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-.. -*- encoding: utf-8 -*-

-

-.. meta::

-   :PG.Id: 42459

-   :PG.Title: Bernard Treve's Boots

-   :PG.Released: 2013-04-01

-   :PG.Reposted: 2013-05-14 (minor correction)

-   :PG.Rights: Public Domain

-   :PG.Producer: Al Haines

-   :DC.Creator: Laurence Clarke

-   :DC.Title: Bernard Treve's Boots

-              A Novel of the Secret Service

-   :DC.Language: en

-   :DC.Created: 1920

-   :coverpage: images/img-cover.jpg

-

-======================

-BERNARD TREVES'S BOOTS

-======================

-

-.. clearpage::

-

-.. pgheader::

-

-.. container:: titlepage center white-space-pre-line

-

-   .. class:: x-large

-

-      BERNARD TREVES'S BOOTS

-

-   .. class:: large

-

-      A NOVEL OF THE SECRET SERVICE

-

-   .. vspace:: 2

-

-   .. class:: small

-

-      BY

-

-   .. class:: medium

-

-      LAURENCE CLARKE

-

-   .. class:: small

-

-      AUTHOR OF "A PRINCE OF INDIA," ETC.

-

-   .. vspace:: 3

-

-   .. class:: medium

-

-      HODDER AND STOUGHTON LIMITED

-      LONDON

-      1920  

-

-   .. vspace:: 4

-

-.. container:: dedication noindent white-space-pre-line

-

-   .. class:: medium

-

-      DEDICATION

-

-   .. vspace:: 1

-

-   .. class:: medium

-

-   To Sir Emsley Carr, who suggested

-   that I should write this book, and

-   to whom I am much indebted for

-   valuable first-hand incidents which

-   figure in these pages.

-

-   .. vspace:: 1

-

-   .. class:: medium

-

-   *January*, 1920.

-

-.. vspace:: 4

-

-.. _`CHAPTER I`:

-

-.. class:: center large

-

-   CHAPTER I

-

-.. vspace:: 2

-

-"Are you sure your name is Manton?"

-

-Captain Gilbert looked keenly across the table.  The

-light in the little room was not good, and the expression

-on the Captain's face was one of intense interest and

-bewilderment.

-

-"Quite sure, sir—John Manton," answered the man

-standing at the further side of the table.

-

-Manton was one of a number of recruits who had that

-day presented themselves at the Ryde Recruiting Office—a

-tall, well-poised man of twenty-six, dark-haired,

-blue-eyed, firm-lipped and vigorous-looking, despite the

-fact that his countenance was somewhat pale.  He wore

-a well-brushed blue serge suit, noticeably the worse for

-wear.  His bowler hat, too, had seen long service.

-

-Captain Gilbert, still looking at him, drew forth a

-sheet of paper, and took up his pen.

-

-"John Manton," he wrote, then his eyes lifted, and

-he looked once more and with a peculiar expression into

-the tall young recruit's face.  For a moment he paused.

-"Manton," he said, "I should like to see you privately

-after the office closes."

-

-The young man steadily returned his gaze.

-

-"Very good, sir," he said, with an air of docility.  "At

-what time shall I come?"

-

-"At eight o'clock," returned Gilbert.  "Wait for me

-outside."  His eyes followed the other as he turned and

-left the building, but the moment the door had closed

-Captain Gilbert plunged once again into his work.

-

-"Next," he called to the line of men seated on the

-far side of the room; and the man at the end of the

-line rose and advanced towards the table.

-

-Manton in the meantime paced the streets until eight

-o'clock, then turned his steps towards the recruiting office.

-

-"I wonder what he wants," thought the young man.

-

-Possibly Gilbert guessed he had been in the army before,

-and wished to question him upon that point.

-

-"Whatever he wants," thought Manton, somewhat

-wearily, "does not much matter.  If he refuses to take

-me, and manages to find out everything, I can enlist

-somewhere else."

-

-As the clock struck eight Captain Gilbert, with an air

-of haste, closed his desk, left the office and came striding

-along the street.

-

-"Ah!" exclaimed the Captain, catching sight of

-Manton, "we'll come up here to the left; it's quieter."

-

-He led the way as he spoke towards a deserted side

-street.  It was already almost dark, and the dimmed

-street lamps had been lit.  They had proceeded some

-distance together in silence, when Gilbert halted suddenly,

-and laid his hand on Manton's shoulder.

-

-"Treves," he said, "so you had the grit to do it,

-after all?"

-

-Manton turned and stared in wonderment.

-

-"Do what, sir?"  But he suddenly felt his fingers

-seized in a cordial grip.

-

-"Gad," went on Gilbert, "that'll make a man of you—eh?"

-

-"I'm afraid I don't understand a word of what you

-are saying, sir!"

-

-"You don't understand a word!  Why, of course

-you don't!  I like you for it—and I'll be frank, I thought

-I never could like you.  Somehow," he went on, looking

-into Manton's face, "you are the same and yet different,

-but I'd know you anywhere, despite this shabby old suit

-and your battered bowler.  You knew me, too, when

-you came into the office."

-

-Manton, still bewildered beyond measure, shook his

-head slowly.

-

-"I have never seen you in my life before, sir!"

-

-"No, of course not," laughed Gilbert, who was jovial

-and good-natured.  He slipped his arm through Manton's.

-"Come along now, and we'll talk about it!"  Something

-in the situation of the moment seemed to exhilarate him.

-"So you've decided to make good after all?  Well, all

-I can say is—I'm delighted.  For your own sake, for the

-old Colonel's sake, for everybody's sake!"

-

-Again he paused and looked into his companion's face.

-

-"I'll admit, Treves, I didn't think you had it in you.

-I thought——"

-

-Manton freed his arm from the other's grasp.

-

-"I am sorry, sir," he said, "but you are evidently

-making a grievous mistake.  My name is Manton——"

-

-"I don't care what your name is," retorted Gilbert,

-irritated a little by what he believed to be the other's

-unnecessary reserve.  "You can get rid of your name

-and call yourself Manton or Jones or Smith or Robinson

-or anything you like for all I care!  But I know you to

-be Bernard Treves, and——"

-

-But this time a note of firmness appeared in Manton's

-voice.

-

-"My name is not Treves, sir!"

-

-Gilbert shrugged his shoulders.

-

-"You needn't keep up that note with me," he said.

-"I'm delighted to find you have the grit to try to make

-some sort of reparation."

-

-Manton moistened his lips.

-

-"I still don't understand you," he said slowly.  "But

-all I can do is to assure you I am not Treves.  If you

-know some one who resembles me and whose name is

-Treves, perhaps you would look at me again.  To

-my knowledge, sir, I have never met you in my life

-before."

-

-As he spoke he took off his hat and turned his face

-fully towards the Captain.

-

-For a moment there was silence.

-

-"In this half-darkness," said Gilbert, "you look

-absolutely like Bernard Treves to me.  You looked like

-him in the office.  I could see that you had been in the

-army the minute you stood at my table."  He paused,

-and for the first time a slight doubt crept over him.

-"The only thing that seems changed to me," he went

-on, "is your manner.  Come, now, Treves, you know

-me well enough to confide in me; that's why I asked

-you to speak to me out of the office.  Anything you care

-to say will go no further.  I will accept it as unofficial,

-and if you intend to make good I'm prepared to be a

-good friend to you.  But in the first place admit that

-you are Treves; it will make matters much easier."

-

-For some moments Manton remained silent.  Gilbert

-believed that at last he was about to admit his identity.

-

-"I will tell you my history for the past three months,

-sir," said the young man.

-

-"I shall respect your confidence," Gilbert answered.

-

-"I am sorry to disappoint you, sir, but my name is

-really Manton, and, as you guessed when I came into

-the office, I have been in the army before.  I was at

-Scarthoe Head, Battery A.  I was a sergeant, and, being

-a public school man, was made book-keeper to the acting

-adjutant."  He fell into silence again, and went on after

-a pause.  "Something went wrong in regard to the

-delivery of stores to the fort.  There was a hundred and

-forty-five pounds deficit in the accounts.  I was held

-responsible, sir."

-

-There was an intensity and a genuineness in the ring

-of the stranger's voice that gripped Gilbert's attention.

-He listened with the closest attention, and as Manton

-narrated in detail his life during the past six months,

-Gilbert's convictions faded and gradually vanished.  It

-was impossible that the man could have invented the

-story, a story so easy of verification.  It was some time,

-however, before he let Manton perceive his change of

-view; then he drew in a deep breath.

-

-"Gad!" he exclaimed, "then you are not Treves

-after all!"

-

-"No, sir."

-

-"Go on with your story."

-

-Manton obediently resumed his discourse, bringing his

-history down to that afternoon and his visit to the

-recruiting office.

-

-"It's amazing!" exclaimed Gilbert.  "I could have

-sworn——  But, after all," he went on, as if communing

-with himself, "there's something in your eyes that's

-different."

-

-"My one ambition in life," concluded Manton, "is to

-repay that hundred and forty-five pounds.  I wanted to

-do it for the honour of the battery.  But when three

-months had passed and I found I couldn't manage it,

-I decided to enlist again."

-

-Gilbert, when his first surprise had departed, began

-to feel an unusual interest in the young man, and as the

-two strolled back towards the Captain's hotel, he dropped

-his slight tone of authority, but was quite uncommunicative

-as to the mysterious and evidently delinquent Treves.

-

-"If you could come to the office in the morning," he

-said at parting, "I think we can get round any difficulties

-there may be in regard to your re-enlistment.  Do you

-mind if I make inquiries about you, merely as a matter

-of form?"

-

-"Not in the least, sir."

-

-A few minutes later Captain Gilbert put through a

-trunk call to Scarthoe Fort.  The commandant of

-Battery A, who was known to Gilbert by name, happened

-to be on duty.  Gilbert explained that a man giving the

-name of John Manton, lately of his battery, had that day

-attempted to re-enlist at Ryde.

-

-"I'd like all the information you can give me about

-him," Gilbert asked.

-

-"One of the best," came back the prompt answer from

-Scarthoe Fort.  "Manton was a favourite here, and

-quite unofficially, although matters got a bit muddled,

-and the case went against him, none of us believed him

-guilty.  A first-rate gunner and white clear through.  I

-shall be glad to know that he's back in the army again."

-

-Gilbert rang off, and all that night the amazing

-resemblance between his friend Treves and Manton

-occupied his thoughts.  As a result of this preoccupation,

-and some time during the small hours, a startling idea

-came to him, first as a nebulous, vague possibility, then

-as an entirely practicable and simple solution of a

-difficulty.  The thought was this: why should not the

-singular resemblance between Treves and Manton be

-turned to good account?  Manton had said he wanted

-more than anything in the world to repay the money

-due to the battery.  Treves, on his part, wanted——  Gilbert

-broke off here, but his thoughts continued to

-pursue the new, startling idea that had come to him.

-

-"Gad!" he exclaimed, as the morning broke, "I

-believe the plan would achieve miracles.  If Treves got

-away under another name he might rouse himself.  He

-might become a man again." ...

-

-In the morning Manton came into the office looking

-bright, vigorous and full of vitality.  Gilbert rose and

-examined him.  Yes, there was a difference, a slight,

-almost undetectable difference.  Something in the

-eyes—nothing more than that.

-

-"Are you convinced now, sir?" asked the young man,

-smiling and standing at attention.

-

-"I am quite convinced, Manton, and I have a

-proposition to make to you."

-

-He took his visitor into an inner room, and, seated

-there, he unfolded a little of the plan that had come to

-him during the watches of the night.

-

-"Manton," he said, "I must get authority before I

-can accept you as a recruit, but in the meantime," he

-went on, "I have been thinking of our talk of last night.

-I like you for trying to earn that hundred and forty-five

-pounds, and they gave a good account of you at Scarthoe."

-

-"I don't know who had the money, sir, but I'd do

-anything in the world to pay it back for the honour of

-the battery."

-

-Captain Gilbert paused, then took a letter from the

-pocket of his tunic.  The envelope was addressed:

-"Lieutenant Bernard Treves, 15, Sade Road, Lymington."

-

-Gilbert had written this letter earlier that morning.

-With a certain air of formality he handed it to John

-Manton and instructed him to deliver it to Lieutenant

-Treves that evening after dark.

-

-"I have a plan in regard to you, Manton, that I think

-will work out to your entire satisfaction.  I won't tell

-you what it is until you have seen my friend Treves.

-But when Treves has read this letter he may, or may

-not, think it worth his while to pay you the money you

-need.  If he doesn't, please come back to me to-morrow,

-and we will go on with the matter of your re-enlistment."

-

-"In case Lieutenant Treves decides favourably, sir,

-what must I do to earn the money?"

-

-"You will learn that from him," answered the Captain.

-"Go to-night, as unobtrusively as you can," he said.

-He rose, held out his hand and gripped Manton's fingers

-cordially in his.

-

-

-

-

-

-.. vspace:: 4

-

-.. _`CHAPTER II`:

-

-.. class:: center large

-

-   CHAPTER II

-

-.. vspace:: 2

-

-That evening, when John Manton stepped off the boat

-at Lymington, a heavy summer rain was falling.  In the

-town itself the streets appeared to be deserted, and it

-was some minutes before he encountered a workman

-hurrying home, with upturned collar.  He inquired the

-way to Sade Road, and five minutes later came upon a

-row of small workmen's cottages with little gardens in

-front.  Counting the houses until he came to number

-fifteen, he entered the garden gate, and, striking a match,

-discovered that he had halted at the right address.  A

-woman came to the door in answer to his knock, and

-stood in the dark, looking out at him, opening the door

-only a few cautious inches.

-

-"What do you want?"

-

-Manton, with collar turned up and hat drawn over his

-brows, answered that he brought a letter for Lieutenant

-Treves.

-

-"You'd better go up to him, then," said the woman,

-drawing open the door.  "It's the front room at the top

-of the stairs."

-

-There was a candle at the stair-head, and Manton

-passed her, ascended the single flight of steps and halted

-at the door.  The smallness of the house, the shabbiness

-of the woman who had admitted him, depressed his spirits.

-He liked Captain Gilbert, with his sleek and buoyant

-confidence.  This plan of his suddenly struck Manton

-as the wildest piece of quixotism.

-

-He lifted his hand and knocked quietly upon the door.

-A voice from within instantly invited him to enter.  A

-moment later he stood in a small lamp-lit bedroom.

-The room was littered with trunks, suit-cases, boxes and

-a general confusion of other articles.  The close air

-reeked with the smell of Turkish cigarettes, and at a

-table near the window, with a lamp before him, sat

-a young man, busily occupied scribbling figures on a

-sheet of paper.

-

-Bernard Treves, whose back was towards the door,

-wore mufti, and Manton, in the moment of entering,

-noticed that he was well dressed and that his hair was

-smooth and dark.

-

-"If that's my supper, Mrs. Dodge," said Treves, "put

-it on the bed."  He spoke without looking round, took

-a drink of whisky from a glass at his side, then went on

-with his figures.

-

-Manton, standing near the door, coughed to attract his

-attention.

-

-"Hallo!" exclaimed Treves, and turned swiftly.  In

-an instant at sight of Manton his expression changed.

-He sprang to his feet in what appeared to be a state of

-terror, and stood staring at his visitor without uttering

-a word.  With brows drawn together, he passed a hand

-over his eyes, then he turned, and, lifting his lamp from

-the table, held it aloft.

-

-"Who are you?" he demanded savagely, "and what

-the devil do you want?"

-

-John Manton took the letter from his pocket.

-

-"I have come with a letter from your friend, Captain

-Gilbert," he answered quietly.

-

-With his eyes still fixed on Manton, Treves lowered

-the lamp and replaced it on the table.

-

-"A letter," he repeated, "from Gilbert?  Give it to

-me."  He held out his hand.  "God!" he exclaimed,

-as he snatched the envelope, "coming in like that, you

-gave me a devil of a start.  I thought that I was looking

-into my own face!  Come nearer; come into the light."

-

-Manton advanced farther into the room.

-

-"I suppose these figures I've been poring over," went

-on Treves, "have made my eyes a bit wrong, but I've

-never seen anything like it."  His nerve was gradually

-returning, and his astonishment was turning to

-amusement at the intensity of the resemblance between them.

-

-"Look into the mirror there," he said.  "Don't you

-think the likeness is amazing?"

-

-Manton looked into the mirror, and then again at the

-young man, who had replaced the lamp on the table,

-and was tearing open Gilbert's envelope.  As he

-scrutinised Treves's face and figure he, too, was astonished.

-He began to understand now something of Captain

-Gilbert's strange behaviour of the day before.  But

-Manton had never been occupied over much with his

-own appearance; he took himself for granted, and after

-the first momentary flash of curiosity he thought no more

-of the resemblance.  Besides, there was, after all, a

-difference.  Treves wore a black moustache; his

-complexion was flushed, whereas Manton, as a result of gas

-poisoning at the Front, was still pale.  Treves's eyes,

-moreover, were evasive and furtive in expression.

-Nevertheless, it would have been difficult to tell the two men

-apart.

-

-"Sit down, Sergeant," Treves said.  "Help yourself

-to a drink."  He waved towards the whisky bottle and

-a siphon on the table.  Upon Manton refusing the drink,

-Treves pushed towards him a box of cigarettes.  Then

-read Captain Gilbert's missive through a second and a

-third time, and seemed to be considering it deeply with

-brows drawn together.  "Do you know what is in this

-letter?" he questioned at last.

-

-"No."

-

-"Captain Gilbert told you nothing?"

-

-"Nothing whatever, beyond saying that you might be

-willing to make some sort of offer."

-

-"Well, he makes an extraordinary suggestion," went

-on Treves, leaning back in his chair.  "It's all brought

-about by your resemblance to me."  His eyes sought

-the letter again.  "He tells me you are a public school

-boy and all that, and gives me here an outline of your

-little trouble at Scarthoe Head.  Well, for certain reasons

-known to himself and to me, he thinks you may be able

-to make yourself useful to me.  That is," he added,

-"if you are willing to undertake a somewhat delicate

-piece of work."

-

-Manton looked inquiringly at Treves; he was not sure

-of the young man.

-

-"Perhaps you will let me know the nature of the work."

-

-"The fact of the matter is, Manton," Treves resumed,

-dropping his voice confidentially, "I am in want of help.

-Owing to certain peculiar circumstances, I want

-somebody to make use of my name and my personality for a

-short time."

-

-He took up his whisky and Manton observed an almost

-imperceptible tremor of his fingers as they closed about

-the glass.

-

-"Now, your extraordinary likeness to me, and the

-fact that you are in need of cash—well, do you see the

-point?"

-

-"I'm afraid not," remarked Manton quietly.

-

-Treves made a gesture of impatience.

-

-"It's pretty plain, I should think.  You need cash,

-I need some one to step into my shoes; somebody who

-must take the name of Bernard Treves.  Now, do you

-understand?"

-

-"Your suggestion is that I should pass myself off as

-you?"

-

-"That's it exactly!"

-

-His visitor stared at him in amazement.

-

-"But I don't see," said he, "any advantage in that for

-either of us."

-

-"Perhaps not.  How much money are you in need

-of?" Treves inquired pointedly.

-

-"Nearly one hundred and fifty pounds."

-

-Treves whistled.

-

-"Lot of money," he said.

-

-John Manton agreed with him, and for a space there

-was silence.  John's hopes that had risen fell to

-zero.

-

-Then Treves poured himself another glass of whisky,

-and drank it down.  He wiped his lips with a silk

-handkerchief from his breast pocket.

