I must try to keep my word to my friend," Granet decided. "If I don't find him, I'll come back and look for

He turned back to the little writingroom, scribbled a note and sent it down by the boots. In about half an

hour he was called once more out into the garden. A huge, loosejointed man was standing there, unshaven,

untidily dressed, and with the look in his eyes of a man who has been drinking heavily.

"Not that I know of," Granet replied. "I want you to take me out sailing. Is your boat ready?"

"I think you'd better," Granet urged. "I'm not a bad payer and I can help with the boat. Let's go and look at her

They walked together down to the harbour. Granet said very little, his companion nothing at all. They stood

Granet scrambled down into a small dinghy which was tied to the side of the stone wall.

Rowsell stared at him for a moment but acquiesced. They pulled across and boarded the Saucy Jane. A boy

whom they found on the deck took the boat back. Rowsell set his sails slowly but with precision. The

"Where might you be wanting to go?" he asked. "You'll need them oilskins, sure."

It's no sort of a day to face the Atlantic, sir," he declared. "We'll try a spin round St. Mary and White Island,

Granet fastened his oilskins and stooped for a moment to alter one of the sails.

"Look here," he said, taking his seat at the tiller, "this is my show, Job Rowsell. There's a five pound note for

The man eyed him sullenly. A few minutes later they were rushing out of the harbour.

"It's a poor job, sailing a pleasure boat," he muttered. "Not many of us as wouldn't sell his soul for five

They reached St. Agnes before they came round on the first tack. Then, with the spray beating in their faces,

they swung around and made for the opening between the two islands. For a time the business of sailing kept

them both occupied. In two hours' time they were standing out towards Bishop Lighthouse. Job Rowsell took

"I'll bring her round the point there," he said, "and we'll come up the Channel and home by Bryher."

"You'll do nothing of the sort," Granet ordered. "Keep her head out for the open sea till I tell you to swing

"Don't you mind who I am," Granet answered. "I'm on a job I'm going to see through. If a fiver isn't enough

"What's your game?" he demanded hoarsely. "There's some of them on the island'd have me by the throat if

they only knew the things I could tell 'em. What's your game here, eh? Are you on the cross?"

"I am not," Granet replied, "or I shouldn't have needed to bring you to sea. I know all about you, Job Rowsell.

You're doing very well and you may do a bit better by and by. Now sit tight and keep a still tongue in your

They were in a queer part of the broken, rocky island group. There was a great indenture in the rocks up

which the sea came hissing; to the left, round the corner, the lighthouse. Granet drew what looked to be a

large pockethandkerchief from the inner pocket of his coat, pulled down their pennant with nimble fingers,

"I'll have none of that on my boat," the man declared surlily. "An odd fiver for a kindness"

"Shut up!" Granet snapped, drawing his revolver from his pocket. "You run the boat and mind your own

Almost at their side the periscope of a submarine had suddenly appeared. Slowly it rose to the surface. An

officer in German naval uniform struggled up and called out. Granet spoke to him rapidly in German. Job

Rowsell started at them both, then he drew a flask from his pocket and took a long pull. The submarine grew

nearer and Granet tossed a small roll of paper across the chasm of waters. All that passed between the two

men was to Job Rowsell unintelligible. The last few words, however, the German repeated in English.

"The Princess Hilda from Southampton, tomorrow at midnight," he repeated thoughtfully. "Well, it's a big

"It's worth it," Granet assured him. "They may call it a hospital ship but it isn't. I am convinced that the one

He looked upward to the flag and saluted Granet. A great sea bore them a little apart. Granet pulled down the

They were four hours making the harbour. Three times they failed to get round the last point, met at each

time by clouds of hissing spray. When at last they sailed in, there was a little crowd to watch them. Nichols

"It's a queer day for pleasure sailing," Nicholas remarked to Job Rowsell, as he came up the wet steps of the

"It's all I want of it for a bit, any way," Rowsell muttered, pushing his way along the quay. "If there's any of

"I am not sure, Job Rowsell," the latter declared, "that I like your money nor the way you earn it."

"If you weren't my own botherinlaw, Matthew Nichols," he said, "I'd shove those words down your

"And if you weren't my sister's husband," Nichols retorted, turning away, "I'd take a little trip over to

"You fellows don't need to get badtempered with one another," he observed. "Look here, I shall have three

days here. I'll take one of you each daymake a fair thing of it, eh? You tomorrow, Nichols, and you the

next day Lethbridge. I'm not particular about the weather, as Job Rowsell can tell you, and I've sailed a boat

"No, you can sail the boat all right," Rowsell admitted, looking back over his shoulder. "You'd sail it into

Hell itself, if one'd let you. Come on, you boys, if there's any one of you as fancies to drink. I'm wet to the

Nichols' boat was duly prepared at nine o'clock on the following morning. Lethbridge shouted to him from

"Gentleman's changed his mind, I reckon. He went off on the eight o'clock boat for Penzance."

"It's my thinking Lethbridge," he said, as he clambered into the dinghy, "that there's things going on in this

island which you and me don't understand. I'm for a few plain words with Job Rowsell, though he's my own

"Plain words is more than you'll get from Job," Lethbridge replied gloomily. "He slept last night on the floor

at the 'Blue Crown,' and he's there this morning, clamouring for brandy and pawing the air. He's got the blue

"There's money," Nichols declared solemnly, "some money, that is, that does no one any good."