-

-"All right," he said at length; "carry out my wishes

-and you shall have it."

-

-"Then you are serious?"

-

-"I was never more serious in my life.  You are to

-take everything that is mine, and in return you shall have

-the money you need."

-

-A vague doubt stirred in Manton's mind; then he

-thought of Gilbert.  The Captain was most obviously

-a man of honour.

-

-"If I accept, can I still enlist?"

-

-"Enlist by all means."

-

-"It seems to me to be an easy way of earning the

-money, but what about your rank in the army?"

-

-Treves flashed a suspicious glance at him; there was a

-questioning expression in his eyes.

-

-"If you accept my offer we can go into details later,

-and as regards my rank, I—I happen to be leaving the

-army."

-

-"In that case," said Manton, "I am much obliged to

-you; the money will be a great boon to me."

-

-"You accept?"

-

-"Like a bird!" smiled Manton.  "But there is one

-thing I would like to ask."

-

-"Well?"

-

-"The terms are generous enough," he said, "but

-what is to happen to my name; is that to disappear too?"

-

-Bernard Treves lit a cigarette, and looked at him with

-the expression of one from whose mind has been lifted a

-heavy burden.  He made an expressive gesture with his

-hand.

-

-"For the time being," he answered, "the name of

-Sergeant Manton will vanish into thin air."

-

-

-

-

-

-.. vspace:: 4

-

-.. _`CHAPTER III`:

-

-.. class:: center large

-

-   CHAPTER III

-

-.. vspace:: 2

-

-Six days later Manton found himself once more in

-Lymington, alone in Treves's lodgings, in the crowded

-room, littered with that young man's desirable

-possessions.  Those possessions were, for the time being, his

-own; even Treves's name was his, for, carrying out his

-bargain, Treves had vanished from the scene.  Again

-Manton fell to wondering why the other had been so

-anxious to dispossess himself of name and identity.

-There was nothing criminal in the matter, he was assured

-of that, otherwise Captain Gilbert would not have had a

-hand in it.  The idea that the Lieutenant had suffered

-from shell-shock, and desired to hide himself from all who

-knew him for a time until he had recovered, came to

-Manton, and struck him as feasible.  He had himself

-known quite a number of peculiar manifestations of this

-particularly mysterious disease.  In any case, whatever

-Treves's reasons, it mattered little to Manton at that

-moment.

-

-"I have simply got to make myself act as Treves,

-and to do the best I can in Treves's shoes for the time

-being."

-

-A few days earlier the young man had written him a

-letter in which he had said: "Use everything of mine as

-if it were your own.  It is only fair if you get the kicks

-meant for me, you should get the ha'pence as well.  I

-have few relations, and none of them are likely to bother

-you.  When we shall meet again I do not know, but, in

-the meantime, *au revoir*.  I wonder what you will feel

-like this time next year?"

-

-Manton, in the quiet of the room, took some considerable

-time trying to realise his new circumstances, and

-gradually the sense of strangeness and mystery that

-enveloped him began to fade away.  In all his life

-Manton had been used to the buffets and hard knocks of

-Fate; he began to wonder what his immediate future in

-Treves's shoes held for him.  Both parents having died

-in India, he had been educated from a small fund in the

-hands of a guardian, first in Germany, and later at Rugby.

-After that he spent two years at Bonn.  His resources

-were at an end, and the guardian, feeling that he had done

-his duty, left him to fend for himself.  A period of hard

-going had followed, until the war broke out, whereupon

-he precipitately enlisted in the first hundred thousand.

-If he had waited a little longer a commission would have

-been thrust upon him as it was upon all public school

-men in any way eligible.  Treves's past, Manton

-surmised, had not been of that nature, for despite the

-poorness of the young man's lodgings, all his belongings

-were of the costliest order.  And all these belongings

-were now his, Manton's, to do with as he liked.  The

-idea came to him to write to Captain Gilbert, thanking

-him for the amicable intervention that had wrought

-this change in his circumstances.  He sat down, drew

-forth a sheet of Treves's notepaper, and had taken up

-a pen when a knock came at the door, and the landlady

-appeared.

-

-"You'd like some tea, sir, wouldn't you?"

-

-"Yes, thank you," answered the young man.

-

-"I've dusted the room every day, sir, since you've

-been away," said the landlady.

-

-"It's exactly as I left it," responded he truthfully.

-She was looking at him across the width of the little

-room, but there was no doubt or curiosity in her gaze;

-she had accepted him instantly on his arrival that day

-as Bernard Treves, and even now, looking at him full and

-closely, no thought of deception entered her mind.  "I

-wonder what she'd think," he pondered inwardly, "if

-Treves were to come in behind her now."

-

-But no such dramatic event occurred; the landlady

-brought up his tea, and later furnished him with a bottle

-of whisky, a siphon of soda, and a glass.

-

-Next morning, when she cleared these things away,

-she was surprised to find that no more than one peg of

-whisky had been taken.

-

-"Wasn't you feeling well, sir, last night?" she asked.

-

-"Quite," answered Manton, who was busy with an

-excellent breakfast.

-

-She went away wondering.  Until that day she had

-never known Mr. Treves to drink less than half a bottle

-of whisky in the course of an evening.

-

-During the morning John went for a stroll in the town,

-and on his return the landlady handed him a letter

-which had arrived by the post in his absence.  Manton

-took it up to his room, and noticed that the handwriting

-was sprawling and shaky.  Twice he read the

-superscription, "Bernard Treves, Esq., 15, Sade Road,

-Lymington."  He hesitated several minutes before

-breaking open the envelope.  He felt as though he were

-stepping beyond the pale of decency in opening the

-letter addressed to another man, then he recalled Treves's

-admonition, "Everything that is mine is yours."  He

-tore open the envelope.  Within was a single sheet of

-paper headed, "Heatherfield Grange, Freshwater."  Manton

-quickly scanned the contents.

-

-.. vspace:: 2

-

-"*Dear Bernard,—They tell me you are in hiding, as

-well you may be, but if you have a spark of decency

-left in you, you will come here to me at the first

-opportunity.  There are things I have to say to you*.

-

-"*You have dishonoured and disgraced the family name,

-but I have still a faint hope that you will retrieve yourself

-at the last moment.—Your affectionate father,*

-

-.. vspace:: 1

-

-.. class:: noindent

-

-"R.T."

-

-.. vspace:: 2

-

-For many minutes John Manton sat staring at this

-letter, staring from the stiff, sprawling writing out into the

-little street and back again.

-

-All that day he pondered upon the missive he had

-received from Treves's father.  He wondered what it was

-Treves had done, and why he should have been skulking

-in hiding at that address?  A sense of uneasiness swept

-over him, and was succeeded by a violent curiosity.  For

-the first time he felt vividly interested in Treves and

-Treves's history, and at the same time doubtful and

-uneasy.  Unpleasant and difficult situations presented

-themselves to his mind.

-

-Next morning, as a result of a decision he had taken,

-he was on his way to Freshwater by midday.  At three

-o'clock in the afternoon he walked through the town and

-out to Heatherfield Grange, which he discovered to be a

-large, many-chimneyed, many-windowed Elizabethan

-mansion, standing in a spacious, heavily-wooded park.

-The mansion itself was approached by a long carriage

-drive, too much overshadowed by trees, and when Manton

-reached the lodge gates a bent old man, who was sweeping

-leaves from the path, hurried forward and drew open the

-gate for him to enter.  The man drew himself up and

-saluted.

-

-"Good day, Master Bernard."

-

-Manton nodded and smiled.  As he walked along the

-drive towards the grand old house, his pulse-beat

-quickened.  After all, had he a right to act the part; was

-it honourable and fair that he should thus step into

-another man's shoes?  The under-gardener had taken

-him for Bernard Treves; the whole world evidently was

-prepared to believe in the deception.  But there was

-Treves's father to face.  Naturally Treves's father would

-detect an impostor in a moment.  But was he an

-impostor; was it not probable that the elder Treves also

-was aware of what had occurred?

-

-The broad front door of the mansion was opened to

-him.  A white-haired butler, with pouches under his

-eyes, and a general air of world-weariness, looked at him

-from the threshold, and slowly lifted his eyes in surprise.

-

-"Good afternoon, sir," said the butler.  He took

-Manton's hat and stick, and deferentially stood aside.

-"Your father will indeed be pleased and surprised to

-see you, sir," he said, as he closed the door.  His manner

-was studiously civil, and yet somehow Manton felt a

-lack of cordiality towards himself in the butler's tone.

-

-"Possibly he's a privileged servant," he thought,

-"and does not like Mr. Bernard."

-

-"Where is—is the Colonel?" he asked after a moment's

-hesitation.

-

-"In the library, sir, as usual.  Will you go up at once?"

-

-"Yes."  He wondered consumedly where the Colonel's

-room might be, and experienced a pleasant thrill of

-impending event.  He attempted a little harmless finesse

-to discover the way.  "Perhaps you will go first and tell

-him I am here."

-

-"Very good, sir."  The butler looked at him meditatively

-for a moment, then went to a side-table and took

-up a silver salver containing three letters and a telegram.

-Manton seized the moment to survey the heavy splendour

-of the dark antique furniture, the wide spaces of the hall

-and the richness of the rugs scattered over the polished

-floor.  High above the mantelshelf hung a portrait in oils

-of a personage in eighteenth century costume.  Descending

-to the middle of the hall was a wide oak balustraded

-staircase, carpeted in scarlet, a single flight ascended to

-the first floor, then branched to right and left.

-

-"Your letters, sir."  The butler was standing at

-Manton's elbow with the silver salver extended.  John

-took up the three letters and the telegram.  A renewed

-and intensified disinclination to pry into Bernard Treves's

-affairs seized him.  He was about to put letters and

-telegram into his pocket when the butler spoke in his

-firm, polite voice.  There was a note of reproach in his

-tone, however, "The telegram came two days ago, sir."

-

-"Oh!" exclaimed Manton.  And under the bleak

-eye of the butler he disinterred it from his pocket, tore

-open the envelope, and read the contents.  The telegram

-had been dispatched from Camden Town, and ran:

-

-.. vspace:: 2

-

-"*Wire when you can come.  Of course I will forgive

-you.*—ELAINE."

-

-.. vspace:: 2

-

-He was conscious, as he read the words, that the

-butler's eyes were fixed steadily upon him.

-

-Then the old servant turned and preceded him towards

-the broad staircase.  They ascended to the first landing,

-and here the butler wheeled to the right and halted

-before a double green baize door.  The elderly man

-knocked, paused for a moment, then pushed open the

-door, and stepped into a room lined with books, a spacious,

-luxuriously furnished apartment, with two mullioned

-windows overlooking the park.  John, following him,

-saw him cross to a deep, high-backed arm-chair near the

-hearth.

-

-"Mr. Bernard's here, sir," he announced, standing

-before this chair.

-

-There was a movement in the chair, then a tall,

-soldierly, grey-haired man revealed himself, leaning on

-a stick, and looked across at Manton.  He looked at him

-with a cold, inimical gaze, and until the butler had closed

-the door and departed, did not utter a word, Then he

-spoke:

-

-"So you've come, you dog, have you!"  The almost

-savage intensity of dislike and contempt in his tone

-struck the young man like a blow in the face.

-

-"I got your letter——" he began.

-

-"Oh, yes, I found out where you were.  Well," he

-went on, harshly, "there is no need for us to waste

-compliments on each other.  We will settle the business that

-is to be settled at once."

-

-He moved shakily towards a desk in the middle of the

-room, using his stick as a support.  Manton, seeing his

-frailty, hurried forward to assist him, but the old man

-drew himself erect, raised his stick, and flashed a look at

-him of utter repulsion.

-

-"Do not dare to lay a hand on me," he said violently.

-

-When he reached his desk he seated himself in a big

-swivel-chair, drew out a drawer, and flung certain

-documents on the table.  From under his eyebrows he

-glowered at Manton.

-

-"Sit down," he commanded.

-

-John moved to the table side and occupied a chair near

-his elbow.  Among a pile of documents Colonel Treves

-searched for a certain typewritten sheet.  He found it at

-length, a long, yellow piece of official paper.

-

-"Listen to this," he commanded.  From the table

-beside him he took up a square reading glass, and

-deciphered the typewritten paper with faded grey eyes.

-"This," he vouchsafed, raising his eyes, "is from my old,

-good friend, General Whiston."  He paused a moment,

-and John seized the opportunity to intervene, "May I

-say a word, sir?"

-

-"No," thundered Treves.  Then he read aloud in a

-voice vibrant with emotion:

-

-.. vspace:: 2

-

-"*My dear Treves,—Your boy had every chance....  It

-was the merest fluke in the world that he escaped as

-easily as he did.  He is not of the right stuff, and my

-condolences are with you.  I wish I could suggest

-something, but I cannot.  I know, old friend, what a tragedy

-this must be to you——*"

-

-.. vspace:: 2

-

-The Colonel stopped abruptly, flung down his reading

-glass, and looked into Manton's face.  "Well?" he

-demanded.  "What do you think of that?"

-

-Manton said nothing.

-

-"Can you read between the lines?" questioned the

-elder man.

-

-"It suggests," said John, after a moment's hesitation,

-"that the punishment meted out to—to me, was a light one."

-

-"I see you are as evasive as ever," retorted Colonel

-Treves.  He turned and smote the open letter twice with

-the back of his hand.  "In this letter, General Whiston,"

-he measured his words slowly, "tells me, by implication,

-that you are guilty of cowardice in the face of the

-enemy—you, a Treves!" Then in a moment the anger that

-had vivified him seemed to fade; he appeared to Manton

-to become suddenly old, bowed, and pitiful, the expression

-on his face was one of anguish.  The dishonour that had

-befallen his name was no less than torture to him, but

-once again he recovered himself, and gripped the arms of

-his chair with both white-knuckled hands.

-

-"You know the just punishment for cowardice in the

-face of the enemy?"  He was leaning towards Manton

-now; his mouth twitched, but there was a blaze in the

-old grey eyes.

-

-"I know it, sir," said John quietly.

-

-The Colonel drew in his breath slowly and sat erect.

-

-"Ah, you know.  And, having escaped that punishment,

-and knowing yourself to be guilty, you skulk in

-hiding!  You fail to seize the one chance that is open to

-you to redeem the past!"

-

-"What is the chance?" inquired Manton, forgetting

-himself for a moment.

-

-The Colonel stared at him in astonishment.

-

-"The chance of re-enlistment, of course.  Instead of

-doing that," he went on, "you write me a whining letter,

-saying you can't stand the trenches, you can't face it,

-your nerves—bah! nerves, my God, and you a Treves!"  He

-hurled these words forth with a contempt and loathing

-that was like a blow in the face.  But Manton noticed

-that he was breathing heavily.  The emotional intensity

-of his feelings was wearing on him, and the younger man

-felt a sudden tenderness towards this old, stricken, bitterly

-disappointed father.

-

-"Is it too late now, sir?" he asked quietly.

-

-"Eh?"

-

-"Is it too late for me to make good?"

-

-"Talk!" exclaimed the Colonel, in bitter derision;

-"always talk with you.  You don't mean that any more

-than you meant any of the lying promises you made to

-me in the past.  You have always been a liar!  A liar, a

-spendthrift, and a fool—and now, added to all these

-things, to your gambling and your profligacy, you've

-finished as a——"

-

-He paused, and Manton ventured:

-

-"In regard to a way out, sir?"

-

-The Colonel looked at him with renewed ferocity, then

-his expression slowly changed.  For some seconds he was

-silent, and, without a glance at Manton, he began to

-fumble at a drawer.  He drew it open at length, and

-groped in its interior.  His hand shook visibly, but there

-was something in his attitude, some strange intensity of

-purpose, that riveted Manton's attention.  Presently

-the Colonel discovered the object he sought, and revealed

-from the depths of the drawer an automatic pistol.

-

-"If you have a shred of honour left you will know

-what to do," he said grimly.  He reached out, and laid

-the weapon on the corner of the desk at the young man's

-side.

-

-

-

-

-

-.. vspace:: 4

-

-.. _`CHAPTER IV`:

-

-.. class:: center large

-

-   CHAPTER IV

-

-.. vspace:: 2

-

-Then Colonel Treves rose slowly to his feet, took up his

-stick, and moved towards the door of the room.  With

-his hand on the door knob, he pointed his stick at the

-weapon on the table.  Manton had remained motionless;

-utterly at a loss.  Now the old soldier's meaning gradually

-revealed itself.

-

-"You want me to take this and——?"

-

-"And," broke in Colonel Treves, "use it to recover

-such shreds of honour as are left to you."

-

-He drew open the door.

-

-"Thanks," said Manton, taking the pistol from the

-desk.  He slipped the weapon into his hip pocket.  The

-Colonel halted, looking back at him in surprise.

-

-"What are you going to do?"

-

-"I am going to use it," answered John, "if occasion

-arises."

-

-He saw the Colonel hesitate.  Some deep emotion

-seemed to stir within him.  Then with an effort he turned

-swiftly, and was about to hurry from the room.  Manton

-strode towards him.

-

-"There was another way out?" he questioned, rapidly.

-

-"There was, and you failed to take it.  You whined

-that you couldn't face the army again—you, a Treves!

-In the past, before my time and yours," went on the

-Colonel, suddenly violent again, "there have been Treves

-who have been fools and spendthrifts; there may have

-been Treves who kept their honour none too clean—but

-never in our long line has there been a coward until you

-came, until you grew up to be a curse to my existence,

-and made my life a shame to me!"  His lip trembled,

-the old, proud head was held aloft, but a world of

-desolation dwelt in the faded eyes.  On a sudden impulse, John

-gripped him by the hand; he could feel the old man

-resisting him, seeking to free himself.

-

-"I want to make you a promise, sir," he said.  "I am

-going to Ryde the first thing in the morning.  I have a

-friend there who will help me to get back into the army."

-

-The Colonel narrowed his eyes and tried to read the

-expression on his face.

-

-"There is a new ring in your voice, Bernard," he

-said, after a moment's pause, "but I cannot trust you."

-

-He turned and walked away.  John saw him go, using

-his stick for support, and felt a renewed pity for the old,

-broken father.  He spent that night at an inn in Freshwater,

-and took the first train next morning for Ryde.

-Here at the recruiting office he presented himself before

-Captain Gilbert.  This plump and comfortable officer

-was busy at his work when John stepped into the office.

-His shadow fell upon Captain Gilbert's desk, and the elder

-man looked up quickly.

-

-"Great Scott!" he exclaimed.  He stared wide-eyed

-at Manton for a moment, and John broke into a smile.

-

-"I see you mistook me for Treves."

-

-"I did," said Gilbert, leaning forward and looking into

-his face.  "The resemblance is really closer than I

-thought at first.  Well," he said, "you've done your

-part of the bargain splendidly.  You earned the money

-you needed, and you've lifted a great load off the minds of

-several deserving persons, including myself."

-

-"I should like to know how I've done that," said

-Manton.  "It seems to me the only service I have

-rendered has been to myself."

-

-"You forget the battery at Scarthoe Head.  You

-made up the deficiency, and the Colonel's delighted with

-you, Manton."

-

-"Thanks to you—and young Treves—I was able to put

-matters straight there."

-

-"You have probably saved young Treves from going

-utterly to the devil," said Gilbert.  "I'll tell you about

-that later; I'm busy till one o'clock, but come to my

-hotel then and we'll have lunch together."

-

-"But I am here on business myself!" protested

-Manton.  He was feeling cheerful and particularly

-satisfied with the course of events so far.

-

-"What is your particular business?" inquired Gilbert.