There was a shrill whistle from the captain's bridge, and the steamer, which had scarcely yet gathered way,

swung slowly around. Rushing up towards it through the mists came a little naval launch, in the stern of

which a single man was seated. In an incredibly short space of time it was alongside, the passenger had

climbed up the rope ladder, the pinnace had sheered off and the steamer was once more heading towards the

The newlyarrived passenger was making his way towards the saloon when a voice which seemed to come

He stopped short. Geraldine shook herself free from her rugs and sat up. They looked at one another in

"To Boulogne, of course," she answered. "Don't pretend that you are surprised. Why, you got me the

"Of course," he agreed, "only I had no idea that you were going just yet, or that you were on this boat."

"They told me to come out this week," she said, as he drew a chair to her side, "and so many of the nurses and

doctors were going by this boat that I thought I would come, too. I feel quite a professional already. Nearly

all the women here are in nurse's uniform and threequarters of the men on board are doctors. Where are you

"Just to the Base and back again tomorrow," he told here. "There's a court martial I want to attend."

"Still mysterious," she laughed. "What have you to do with courts martial, Hugh?"

"Too much, just for the moment," he answered lightly. "Would you like some coffee or anything?"

"No, thank you. I had an excellent supper before we started. I looked at some of the cabins but I decided to

"I missed the train in London," he explained. "They kept me at the War Office. Then I had to come down in a

"I had a letter days ago," she told him. "It was posted at Harwich but he couldn't say where he was, and of

course he couldn't give me any news. Father came back from the Admiralty very excited yesterday, though.

He says that we have sunk four or five more submarines, and that Ralph's new equipment is an immense

"I shouldn't think so," Thomson answered. "They are very busy round the Scilly Islands but we seem to have

been able to keep them out of the Channel. I thought we should have been convoyed, though."

"In any case," she remarked, "we are a hospital ship. I expect they'd leave us alone. Major Thomson," she

went on, "I wonder, do you really believe all these stories of the horrible doings of the Germansthe way

they have treated drowning people attacked by their submarines, and these hateful stories of Belgium?

Sometimes it seems to me as though there was a fog of hatred which had sprung up between the two

countries, and we could neither of us quite see clearly what the other was doing."

"I think there is something in that," Major Thomson agreed. "On the other hand I think it is part of the

German principle to make war ruthlessly. I have seen things in Belgium which I shall never forget. As to the

submarine business, if half the things are true that we have read, they seem to have behaved like brutes. It's

They were silent for a time. For some reason or other, they both avoided mention of the one subject which

was in the minds of both. It was not until after the steward had brought him some coffee and they were more

"I don't think he needs any fresh trouble exactly," Thomson remarked, "but suppose we leave him alone for a

little time? Our meeting was so unexpected, and, for me, such a pleasure. Don't let us spoil it."

"Let us talk of other things," she agreed readily. "Tell me, for instance, just what does a submarine look like

"I have never seen one close to, he admitted "except on the surface. Why do you ask?"

She pointed with her forefinger to a little spot almost between two banks of mist.

"Because I fancied just now that I saw something sticking up out of the water there, something which might

"I can see nothing," he said, "but in any case I don't think they would attack a hospital ship. This is a

dangerous area for them, too. We are bound to have a few destroyers close at hand. I wonder if Ralph"

He never finished his sentence. The shock which they had both read about but never dreamed of

experiencing, flung them without a moment's warning onto their hands and feet. The steamer seemed as

though it had been lifted out of the water. There was a report as though some great cannon had been fired off

in their very ears. Looking along the deck, it suddenly seemed to Thomson that her bows were pointing to the

sky. The after portion, where they were seated, was vibrating and shaking as though they had struck a rock,

and only a few yards away from them, towards the middle of the boat, the end of the cabin was riven bare to

the heavens. Timbers were creaking and splintering in every direction. There was a great gap already in the

side of the steamer, as though some one had taken a cut out of it. Then, high above the shrieking of the

escaped steam and the cracking of woodwork, the siren of the boat screamed out its frantic summons for help.

Geraldine for the moment lost her nerve. She began to shriek, and ran towards the nearest boat, into which

He threw open the door of a cabin which leaned over them, snatched two of the lifebelts from the berth and

rapidly fastened one on her. There was some semblance of order on deck now that the first confusion had

passed. The men were all rushing to quarters. Three of the boats had been blown into splinters upon their

davits. The fourth, terribly overloaded, was being lowered. Thomson, working like a madman, was tying

some spare belts on to a table which had floated out from the cabin. More than once the boat gave a great

plunge and they had to hold on to the cabin doors. A huge wave broke completely over them, drenching them

from head to foot. The top of the rail now was on a level with the sea. Thomson stood up for a moment and

"Look here," he said, "there'll be plenty of craft around to pick us up. This thing can't sink. Keep the lifebelt

on and get your arms through the belt I have tied on to the table, so. That's right. Now come over to the side."

"We are going to just step overboard," he explained. "It's the only chance. Throw off your fur cloak. You see,

if we stay a moment later we shall be dragged down after the steamer. We must get clear while we can."

"I can swim," he answered quickly, throwing off his coat and waistcoat. "This thing will support me easily.

Believe me, Geraldine, there's nothing to be frightened about. We can keep her afloat for halfadozen hours,

if necessary, with this only don't let go of it. Keep your arms through, andby God! Quick!"

A huge wave broke right over their heads. The boat, which had nearly reached the level of the water, was

overturned, and the air seemed full of the screaming of women, the loud shouting of orders from the bridge,

where the captain was standing with his hands upon the fast sinking rail. The water was up to their waists

now. In a moment they ceased to feel anything beneath their feet. Geraldine found herself suddenly buoyant.

"Push yourself away from everything as well as you can," he whispered, "and, Geraldineif anything should

Another wave broke over them. They came up, however. He gripped her wet hand for a moment. All around

them were articles of ship's furniture, broken planks, here and there a man swimming. From close at hand

Barely fifty feet away from them was the submarine. The captain and four or five of the men where on deck.

The answer was a laughhoarse, brutal, derisive. The submarine glided away. Thomson's face as he looked

after it, was black with anger. The next moment he recovered himself, however. He had need of all his

"Don't listen to anything, Geraldine," he begged her. "They will nearly all be saved. Can't you hear the sirens

already? There are plenty of ships coming up. Remember, we can't go down so long as we keep hold here."

"I don't need it," he assured her. "I can keep afloat perfectly well. You're not cold?"

"No," she gasped, "but I feel so low down. The sky seems suddenly further away. Oh, if some one would

There were sirens now, and plenty of them, close at hand. Out of the mist they saw a great black hull

"They're here all right!" he cried. "Courage, Geraldine! It's only another five minutes."

Thirty miles an hour into a fog of mist, with the spray falling like a fountain and the hiss of the seawater like

devil's music in their ears. Then the haze lifted like the curtain before the stage of a theatre, and rolled away

"Hospital ship Princess Hilda just torpedoed by a submarine, sir. They're picking up the survivors already.

Even as he spoke, the moonlight shone down. There were two trawlers and a patrol boat in sight, and twenty

or thirty boats rowing to the scene of the disaster. Suddenly there was a shout.

They swung around. The sea seemed churned into a mass of soapy foam. Conyers gripped the rail in front of

him. The orders had scarcely left his lips before the guns were thundering out. The coveredin structure on

the lower deck blazed with an unexpected light. The gun below swung slowly downwards, moved by some

unseen instrument. Columns of spray leapt into the air, the roar of the guns was deafening. Then there was

another shouta hoarse yell of excitement. Barely a hundred yards away, the submarine, wobbling

strangely, appeared on the surface. An officer in the stern held up the white flag.

For a single second Conyers hesitated. Then he looked downwards. The corpse of a woman went floating by;

a child, tied on to a table, was bobbing against the side. The red fires flashed before his eyes; the thunder of

his voice broke the momentary stillness. In obedience to his command, the guns belched out a level line of

flame,there was nothing more left of the submarine, or of the men clinging on to it like flies. Conyers

"Hell's the only place for them!" he muttered. "Send out the boats, Johnson, and cruise around. There may be

"A man and a woman clinging to a table, sir," an officer reported to Conyers. "We're bringing them on

Conyers moved to the side of the bridge. He saw Geraldine lifted into the boat, and Thomson, as soon as she

was safe, clamber in after her. He watched them hauled up on to the deck of the destroyer and suddenly he

She was standing on the deck, the wet streaming from her, supported by a sailor on either side. She gasped a

"We are both here, Ralph," she cried, "Hugh and I. He saved my life. Thank heavens you are here!"

Already the steward was hastening forward with brandy. Geraldine sipped a little and passed the glass to

Thomson. Then she turned swiftly to her brother. There was an unfamiliar look in her face.

"Ralph," she muttered, "don't bother about us. Don't stop for anything else. Can't you find that submarine? I

Conyers' eyes blazed for a moment with reminiscent fury. Then his lips parted and he broke into strange,

"They'll laugh no more in this world, Geraldine," he cried, in fierce triumph. "They're down at the bottom of

She gripped him by the shoulderGeraldine, who had never willingly hurt and insect.

It was towards the close of an unusually long day's work and Major Thomson sighed with relief as he realised

that at last his anteroom was empty. He lit a cigarette and stretched himself in his chair. He had been

interviewed by all manner of people, had listened to dozens of suspicious stories. His work had been intricate

and at times full of detail. On the whole, a good day's work, he decided, and he had been warmly thanked

over the wires by a BrigadierGeneral at Harwich for his arrest and exposure of a man who had in his

possession a very wonderful plan of the Felixstowe land defences. He lit a cigarette and glanced at his watch.

Just then the door was hurriedly opened. Ambrose came in without even the usual ceremony of knocking. He

held a worn piece of paper in his hand. There was a triumphant ring in his tone as he looked up from it

"I've done it, sir!" he exclaimed. "Stumbled across it quite by accident. I've got the whole code. It's based

upon the leading articles in the Times of certain dates. Here's this last message'Leave London June 4th.

Have flares midnight Buckingham Palace, St. Paul's steps, gardens in front of Savoy. Your last report

"'Leave London June 4th,'" Thomson repeated, glancing at his calendar,"today! 'Have

"I thought of them at once, sir," he agreed. "That's a very plain and distinct warning in a remarkably

"Ambrose," he declared, "you're a brick. I sha'n't forget this. Just find out at once if the Chief's in his room,

There followed half an hour of breathless happenings. From the Chief's room Thomson hurried over to the

Admiralty. Here he was taken by one of the men whom he had called to see, on to the flat roof, and they

stood there, facing eastwards. Twilight was falling and there was scarcely a breath of air.