-

-"I want to get back into the army."

-

-Gilbert looked at him for a moment.

-

-"Of course—of course," he said hastily.  "I'd

-forgotten that; we will discuss the subject at lunch

-time."

-

-Until lunch time Manton was free to stroll upon the

-pier and consider his situation.  He felt a deep curiosity

-to know what had happened to the man whose clothes he

-was wearing; to Treves, whose money he was jingling

-in his pocket, whose excellent cigarettes he had smoked.

-

-At a quarter to one he threw his cigarette end over the

-rail into the water, and turning, made his way to the

-hotel where Gilbert was staying.  He found the Captain

-already there, busy mixing a salad at a table in the

-corner of a small dining-room.  There were half a

-dozen tables in the room, none of which were as yet

-occupied.

-

-"Sit down, Manton," invited Captain Gilbert, as John

-entered.  "I always mix my own salads.  What will

-you have?  There's the menu."

-

-John chose a dish and accepted his host's invitation to

-divide with him a bottle of Chablis.  During the meal

-Captain Gilbert talked on general matters.  But at

-length the conversation appeared to drift round to the

-subject of Treves.

-

-"Old Treves took you for granted, eh?" asked the Captain.

-

-"His eyesight isn't good," answered John, "but he

-suspected nothing."

-

-"And Gates, the butler?"

-

-"He called me 'Mr. Bernard' the moment he saw me.

-Also, he gave me Treves's letters and a telegram.  I didn't

-read the letters, but the telegram——"  Manton put his

-hand in his inner pocket.  "Perhaps I'd better hand them

-all over to you now."

-

-"Not so fast," Gilbert said, pushing the letters and the

-telegram back across the table towards Manton.  "As a

-matter of fact, I can't hand them to Treves just now, as I

-have persuaded him to go to a nursing home for a time.

-A very good friend of his father's, General Whiston,

-recommended that something of the sort should be done

-with him months ago."

-

-"Treves did not give me the impression of being

-actually ill," Manton observed.

-

-"He wasn't, but his nerves were all to rags.  He was

-in such a state of acute neurasthenia that I expected him

-to lay hands on himself any minute.  Anyway, where he

-is he will be safe for a while; he will be out of his father's

-way and the discipline of this particular nursing home

-may pull him together."

-

-John lit a cigarette and smoked thoughtfully.  There

-was evidently something on Gilbert's mind, something of

-which he wished to unburden himself.  John waited,

-and at last the elder man broke the silence again:

-

-"Manton," he said earnestly, "I want you to do me a

-particular favour."

-

-John inquired the nature of the favour.

-

-"I want you," went on the Captain, "to sustain

-Treves's personality for a little longer.  He is in good

-hands in the nursing home, and for the time being has

-vanished from the public gaze."  Gilbert paused, and

-again appeared to hesitate.  What he had to say was

-very difficult to frame in words.  He wished to hint at

-something that was the merest suspicion in his own mind.

-Two or three times he was on the verge of putting his

-thoughts into words, and each time the effort appeared too

-much for his gift of expression.  Finally he leaned back

-in his chair.  "Manton," he said, "I cannot tell you

-all I think and suspect, but I will give you such

-confidences as I can."

-

-He paused for a moment, then went on: "Since Treves

-came back from France, he appears to have got into the

-hands of undesirable company.  One of his rooted ideas,

-possibly the result of his drug habit, is that some one is

-watching him, and that, for some reason or other, his life

-is in danger."

-

-John listened quietly; then, when the other had

-finished, he observed seriously: "So far as I see it, you

-want me to continue my impersonation of Treves until he

-is cured and comes out of the nursing home."

-

-"That is it, exactly," said Gilbert.

-

-"You are putting a good deal of trust in me," answered

-John.

-

-At that Gilbert stretched out his hand and gripped

-John's fingers heartily.

-

-"Manton," he said, "you and I are in this together for

-the good of the Cause.  Not only for Treves and the old

-Colonel, but perhaps for bigger issues."

-

-"I don't get your meaning," said John.

-

-"Don't ask it, trust me as I trust you.  And now to get

-back to the matter in hand," he said, resuming his

-ordinary tone.  "Perhaps it would be worth your while

-to open those two letters."

-

-As John obediently tore open the envelopes and read

-the contents of the letters, Gilbert called the waiter and

-paid for the two lunches.  One of the letters was a

-typewritten screed from a quack doctor in which he claimed to

-cure any victim of the drug habit within the space of three

-months.  John experienced a real feeling of pity for

-Treves as he read the quack's fraudulent promises.  The

-second letter contained two lines only on a single sheet

-of paper with the printed heading: "208, St. George's

-Square, S.W."  The letter ran:

-

-.. vspace:: 2

-

-"*Dear Treves,—I must see you at once.  You understand;

-it is essential that you should come to me without

-delay.  To-morrow night at nine o'clock I shall expect

-you.—Yours,* G. MANNERS."

-

-.. vspace:: 2

-

-Manton handed both letters to Gilbert, who studied

-them carefully.

-

-"I haven't a notion who G. Manners is," mused the

-Captain when he had read the letter through a second

-time, "but he may be one of the friends Treves ought to

-get rid of, and for that reason I should advise you to call

-on him to-morrow."

-

-Manton was thoughtful for a moment.

-

-"What if he discusses matters I know nothing about?

-Treves's past life is a blank to me:"

-

-"Come," said Gilbert, touching him lightly on the arm,

-"you are playing a part; you are not such a fool as not

-to play it well.  I admit there are certain little precautions

-you may find it wise to take.  In the first place, you

-might have a go at copying Treves's degenerate

-handwriting.  You might also keep in mind that Treves is

-over-strung, lacking in will-power, and so much a victim

-of the cocaine habit that he would do anything, short of

-murder, to get the drug when the craving is upon him.

-As to Treves's past life, it seems to me that a victim of the

-drug habit can be afflicted with convenient lapses of

-memory when occasion arises."

-

-Manton glanced at the Captain's pleasant, fat face, and

-the thought crossed his mind that there was a good deal

-more cleverness behind Gilbert's amiable exterior than he

-had at first realised.  He forthwith decided to go to

-town that night.  London always held a vivid attraction

-for him, and he had not had the pleasure of visiting it

-since his journey through its streets in an ambulance

-on his return from France.  Some weeks in hospital had

-followed that visit, then had come his transference to

-the R.G.A. at Scarthoe Head.  And now, with returned

-health and in new, strange and portentous circumstances,

-he was to visit London again.

-

-Mr. Manners, the mysterious, imperative writer of the

-letter, had demanded to see Treves at nine o'clock.  The

-hour of John's arrival was eight, and he was in a hurry.

-He was impatient to plunge into whatever adventure

-awaited him.  Without bothering to engage a room for

-the night, he deposited his bag in the cloak-room at

-Waterloo Station, and set out to find St. George's Square.

-He arrived at the corner of the square, the Embankment

-corner, at precisely eight-thirty.  The square's decorous,

-solemn-looking houses with heavy pillared porticoes

-struck him as gloomy in the extreme.  The only

-individual upon the long strip of pavement which ran the

-length of the west side of the square was himself.  His

-footfalls appeared to echo with inordinate resonance in

-the areas as he made his way towards Number 208.

-

-It was not his intention to ring the bell immediately.

-In the first place he wanted to reconnoitre the house, to

-see if it were possible to judge of the house's occupants

-by its exterior.  This thought occupied his mind, when a

-taxi sped into the square and drew to a halt within

-half a dozen yards of him.  The taxi had stopped behind

-him, and its occupant had alighted.

-

-"That's all right; half an hour," said a curt voice in

-a cultured accent.

-

-The chauffeur nodded, and slammed the taxi door.

-The young man who had alighted hurried forward,

-passed John, and continued down the square.  Without

-paying over especial attention, John noticed that he was

-tall, that he wore a morning coat of distinguished cut,

-that his light grey felt hat was of expensive quality, and

-that the pearl in his tie-pin was also, if genuine, of

-exceptional value.  He was of John's height and age,

-fair-haired, blue-eyed, and with a slight tooth-brush

-moustache.  His features were large and heavy-boned,

-without being harsh.  Two things John noticed as he

-hurried past; one was that he carried a silk-lined light

-overcoat over his arm, and the other that he wore a

-"service rendered" badge on the lapel of his coat.

-

-"Invalided from the army," thought John.  "All the

-same, he doesn't look as if there was much the matter with

-him."

-

-John continued to walk until he reached the corner of

-the square, then he turned, and as he did so he saw the

-tall young man flit up the steps of a house a considerable

-distance away.  John fixed his eyes on the portico of

-this particular house and walked towards it.  And as he

-neared the door he realised that the young man had

-entered the very house at which he also had an

-appointment—Number 208.  For a moment Manton paused,

-hesitated, then passed on.  Before making the plunge into

-whatever adventure awaited him, he wanted still further

-to consider the situation.

-

-In the meantime the stranger, who had alighted from

-the taxi, was now within the hall of Mr. Manners's

-residence.  He had opened the door with a Yale key

-and had admitted himself.  The hall was narrow and

-somewhat dark, and the young man laid his gold-headed

-cane noisily on a little table, and began to draw off his

-grey gloves.  A door at the back of the house opened

-noiselessly, and a sombre-faced, sallow-complexioned

-butler advanced.

-

-"Mr. Manners is in, of course?" demanded the young

-man in a voice that rasped a little.

-

-"Yes, Herr Baron, in the library."

-

-The visitor nodded curtly, ran swiftly up the stairs,

-turned to the left, and opened a door on the first landing.

-He entered a room where the curtains had already been

-drawn.  Two electric chandeliers, one on either side of

-the hearth, illuminated the apartment.  A large bookcase

-occupied one wall of the room, and in the middle of

-the floor was a business-like table, scattered with papers.

-On the table was a green-shaded reading lamp, and by

-its illumination a man sat at work busily writing.  He

-looked up as the stranger entered, then sprang quickly

-to his feet.  He was a tall man of fifty, uncomfortably

-stout, with a fleshy neck that protruded over his collar

-at the back.  The big man's iron-grey hair was short,

-his nose broad and short, and his lips thick and pouting.

-Despite his inelegance of figure, he was dressed, with an

-attempt at smartness, in a well-cut frock coat and

-newly-creased trousers.  His heavy eyebrows shielded his eyes,

-hiding his expression from any but the closest scrutiny.

-For a man of his excessive bulk he showed extreme

-activity on his feet.

-

-"I didn't expect you to-night," he said.  He placed

-a chair near the desk for the younger man to seat himself.

-

-His visitor, however, stood still and fixed him with a

-direct, cold stare.

-

-"Well, Manners," he demanded, "what have you to

-say for yourself?"

-

-Manners shrugged his heavy shoulders, and displayed

-the palms of his hands.

-

-"Nothing, Herr Baron," he said, "except that I have

-done my best.  Won't you sit down?"

-

-The young man took a cigarette from his case, and

-lit it.

-

-"Your best is damned bad!" he said.

-

-"I exercised such judgment as I have," returned the

-other, in a tone of abasement.

-

-"Judgment alone is of no avail," retorted the other.

-"What we want is aggressive action.  We don't get that

-from you—you talk, and think, and scheme——"

-

-The other ventured a faint note of protest.

-

-"I was chosen, Herr Baron——"

-

-"I don't want to hear your history," returned the

-younger man, coldly.  "I want to know about this

-expedition that is being prepared by the Eastern

-Command, that has been under preparation for the past six

-weeks."

-

-"I gave you such figures, Herr Baron, as I was able to

-collect."

-

-The young man crossed to the hearth and stood leaning

-with his back against the mantelshelf.

-

-"Doesn't it occur to you," he demanded, after a

-moment's silence, "that figures are only a detail?

-Figures are something any fool could gather.  What

-Berlin wants to know is, what is this expedition's

-objective, where is it bound for, also what port it sails from,

-and when?"

-

-The elder German—Gottfried Manwitz by name,

-though he figured in the London directory as Godfrey

-Manners—turned nervously towards his desk and began

-to search among the papers.  An expression of relief

-crossed his face as he took up a particular sheet of

-paper.

-

-"That is the date, Herr Baron," he said, "when the

-expedition will sail, and also the place of departure."

-

-The young man took the sheet, scrutinised it with

-frowning brows for a moment, then lifted his eyes and

-looked into Manwitz's fat face with cold, contemptuous

-gaze.

-

-"Excellent!" he said, cuttingly; "wonderful and

-utterly useless!  You provide Headquarters with all

-this detail, and fail to give the one vital, useful

-piece of information—the sole item that Headquarters

-requires."

-

-"It is very difficult, Herr Baron," apologised Manners.

-

-"You and I, Manwitz," retorted the younger man,

-"are retained in London for the sole purpose of

-overcoming difficulties."  He paused a moment, and

-looked complacently for the first time in the elder man's

-face.  "For instance, I myself have overcome quite a

-number of difficulties."

-

-"Indeed, that is true, Herr Baron," conceded Manners.

-

-"I expect you to do the same.  Since you let the

-*Inflexible* and the *Invincible* vanish to the Falkland

-Islands without any one of us being aware of the fact,

-Berlin doesn't think so highly of your attainments as

-before the war.  For my part," he went on, "I find you

-too much of a dreamer."  He paused; some one had

-knocked lightly on the door of the room.  "Open it,

-Manwitz!" he commanded.

-

-The big man crossed lightly to the door and drew it

-open.  Upon the threshold stood the sombre-countenanced

-butler.  The tall young man from the hearth called aloud

-to him:

-

-"Well, Conrad, what is it?"

-

-"Mr. Treves, Herr Baron, to see Herr Manners."

-

-"Thank you, Conrad," said Manners.  He closed the

-door and turned to his superior.

-

-"This is one of my instruments, Herr Baron, arrived

-to-night from the Isle of Wight.  You approved of him

-when I gave you his *dossier* a month ago."

-

-"He is the British officer who was cashiered," returned

-the other, swiftly.  "Takes drugs, and generally gone to

-pieces?"

-

-"The same, Herr Baron."

-

-"Is he quite"—he paused—"er, quite amenable to

-your orders?"

-

-"I flatter myself that I can do a good deal with him,"

-Manwitz answered, with pride.  "He comes here for

-cocaine, but he is of good English stock, and there are

-moments when he tries to shake himself free of me.  For

-the last three weeks, as a matter of fact, he has

-disappeared entirely.  I had great difficulty, Herr Baron,

-rediscovering his hiding place."

-

-"I don't like that!" returned the Baron.  "How do

-you know what he has been up to in the meantime?"

-

-He was silent for a minute; then he looked with his cold,

-pale eyes into his elder's face.  "Manwitz!" he exclaimed

-suddenly, "this may be the man for our business!"

-

-For the first time a flicker of triumph lit in Manners's

-eyes.  He went to his desk, unlocked a drawer, and

-produced a single sheet of notepaper.  "This is a letter in

-his own writing, Herr Baron, signed by himself.  I think

-it is satisfactory, eh?"

-

-The younger man took the sheet and fixed his keen

-eyes upon it.

-

-.. vspace:: 2

-

-"*My dear Friend,*" ran the note, "*the s.s. 'Polidor'

-is due to leave H—— at four o'clock to-morrow, Tuesday

-afternoon.  I had this on absolute authority; you can

-rely on it.*"

-

-.. vspace:: 2

-

-The tall, fair-haired man came to the end of the brief

-note, and his hard mouth tightened; then he read the

-postscript: "*Don't forget the tabloids!*"

-

-He looked up slowly, and fixed his keen gaze upon

-Manwitz's apoplectic countenance.  Baron Rathenau, who

-had taken his degree at Oxford, who spoke English like

-an English gentleman, and possessed, on the surface, the

-manners of an English gentleman, was quite five years

-older than he looked.  His brain was subtle and keen,

-and in the service of the Fatherland he was hard and

-ruthless as steel.

-

-"You have done not so badly here, Manwitz,"

-conceded the Baron.  "This letter alone"—he folded

-Treves's note carefully—"this letter alone would bring

-our young friend, Lieutenant Treves, into the presence of

-a firing party within forty-eight hours."  He paused a

-moment.  "Our English enemies," he went on, "are

-unpleasantly hasty in regard to spies.  But when it

-comes to traitors, the celerity with which they put a man

-face to the wall in their Tower of London, it is marvellous!"

-

-He had folded the note carefully, and lifting his light

-fawn coat, he slipped Treves's note into the inner pocket,

-then he flung the coat back again on the chair.

-

-"I'll see our young neurasthenic friend at once," he

-said.  "You will leave him to me, Manwitz."  He

-turned and pressed the bell twice.  When the footman

-presently appeared at the door, Baron Rathenau was

-standing with his back to the mantelshelf, toying with a

-cigarette.

-

-"Bring up Mr. Treves, Conrad," he said, briefly.

-

-

-

-

-

-.. vspace:: 4

-

-.. _`CHAPTER V`:

-

-.. class:: center large

-

-   CHAPTER V

-

-.. vspace:: 2

-

-"Do I introduce you as Captain Cherriton, Herr

-Baron?" asked Manwitz, when Conrad had closed the

-door and departed.

-

-"Yes," said the Baron.  "I find the name of the

-poor, dead Captain Cherriton an excellent recommendation

-in even the best of homes."  He smiled his somewhat

-derisive smile.

-

-A moment later the door opened and John Manton

-stepped into the room.  Manners rose and held out his

-hand.

-

-"My dear Treves," he said, "you have been away

-from me a very long time."  He was thinking to himself

-that Treves carried himself a little better than usual;

-his gaze was more direct, his handgrip firmer.  However,

-there was no suspicion in his eyes as he turned towards

-the younger man at the hearth.

-

-"Captain Cherriton," he said, "this is a young friend

-of mine, Mr. Treves."

-

-For a moment Rathenau's light blue eyes widened,

-and then narrowed.

-

-"We've met before, Mr. Treves?"

-

-"In the square, half an hour ago.  I saw you come in."

-

-"Oh, yes, yes," returned the Baron.  "My good

-friend, Mr. Manners, has been telling me about you."

-

-"I hope he had something complimentary to say,"

-smiled John Manton.  He was thinking to himself:

-"There is no doubt at all in my mind that this big, fat

-man, Mr. Manners, is a German.  His finger nails are

-cut neatly to a point."  John recalled the habit of the

-Germans he had met at Feldkirch, of the masters of

-his school, who had trimmed their nails in that

-particular fashion.  Rather a Chinese fashion, John thought.

-His eyes travelled from the fat man's face and took

-in the younger man's hard countenance.  He was

-recalling something he had read of Captain Cherriton.

-

-"I think I remember reading something about you,

-Captain Cherriton," he ventured.

-

-"You mean my escape from the British officers'

-prison camp at Celle," replied the German, easily.

-

-"Yes," returned John, "that was it.  You had rather

-an adventurous time getting across the frontier."

-

-"I had a pretty hot time," laughed Cherriton.

-

-The conversation between the three became general

-after this, and presently Cherriton invited John to

-accompany him to his hotel in the Strand.

-

-"Come along and have a drink and a smoke with me.

-I should much like to have a chat with you, Treves."

-

-John considered the proposal for a moment, and then

-decided to go.  He bade good night to Manners, and as

-he shook hands with the big man, a little phial of white

-tabloids passed from Manners's palm to his own.  For a

-minute John felt inclined to ask a question, but caution

-saved him.  He slipped the little cocaine tablets into

-his waistcoat pocket, thanked Manners under his breath,

-and followed Cherriton, who had taken up his light

-overcoat, and was moving towards the door.

-

-It was quite dark in the square when they emerged,

-and in the distance, near the river, a taxi was moving

-slowly.

-

-"That is my vehicle," remarked Cherriton, standing

-under the light of a shaded lamp, so that the distant

-taxi-man could observe them.  A minute later the taxi

-drew to a halt.  John stepped inside, and Cherriton

-followed him.

-

-As the taxi door closed, a man, who had been standing

-in the darkness against the rails of the square opposite

-stepped out into the road and signalled with his arm.

-At that moment John was leaning back in the taxi,

-giving himself up to thoughts of the swift events of the

-last half-hour.  Who was this Captain Cherriton, who

-appeared to have taken such a fancy to him?  Was it

-possible——?  His thoughts received a jolt.

-

-"Hey, stop!" a loud voice from the road echoed in

-his ears.  John was projected forward almost upon his

-face.  The vehicle came to a sudden halt; the door of

-the taxi was flung open; two men appeared in the

-aperture, and a heavy hand fell upon John's shoulder.

-He glanced at his companion, and saw that, from the

-other side, intruders were also laying heavy hands upon

-him.  With a mighty wrench of his shoulder John

-snatched himself free.  Scarcely knowing what had

-happened, he attempted to dash after his companion,

-who had been dragged out into the road.  He was

-ignominiously pulled back by the leg.  He heard a voice

-shouting:

-

-"Don't bother about the other one—this is our man!"

-

-Then, in a confusion of gripping hands, John was

-flung back on the seat of the taxi; a voice spoke firmly

-in his ear:

-

-"You'll keep quiet, young man, or it will be the worse

-for you!"

-

-John saw Captain Cherriton flitting like a shadow

-along the road and out of the square.  He looked at the

-person who was seated beside him in the taxi, and was

-surprised to find a big, typical police officer in plain

-clothes.  Opposite John two other officers, who had

-crowded into the vehicle, were seated, looking at him

-with steady, interested gaze.

-

-"Your name's Treves?" demanded one of the men.

-

-"What of it?" returned John.

-

-"It's all I want to know," answered the man, coldly.

-

-As the taxi glided along John strove to gather his

-scattered wits, but it was not until a plain,

-quietly-furnished room had been achieved in Scotland Yard,

-that any light broke in upon his senses.  He found

-himself confronted by a tall, grey-moustached man in

-civilian clothes.  The man was standing beside a table,

-and beside him stood a distinguished-looking staff

-officer.

-

-As John entered the room, in charge of two detectives,

-his senses were still in a whirl from the swiftness of his

-adventure.  The grey-moustached man, whom the detectives

-addressed as "Sir Robert," rose from his chair and

-looked at him with stern, brooding eyes; then his gaze

-turned to one of John's captors, who had entered the

-room and was holding Baron Rathenau's overcoat on his arm.

-

-"Have you his papers?" he demanded.

-

-"That is not my overcoat," intervened John.

-

-"Silence," commanded Sir Robert.

-

-The detective went through the pockets of the overcoat.

-He found a small time-table, two or three paid

-restaurant bills, and finally the letter Treves had written

-to Manners.  The grey-moustached police commissioner

-took these articles, and laid them on the blotting-pad

-before him.  Then, at a brief command, a second detective

-stepped forward and searched John's pockets, taking

-out the two letters that had been addressed to Treves

-and the telegram signed "Elaine."  These also were

-laid upon the desk.  The staff officer and Sir Robert

-read them carefully.  When the officer, whom John

-observed to be a general of staff, read Treves's incriminating

-letter to Manners, he drew in his breath and whistled.

-

-"My God!" he exclaimed.

-

-The grey-moustached man took the letter from his

-fingers, read it, then held it forth towards John.  His

-tone was utterly aloof, cold, and forbidding.

-

-"It was unfortunate, Treves," he said, "that you

-should carry this letter in your pocket.  For this, added

-to the information we have gathered about you during

-the past three months, condemns you absolutely."  He

-paused a moment, then went on.  "I can only say," he

-added ruthlessly, "that I thank God we have been able

-to lay our hands on you."

-

-It was only in that moment that John for the first

-time realised the appalling danger that was sweeping

-upon him.

-

-"I would like to make some explanation, sir."

-

-"Your correspondence," retorted Sir Robert, with

-sinister meaning, "has made all the explanation we

-require!  General Whiston here is quite satisfied, and so

-am I."

-

-General Whiston, who had been looking fixedly at

-John, now passed round the table and walked towards

-him.  He was a tall, bronzed man, with a clipped

-moustache, and a wide, strong mouth.  John had recognised

-his name in a moment.  He was Colonel Treves's old

-friend.

-

-"Bernard Treves," said General Whiston, "you have

-broken your father's heart already; you must now

-make your peace with God.  There is only one thing

-left for me to do for my old and dear friend, and I intend

-to do it—he shall never learn that his son died as a

-traitor to his country.  Even now," he went on, "though

-I have had you watched for three months, I can still

-scarcely credit it, you—a Treves!"

-

-He glanced towards the door.  John felt a heavy

-hand fall upon his shoulder from behind.

-

-"This way, please," said a polite voice in his ear.

-

-As the detective's voice sounded in his ear and the

-detective's hand fell on his shoulder, John's scurrying

-senses seemed to gather themselves together.  He became

-calm in presence of the greatest danger his life had ever

-known.  When next he spoke his voice was steady, and

-his manner, despite its deep gravity, portrayed not the

-slightest trace of nervousness.

-

-"Sir," he said, "may I speak merely one or two

-words before I am removed?"  He looked into the

-bronzed countenance of Colonel Treves's old friend.

-There was no pity for him on that strong, handsome face.

-In General Whiston's eyes he had been guilty of the

-blackest of all crimes.  The General answered in his

-deep-toned voice of authority.

-

-"You will be permitted to make a statement, but not now."

-

-"I have a very important declaration to make, sir."

-

-Sir Robert, who was still scrutinising the incriminating

-letter that had been taken from Rathenau's overcoat,

-looked up now, then rapidly pencilled a few words on a

-slip of paper which he handed to Whiston.  The General

-read the slip.

-

-"Yes, perhaps so," he said; "I agree with you, time

-is everything."

-

-Sir Robert looked into John's face.

-

-"Are you prepared," he went on, "to give us the

-name of the person to whom this letter was written?"  He

-lifted Treves's incriminating missive and held it for

-John's inspection.  John had already been permitted to

-read the letter, though not to hold it in his hand.

-

-"Certainly," answered Manton.

-

-A slight flicker of surprise lit in Sir Robert's eyes.

-

-"His name," answered John, "is either Manners, or

-Cherriton."

-

-Sir Robert laid down the letter with an impatient

-gesture.

-

-"That is no answer to my question.  You wrote the

-letter yourself.  To whom did you write it?"

-

-"I didn't write it!"

-

-"You suggest that it is a forgery?"

-

-"Either you wrote the letter or you didn't write it,"

-pursued Sir Robert.  "Your statements contradict each

-other.  You say, in the first place, that you did not

-write it.  In the second place, you say it is not a

-forgery."

-

-General Whiston now spoke, his stern gaze on John's

-face.

-

-"This letter," he said, glancing towards the sheet,

-"is in your own writing, which I happen to know very

-well.  Your attempt at mystification," he went on, "will

-be of no avail, either now or later."

-

-John felt in his tones intense antagonism.

-

-"If I might be permitted to speak to you gentlemen

-alone," he said, "I will in three minutes explain the

-mystery."

-

-General Whiston glanced at the Commissioner of

-Police.

-

-"It is for you to say, Sir Robert," he said.  "To-night

-the affair is in your hands."

-

-Sir Robert pondered the subject for a moment, then

-glanced at the detectives who stood behind John; with

-his hand he made a slow, significant gesture.  John, who

-was standing at attention before the table, heard the

-detectives move away, and a moment later the door

-softly closed behind them.

-

-He was alone with the Commissioner of Police and the

-General.

-

-On his accusers' faces John read a stern and

-determined intention that the law should take its course,

-not the tortuous, long-drawn old law of pre-war days,

-but the swift justice which is meted out to traitors.

-

-"You shall have three minutes in which to speak!"  Sir

-Robert's voice smote John's ears.

-

-Manton knew that if he held his peace and the law

-moved with its inexorable swiftness, he would by

-to-morrow have expiated the crime of another man.  He

-was in another man's shoes.  Innocently, he had taken

-up that other man's identity.

-

-But he had not shouldered everything, he had not

-rendered himself liable for that other man's treachery.

-And yet, at the back of his mind, there was pity, even

-for Treves.  He thought of the man's weakness, of his

-shattered nerves, of Manners's obvious power over him.

-Perhaps, even in uttering the truth to these two stern

-judges, he might put in a good word for Treves.

-

-"The statement I have to make, gentlemen, is an

-amazing one."

-

-"It will also have to be a brief one," retorted Sir

-Robert coldly.

-

-"Well, out with it," interposed General Whiston.

-

-John turned towards him.

-

-"I wish to say, sir, that I am not Bernard Treves!"

-

-A flash of anger lit in General Whiston's eyes.

-

-"You say that, despite the fact that I am prepared to

-identify you as Bernard Treves."

-

-"My statement," returned John, "is, I admit, an

-amazing one.  Nevertheless, it is a fact, gentlemen.  My

-name is Manton."

-

-The Commissioner of Police pulled at his moustache.

-

-"A statement of this kind," he said, "is ridiculous

-in presence of General Whiston, who knows you and

-recognises your handwriting in this letter."  He leaned

-back in his chair and struck the letters that had been

-taken from John's pocket with the back of his hand.

-"These letters, taken from your person, this telegram

-addressed to you, and this letter conveying information

-to the enemy, are sufficient in themselves to identify you."

-

-"There is nothing you wish to say, General?" asked

-Sir Robert of Whiston.

-

-The General shook his head, and Sir Robert put his

-thumb on the bell-push at the corner of his desk.

-

-John heard the whirr of a bell in the room beyond.

-

-"I am prepared, sir," he said hurriedly, "to prove

-every word I say.  My name is Manton, and I undertook

-to assume Treves's identity merely to please a friend who

-wished to help him."

-

-"You are ready to give us the name of your friend,

-of course?" interposed General Whiston.  He had been

-utterly unmoved by this statement of John's.

-

-"His name is Gilbert, sir; Captain Gilbert, of Ryde,

-Isle of Wight."

-

-General Whiston answered nothing; there was no

-softening in the harshness of his expression.  For a

-moment he was silent.  Then, with a glance at Sir

-Robert, he moved towards the door.

-

-"Just a few minutes, Sir Robert," he said.  "This is a

-matter easy of proof."

-

-He passed out of the room.  At the door, as he

-drew it open, John heard him speaking to two men

-outside.

-

-"Sir Robert will be ready for you in five minutes," he

-was saying.

-

-The door closed.

-

-Sir Robert tapped his fingers upon the surface of his

-desk.

-

-"You wish to affirm that Captain Gilbert is prepared

-to prove the truth of your statement?"

-

-"I am sure he will be prepared to prove that my name

-is Manton," answered John.

-

-In his long experience Sir Robert had come across

-many singular and dramatic events.  The great police

-force of which he was the chief was dealing always in

-drama.  In his experience he had interviewed every

-quality and degree of criminal, from affluent company

-promoters downward.

-

-John's bearing and manner struck him as nothing

-unusual.  John's statement that his was a case of

-mistaken identity, that Scotland Yard had for once made

-a mistake, meant nothing to the Police Commissioner.

-Such a statement was one of the commonest in his

-experience.

-

-He felt no sympathy for John, and believing explicitly

-in his guilt, was determined to listen no further.  He

-leaned forward and began to make rapid notes upon the

-writing pad.

-

-Manton, in the meantime, stood motionless beyond

-the desk.  Save for the movement of Sir Robert's pen,

-and the tick of a small travelling clock on Sir Robert's

-desk, no sound disturbed the heavy silence.  Despite his

-calmness, John felt the tension grow upon him; the

-waiting seemed to draw itself out.  He glanced at the

-clock, and observed that it was only a little after ten.

-

-The whirl of events that night sped through his mind

-in rapid panorama, but of one thing he was certain—Manners

-and Captain Cherriton were either spies or

-traitors, and Scotland Yard in laying hands upon him,

-and allowing Cherriton to go, had made a mistake.

-

-He had already guessed that General Whiston had

-gone to telephone Captain Gilbert.  He recalled now the

-letter General Whiston had written to old Colonel Treves.

-The letter which said that he had done for Bernard

-Treves everything that was possible.

-

-His mind then turned again to Gilbert.  He wondered

-what the Captain would do when he heard of the

-extraordinary outcome of his visit to St. George's Square.

-He had gone there at Gilbert's own suggestion.  He felt

-that the situation for himself at that moment was delicate

-in the extreme.  But it was not yet fatal.  A miscarriage

-of justice was impossible if Gilbert spoke up, as no doubt

-he would do.  He knew that all Gilbert's sympathy for

-Bernard Treves would vanish the moment he heard to

-what depths that young man had descended.  He recalled

-what Gilbert had said:

-

-"Treves is afraid.  He imagines that some one is

-watching him."

-

-Then it suddenly occurred to John that at the back

-of Treves's mind there had been a subtle idea against

-himself.  Treves had desired that he, John, should step

-into his guilty shoes and should not only wear those

-shoes, but should suffer for his crime.

-

-"I stepped into far deeper water than I knew," mused

-John, and as the thought passed through his mind, the

-door opened and General Whiston re-entered.

-

-The General walked behind John, then turned and

-looked keenly into his face.

-

-"Treves," he said, "you will be examined again in

-the morning."

-

-Sir Robert's finger was suspended over the bell upon

-his desk.  In answer to his inquiring glance, General

-Whiston nodded.

-

-Again John felt a man's hand laid on his shoulder,

-and for the second time a voice uttering polite words:

-

-"This way, please!"

-

-This time, however, there was no pause; he was led

-out into the corridor, with a tall, heavily-built man at

-his side and another walking behind him.

-

-The door of Sir Robert's room closed with a soft click.

-

-

-

-

-

-.. vspace:: 4

-

-.. _`CHAPTER VI`:

-

-.. class:: center large

-

-   CHAPTER VI

-

-.. vspace:: 2

-

-The moment the door closed upon John, General Whiston

-flung himself into a chair beside Sir Robert's table.

-There was an expression on his face that puzzled the

-Police Commissioner.

-

-"Well, Sir Robert," began the General, "it is an

-amazing thing, but Captain Gilbert corroborates our

-prisoner's statements entirely."

-

-Sir Robert flashed a glance at the incriminating letters

-on the table.

-

-"That's impossible!"

-

-"Nevertheless, Gilbert, who is a very sound officer,

-corroborates every word this young man has said.  I

-have ordered Gilbert to present himself here first thing

-in the morning."

-

-Sir Robert was staring in utter bewilderment.

-

-"You mean we have got the wrong man?"

-

-"I don't know," answered the General, impatiently;

-"the thing is beyond my capacity.  I've known this

-young blackguard for years.  Only slightly, of course,

-but I would have sworn to him anywhere.  Gilbert,

-however, tells me an extraordinary story.  He says our

-prisoner is a thoroughly honest fellow, by the name of

-Manton.  He gave me a minute history of the man, who

-was formerly at Scarthoe Head.  I have ordered the

-adjutant from Scarthoe to report himself here to-morrow.

-We can then get to the bottom of this extraordinary

-tangle."

-

-"But," protested Sir Robert, "these letters must be

-explained; and you have had this man watched for

-months."

-

-"Precisely; that complicates matters enormously."

-

-"Was Treves guilty of the crimes laid against him, or

-was this man guilty?" inquired Sir Robert.

-

-The General shook his head in bewilderment.

-

-"Don't ask me; I don't know," he said, "to-morrow

-will settle everything."

-

-The night that followed was the longest that John had

-ever spent.  What if by some awful mischance Captain

-Gilbert disowned him entirely?  However, he could not

-think that of Gilbert.  He was prepared to swear by the

-Captain's honesty.

-

-A police officer called him early next morning.  He

-dressed and was served with a satisfactory breakfast.

-A morning newspaper was brought to him, but at ten

-o'clock he was peremptorily summoned to present

-himself in Sir Robert's room.  Under escort he made

-his way along various passages.  The door was opened

-and he stepped into the room and stood at attention.

-

-Sir Robert was not present.  General Whiston stood

-at the window, and near him was a sleek-looking,

-smooth-haired, clean shaven man in a morning coat, well cut

-trousers and patent leather boots.  John could feel the

-stranger's eyes steadily upon him.

-

-Then Whiston turned from the window.

-

-"Captain Gilbert," he said, "has been here.  He has

-made certain statements on your behalf which are so

-far satisfactory."

-

-A silence fell; the stranger moved to Sir Robert's

-desk, seated himself in Sir Robert's chair, and beckoned

-John to a chair opposite.

-

-Dacent Smith was the head of a great branch of the

-Secret Intelligence Department, but there was no air of

-authority in his manner.

-

-"Sit down, please," he said.  His voice was smooth

-and agreeable.  He glanced at the window, then again

-at John.

-

-"Will you kindly tell me the name of your officer in

-command at Scarthoe Fort?"

-

-John promptly gave him the name.

-

-"How many men were in the fort?"  The quiet

-gentleman, who possessed one of the subtlest brains in

-England, glanced at a slip of paper on his desk.  He was

-putting John through an examination such as many a

-suspected person had failed to survive.

-

-"One hundred and fifty, sir—eighty at the lower fort

-and seventy at the upper, exclusive of officers."

-

-"Can you recollect the calibre of the guns?"

-

-John gave the exact dimensions of the guns at both

-the lower and upper fort.

-

-"Can you possibly recollect," inquired the other,

-"from your books, what store of six-inch ammunition

-there was?"

-

-Fortunately John recollected the number of shells

-exactly.

-

-"I see," commented the cross-examiner.  "But your

-statement doesn't tally with my present knowledge."

-

-"I am speaking of six weeks ago, sir; since then there

-would have been a heavy gun practice," John added

-promptly.

-

-The elder gentleman leaned back in his chair.

-

-"These are all details which a spy would make a

-great point of observing."  He looked steadily into

-John's face, until John became conscious of nothing but

-his keen, grey eyes.  They were kindly eyes, but the

-intensity of his glance was something that John had

-never before experienced.  He looked back frankly into

-the elder man's face.

-

-"I suppose they are, sir," he answered, "but they

-came to me in my ordinary course of work."

-

-"How many fort candles were there in the storeroom?"

-asked the other, casually.

-

-"Eight dozen, sir."

-

-Dacent Smith nodded, as though satisfied.

-

-"We will now come to another matter," he said.

-"You were educated in Germany?"

-

-John admitted the fact.

-

-"Have you been in Germany since your boyhood?"

-

-"Never, sir."

-

-"What is your opinion of Captain Gilbert?"

-

-"I took a great liking to him."

-

-"You trusted him when he asked you to assume

-another man's identity?"

-

-"Absolutely, sir."

-

-"So do I," said Dacent Smith, suddenly changing his

-tone.  "I trust him absolutely.  I will only try your

-patience just one moment longer."  He pushed a clean

-slip of paper towards John.  "Would you mind writing

-on that these three words, 'Deceive,' 'parallel,' and

-'nursery.'  Just scribble them quickly, without care."

-

-John wrote the words and handed them across the

-table.  The elder man took the sheet and immediately

-compared it with Treves's incriminating letter, and a pile

-of other letters in Treves's handwriting, which lay beside

-him.

-

-He glanced up at the General, who stood near the window.