"It's a perfect night," the official remarked. "If they start at the right time, they'll get here before any one can

see them. All the same, we're warning the whole coast, and our gunstations will be served all night."

"There are a couple of gunstations I know of not far from here," he said. "I tell you they've got armament

there which will make our friends tear their hair' shells that burst in the air, mind, too, which you needn't

mind letting 'em have as quick as we can fire 'em off. I shall try and get on to one of those stations myself at

"Of course," he reflected, "they'll want to make the most of the darkness, but I think what they'll aim at

chiefly is to get here unobserved. Therefore, I think they won't start until it's dark, probably from three or four

different bases. That means they'll be here a little before dawn. I shall just motor my people up to Harrow and

Thomson left the Admiralty, a little later, and took a taxi to Berkeley Square. The servant hesitated a little at

"Miss Geraldine is in, sir, I believe," he said. "She is in the morningroom at the moment."

"I shall not keep her," Thomson promised. "I know that it is nearly dinnertime."

The man ushered him across the hall and threw open the door of the little room at the back of the stairs.

Geraldine rose slowly from the couch on which she had been seated. Standing only a few feet away from her

was Granet. The three looked at one another for a moment and no word was spoken. It was Geraldine who

"I should not have come at such a time," Thomson explained, "but I wanted just to have a word with you,

"I am not in the least engaged," Geraldine assured him, "and I have been expecting to hear from you all day. I

She shivered a little. Then she looked him full in the face and her eyes were full of unspoken things.

"Thanks to you," she murmured. "However," she added, with a little laugh, "I don't want to frighten you

away, and I know what would happen if I began to talk about our adventure. I am sorry, Captain Granet," she

went on, turning towards where he was standing, "but I cannot possibly accept your aunt's invitation. It was

very good of her to ask me and very kind of you to want me to go so much, but tonight I could not leave my

mother. She has been having rather a fit of nerves about Ralph the last few days, and she hates being left

"Captain Granet is trying to persuade you to leave London this evening?" Thomson asked quietly.

"He wants me very much to go down to Lady Anselman's at Reigate tonight," Geraldine explained. "I really

accepted Lady Anselman's invitation some days ago, but that was before mother was so unwell. I have

written your aunt, Captain Granet," she continued, turning to him. "Do please explain to her how

disappointed I am, and it was very nice of you to come and ask me to change my mind."

There was brief but rather curious silence. Granet had turned away form Geraldine as though to address

Thomson. He was meeting now the silent, half contemptuous challenge of the latter's eyes.

"Captain Granet is showing great consideration for your comfort and safety," Thomson remarked.

Granet for a moment forgot himself. His eyes flashed. He was half angry, half terrified.

Thomson made no immediate answer. He seemed to be pondering over his words, his expression was

"There is a very great deal about Captain Granet which I am only just beginning to understand," Thomson

said calmly. "You should find his solicitude about your movements this evening a great compliment,

Geraldine. It arises entirely from his desire to spare you the shock of what may turn out yet to be a very

"You two men are quite incomprehensible," Geraldine sighed. "If only either of you would speak plainly!"

"Perhaps I may be able to indulge you presently," he observed. "Since you have failed to persuade Miss

Conyers to leave London, Captain Granet," he went on, turning towards the latter, "may I ask what your own

"They are unfortunately," Thomson retorted, "my very intimate concern. This, you will remember, is your

ninth day of grace. It is not my desire that you should suffer unduly for your humane visit here, but I might

remind you that under the circumstances it is a little compromising. No, don't interrupt me! We understand

Granet had taken a step backwards. His face for a moment was blanched, his lips opened but closed again

"Precisely," he went on. "You have guessed the truth, I can see. We have been able, within the last few hours,

to decode that very interesting message which reached your uncle some little time ago."

Geraldine's bewilderment increased. Granet's almost stupefied silence seemed to amaze her.

"Hugh, what does it all mean?" she cried. "Is Captain Granet in trouble because he has come here to warn me

of something? He has not said a word except to beg me to go down into the country tonight."

"And he as begged you to do that," Thomson said, "because he is one of those privileged few who have been

warned that tonight or tomorrow morning is the time selected for the Zeppelin raid on London of which we

have heard so much. Oh! He knows all about it, and his uncle, and a great many of the guests they have

gathered together. They'll all be safe enough at Reigate! Come, Captain Granet, what have you to say about

Granet drew himself up. He looked every inch a soldier, and, curiously enough, he seemed in his bearing and

attitude to be respecting the higher rank by virtue of which Thomson had spoken.

"Tomorrow, as you have reminded me, is my tenth day, sir," he said. "I shall report myself at your office at

nine o'clock. Goodbye, Miss Conyers! I hope that even though I have failed, Major Thomson may persuade

He left the room. Geraldine was so amazed that she made no movement towards ringing the bell. She turned

"It means that what I have told you all along is the truth," Thomson replied earnestly. "You thought,

Geraldine, that I was narrow and suspicious. I had powers and an office and responsibilities, too, which you

knew nothing of. That young man who has just left the room is in the pay of Germany. So is his uncle."

"But Sir Alfred Anselman! He has done such wonderful things for the country. They all say that he ought to

"I am so far serious," Thomson declared grimly, "that an hour ago we succeeded in decoding a message from

Holland to Sir Alfred Anselman, advising him to leave London today. We are guessing what that means.