-

-"The handwriting is totally unlike, General.  Moreover,

-our young friend here can spell the words, whereas,

-from letters supplied us by Gilbert, Treves could

-not."  He turned again and looked at John.  Then he broke

-into a smile that John found charming.

-

-"Well, Manton," he said, "you have come through

-the ordeal excellently.  But as a matter of formality

-you must be identified both by Captain Gilbert and

-your adjutant from Scarthoe Head."

-

-"Thank you, sir," answered John.  "I am sorry to

-have caused so much trouble."

-

-"No, not at all," protested the elder man.  "Your

-desire for adventure placed you in a very nasty position.

-But such trouble as you have caused us may yet be

-turned to good account."

-

-John hesitated a moment, then ventured:

-

-"If I may, sir, I would like to make a statement in

-regard to the man Manners, at 208, St. George's Square,

-I am certain he is a spy, sir—a German spy."

-

-"My dear Manton," said Dacent Smith, laying his

-hands on the desk, "we know that already."

-

-"And the other man," continued John, "Cherriton.

-I don't believe he is all he pretends to be."

-

-At the mention of Cherriton the lightness of mood

-vanished from the elder man.

-

-"What name?" he inquired.

-

-"Captain Cherriton, the man with the fair hair, who

-was in the taxi with me.  The police officers allowed him

-to escape."

-

-Beyond the table the great man of the Secret Service

-who had been cross-examining him, eased his spectacles.

-For, without knowing it, John had made a statement

-which aroused all his interest.

-

-"This afternoon, Manton," he said, "you must come

-to my room.  It seems to me," he continued, "you can

-be of very great use to my department."

-

-"What is your department, sir?" asked John politely.

-

-The elder man smiled.

-

-"I think we need not give it a name, Manton.  But

-perhaps you can guess.  Perhaps, indeed, you are

-destined to make further acquaintance with my department

-and with your friend, Mr. Manners."  He paused a moment.

-

-"Captain Gilbert tells me that you wish to rejoin the

-army?"

-

-"That is so, sir," answered John.

-

-"An excellent intention," continued Dacent Smith.

-"But it has occurred to me that there is other work of

-national importance which may suit you better."  He

-glanced at Whiston.  "With General Whiston's aid I

-think we can arrange that you do not appear in uniform

-for some time.  Another thing Captain Gilbert reported

-to me," he went on, quietly, "is that you are a young

-man with a taste for adventure."

-

-John smiled.

-

-Dacent Smith extended his hand in farewell.  "You

-are a free man, Manton.  But I shall expect you to

-come to my rooms at 286, Jermyn Street at three o'clock

-this afternoon."  He gave John a card.  "You will give

-this to my servant at the door."

-

-The card read: "Mr. Dacent Smith, Savile Club"—that

-and nothing more.

-

-.. vspace:: 1

-

-.. class:: center white-space-pre-line

-

-   \*      \*      \*      \*      \*

-

-.. vspace:: 1

-

-At the time when John was undergoing his cross-examination

-at the hands of the great Dacent Smith,

-Manners and Captain Cherriton were seated in a back

-room at a house in Hampstead.  Cherriton, who had

-read half a dozen morning papers, glanced at his companion.

-

-"There is no word in any of them about our friend

-Treves."

-

-"There was scarcely time for an announcement,"

-Manners answered.  "Perhaps it will be in the evening

-papers."

-

-The two men waited till evening, but still the papers

-contained no line about Treves's capture.  Cherriton

-was still not sure on what charge Treves had been arrested.

-If the charge had been an ordinary one, other than

-treason, there would already have been an account of

-some kind.

-

-"We must find out some other way than through the

-papers."

-

-"I have an excellent way of finding out," observed

-Manners.

-

-"Well, put it into execution at once," returned his

-superior.

-

-Manners looked at his watch.

-

-"That way won't do until after six o'clock.  After

-six o'clock, Herr Baron, I will take you into the presence

-of the most beautiful girl in England."

-

-"I do not admire English beauty," answered Rathenau,

-caustically.

-

-Manners lifted his hands.

-

-"Ah, but this one, she is wonderful!"

-

-"How will she know about Treves, any more than we do?"

-

-Manners looked across at him.

-

-"Leave that to me," he said, "I can assure you she

-will know."  He took out his pocket-book and looked

-up an address.  "If we go now," he said, "we shall

-get there a little after six, in time to interview the lady

-on her return from business."

-

-Half an hour later a taxi sped along Kentish Town

-Road and turned into Bowles Avenue, Camden Town.

-The street was a particularly respectable one, with

-windows and doors freshly painted.  Judging from the

-cleanliness of the curtains and the brightness of the

-door handles, the inhabitants of this thoroughfare each

-took a pride in his residence.

-

-The taxi containing Manners and Cherriton drew to

-a halt before the door of No. 65.  Cherriton paid the

-driver and dismissed him.  The two men crossed the

-pavement, and Manners lifted the bright brass knocker.

-Three times Manners knocked.

-

-He was that day attired with particular smartness

-in a grey, soft felt hat, a grey frock-coat, and light fawn

-linen gaiters.  The Baron was wearing a navy-blue suit,

-made for him at the Army and Navy Stores.  He also

-wore a grey felt hat, set well back on his head.  In his

-hip pocket he carried a Mauser pistol, but this was

-always part of his apparel, as it were.  Manners carried

-other little aids to his personal safety.  But upon that

-evening their mission was pacific.  They had only a

-desire to ask a certain lady if she had news of Treves.

-

-Three times Manners applied the knocker; then

-footsteps came rapidly along the passage.  The door

-was opened by a tall, brown-haired girl, wearing a white

-blouse and blue skirt, both of which Cherriton noticed

-were well cut.  The girl's complexion was not pale, yet

-tended towards pallor.  Her cheeks were softly rounded,

-her chin small, yet firm.  Her eyes were grey, frank

-and steady in gaze.  Cherriton, noticing her long, curved

-lashes and finely-arched brows, conceded that here, for

-once, he was looking upon a truly beautiful English

-woman.

-

-"Good evening," Manners was saying.  He had lifted

-his hat with extreme politeness.

-

-"Good evening," responded the girl, looking with

-puzzled eyes from one man to the other.

-

-"You have no doubt forgotten me," Manners spoke

-again, and then a faint recognition came to the girl's

-eyes.

-

-"Oh, not at all," she said.  "Will you come in?"  She

-led the way to a little parlour, a bright little apartment,

-where she lived alone.  She had made it as pretty

-and comfortable as possible with her small means.

-

-The two Germans entered the room, and Manners

-closed the door.  After some preliminary conversation

-he broached the subject of his visit, but artfully and

-cunningly hiding it in a veil of words.

-

-"I have some business, madam," he said, "with"—he

-paused a moment—"with Mr. Treves.  I have lost

-his address; I wonder if you could give it me?"

-

-The girl looked at him a moment; an expression of

-reserve came into her face.

-

-"I am afraid I cannot oblige you," she said.

-

-"You have heard from him lately?"

-

-The girl hesitated a moment, and pushed back the

-fine brown hair from her brow.

-

-"Not lately," she answered.

-

-"You will be seeing him again shortly, no doubt?"

-pursued Manners, smiling amicably.

-

-"I don't know," said the girl.  "I am afraid," she

-said, "I cannot give you his address, and if that is all

-you wish to see me about——"  She rose quite politely,

-but firmly.  And as she did so some one lifted the knocker

-of the front door and smote it thrice.

-

-Manners started visibly.

-

-"You have visitors?" he asked quickly.

-

-"I don't know who it can be," said the girl.  "I am

-expecting no one."

-

-Manners sprang up and stood between her and the

-door.  He looked into her face as she came towards

-him, then moved politely away.  He felt that her candid

-eyes held no secrets.

-

-When the door had closed he turned to Cherriton.

-

-"She has heard nothing of him; she knows no more

-than we do."

-

-"She is a beautiful woman, I'll admit," said Cherriton,

-who had been deep in thought.  He raised his strong,

-supple hand and pointed towards the door.  "Just

-open that," he said quietly, "and see who it is who is

-coming to visit her."

-

-Manners, with his usual swiftness of step and dexterity

-of movement, approached the door and noiselessly

-drew it open.  Quietly he put his head out and looked

-along the passage.  Then he drew back and gently closed

-the door.  His face, when he turned towards Cherriton,

-was deathly white.

-

-"Who is it?" demanded Cherriton, who had come

-swiftly to his feet.

-

-"Bernard Treves!" answered Manners, moistening his

-lips with his tongue.  The thought that Treves had

-betrayed them blazed through his mind.

-

-In an instant Cherriton sprang to the window and

-peered furtively up and down the street.

-

-"He's alone," he said, with a note of relief in his voice.

-

-"Gott in Himmel!" exclaimed Manners under his

-breath.  "How did he get here?"

-

-"Either escaped or acquitted," answered Cherriton,

-curtly.  "Our business," he went on swiftly, under his

-breath, "is to express great delight when we see him.

-In the meantime I'll compose myself with a cigarette."

-

-"I don't know why his coming back like this should

-make me feel so nervous," mused Manners.  "I am more

-psychic than you are, Herr Baron."

-

-Cherriton looked at the big, fat figure in the chair

-opposite him.  He curled his lip in faint contempt.

-

-Meanwhile John Manton, having knocked at the door

-of 65, Bowles Avenue, found, to his astonishment, that

-that door was opened by a girl of most extreme beauty.

-He had come there under orders from Dacent Smith to

-discover the identity of the sender of the telegram signed

-"Elaine."  He had been given many instructions during

-that afternoon, but as he stood upon the threshold of

-No. 65 a swift admiration leapt into his eyes for the girl

-who confronted him on the doorstep.

-

-"May I come in?" asked John.

-

-"Of course," answered the girl.  To his amazement,

-she seized his hand as she spoke.  "Oh, how long you

-have been!" she said.  She drew him into the hall and

-closed the door.  Silence and caution were the parts

-John had been ordered to play.  He did not withdraw

-his hand from her warm grasp.  "You never came, you

-never wrote," continued the girl.

-

-"I wasn't able to," John answered, truthfully.

-

-"And yet I told you, Bernard," she went on, looking

-up into his face—he was glad that the light in the hall

-was not intense—" and yet I told you, Bernard, that if

-you confessed everything to your father he would forgive."

-

-"He has forgiven a great deal," answered Manton,

-vaguely.  He looked down at her—a little colour had

-come into her cheeks, and, as for her eyes, he had never

-seen eyes which evoked in him so much admiration.

-At that moment Manners put his face out at the door

-of the inner room; then swiftly withdrew it.

-

-"Who's that?" John asked, quickly.

-

-"It's a man who has come to see you, Bernard; but

-before you go in I want to say"—she laid her hand

-softly on the lapel of John's coat—"I want to say,

-Bernard, that I forgive you—everything."  She was

-smiling at him, a smile of wonderful beauty.  "After all,

-Bernard," she whispered, "I am your wife, and it is a

-wife's privilege to forgive."

-

-"Yes," answered John.  He could think of nothing

-else to say.  Here was the most beautiful woman he had

-ever seen, holding his hand warmly in hers, and telling

-him she forgave him everything.  The situation would

-have been delightful if he had only been the other man!

-

-"Bernard, for my sake, you will try, won't you?"  She

-paused, and this time he was obliged to frame some

-sort of answer.

-

-"I'll do the best I can," he said, lamely, then added,

-to turn the subject, "Who is your visitor?"

-

-"It's Mr. Manners, the big, stout man you brought

-here a long while ago.  He has a friend with him, a

-younger man."

-

-"Captain Cherriton?" asked John, lowering his voice.

-

-The girl nodded.

-

-"They came to ask where you were, and wanted your

-address, but I remembered what you told me and would

-not give it."

-

-Then for the first time John looked keenly into her

-face.  He had never seen her in his life before, and at

-any moment she might recognise him.  But even with

-that danger hovering over him he could not help

-wondering if she loved Treves.

-

-"Come, Bernard"; she took his hand in hers.  "You

-must see your friends and get rid of them."

-

-John walked with her along the narrow passage.  At

-the door of the parlour the girl halted.

-

-"When they are gone," she whispered, "I have whole

-heaps of things to tell you."

-

-She pushed open the door and followed John into the

-room.

-

-Manners, who was seated at the hearth, sprang up

-and rushed towards Manton.

-

-"Come in!  Come in!" he cried, drawing John

-forward.  "It does my eyes good to see you again, eh,

-Captain Cherriton?"

-

-Baron Rathenau, who had also risen, enclosed Manton's

-fingers in his hard, cold grip.  "I, too, am glad

-to see you," he said, fixing his eyes steadily on John's.

-

-

-

-

-

-.. vspace:: 4

-

-.. _`CHAPTER VII`:

-

-.. class:: center large

-

-   CHAPTER VII

-

-.. vspace:: 2

-

-Things were not as they seemed.  The situation in

-the little parlour was delicate in the extreme, and as

-John's gaze passed from the fat countenance of Manners

-to the cold forcefulness of Cherriton, whose strong hand

-but a moment ago gripped his own in greeting, he told

-himself that if he could creep from that situation with

-credit he could escape from anything.  Both Cherriton's

-and Manners's welcome rang false.  They were not

-pleased to see him.  They were startled and puzzled,

-and Cherriton, at least, was more than puzzled.  John

-knew that whatever occurred between himself and these

-two men must occur privately.  Moreover, there was a

-second danger, which he knew to be ever present.  The

-light in the bright little parlour was quite strong.  The

-fact that he had dexterously placed his back to the

-window might not serve him for more than a few minutes.

-What if Elaine Treves suddenly discovered her mistake?

-

-Somehow the teeming possibilities of the moment

-gave steadiness to John's nerves.  He thought of a plan,

-and put it into execution on the instant.

-

-"Elaine," he said—he used her name for the first

-time, and as he spoke he took her slender hand in

-his grasp—"I have business to discuss with Captain

-Cherriton and Mr. Manners."

-

-"I promise we shall not keep your husband more than

-a few minutes," intervened Cherriton.  "Yes, old

-Manwitz for once is right," he thought; "here is an

-Englishwoman possessed of beauty."

-

-He made across the room, intending politely to hold

-open the door for Elaine to pass out.  John, however,

-was quicker, and as he held the door wide Elaine lifted

-her grey-blue, beautiful eyes and searched his.  Her

-expression, John thought, was one of surprise—surprise

-at what?

-

-He closed the door, and instantly Cherriton laid a

-hand on his shoulder.

-

-"Well," he demanded, "what happened to you last night."

-

-"You were present at the beginning of the happening,"

-returned John.

-

-"The four men were police officers, were they not?"

-

-"Detectives from Scotland Yard.  They took me

-there, cross-examined me, and discovered that a mistake

-had been made."

-

-Manners drew in a deep breath of relief.

-

-"Ah—a—mistake!" he exclaimed.

-

-Cherriton, who was busy with a cigarette, looked at

-John under his brows.  He had retreated to the hearth,

-and-was leaning with his back against the mantelshelf.

-"A very unpleasant incident for you, eh, Treves?" he

-inquired.

-

-"Very," responded John.

-

-"And my overcoat—my very excellent summer

-overcoat—what happened to that?"

-

-From the moment of John's appearance in the room

-he had been leading up to this question—had his overcoat

-been searched, had Treves's incriminating letter been

-discovered?  It occurred to him that if John, immediately

-after his arrest, had established his identity no search of

-his overcoat was probable.  And yet caution was bred in

-him.  His deeply subtle mind prompted him to probe

-the matter to its depths, and at the same time to convey

-no suspicion of his anxiety to John.

-

-"Cherriton, your overcoat is quite safe," John said

-quietly.  "I left it on your behalf in the cloak-room at

-Charing Cross Station."  He put his hand into his

-pocket and drew out the ticket.  Cherriton took it from

-his extended fingers.

-

-"I am particularly obliged to you, Treves," he said.

-"I have a special fondness for that overcoat?  So the

-Scotland Yard people were for once mistaken."

-

-"Entirely," said John, with truth; "they mistook me

-for another man."

-

-"Were you made acquainted with the charges against

-the real person?" probed Cherriton.

-

-"He was wanted for misappropriation of military funds."

-

-Both Manners and Cherriton exhibited increasing

-interest in the unknown culprit.

-

-"You heard the person's name?"

-

-"His name was John Manton.  He was a sergeant at

-Scarthoe Fort."

-

-"That is in the Isle of Wight?"

-

-"Yes," John answered; "that accounts for them

-seizing me—they traced me from the Isle of Wight."

-

-Cherriton and Manners exchanged glances; neither man

-felt at all comfortable.  But Cherriton felt that he had

-pressed the matter enough.  He suddenly assumed his

-air of bland amiability, but it sat ill on him.

-

-"Well, Manners," he exclaimed, looking at his

-confrère, "you were mistaken—you assumed that our dear

-friend Treves had escaped, and were in a great fluster of

-anxiety on his behalf; whereas the little misfortune that

-occurred to him was all a mistake."

-

-"All a mistake," repeated John.

-

-"And now, I think," Cherriton remarked, taking up

-his grey felt hat and denting it carefully with his hand,

-"I think we will not keep you from your wife any longer."

-

-For the second time that day he gripped John's hand

-in his, and John, looking back into his cold blue eyes,

-felt the steady, penetrating power of Cherriton's gaze.

-

-"Here was a man," thought John, "used to

-command—a man possessed of exceptional powers of mind

-and physique.  You are a daring fellow," thought John;

-"a subtle and cunning worker of evil, but for once in your

-life you are mistaken.  I am not the man you think,

-either in name or in character."

-

-Then a singular thing happened to John.  On the very

-instant when his fingers slid away from the other's touch

-a flaming instinct ran through him—a passionate impulse

-to leap upon the other's throat and squeeze the life out

-of him came upon him as a definite and conscious wish.

-Though he had known Cherriton only for two days, he

-felt a great hate swirl up in him against this serenely

-poised, potent enemy.  Against Manners, whom he

-knew, and whom Dacent Smith knew to be a spy, he felt

-nothing of this.  That afternoon he had been instructed

-well and thoroughly by Dacent Smith.  Dacent Smith had

-talked much with him, drawing him out, subtly examining

-him as to his aspirations and his powers.  And gradually,

-during the talk of that afternoon, Smith had come to

-realise that in John Manton he possessed a keen and

-highly-wrought weapon.  Here was a young man who

-had fought for his country, who was willing to fight for

-it again in any circumstances.  And long before the end

-of that interview the chief of a great branch of the Secret

-Service had laid his hand on John's arm.

-

-"Manton," he had explained, "you were wasted as a

-sergeant at Scarthoe Head.  There are big things

-awaiting you.  You have fought the enemy in the open;

-from to-day you shall fight him in the dark.  You will

-find him more tricky and subtle and dangerous than he

-was in France"—then he had paused a moment, looking

-at John.  "Accidents sometimes happen, Manton, my boy!"

-

-"One must be prepared for accidents," John had

-answered, quietly.

-

-"I have lost two or three splendid fellows during the

-past year.  I am telling you this," the chief resumed,

-"that you may remain always on your guard.  Fate or

-Providence has placed you in a wonderful position with

-the aid of your acquaintance, Manwitz.  I have the

-complete dossier in that cupboard over there."  He pointed to

-a cabinet against the wall.  "Your acquaintance with

-Manwitz gives you a splendid start.  You will use it to

-acquire such information as will be useful to the Department,

-but in the first place you must discover all there is

-to know about the amiable and unexpected Cherriton.

-We shall at the same time be working to discover things

-from our end."