We may be right and we may be wrong. We shall see. I come to beg you to leave the city for twentyfour

"But they may have warned himsome personal friend may have done it," she insisted. "He is a man with

"They why didn't he bring the warning straight to the Admiralty?" Thomson argued. "If he were a patriotic

Englishman, do you think that any other course was open to him? It won't do, Geraldine. I know more about

Captain Granet than I am going to tell you at this moment. Shall we leave that subject? Can't we do

something to persuade your mother to take you a little way from town? You can collect some of your friends,

if you like. You ought to take Olive, for instance. We don't want a panic, but there is no reason why you

"He has been and gone, father," Geraldine told him. "You'd better see what you can do with father," she

"The fact is, Sir Seymour," Thomson explained, "we've had noticenot exactly notice, but we've decoded a

secret dispatch which gives us reason to believe that a Zeppelin raid will be attempted on London during the

next twentyfour hours. I came round to try and induce Geraldine to have you all move away until the thing's

"I'll be damned if I do!" the Admiral grunted. "What, sneak off and leave five or six million others who

haven't had the tip, to see all the fun? Not I! If what you say is true, Thomson,and I am going straight back

to the Admiralty,I shall find my way on to one of the air stations myself, and the women can stay at home

"That's the sort of people we are," she laughed, turning to Thomson. "All the same, Hugh, it was very nice of

you to come," she added. "I couldn't see us scuttling away into the country, you know. I shall go round and

persuade Olive to stay with me. I am expecting to return to Boulogne almost at once, to the hospital there, to

"Well," he said quietly, "I cannot complain of your decision. After all, it is exactly what I expected."

"Very good chap, Thomson," he remarked, "but he doesn't quite understand. I bet you that fine young fellow

Granet would never have suggested our running away like frightened sheep! Come along, my dear, we'll go

About three o'clock the next morning Thomson was awakened by a light touch upon his shoulder. He sprang

up from the couch upon which he had thrown himself. Ambrose was standing over him. He was still in his

"Mr. Gordon Jones has rung up from Downing Street, sir," he announced. "He is with the Prime Minister.

"I'll go at once," Thomson agreed,"just sponge my eyes and have a brush up. Nothing else fresh,

"Nothing at all sir," the young man replied. "All the newspapers in London have rung up but of course we

have not answered any of them. You'll be careful outside, please? There isn't a single light anywhere, and the

streets are like pitch. A man tried to use an electric torch on the other side of the way just now, and they shot

"No flares this time, eh?" Thomson muttered. "All right, Ambrose, I think I can feel my way there."

He descended into the street but for a few moments he found himself hopelessly lost at sea. So far as he could

see there was no light nor any glimmer of one. He reached the corner of the street like a blind man, by

tapping the kerbstone with his cane. Arrived here, he stood for a moment in the middle of the road,

bareheaded. There was not a breath of wind anywhere. He made his way carefully down towards Downing

Street, meeting few people, and still obliged to grope rather than walk. Along Downing Street he made his

way by the railings and rang the bell at last at the Premier's house. He was shown at once into the council

room. The four or five men who were seated around a table, and who looked up at his entrance, bore every

"Good evening, Major Thomson," he began. "Please sit down and join us for a moment."

"You'll forgive my suggesting that this is likely to be a marked spot tonight," he said.

"Well, you could scarcely expect us to hide, could you, Major Thomson?" he remarked. "In any case, there is

not one of us who is not prepared to share what the other citizens of London have to face. The country for the

women and children, if you please. We gather, sir, that it is chiefly through you that we are in the fortunate

"It was through my action in a matter which I understand has been subjected to a great deal of criticism,"

"I admit it frankly," the statesman acknowledged. "That particular matter, the matter of your censorship of a

certain letter, has been the subject of a grave and earnest conference here between us all. We decided to send

for you. We telephoned first of all to the Chief but he told us that you were entirely head of your department

and responsible to no one, that you had beenforgive mea brilliant success, and that it was his intention

to interfere in no possible way with any course you chose to take. I may say that he intimated as much to me

when I went to him, simply furious because you had removed a certain person from the list of those whose

"Listen to us while we put a matter to you from a commonsense point of view," Mr. Gordon Jones begged.

"You see who we are. We are those upon whose shoulders rests chiefly the task of ruling this country. I want

to tell you that we have come to a unanimous decision. We say nothing about the moral or the actual guilt of

Sir Alfred Anselman. How far he may have been concerned in plotting with our country's enemies is a matter

which we may know in the future, but for the presentwell, let's make a simple matter of itwe want him

"You wish him to continue in his present high position?" Thomson said slowly,"a man who is convicted of

"We wish him left alone," Mr. Gordon Jones continued earnestly, "not for his own sake but for ours. When

the time comes, later on, it may be possible for us to deal with him. Today, no words of mine could explain

to you his exact utility. He has a finger upon the moneymarkets of the world. He has wealth, great wealth,

and commands great wealth in every city. Frankly, this man as an open enemy today could bring more harm

upon us than if any neutral Power you could name were to join the Triple Alliance. Remember, too, Major

Thomson, that there may be advantages to us in this waiting attitude. Since your warning, his letters can be

admitted to censorship. You have the control of a great staff of military detectives; the resources of Scotland

Yard, too, are at your service. Have him watched day and night, his letters opened, his every movement

followed, but don't provoke him to open enmity. We don't want him in the Tower. The scandal and the shock

of it would do us enormous harm, apart from the terrible financial panic which would ensue. We will see to it

that he does no further mischief than he may already have done. We make an appeal to you, all of us here

tonight. Be guided entirely by us in this matter. You have rendered the country great service by your

discovery. Render it a greater one, Major Thomson, by keeping that discovery secret."

"I will not make conditions with you," Thomson replied gravely. "I will say at once that I am perfectly

willing to yield to your judgement in this matter. In return I ask something. I have more serious charges still

to bring against Sir Alfred's nephew. Will you leave the matter of dealing with this young man in my hands?"

"With pleasure," the Premier agreed. "I think, gentlemen," he added, looking around the table, "that we need

not detain Major Thomson any longer? We others have still a little business to finish."

It was all over in those few minutes and Thomson found himself in the street again. He guided his way by the

railings into Whitehall. The blackness seemed to him to be now less impenetrable. Looking fixedly eastward

he seemed to be conscious of some faint lightening in the sky. He heard the rumbling of carts in the road, the

horses mostly being led by their drivers. Here and there, an odd taxicab which had escaped the police orders

came along with one lamp lit, only to be stopped in a few yards and escorted to the edge of the pavement. All

the way up Whitehall there was one long line of taxicabs, unable to ply for hire or find their way to the

garages until daylight. The unusualness of it all was almost stimulating. At the top of the broad thoroughfare,

Thomson turned to the left through the Pall Mall Arch and passed into St. James's Park. He strolled slowly

along until he came to the thoroughfare to the left, leading down to the Admiralty. There he paused for a

moment, and, turning around, listened intently. He was possessed of particularly keen hearing and it seemed

to him as though from afar off he could hear the sound of a thousand muffled hammers beating upon an anvil;

of a strange, methodical disturbance in the air. He grasped the railing with one hand and gazed upward with

straining eyes. Just at that moment he saw distinctly what appeared to be a flash of lightning in the sky,

followed by a report which sounded like a sharp clap of thunder. Then instinctively he covered his eyes with

his hands. From a dozen placesone close at handa long, level stream of light seemed to shoot out

towards the clouds. There was one of them which came from near the Carlton Hotel, which lit up the whole

of the Pall Mall Arch with startling distinctness, gave him a sudden vision of the Admiralty roof, and, as he

followed it up, brought a cry to his lips. Far away, beyond even the limits of the quivering line of light, there

was something in the sky which seemed a little blacker than the cloud. Even while he looked at it, from the

Admiralty roof came a lurid flash, the hiss and screech of a shell as it dashed upwards. And then the sleeping

city seemed suddenly to awake and the night to become hideous. Not fifty yards away from him something

fell in the Park, and all around him lumps of gravel and clods of earth fell in a shower. A great elm tree fell

crashing into the railings close by his side. Then there was a deafening explosion, the thunder of falling

masonry, and a house by the side of the arch broke suddenly into flames. A few moments later, a queer sight

amongst all these untoward and unexpected happenings, a fire engine dashed under the arch, narrowly

missing the broken fragments of brick and stone, swung around, and a dozen firehoses commenced to play

The darkness was over now, and the silence. There were houses on the other side of the river on fire, and

scarcely a moment passed without the crash of a falling bomb. The air for a second or two was filled with

piteous shrieks from somewhere towards CharingCross, shrieks drowned almost immediately by another

tremendous explosion from further north. Every now and then, looking upwards in the line of the long

searchlights, Thomson could distinctly see the shape of one of the circling airships. Once the light flashed

downwards, and between him and Buckingham Palace he saw a great aeroplane coming head foremost down,

heard it strike the ground with a tremendous crash, heard the long death cry, a cry which was more like a sob,

Every moment the uproar became more deafening. From all sorts of unsuspected places and buildings came

the lightning quiver of the guns, followed by the shrieking of the shells. Right on to the tops of the houses

between where he was standing and the Carlton, another aeroplane fell, smashing the chimneys and the

windows and hanging there like a gigantic black bat. There was not a soul anywhere near him, but by the

occasional flashes of light Thomson could see soldiers and hurrying people in the Admiralty Square, and

along the Strand he could hear the patter of footsteps upon the pavement. But he himself remained alone, a

Then came what seemed to him to be its culmination. High above his head he was suddenly conscious of a

downward current of air. He looked up. The shouting voices, apparently from the falling clouds, voices

unfamiliar and guttural, warned him of what was coming. The darkness which loomed over him, took shape.

He turned and ran for his life. Only a little way above his head a storm of shrapnel now was streaming from

the lowered guns of the Admiralty. Turning back to look, he saw, scarcely fifty yards above him, the falling

of a huge Zeppelin. He felt himself just outside its range and paused, breathless. With a crash which seemed

to split the air, the huge structure fell. The far end of it, all buckled up, rested against the back of the

Admiralty. The other end was only a few yards from where Thomson stood, at the bottom of the steps leading

up into Pall Mall. A dozen searchlights played upon it. Men suddenly appeared as though from underneath.

Some of them stood for a moment and swayed like drunken men, others began to run. Round the corner from

the Admiralty Square a little company of soldiers came with fixed bayonets. There was a shout. Two of the

Thomson heard the crack of a rifle and saw one of them leap into the air and collapse. The other one

staggered and fell on his knees. A dozen of them were there together with their hands stretched to the skies.