-

-John thought of this conversation as Manners and

-Cherriton took their departure.

-

-"You will come and see me again soon, will you

-not?"  Manners had remarked at the moment of departure.

-He looked cunningly and meaningly into John's eyes.

-In effect he had been saying: "You will come and see me

-again immediately those cocaine tabloids have been

-consumed."  Bernard Treves's craving for cocaine, both

-Manners and Cherriton knew, held that young man as by

-bonds of steel.

-

-"I'll come again soon," John had answered, slipping

-the new address Manners had given him into his waistcoat

-pocket.  He watched the two men pass into the street,

-then closed the door, and re-entered the empty parlour.

-The daintiness, the cleanliness, and the perfect taste of

-the little apartment had already won his appreciation.

-He wondered when Elaine Treves would descend from

-above, and what would happen then.  Until now only

-a few fleeting words had passed between himself and the

-beautiful girl who was Treves's wife.  What was to happen

-now in the intimacy that would ensue when she re-entered

-the room?

-

-John was smoking one of Treves's cigarettes, with his

-back against the mantelshelf, when the door opened and

-Elaine quietly entered.

-

-"So you have got rid of them, Bernard?"

-

-She looked at him, he thought, a little shyly, with

-something of reserve in her glance.  He watched her as

-she crossed to a chintz-covered wicker arm-chair, with its

-back to the window.  At her side was a small work-table.

-She took out a needle, a thread, and various bits

-of coloured silk.  A silence drew itself out that became

-awkward.  John moved from one foot to another;

-then he made an effort to pick up the thread of what he

-believed to be Treves's life in relation to the girl who was

-so industriously sewing, with bowed head.

-

-"I am sorry I wasn't able to come in answer to your wire."

-

-"I think, Bernard, you might have answered it,"

-returned Elaine, quietly, without raising her head.

-

-"Well, you know, I was not able to.  Circumstances

-did not permit me to answer it."

-

-"I was afraid of that."

-

-She suddenly looked up at him with an expression of

-hopelessness in her fine eyes.

-

-"Bernard," she said, "sometimes I think you will

-never, never be able to keep your promise to me!"

-

-"Why not?" John asked, feeling his way cautiously.

-He could see that she was stirred, that something had

-moved her deeply.  He was more than ever assured of

-this when she rose, stood before him, and looked steadily

-into his face.

-

-"Oh!  Bernard, if you could only, only fight!"

-

-Under the close scrutiny of her eyes John felt

-extraordinarily uncomfortable.

-

-"Other people have fought and have conquered," went

-on the girl.  "Why should not you?  Sometimes,"

-she went on, "you are quite as you should be, just as you

-are now—the man who once won my love.  And then,

-again——"  She broke off.

-

-Accidentally John had put his fingers in his waistcoat

-pocket.  He felt the contact of the little bottle of cocaine

-tabloids Manners had forced upon him.  He had guessed

-that Elaine was referring to Treves's enslavement to this

-drug, and he drew out the bottle, holding it in the palm

-of his hand.  He saw the girl look at the tabloids with

-an expression of loathing; then something seemed to

-pass through her that drew her rigid and erect.

-

-"I wonder," she said, "in our very short months

-together, how often you have promised, have sworn, to

-give it up!"  Her manner suddenly changed again, and

-she held out her hand imploringly.  "I wonder, Bernard,

-if you have the courage to give them to me?"

-

-"Certainly," John said, "I will give them to you!"

-

-He unscrewed the top of the little bottle, and poured

-the white tabloids one after another into the palm of her

-hand.  She looked at them for a moment, then into his

-face.  John was still standing with his back towards the

-small fire.  He felt the girl's hand on his arm; she was

-thrusting him aside.  A moment later she had flung the

-tabloids into the red embers, and before John knew it

-she was holding his hand in hers, looking up into his face.

-

-"Bernard," she said, in a low voice, "I believe—I

-believe you have changed!  I think strength is coming to

-you—you will win yet!"

-

-"Yes," John answered, "I swear I'll win."

-

-The words came from him almost without volition,

-and at the same moment an instinct came to him

-that matters were drifting too far.  He turned the

-conversation with a laugh, and for some minutes they

-were discussing general topics.  He helped her to

-prepare the supper, going into the little kitchen and

-bringing out plates and dishes, under her direction.

-

-Daylight faded, much to John's relief.  They took

-supper together in the little parlour; John noticed how

-deft and womanly she was.

-

-"Our friend Treves is a lucky man, if he only knew it,"

-thought he.

-

-"I am afraid there is nothing to drink, Bernard."

-

-"That doesn't trouble me," John answered; then saw

-her pause with the teapot uplifted in frank surprise.

-"I mean," said John, striving to recover the situation,

-"if you haven't got it, I don't mind."

-

-The meal passed off in an air of general cheerfulness.

-Elaine's little clock struck nine, and when the meal was

-at an end John took the seat opposite Elaine and her

-little work-basket.  She busied herself with her

-fancy-work, and occasionally John caught her eyes resting upon

-him with a thoughtful and somewhat puzzled expression.

-He strove to gather from her manner what her feelings

-really were towards her husband.  "She can't love him,"

-thought John; "he's too much of a brute and a waster

-for that.  And yet women are strange creatures."

-

-Elaine had been silent for some minutes, but

-presently she spoke, uttering something that appeared to

-have dwelt for long in her mind.

-

-"Bernard," she said, "I am not so hard as you think,

-but I am sure the way I am acting is the only right

-way."  She paused.

-

-"I am sure it is the right way," answered John,

-looking into her candid, girlish face.

-

-He noticed again the flicker of surprise.  He was

-always making false steps.  The situation was difficult

-beyond everything he had experienced.  Dacent Smith

-had impressed upon him the importance of tact and

-finesse.  Here was a situation thrust upon him requiring

-abundance of both.

-

-"You seem to have changed your point of view?"

-

-"Well——" John began, cautiously.

-

-"You were so violent with me," interposed Elaine.

-

-"There was no intention on my part to be anything of

-the sort towards you," John answered.

-

-He wondered what Treves had done, what Treves had

-said.  He began to experience pleasure in the situation;

-he began to wonder what was to happen next.  But very

-soon after that the clock struck ten.

-

-Elaine put away her needlework and rose somewhat abruptly.

-

-"You must go now, Bernard."

-

-John looked at her for a moment in surprise.

-

-"Oh, yes," he said, "I see—of course."

-

-Then Elaine crossed the hearthrug and laid her slender

-hands on the lapels of his coat.

-

-"To-night, Bernard," she said, "I have almost felt as

-if you were your old self again."

-

-"Thanks," answered John, awkwardly; his position

-at that moment was awkward and utterly false; he was

-like a man who walks blindly on the edge of a precipice.

-He wondered if she was about to kiss him, or if she

-expected him to salute her in that way.  This doubt was

-still upon him when Elaine reached up and touched his

-cheeks lightly with her lips.  There was no passion, no

-love—nothing but a sort of sisterly affection in the

-embrace, but John was glad when it was over.  If she

-had been a less beautiful woman the situation would have

-been so very much easier.

-

-Elaine accompanied him along the passage, handing

-him his hat and stick as they went.  In the darkness at

-the door, as they shook hands, John felt that the

-impression of her fingers was warmer and infinitely more

-cordial that the greeting she had given him upon his

-arrival.  He could see her face only dimly.  She had

-seemed surprised that he had departed so easily; he felt

-that he must say something, utter some remark that

-possibly might have been uttered by Bernard Treves.

-

-"I am sorry to have to go," he said.

-

-Then Elaine's voice came to him quietly in the darkness.

-There was a new note in her words.

-

-"You must come again—soon, Bernard."

-

-The door closed softly, and she was gone.

-

-

-

-

-

-.. vspace:: 4

-

-.. _`CHAPTER VIII`:

-

-.. class:: center large

-

-   CHAPTER VIII

-

-.. vspace:: 2

-

-Dacent Smith, busy in his luxurious bachelor

-apartments in Jermyn Street, was going through a pile

-of documents, all relating directly or indirectly to

-the multitudinous activities of his department.  He

-had continued his work for, perhaps, half an hour after

-his brief luncheon interval when the man-servant entered

-and announced a visitor.  Dacent Smith's man-servant

-was discretion itself.  He looked like a walking secret,

-and was a big, pallid man, with high cheek-bones and a

-grim, hard mouth.  He was devoted body and soul to

-Dacent Smith, and no tortures ever devised could have

-ever wormed a word from him of his master's activities.

-

-"Well, Grew?"

-

-"Mr. Treves, sir."

-

-"I'll see Mr. Treves at once."

-

-Grew, the man-servant, departed, and a minute later

-John was ushered into the apartment.

-

-Dacent Smith greeted him with brief cordiality, then

-indicated a chair.

-

-"Well, Treves," he said, with a smile, "what is your

-news?"

-

-"There is very little to tell you, sir, so far.  The

-person who wrote that telegram signed 'Elaine,' is

-Bernard Treves's wife!"

-

-Dacent Smith lifted his eyebrows; a twinkle of humour

-was detectable in his expression.

-

-"What happened?"

-

-"She was quite deceived, sir!"

-

-"A piquant situation," smiled Dacent Smith.

-

-"Very!" answered John, seriously.

-

-"You see how quickly you find yourself in deep

-waters, my friend."  Dacent Smith was looking at him

-with an expression of raillery in his keen eyes.

-Nevertheless he was saying inwardly: "I like you, Manton;

-you are a man after my own heart.  There is a good deal

-of humour, as well as courage and intelligence, hidden

-behind that good-looking face of yours."

-

-"Now, Manton," he said, "tell me about Manwitz.

-Are you in touch with him again?"

-

-"I have his address, sir, and an invitation to go to

-him whenever I wish—that is, whenever the cocaine

-habit seizes me violently."

-

-"I see," remarked the elder man.  "Whenever the

-craving is violently upon you, you go to Manwitz and he

-supplies your want?"

-

-John nodded.

-

-"It is amazing," went on the chief, "the way these

-fellows manage to secure these drugs.  Perhaps, later,

-Manton, you will be able to enlighten us upon that little

-matter; but in the meantime Cherriton is your chief

-responsibility."

-

-"Cherriton showed a particular anxiety about his

-overcoat, sir, containing Treves's letter."

-

-John gave a brief report of the events of the previous

-evening, and Dacent Smith made one or two notes on a

-slip of paper marked M. 15.

-

-When John had finished, the elder man leaned back in

-his chair.

-

-"It will take you some days—perhaps weeks," he

-said, "to get the hang of things with us.  At present you

-are to play a lone hand.  There is a chain of German

-emissaries working against us—some traitors and some

-spies—who pass information from all our dockyards to

-London, and thence to Germany.  I want you to get

-into contact with one of the links of this chain—any link

-will serve our purpose.  You must do all you can to keep

-the confidence of Cherriton and Manwitz.  If they set

-you upon any task, carry it through absolutely.  If

-papers or documents are given to you to be delivered

-elsewhere, don't fail to act absolutely according to their

-instructions.  If you can get a sight of the documents,

-and memorise them during transit, do so, of course.

-This applies to letters or documents which may be

-handed to you by strangers—other German spies.  Do

-you understand the importance of all this?"

-

-John assured him that he did.

-

-"It appears to me, sir," he added, "that by doing this

-I shall myself become a sort of link in their chain."

-

-The great man looked at him with eyes of approbation.

-

-"Exactly," he responded; "that is what you will be.

-Information is leaking out of England day by day, hour

-by hour—rippling along these chains of which I speak."

-

-Half an hour later, John took his departure from the

-chief's sumptuous bachelor apartments.  He had learned

-many things that amazed him, and one of these things,

-which filled him with fury and loathing, was that there

-were indeed traitors in unexpected places, that there were

-British-born people, few, but active, who were willing to

-sell their country into the power of the enemy.

-

-"I hope it won't be my destiny to run across one of

-these gentry," thought John; "for even the chief

-himself would find it hard to make me keep my hands off

-him."

-

-And yet that night, in a few brief hours, he was to find

-himself in contact with just such a traitor.

-

-Reaching the corner of Jermyn Street, after his

-departure from Dacent Smith's rooms, John hailed a taxi and

-drove to Hampstead Tube at Tottenham Court Road.

-Here he took train to Hampstead, and made his way

-towards the address Manwitz had given him.  The

-address was Cherriton's, and when John arrived there he

-found that the unamiable captain occupied a suite of

-rooms in a large, old-fashioned house near the Heath.

-The house was maintained by a retired butler, who

-received John at the door.  The butler ascended to a

-handsomely furnished, spacious drawing-room on the

-first floor.  Here Manners was seated at a grand piano,

-and Cherriton, deep in an arm-chair, was reading an

-English Pacifist pamphlet.

-

-"Is that a telegram?" asked Cherriton, as the door

-opened.

-

-"No, sir," answered the man; "it is a Mr. Bernard

-Treves called in to see Mr. Manners."

-

-Two minutes later John stepped into the room.

-

-"Did you get your overcoat?" he asked, shaking

-hands with Cherriton.

-

-The fair man nodded.

-

-"Many thanks," he said.

-

-He had spent the earlier part of that day inquiring into

-the existence, status, and habits of John Manton.  He was

-still not quite satisfied as to his visitor's release from

-Scotland Yard, and at that very moment he was awaiting

-a telegram from the Isle of Wight which would either

-increase his suspicions or remove them altogether.  In the

-meantime, he preferred to trust John to a certain extent.

-

-"You have come at an opportune time, Treves," he said.

-

-John was seated now, and this time accepted a cigarette

-from the Baron's case.  Suddenly, Rathenau looked him

-full in the face.

-

-"You and I, Treves," he said, "have both been

-treated damnably!"

-

-"Damnably!" answered John, wondering what was

-coming.  The other continued:

-

-"But there comes a time, Treves, eh, when the worm

-turns?  You turned and I turned!  You cast in your

-lot with our friend Manners, who knows how to appreciate

-loyalty!  Manners," he continued, in the ironical tone

-that was his general habit, "fat and stupid and lazy as

-he is, is always willing to pay for loyalty!"

-

-John looked into the Baron's thick-skinned, pallid

-face, into the steel-like eyes, and smiled inwardly.  A

-pause came.  John leaned forward.

-

-"Cherriton," he said, "what are you leading up to?"

-

-Manners, from the piano-stool, spoke up.

-

-"Ah, you see, Cherriton—he is sharp, our friend Treves.

-Tell him what you want, Cherriton, straight out!"

-

-He rose, came, for all his great bulk, softly across the

-room.  He laid a fat hand on John's shoulder and looked

-down at him.

-

-"Bernard," he half whispered, "you shall have all

-you want of everything.  Money—and the other thing.

-I want you to throw in your lot with me as the good

-Captain has done.  That note," he continued, still in the

-half whisper, "you gave me in regard to the sailing of

-the *Polydor* was well appreciated in certain circles."

-

-"I am glad to hear that," John answered.

-

-"That was good service," continued Manners, "but

-there are bigger things afoot."  He paused a moment,

-then walked round John, and seated himself on a sofa

-quite near.  "You have heard, no doubt," he continued,

-"of the *Imperator*——"

-

-"You mean the new Grey Star liner?"

-

-Manners nodded.

-

-"A monster ship—a wonder ship!  Forty-eight

-thousand tons."

-

-He uttered the words slowly, rolling them unctuously

-over his tongue.

-

-"Nearly as big as the *Vaterland*," John said, and for

-the life of him he could not help looking across at

-Cherriton's face.

-

-But Cherriton was quick as lightning.

-

-"The *Vaterland*?" he repeated.  "You mean the

-German ship?"

-

-John returned his attention to Manners.  He could feel

-the web closing about him—the web in which Dacent

-Smith had ordered him to entangle himself.

-

-"The *Imperator*," said Manners, "is to sail one day

-quite soon, but your Admiralty has grown doubly cunning

-of late.  As yet we know not either her port of departure

-or the hour of departure!"

-

-John noticed that the fat man's tones deepened as

-he spoke; excitement gleamed in his eyes.  He leaned

-forward and laid a fat hand on Bernard's knee.

-

-"Treves, my boy, I trust you—eh?"

-

-"Certainly!" answered John, truthfully.  "I want

-you to trust me."

-

-"Good!" exclaimed Manners, uttering the word

-thickly in his throat.  "Now, you will understand

-Cherriton and I cannot appear in certain places, but

-with you—it is different with you—eh?"

-

-"Quite," said John.  "I can appear anywhere without

-suspicion."

-

-Cherriton, who had remained silent, again took control

-of the situation.

-

-"What Manners and I want you to do," he said, "is

-to stay a few days at the Savoy Hotel.  A Dutch

-gentleman is giving up Room 104C.  You are to take that

-room, and stay at the hotel at Manners's expense."

-

-"Thank you," said John.

-

-"There will be no need for you to stint yourself.

-What is more, you will have no duties whatever to

-perform!"

-

-John lifted his eyebrows in genuine surprise.

-

-"I don't quite see what help I can be in that case!"

-

-"We are hoping that the matter will resolve itself,"

-said Cherriton.

-

-"Yes—yes!" intervened Manners, "everything will

-resolve itself beautifully.  All you have to do now, my

-dear boy, is to say that you accept the——"

-

-"The invitation," intercepted Cherriton.

-

-John thought there was nothing easier in the world

-than to accept an invitation to stay, free of expense, at

-a first-class hotel, and with no duties to perform.  He

-said as much to Manners, and two nights later found

-him the occupant of the room 1046, a delightful Louis

-Seize bedroom overlooking the Embankment.  He had

-spent a day and a night at the hotel, and no incident

-whatever had occurred.  On the evening of the second

-night, however, after dinner, John seated himself in the

-foyer and ordered coffee and cigarettes.

-

-Presently, in the great crowd moving, laughing and

-talking near him, John observed a politician who at

-various periods in the past had loomed importantly in

-the public eye.

-

-"He is even more ugly than his photographs," thought

-John, watching the important personage move among

-his friends.  John did not like Beecher Monmouth's

-smile; altogether he disliked the man on the instant,

-and was the more astonished to notice that a strikingly

-beautiful woman of thirty, wearing a glittering diamond

-necklace and diamond ear-rings, moved towards him

-and slipped her arm through his.  The woman wore a

-deeply decollété evening dress of a shimmering silk that

-looked to John now green and now blue.  He noticed

-her flash a smile into Beecher Monmouth's face.  He

-saw the politician put her hand into his.  Then

-recollection came to John.  The woman was Beecher Monmouth's

-wife, a beautiful woman thirty years his junior, who had

-appeared from nowhere and married him.

-

-"She certainly is a beautiful woman," thought John.

-"A case of Beauty and the Beast!"

-

-Then, to his utter amazement, Mrs. Beecher

-Monmouth's eyes met his.  She slid her arm from her

-husband's, and made her way quickly through the crowd

-to John.  He felt his heart-beat quicken.  A moment

-later Mrs. Beecher Monmouth was holding out her hand

-towards him.  She flashed a smile into his face.

-

-"My dear Mr. Treves," she said, in a voice that was

-low and intimate, "I have been looking for you all the

-evening!"

-

-A moment later she was shaking hands with John.

-

-"I must fly now," she added, "but you must come

-and see me to-morrow—six o'clock."

-

-A moment later she was hurrying back towards her

-husband, her gown shimmering and gleaming as she went.

-There was something in the palm of John's hand—something

-that had passed from Mrs. Beecher Monmouth to

-himself.

-

-Holding his hand below the table and free from

-observation, John saw that the something Mrs. Beecher

-Monmouth had passed into his hand was a slip of paper on

-which was pencilled: "*Imperator*—three o'clock

-to-morrow.  Route 28."