Then Thomson was conscious that one of the oilclad figures was coming in his direction, making for the

steps, running with swift, stealthy gait. A flash of light gleamed upon the fugitive for a moment. He wore a

hat like a helmet; only his face, blackened with grease, and his staring eyes, were visible. He came straight

The man aimed a furious blow at him. Thomson, who quite unconsciously had drawn a revolver from his

pocket, shot him through the heart, watched him jump up and fall, a senseless, shapeless heap upon the

bottom of the steps, and, with a queer instinct of bloodthirstiness, ran down the line of the wrecked Zeppelin,

seeking for more victims. The soldiers were coming up in force now, however, and detachments of them

were marching away their prisoners. Another company was stationed all around the huge craft, keeping

guard. Thomson walked back once more towards the Admiralty. The sky was still lurid with the reflection of

many fires but the roar of the guns had diminished, and for several minutes no bomb had been thrown. With

the revolver in his hand still smoking, he ran into a man whom he knew slightly at the Admiralty.

"I don't know," he answered. "I've just shot one of those fellows from the Zeppelin. How are things going?"

"There are six Zeppelins down in different parts, and a couple of dozen aeroplanes," the other replied.

"Woolwich is safe, and the Houses of Parliament and Whitehall. Heaps of reports to come in but I don't

Thomson passed on. It was lighter now and the streets were thronged with people. He turned once more

towards the Strand and stood for a moment in Trafalgar Square. One wing of the National Gallery was gone,

and the Golden Cross Hotel was in flames. Leaning against the Union Club was another fallen aeroplane.

Men and women were rushing everywhere in wild excitement. He made his way down to the War Office. It

seemed queer to find men at work still in their rooms. He sent Ambrose for an orderly and received a

"Damage to public buildings and property not yet estimated. All dockyards and arsenals safe, principal public

buildings untouched. Only seventeen dead and forty injured reported up to five minutes ago. Great damage

done to enemy fleet; remainder in full retreat, many badly damaged. Zeppelin just down in Essex, four

"Well," he muttered to himself, "perhaps London will believe now that we are at war!"

"London, too, has its scars, and London is proud of them," a great morning paper declared the next morning.

"The last and gigantic effort of German 'frightfulness' has come and passed. London was visited before dawn

this morning by a fleet of sixteen Zeppelins and forty aeroplanes. Seven of these former monsters lie stranded

and wrecked in various parts of the city, two are known to have collapsed in Essex, and another is reported to

have come to grief in Norfolk. Of the aeroplanes, nineteen were shot down, and of the rest so far no news has

been heard. The damage to life and property, great though it may seem, is much less than was expected. Such

losses as we have sustained we shall bear with pride and fortitude. We stand now more closely than ever in

touch with our gallant allies. We, too, bear the marks of battle in the heart of our country."

Thomson paused to finish his breakfast, and abandoning the leading article turned to a more particular

"The loss of life," the journal went on to say, "although regrettable, is, so far as accounts have reached us, not

large. There are thirtyone civilians killed, a hundred and two have been admitted into hospitals, and,

curiously enough, only one person bearing arms has suffered. We regret deeply to announce the death of a

very distinguished young officer, Captain Ronald Granet, a nephew of Sir Alfred Anselman. A bomb passed

through the roof of his house in Sackville Street, completely shattering the apartment in which he was sitting.

His servant perished with him. The other occupants of the building were, fortunately for them, away for the

The paper slipped from Thomson's fingers. He looked through the windows of his room, across the Thames.

Exactly opposite to him a fallen chimney and four blackened walls, still smouldering, were there to remind

him of the great tragedy. He looked down at the paper again. There was no mistake. It was the judgment of a

He made his way down to the War Office at a little before ten o'clock. The streets were crowded with people

and there were throngs surrounding each of the places where bombs had been dropped. Towards the PallMall

Arch the people were standing in thousands, trying to get near the wreck of the huge Zeppelin, which

completely blocked all the traffic through St. James's Park. Thomson paused for a moment at the top of

Trafalgar Square and looked around him. The words of the newspaper were indeed true. London had her

scars, yet there was nothing in the faces of the people to show fear. If anything, there was an atmosphere all

around of greater vitality, of greater intensity. The war had come a little nearer at last than the columns of the

daily Press. It was the real thing with which even the everyday Londoner had rubbed shoulders. From

Cockspur Street to Nelson's Monument the men were lined up in a long queue, making their way to the

Admiral Conyers paid his usual morning visit to the Admiralty, lunched at his club and returned home that

evening in a state of suppressed excitement. He found his wife and Geraldine alone and at once took up his

"Amongst the other surprises of the last twentyfour hours," he announced, "I received one today which

"Nothing to do with Granet, poor fellow," the Admiral continued. "Listen, I was walking, if you please, for a

few yards with the man who is practically responsible today for the conduct of the war. At the corner of Pall

Mall we came face to face with Thomson. I nodded and we were passing on, when to my astonishment my

companion stopped and held out both his hands. 'Thomson, my dear fellow,' he said, 'I came round to your

rooms today but you were engaged three or four deep. Not another word save thisthanks! When we write

"We passed on," he continued, "and I said to his lordship'Wasn't that Thomson, the Inspector of Field

Hospitals?' He simply laughed at me. 'My dear Conyers,' he said, 'surely you knew that was only a blind?