-

-John was conscious of a quite definite thrill.  His

-nerve was of the best; he had accepted the momentous

-slip of paper without any outward sign of disturbance.

-Indeed, he had smiled back into Mrs. Beecher Monmouth's

-eyes in a manner that had won that lady's sincerest

-approbation.  Nevertheless, he was not inwardly calm.

-He felt that fate, or destiny, had seized him suddenly in

-its relentless grip.  The slip of paper was still in his right

-hand, concealed beneath the level of the table.  For

-some minutes he drew at his cigarette, then, carefully

-taking out the pocket-book, laid the slip in its leaves,

-and replaced the book in the inner breast pocket of his

-coat.  For some minutes longer he retained his seat,

-leaning back in the delicate gilt chair.  His gaze wandered

-among the brilliant and fashionable crowd moving about

-him.  The gentle murmur of music mingled still with

-the chatter of voices, and twenty feet away he caught

-the gleam of Mrs. Beecher Monmouth's ear-rings, the

-scintillation of her superb diamond necklace.  She was

-talking to her yellow-skinned and unprepossessing

-husband, but her attention was entirely and solely fixed

-upon John.

-

-Their eyes met, and John was obliged to concede, for

-the second time, that she was a woman of exceptional

-beauty.  The art of her coiffeur, and, possibly, the art

-of her complexion expert, had wrought its best for her.

-Nevertheless, she would have stood out among any

-assemblage of young and prepossessing women.  Her

-husband quite visibly adored her, and every word she

-condescended to transmit to him was received with a

-quick, responsive smile on his part.

-

-John was thinking rapidly, wondering and speculating.

-Was it possible that Beecher Monmouth knew of the

-existence of the little slip of paper that reposed in his

-pocket-book?  Beecher Monmouth, who had sat on

-numerous committees, who had more than once stood

-in the running for an under-secretaryship?  The thing

-seemed utterly incredible!

-

-As these things flashed through John's mind, realisation

-slowly came to him that Mrs. Beecher Monmouth was

-observing him with close intensity, under slightly lowered

-lids.

-

-John rose, and as he did so the lady flashed a brilliant

-smile towards him—an intimate, understanding smile,

-full of meaning.

-

-"I wish I knew what you meant," thought John, as

-he made his way through the throng out towards the

-cloak-room.

-

-The circulating door received him, and he passed out

-into the dim light of the Strand.  There was a crowd, as

-always at that hour, and a young man who followed

-closely at his heels found difficulty in keeping him in sight.

-

-John was burning once more to look at the information

-Mrs. Beecher Monmouth had conveyed to him.  But

-caution forbade anything of the sort.  He was determined

-that this, his first swim in deep waters, should achieve a

-successful issue.  His chief desire in life was to make good

-in Dacent Smith's eyes, and, moreover, obeying his chief's

-instructions, he had already indelibly impressed upon

-his memory the portentous sentence: "*Imperator*—three

-o'clock to-morrow.  Route 28."

-

-The word "treachery" floated into his mind, and filled

-him with rage.  Until now he had been outside—one of

-the public.  But to-night the curtain had been drawn

-aside.  He felt himself engaged in the secret fight which

-is for ever taking place beneath the surface—the fight

-between our own secret service and the spies and traitors

-in the pay of the other nations.

-

-At Hampstead, John emerged from the Tube and

-made his way through the darkness of Well Walk.

-Presently he turned to the left, through an alley, crossed

-a square of shabby-looking houses, and ascended a further

-closely-built, narrow street, leading towards Cherriton's

-residence.

-

-The young man who had followed him from the Savoy

-was still in his wake.  At this point, however, he

-apparently ceased his pursuit, and vanished up a side alley.

-

-John, who had been aware of footsteps for some

-minutes, halted and looked behind him.  The road was

-empty, and the suspicion that had been growing on him

-vanished.  Nevertheless, he laid a hand on his hip

-pocket, assured himself that he was prepared for

-eventualities and moved forward again.

-

-"I'll give this nefarious bit of news to Cherriton, then

-hop down to Dacent Smith and report the fact as quickly

-as I can," thought John.

-

-He reached the top of Christ Church Road and

-paused to recollect which turning was the right one.

-At that moment some one moved in the shadow of

-the church railings near him, and before John could

-turn his head a doubled fist smote him heavily.  The

-attack was so sudden, unexpected and swift that before

-he could in any way retaliate a second blow had been

-delivered.

-

-His assailant leaped through the air, clasped two

-strong hands round his neck, and fell into the road, still

-gripping for all he was worth.

-

-The two struggled ignominiously, and John became

-aware that the stranger, who had released one hand

-grip, was groping for the precious pocket-book.  For

-the first time John was able to aim a blow, then, with a

-violent twist, he drew himself uppermost, and plunged

-his knee heavily into the other's chest.  In the dim

-light he observed that his opponent was young.  John

-was already aware that he had met no mean antagonist,

-and he was taking no chances.

-

-The downward blow he now delivered on the other

-man's countenance staggered him for a moment.  He

-wrenched himself free and stood upright on his feet.

-

-His enemy was prone, but only for a moment.

-

-"You've got a good deal of spirit, my young friend,"

-said John, through his teeth, "but you'll get nothing

-from me, except another punch like the last!  Now,

-get up!"

-

-"Thanks," returned the other.

-

-He rose and began to dust his clothes carefully.  John

-did not like the man's attitude.  He was quite obviously

-preparing to make another attack.

-

-"Now," commanded John, moving back a pace,

-"don't try that with me!"

-

-He stepped back and reached for the Colt weapon that

-reposed in his pocket.

-

-"I should hate to do anything drastic," he continued;

-"but if you make it a habit to leap at people in the dark,

-and to aim half-arm jolts at strangers, you must take the

-consequences."

-

-"I am prepared to take anything that is coming to

-me!" responded the young man.

-

-He spoke almost jauntily, and John admired his spirit.

-

-"I evidently did not hit you quite as hard as I

-thought," John remarked.

-

-"Quite hard enough," responded the other, "but

-please don't shoot, because——"

-

-Then, to John's amazement, and with the utmost

-daring, he leapt forward like a flash and seized John's

-pistol.  There was a swift, fierce struggle.  The moment

-was one for quick decisions.  The stranger held the

-weapon by the wrong end, and John knew it.

-Unexpectedly he let go, and simultaneously landed a heavy

-left on the young man's downbent jaw.  He followed

-with a right, and then another left.  He was as busy as

-he had ever been, and he knew he was fighting for his

-entire future, possibly for his life.

-

-"I've had enough," gasped the stranger.

-

-He reeled away, and seated himself on the farther side

-of the narrow street.

-

-John searched about, picked up the weapon from the

-middle of the road and pocketed it.  Then he buttoned

-his coat, after carefully satisfying himself that the

-pocket-book was still in its place, and prepared to go.

-

-"Good night," called the other, seated on the edge of

-the pavement, as he went.

-

-Manton, however, was in no mood for persiflage.  He

-took himself off, walking as swiftly as he could.

-

-"He certainly doesn't lack pluck," mused John.

-

-Five minutes later he reached the large house wherein

-Cherriton had his abode.

-

-"I want to see Captain Cherriton at once," he said,

-when the door was opened to him.

-

-He found Cherriton alone in the big drawing-room.

-He was in evening clothes, and was wearing comfortable

-house slippers.

-

-"So it's you, Treves?" exclaimed the German as the

-door closed.  "Come in, and I'll give you a drink of

-whisky; that is always acceptable, eh?"

-

-"Always," answered John.

-

-Cherriton was looking at him intently.

-

-"There is a slight cut on your forehead."

-

-"Is there?  It must be a scratch."

-

-John applied his handkerchief to the slight abrasion,

-then slipped off his overcoat and took a drink of whisky

-and soda.

-

-"I have some news for you, Cherriton."

-

-"News?"

-

-The other flashed a swift glance at him.

-

-John slowly drew out the pocket-book and produced

-the slip of paper.

-

-"You wanted to know when the *Imperator* sailed out,

-and by what route."

-

-Cherriton was suddenly and unfeignedly impatient.

-

-"What is it you know?" he demanded.

-

-"At the Savoy to-night," John said quietly, "this

-was handed to me."

-

-He passed the slip of paper into the German's eager

-fingers.

-

-"Gott!" exclaimed Cherriton, utterly absorbed.

-"You got this from——"

-

-"Mrs. Beecher Monmouth."

-

-"Three o'clock to-morrow," mused Cherriton.  "There

-is not much time for us to act!"

-

-He looked suddenly into John's face.

-

-"What a woman she is!" he exclaimed.  "Invaluable—invaluable!"

-

-"Invaluable!" echoed John.

-

-Cherriton laid a hand on John's arm.

-

-"Keep your hold on her, my dear Treves.  Your work

-to-night has been excellent!"

-

-Excitement had brought an unusual gleam into his

-hard eyes.

-

-"We will do great things for you yet!"

-

-He crossed the room and rang the bell imperiously.

-

-"My coat and hat," he commanded of the butler when

-the man appeared.  "When Mr. Manners returns, ask

-him to wait up for me."

-

-

-

-

-

-.. vspace:: 4

-

-.. _`CHAPTER IX`:

-

-.. class:: center large

-

-   CHAPTER IX

-

-.. vspace:: 2

-

-The hour was eleven o'clock.  Dacent Smith was, as

-usual, up to his ears in work.  Very little of the real

-work, conducted by him on behalf of the Department,

-was dispatched at the office.  If he possessed a weakness

-at all, it was a weakness for the luxury of his own suite

-of rooms and for the benign, competent aid of Grew.

-Servant and master were each equally devoted to the

-other, and yet even Grew was only vaguely aware of

-the greatness, of the importance of the stoutish, bland,

-keen-eyed gentleman who was his master.

-

-At Dacent Smith's elbow a green-shaded electric lamp

-cast a bright light on the papers beneath his hand.

-The chief wrote neatly and carefully, and when the door

-opened and Grew came softly in he did not lift his head.

-

-"Mr. Treves to report, sir."

-

-"I'll see Mr. Treves immediately."

-

-"Very good, sir."

-

-Dacent Smith raised his head.

-

-"Oh, Grew, please ask the gentleman who is in the

-other room to wait a little longer."

-

-"Very good, sir."

-

-Two minutes later John found himself alone with the

-chief.

-

-Dacent Smith motioned him into one of the deep,

-leathered-covered arm-chairs, opened a silver box of

-Egyptian cigarettes, and pushed it towards him.

-

-"Well," he questioned, wheeling his chair and looking at

-John much as an astute physician might look at a patient;

-"I can see by your expression," he went on quickly,

-"that you have something of importance to report."

-

-"I think so," said John.

-

-"Well, what is it?"

-

-"In the foyer of the Savoy to-night, sir, Mrs. Beecher

-Monmouth"—an almost imperceptible change of

-expression occurred on Dacent Smith's smooth

-features—"Mrs. Beecher Monmouth," continued John, "passed

-a slip of paper into my hand.  I assumed at once that

-the paper was meant for either Manners or Cherriton,

-and, obeying your instructions, I delivered it at once."

-

-"You memorised it first?"

-

-Dacent Smith's tone was almost sharp.

-

-"It was very short, sir.  I can remember it exactly."

-

-Dacent Smith pushed a pencil and block of paper

-towards him.

-

-"Perhaps you had better write it down immediately,"

-he said.  "If you visualise it in writing you will be less

-likely to have forgotten or misplaced a word."

-

-John rose, and bending over the desk wrote the exact

-words of the message Mrs. Beecher Monmouth had

-conveyed to him.  When he came to the word *Imperator*,

-Dacent Smith whistled softly.

-

-"You have done very well, Treves," he said.  He

-suddenly looked into John's face.  "You must better

-your acquaintance with Mrs. Beecher Monmouth."

-

-"I have an appointment with her for to-morrow night,"

-answered John.

-

-Dacent Smith glanced at a little gilt clock on the

-mantelshelf.

-

-"I think we shall be in time!"

-

-"That is exactly what Cherriton said," John answered.

-

-Dacent Smith was silent for a moment.

-

-"Treves," he said, "if the *Imperator* sails to-morrow

-at three o'clock by Route 28, which is their code for the

-North Ireland route, there will be another disaster for us."

-

-He was silent a moment and John put a question that

-had troubled him somewhat.

-

-"But if she doesn't sail at that hour," he said; "if

-she is suddenly delayed or dispatched by another route,

-won't that arouse their suspicions?"

-

-Dacent Smith looked at him for a moment, then smiled

-quietly.

-

-"Oh," he said, "we shall not be quite so obvious as

-that, Treves, otherwise they would come to suspect a

-leakage.  What will occur is this: I shall communicate

-with the Admiralty at once, and some time to-morrow

-morning an accident will happen—quite a small accident—to

-the *Imperator's* boilers.  The news of the accident

-will be well spread throughout the crew and the deck

-hands.  Thus the *Imperator* will be unavoidably delayed

-and will not sail at three o'clock to-morrow."

-

-He rose as he finished speaking and went quickly out

-of the room.  When he returned he was obviously much

-easier in his mind.  With slow deliberation he replaced

-himself in his chair at the desk.

-

-"Now give me details of your interview with Cherriton."

-

-John stated what had occurred.

-

-"Anything else to report?" asked Dacent Smith,

-looking at him with a penetrating glance.  "I see you

-have a scratch on your forehead."

-

-"Yes," answered John.  "It occurred in Hampstead;

-a young man attacked me and endeavoured to get my

-pocket-book!"

-

-"Oh, that is rather alarming!"

-

-"It was rather sudden," John confessed, "and he

-was a particularly energetic person."

-

-"Would you know him again if you saw him?" asked

-Dacent Smith.

-

-"I think I should," answered John.  "He was about

-my own height, but more slenderly built.  Rather a

-good-looking fellow, well dressed.  He was a most

-energetic and audacious opponent," he continued,

-becoming unexpectedly expansive.

-

-"Audacity is sometimes a fault!" observed Dacent

-Smith.  "Just sit where you are a minute, Treves; I

-want to introduce you to some one."

-

-He crossed the room and opened the door.  John

-noticed him beckon to some one, and a moment later

-a young man in evening clothes stepped into the room.

-

-Dacent Smith led the new-comer towards the hearth.

-

-"Captain," he said, speaking to the young man,

-"this is Mr. Treves, who is now a member of our service."

-

-John rose to shake hands, and found himself looking

-into the smiling face of a young man of twenty-eight, a

-young man with dark brown, daring-looking eyes, a

-sun-browned skin, and a dark moustache.  The stranger's

-face was humorous, and on the lower part of his left

-cheek was a contused redness.

-

-As John and he shook hands, John uttered an

-exclamation of astonishment.

-

-"Why, you're the man who attacked me!"

-

-"Well, I don't know about that!" smiled the Captain,

-cheerily; "it looks to me as if the attacking was

-mostly on your side."

-

-"I must say," John continued, "you put up quite a

-good fight, but I don't quite see the point.  If you were

-acting on behalf of the Department, why did you attack me?"

-

-He glanced at Dacent Smith, and the great man undertook

-an explanation.  "The whole thing was a slight

-mistake.  Your new acquaintance, known to us as

-Captain X., was under my orders, his avocation to-night.

-He saw Mrs. Beecher Monmouth shake hands with you.

-He also observed you—and he says, very neatly—put

-something in your inner breast pocket.  He had never

-seen you before, but he naturally jumped to the

-conclusion that you were in league with this particular

-fashionable lady, whom he had been sent to watch, hence

-his mistaken attack on you."

-

-John turned again to his late antagonist.

-

-"I am sorry if I hurt you!" he said.

-

-"You did hurt me abominably," retorted Captain X.

-"I am not much of a pugilist and that half-arm jolt, or

-whatever you call it, has my sincerest admiration."

-

-"The luck was on my side," returned John politely.

-

-"And the misdirected energy on mine," smiled the

-Captain.

-

-Dacent Smith moved to the table, took up a sheet of

-paper, folded it, and handed it to Captain X.

-

-"Now," said he, "we will return to business."

-

-.. vspace:: 2

-

-At nine o'clock the following evening John found

-himself in a lady's boudoir, a room heavy with the odour

-of Russian cigarettes.  The neat, capped foreign maid

-who had ushered him into the apartment had removed

-herself, closing the door softly behind her.

-

-The room was not large, and every effort of a

-somewhat exotic taste had been put forth to create an

-atmosphere of intimacy.  It was a room, as it were, planned

-and arranged for secret meetings.  The carpet was thick;

-a while polar bear rug extended itself from the hearth, and

-beyond the hearth, running along the wall, was a divan

-covered in heavy silk of Chinese blue.  A Chinese

-*kakemono* of brilliant colours—red, orange, azure, green, and

-gold—covered the wall behind the divan.  The general air

-of the place was one that did not appeal to John in the

-least.  He did not care a button about exotic boudoirs.

-Neither did he care for Mrs. Beecher Monmouth, who

-to-night was wearing a Chinese overgown as brilliant and

-sumptuous in hue as the *kakemono* that covered the wall.

-

-She had been seated on the divan when John entered.

-She rose now and came towards him, with the pink light

-softening the cold splendour of her beauty.  There was

-no doubt about her beauty—John was prepared to admit

-that even at this second meeting.

-

-"You bad boy to be so late!" breathed Mrs. Beecher

-Monmouth, squeezing his fingers in hers.  She drew him

-towards her.

-

-The moment was a delicate one for Manton.  What

-Treves's relations had been with this woman he could not

-guess.  But it was his business to find out.  It was

-indeed his business to find out many things about her.

-For months the Intelligence Department had held her

-in suspicion, but Dacent Smith's most brilliant assistants

-had failed to make headway in her case.  She was

-slippery as an eel—quick-witted, cunning, daring and

-resourceful.  In that moment, as she drew John towards

-her, she suspected a ruse.  But there was no ruse.  She

-looked up, her brilliant eyes searching him.

-

-"Have you nothing for me?" she whispered.

-

-There was only one thing to do, only one safe course

-to take, and John took it.  He, as it were, plunged, and

-risked the consequences.  He put his arms about her shapely

-shoulders and pressed a kiss upon the upturned lips.

-

-"No, no!  I didn't tell you you could kiss me!"

-

-"You said something very like it!" laughed John.

-

-"You are a bad, daring boy."

-

-"Faint heart never won anything worth having,"

-returned John.

-

-Mrs. Beecher Monmouth returned to her divan and

-disposed herself comfortably.  "You bad Bernard, you

-must sit in that low chair at once, and tell me all you

-have been doing lately!"

-

-She lifted a cigarette case from a low, ivory-topped

-table.  John took one, noticing that they were the

-excellent cigarettes Treves had been in the habit of

-smoking.

-

-"Tell me what you have been doing."

-

-John mused, and the woman went on:

-

-"Do you know, you looked rather handsome last

-night at the Savoy."  She paused and became coyly and

-softly wistful.  "I dislike handsome boys; they are so

-conceited as a rule."

-

-"If I can keep her talking like this for a while,"

-thought John, "I shall not get into deep water!"

-

-There was a silence, during which the lady luxuriantly

-smoked her Russian cigarette.  Then she looked at John

-with her slow, low-lidded smile.

-

-"Talk," she commanded.

-

-"I prefer to hear you talk," said John.  "Tell me

-what you have been doing lately—to-day, for instance."

-

-The lady pondered.

-

-"Oh, to-day the Ogre gave a luncheon party."

-

-John guessed that the Ogre was her unprepossessing

-husband.