Thomson is head of the entire Military Intelligence Department. He has the rank of a BrigadierGeneral

waiting for him when he likes to take it. He prefers to remain as far as possible unknown and unrecognised,

because it helps him with his work.' Now listen! You've read in all the papers of course, that we had warning

of what was coming last night, that the reason we were so successful was because every light in London had

been extinguished and every gunstation was doubly manned? Well, the warning we received was due to

"And to think," Lady Conyers exclaimed "that we were half afraid to tell your father that Hugh was coming

"I hope Geraldine's going to be sensible," he said. "I've always maintained that Thomson was a fine fellow,

only Geraldine seemed rather carried away by that young Granet. Poor fellow! One can't say anything about

him now, but he was just the ordinary type of showy young soldier, not fit to hold a candle to a man like

"Just ourselves, Thomson," he said, as they made their way into the diningroom. "What a shock the Chief

"That was my excuse," he explained, "for running backwards and forwards between France and England at

the beginning of the war. There's no particular secret about my position now. I've had a very hard fight to

keep it, a very hard fight to make it a useful one. Until last night, at any rate, it hasn't seemed to me that

English people realised that we were at war. Now, I hope at last that we are going to take the gloves off. Do

you know," he went on, a little later, "that in France they think we're mad. Honestly, in my position, if I had

had the French laws at my back I believe that by today the war would have been over. As it is, when I

started even my post was a farce. We had to knuckle under the whole of the time, to the civil authorities.

They wanted to fine a spy ten shillings or to bind him over to keep the peace! I've never had to fight for

anything so hard in my life as I've had to fight once or twice for my file of men at the Tower. At the

beginning of the war we'd catch them absolutely redhanded. All they had to do was to surrender to the civil

authorities, and we had a city magistrate looking up statutes to see how to deal with them."

"There are a good many things which will make strange reading after the war is over," the Admiral said

grimly. "I fancy that my late department will provide a few sensations. Still, our very mistakes are our

justification. We were about as ready for war as Lady Conyers there is to play Rugby football for Oxford."

"It has taken us the best part of a year to realise what war means," Thomson assented. "Even now there are

"Last night's raid ought to wake a few of them up," the Admiral grunted. "I should like to have shown those

devils where to have dropped a few of their little toys. There are one or two men who were making laws not

"I really think that dad feels more bloodthirsty when he talks about some of our politicians than he does about

"Some of our worst enemies are at home, any way," Sir Seymour insisted, "and we shall never get on with the

"The corner of St. James's Street," Sir Seymour replied. "There were two houses in Berkeley Street alight,

and a hole in the roof of a house in Hay Hill. The bomb there didn't explode, though. Sad thing about young

"A very promising young officer, I should think," the Admiral continued, "and a very sad death. Brings

things home to you when you remember that it was only yesterday he was here, poor fellow!"

Geraldine and her mother rose from their places, a few minutes later. The latter looked up at Thomson as he

"You can take him with you, if you like," the Admiral declared, also rising to his feet. "He doesn't drink port

and the cigarettes are in your room. I have to take the Chair at a recruiting meeting at Holborn in a quarter of

"Of course," the latter assented. "I must leave early myself. I have to go back to the War Office."

"You see, I am carrying you off in the most barefaced fashion," she began, motioning him to a seat by her

side, "but really you are such an elusive person, and only this morning, in the midst of that awful thunder of

bombs, when we stood on the roof and looked at London breaking out into flames, I couldn't help

thinkingremembering, I meanhow short a time it is since you and I were face to face with the other

horror and you saved my life. Do you know, I don't think that I have ever said 'thank you'not properly?"

"I think the words may go," he answered, smiling. "It was a horrible time while it lasted but it was soon over.

The worst part of it was seeing those others, whom we could not help, drifting by."

"I should have been with them but for you," she said quietly. "Don't think that I don't know it. Don't think that

I don't regret sometimes, Hugh, that I didn't trust you a little more completely. You are right about so many

"Why were you so almost obstinately silent when father spoke of poor Captain Granet's death?"

"Because I couldn't agree with what he said," Thomson replied. "I think that Granet's death in exactly that

fashion was the best thing that could possibly have happened for him and for all of us."

"I am not cruel at all," he assured her firmly. "Let me quote the words of a greater man'I have no enemies

"There is no longer any doubt as to his complete guilt. As you know yourself, the cipher letter warning

certain people in London of the coming raid, passed through his hands. He even came here to warn you.

There were other charges against him which could have been proved up to the hilt. While we are upon this

subject, Geraldine, let me finish with it absolutely. Only a short time ago I confronted him with his guilt, I

gave him ten days during which it was my hope that he would embrace the only honourable course left to

him. I took a risk leaving him free, but during the latter part of the time he was watched day and night. If he

had lived until this morning, there isn't any power on earth could have kept him from the Tower, or any

"It is too awful," she faltered, "and yetit makes me so ashamed, Hugh, to think that I could not have trusted

He opened his pocketbook and a little flush of colour came suddenly into her cheeks. He drew out the ring

"I shall be so proud and so happy to have it again," she whispered. "I do really feel as though I had behaved

like a foolish child, and I don't like the feeling at all, because in these days one should be more than

ordinarily serious, shouldn't one? Shall I be able to make it up to you, Hugh, do you think?"

"There is an atonement you might make, dear," he ventured. "Do you remember a suggestion of mine at one