-

-"The Ogre gave a luncheon party, and among others

-we had Lady Rachel Marlin, a delightful chatterbox.

-Her husband's in the Navy, you know.  I could listen to

-her talk for hours."

-

-"I don't doubt it," thought John.

-

-"After tea," resumed she, "I went to my Red Cross work."

-

-John was wary.  The fact that she did Red Cross work

-surprised him, but possibly Treves had been aware of the

-fact, and it would be unsafe for him to express his surprise.

-

-There was silence for a moment until John hit on a

-safe question.

-

-"Do you go to the same place?" he inquired.

-

-"Oh, yes, the Officers' Hospital, you know.  They are

-such dear, delightful fellows."

-

-She told him no more about the Officers' Hospital,

-and he put another question.

-

-"What have you done this evening?"

-

-"I have been boring myself to death until you came.

-And now you make poor me talk and don't entertain

-me in the least!"

-

-Suddenly she lifted her head.

-

-"I hope you aren't in one of your moods?"

-

-"Oh, no," said John, quickly.  "What makes you

-think that?"

-

-She looked at him long and steadily.  He sustained

-her gaze; her brilliant, hard beauty smote his

-consciousness again.

-

-"Do you remember how awful you were at first, Bernard?"

-

-"I suppose I was pretty awful," answered John,

-wondering what Treves had done to earn himself that

-character.

-

-Suddenly Mrs. Beecher Monmouth ceased her scrutiny

-and broke into a laugh, a long tinkle of laughter that

-showed all her fine teeth.

-

-"What a boy you are," she said.  "Do you remember

-that night when you swore and tore about this room

-like a madman?"  She laughed again, as though in

-memory of a scene that had been grotesquely ridiculous.

-Somehow, in that moment John felt his instinctive

-dislike of her intensify.  He saw her as an utterly

-cold-blooded traitor to her country.  Only forty-eight

-hours earlier she had slipped into his hand information

-that had been intended to doom a great ship to disaster.

-The slip of paper that had so astoundingly come into

-his possession had in itself constituted a vile blow at

-the safety of England.  And here was the woman who

-had safely engineered that atrocity, who had acted as an

-intermediary in Germany's pay.  And this same woman

-was smiling at him in her Grosvenor Place boudoir,

-surrounded by all the luxuries of life, the wife of a

-politician of some eminence, who had only recently been

-in the running for an under-secretaryship.

-

-The thought flashed into John's mind—was Beecher

-Monmouth, M.P., also a traitor?  He did not know.

-But he was prepared to risk a good deal to find out.

-

-Once more he turned his attention to the woman before

-him.

-

-"It was rather weak of me," he said, "to act the

-way I did."

-

-"It was as good as a melodrama," replied she.  "You

-said you were ruined, and swore you'd end everything!

-I forget whether it was to be the river or in some less

-pleasant manner.  Called yourself a traitor——"

-

-"Traitor!" repeated John—he wanted to know more of this.

-

-"Melodrama again," responded Mrs. Beecher Monmouth.

-"However, you calmed yourself in the end.

-You became your own delightful, foolish self again."

-

-"Thanks," said John, and for the life of him he could

-not help saying aloud, "and you were able to twist me

-round your pretty fingers!"

-

-She looked at him with one of her quick looks.

-

-"Now, that is delightful of you to say pretty things

-to me.  Do you know," she continued, leaning towards

-him, "you have improved immensely—you are quite

-changed!  Before you really came to us," she adopted

-a note of seriousness, "you were really too dreadful for

-words.  You raved against the army, that had treated

-you so abominably, and yet would not throw in your lot

-with us.  Oh, you were very difficult, *mon ami*!"

-

-"And now?" inquired John.

-

-"Oh, now, you are quite another man."

-

-"I'm glad you think that," said John aloud, and to

-himself he added, "my clever lady, you never spoke a

-truer word in your iniquitous life."

-

-"The change in you is so marked," went on Mrs. Beecher

-Monmouth, "that Captain Cherriton actually

-doubted your loyalty to us.  He regarded your escape

-from Scotland Yard authorities as so sudden."

-

-"Ah," protested John, "but I was mistaken for

-another man."

-

-"Of course, I know that, you silly boy!  But Cherriton

-could not rest satisfied until he had discovered that

-there actually existed a person called John Manton, and

-that you had really been mistaken for this personage."

-

-John made a mental note that in Cherriton he had an

-adversary of no mean order.

-

-"I hope," said he, "now that Captain Cherriton has

-discovered my story to be true, he won't suspect me

-again."

-

-"As for that," responded the lady, "he suspects his

-own shadow.  But you are very high in favour just at

-the moment."

-

-"His favour is worth having?" probed John.

-

-"We shall discover that," said Mrs. Beecher

-Monmouth.  Her tone suddenly became fervent, almost

-exalted.  "After the war there will be great things for

-us all.  Now is the time to sow; then will be the time

-to reap the harvest!"

-

-The expression of her face had changed.  A dark,

-fierce light seemed to illumine her features.

-

-"We shall win yet!  We are winning now, but the

-end will be swift!"

-

-"The end of some people," thought John, "will be

-devilishly swift!"  He was thinking of Manners, of

-Cherriton, and of the lady before him.

-

-"What do you think will happen?" he inquired.

-

-"They will come here, of course," she retorted,

-suddenly standing erect beside the divan and speaking with

-fiery and passionate intensity, "they will come

-here—my people!"

-

-"Your people?" interjected John, quickly.

-

-"My people," droned she, with a lift of her head.

-"You didn't know that before?  But you are one of

-us, and I can trust you now."

-

-"But everybody thinks you are an American," observed

-John, recalling what Dacent Smith had told him.

-

-"Quite true—they do think that, and for convenience

-sake I am an American—a rich American who married"—she

-lifted a scornful lip and pointed towards the

-door—"who married the Ogre."

-

-"Were you working for the—the cause when you

-married him?" inquired John.

-

-But the sudden flame that had animated her appeared

-to die away; she became once more her beautiful exotic

-self.

-

-"I have worked for the cause since——" she stopped.

-

-She, as it were, returned to earth.

-

-"Bernard," she said, when she had smoked a few

-minutes in silence, "I have something to show you."

-

-She rose, crossed the room, and unlocked a buhl

-cabinet.  A moment later she returned to John, and

-handed him an envelope.  Within was a closely written

-letter beginning: "Dearest Alice."

-

-As John glanced at the writing Mrs. Beecher Monmouth

-came behind him, and laid her manicured finger-nail on

-the bottom four lines of the first sheet.

-

-"That is all you need read," she said.

-

-The four lines at which she pointed ran:

-

-"If you think Treves has the courage for the task

-I will take your word for it—he shall be the man!"

-

-

-

-

-

-.. vspace:: 4

-

-.. _`CHAPTER X`:

-

-.. class:: center large

-

-   CHAPTER X

-

-.. vspace:: 2

-

-John looked up quickly.

-

-"Is this from Captain Cherriton?" he asked.

-

-Mrs. Beecher Monmouth shook her head.

-

-"From a far greater one than he," she answered slowly.

-

-John pricked up his ears, then flashed a glance at the

-contents of the letter.  But Mrs. Beecher Monmouth

-was very quick; he caught only the words, "secret

-session," and "ready by the twenty-eighth," when

-Mrs. Monmouth dexterously laid her white hand over the

-writing and drew it from his fingers.  She folded it and

-placed it carefully in the bosom of her dress.  She wore

-evening dress beneath her gorgeous Japanese rest gown,

-and John noticed the coquetry with which she concealed

-the letter from his view.  He was young enough to be

-affected by her beauty, and was yet old enough to suspect

-she was playing a part—was, in fact, seeking to entangle

-him for the benefit of the cause.  He put her down in

-that moment as a passionate, unscrupulous, dangerous

-woman, to whom adventure was the very breath of

-life.  Moreover, he doubted her statement that she was

-German.  She was certainly not his idea of a woman

-of Teutonic nationality.

-

-Her arm that had been resting upon his shoulder still

-remained there.  The lady's handsome face was very

-close to his; he could see deep into her smiling eyes,

-and was not comfortable under the closeness of her

-scrutiny.  His resemblance to Bernard Treves was

-striking, but it was not perfect enough, he feared, to

-deceive the watchfulness of a woman who had evidently

-been closely intimate with that young man.  He

-endeavoured to break the intensity of her gaze by leading

-her back to her chair.

-

-"Well," she whispered tenderly, "have you nothing

-to say to me?"

-

-"There are a thousand things I would like to say,"

-returned John, promptly.  "Let me light you a

-cigarette."  He struck a match and placed one of her

-buff-coloured Russian cigarettes in her fingers.  As he held

-the light, Mrs. Beecher Monmouth spoke on a new note

-of seriousness.

-

-"Bernard, I have been kindness itself to you."

-

-John assured her that she had.

-

-"When the others doubted you I clung to my belief

-in you."

-

-"You have been wonderful!" said John.

-

-"You are changed, Bernard."

-

-"That's impossible," answered John, "where you are

-concerned."  He again experienced the sensation—a

-common one with him these days—that he walked upon

-the edge of a precipice.

-

-"I have shown my confidence in you."

-

-"You mean," proceeded John, "you have spoken up

-for me to the great personage who wrote the letter."

-

-"Yes.  Are you grateful?" inquired she, looking at

-him quizzically.  She had disposed herself upon the

-divan in a graceful, languid poise.

-

-"I am more than grateful," said John.  "But, tell

-me, who is this great personage?"

-

-The lady's laughter sounded musically in the little pink

-lighted room.

-

-"Oh, my dear Bernard," she protested; "that comes

-much later."

-

-"I suppose," John said, feeling that a bold plunge

-was worth while, "the personage is the head of the

-German secret agents in England?"

-

-"What makes you think that?"

-

-"My dear Alice, you would not stand in such awe of

-anyone less important than that."  For some minutes—since

-the time he had caught sight of the letter, in fact—he

-had resolved to call her "Alice" at the earliest

-opportunity.  He was playing a part.  He had taken up

-another man's love affair at an unknown state of

-development—a dangerous thing to do.  However, the duel

-between them, he believed, was to his advantage.

-Mrs. Beecher Monmouth had made a false step.  She had

-already revealed to him the existence of a high secret

-power—a power far above and beyond Cherriton and

-Manwitz.

-

-"Alice," he said, suddenly, drawing his chair a little

-nearer and laying a hand on her arm, "tell me who is the

-Great Unknown?"

-

-"Patience, patience, Bernard.  You will hear, all in

-good time."  She lifted his hand from her arm and

-pushed him gently away.  At the same moment there

-came a low knock at the door.  A discreet pause followed

-before Mrs. Beecher Monmouth's foreign maid, in cap and

-white apron, entered.

-

-"The master's returned, ma'am."

-

-The girl spoke in a low tone, intended for her mistress's

-ear alone, and immediately went out, closing the door

-behind her.

-

-"Sit over there," commanded Mrs. Beecher Monmouth,

-waving John towards a chair at the hearth.

-"Sit over there, and be very good."

-

-John moved to the hearth.  He wondered if Bernard

-Treves had known the Ogre, or if an introduction was to

-take place.  The awkwardness of the situation was

-solved for him a moment later, when the door behind him

-opened.  In a slender strip of mirror on the opposite wall

-John saw the reflected figure of Beecher Monmouth,

-M.P.  The pink light softened a little the bilious yellow

-of his skin.  But he was still an unprepossessing object,

-with his bald head, his long, pointed nose, and his

-thin-lipped mouth.

-

-Mrs. Monmouth rose as her husband entered, and went

-towards him with hands outstretched.

-

-"William, darling," she exclaimed, "how nice of you

-to come home so early.  I must introduce you to Mr. Treves."

-

-John rose and bowed.  Beecher Monmouth put a

-large bony hand in his.  He had just returned from the

-House of Commons, and looked weary and old; he

-looked every one of his sixty-four years.  John wondered

-whether he ought to stay or not, but Mrs. Beecher

-Monmouth solved the situation by holding out her hand.

-

-"You must come and see me again, Mr. Treves."  Her

-tone was almost motherly.  He shook hands with her,

-and saw her move towards her husband and slip her arm

-through his.

-

-Husband and wife were standing together as the maid

-conducted John downstairs.

-

-"What a monument of treachery and deceit she

-is," thought John, as he stepped out into the starlit

-night.

-

-In the meantime Mrs. Beecher Monmouth had pressed

-her ungainly husband into a deep arm-chair, had

-commanded that whisky and soda should be brought, and

-was already holding the match that lit his cigar.  Beecher

-Monmouth watched her with admiration in his tired eyes.

-He was prepared to sell his soul for her, and was never

-weary of telling her that he was the luckiest man in the

-world to have won her love.

-

-"And what did my William do to-night?" she inquired,

-softly, when the whisky and soda had been placed

-at his side, and he had helped himself to a somewhat

-liberal dose.

-

-"A most boring evening," said Beecher Monmouth.

-"Irish question!"

-

-"And you saw no one interesting?" asked she.

-

-"I saw Brackston Neeve in the lobby," answered her

-husband.  "There is some talk of a military expedition

-to ——.  I don't know whether it will come off or not.

-The Cabinet, I believe, discussed it yesterday."

-

-"What did Brackston Neeve say?"

-

-Beecher Monmouth took a sip of whisky.

-

-"Why should I bore you with stupid politics?"

-

-"They aren't stupid to me," she said.  "You know

-every tiny bit of your political life interests me

-intensely."  She settled herself in a low chair beside him.  "Now you

-must tell me everything Brackston Neeve said.  He is

-in the confidence of the Cabinet, is he not?"

-

-Her husband nodded.

-

-"He has the confidence of several members of the Cabinet."

-

-"Tell me everything, William...."

-

-Half an hour later, when Monmouth had finished his

-cigar and whisky, he rose wearily, kissed her, and went to

-his room.  Mrs. Beecher Monmouth waited until he was

-safely out of the way, then, going to the telephone on the

-buhl writing-desk, rang up a number.

-

-"Is that Doctor Voules?" she inquired.

-

-At the other end of the telephone a deep voice answered

-in the affirmative.

-

-"May I call upon you at eleven o'clock to-morrow?"

-inquired Mrs. Monmouth.

-

-"Is it important?" asked the voice.

-

-Mrs. Beecher Monmouth, in the solitude of her room,

-smiled slightly.

-

-"I shall leave you to judge of that," she replied.

-

-"Very good," answered the voice.  "I shall expect you

-at eleven precisely."

-

-On the following morning Mrs. Beecher Monmouth,

-quietly, but expensively, dressed, presented herself at the

-hotel bureau.

-

-Three minutes later the lift door closed upon her and

-she was wafted swiftly upward to the third floor.  A

-page boy conducted her along a corridor, opened a door,

-and departed.

-

-The apartment into which she had been shown overlooked

-the Haymarket.  Decorations of white and gold

-caught Mrs. Monmouth's vision.  Seated at a desk from

-whence he could look down upon the busy life of the

-street below was a broad-shouldered, elderly man, who

-laid down his pen as his visitor entered.

-

-Mrs. Beecher Monmouth hurried towards him.

-

-"It is so good of you to see me, doctor," she exclaimed,

-effusively.

-

-"Oh, not at all.  I am charmed to see you," he

-answered.  He moved a little farther into the room, so

-that prying eyes from the building opposite could not

-observe him; then, with an air of great gallantry, he

-bent over Mrs. Beecher Monmouth's hand and laid his

-lips upon it.

-

-"You will sit down and tell me your news," said the

-doctor.

-

-Mrs. Monmouth accepted the offered chair.

-

-Doctor "Voules" was of middle height, sturdily, but

-not heavily, built.  He carried himself well, holding his

-head high and looking squarely and masterfully before

-him.  His head was round, his strong, heavy-jawed face

-was clean shaven, and his wide mouth drooped at the

-corners.  Both physically and intellectually the doctor

-was a formidable figure, but the harshness of his countenance

-was belied by a surface air of politeness—a politeness

-which appeared to be assumed, and which sat ill upon

-him.  His air, despite his efforts of concealment, was one

-of lofty authority.

-

-"You will tell me your important news," he said quietly.

-

-"I don't know that it is important," admitted

-Mrs. Monmouth, "but my husband heard accidentally in the

-House of Commons last night that there is talk of an

-expedition to ——."

-

-Voules's eyebrows moved very slightly.

-

-"I shall be grateful to know everything your husband

-heard."

-

-Then Mrs. Beecher Monmouth told him exactly, word

-for word, all she had managed to worm from her husband.

-

-"He considers, then," inquired Voules, "that the

-expedition is to become an accomplished fact?"

-

-Mrs. Beecher Monmouth nodded.

-

-"Did your husband learn anything else in regard to

-this most interesting little adventure?"

-

-Mrs. Monmouth shook her head.

-

-"Ah," exclaimed Voules, "it would be most useful to

-us if you could learn the name of the officer who is in

-command of the expedition.  You will keep that in

-mind?"

-

-Mrs. Beecher Monmouth assured him upon that point.

-

-"Now, in regard to your protégé, Mr. Treves," observed

-the doctor.  "This young man, I understand, is very well

-connected, and is the son of Colonel Treves?"

-

-Mrs. Monmouth nodded.

-

-"My information is that his disappearance from the

-British Army was somewhat rapid, and that fact, together

-with his propensity for drugs, gradually brought him into

-our service.  I should like to see him," went on the

-doctor, "to judge for myself; but in the meantime I can

-make much use of him.  I shall take you at your word

-and give him important duties to perform."

-

-"Thank you," observed Mrs. Monmouth.  "That is

-extremely kind of you, doctor."

-

-Voules, who had seated himself, rose now and held out

-his hand.

-

-"My compliments to you upon your excellent work."

-

-Two minutes later, with much politeness, he accompanied

-her out of the room, along the corridor, and saw

-her into the lift.

-

-When he returned to his own room, he opened the

-door of an inner apartment and summoned a thin young

-man, wearing tortoise-shell-rimmed spectacles.  The

-young man was clean shaven and was possessed of a

-somewhat small and receding chin, which gave him a

-foolish aspect.  He was not foolish in the least, however;

-he was, on the contrary, extremely fox-like and alert.

-The doctor's politeness vanished as he confronted the

-young man.

-

-"Baumer," he commanded, "come into the other

-room, please."  He crossed to his desk near the window

-overlooking the street, and seated himself.  The young

-man entered and stood at his side, awaiting instructions.

-"You will make a note," said the doctor, "that

-a Mr. Bernard Treves is to come to my house to-day week."

-

-"Very good, Excellenz," answered the young man

-deferentially.  He began to write a note in pencil on a

-small writing block he had produced.

-

-"You will also," went on the doctor, "inform Hauptman

-Rathenau that I wish to see Mr. Treves's dossier

-again."

-

-"Yes, Excellenz; but if I might be permitted to

-suggest so much, Lieutenant Treves, whose family is well

-known, would be a safer person to use for purposes of

-association with the officers at Fort Heatherpoint."

-

-"But our excellent Cherriton was educated at Oxford,"

-said the elder man.  "He is to all outward seeming an

-Englishman."

-

-"Nevertheless, Excellenz," Baumer insisted, "I feel

-we should be safer to employ an Englishman.  There is

-much freemasonry among the English, and there is

-always danger, Excellenz, that some one who knew the

-real Captain Cherriton may meet Herr Rathenau."

-

-"But Heatherpoint," said Voules, "is one of our key

-positions.  You forget that, Baumer."

-

-"No, Excellenz, I remember it perfectly."

-

-His superior was silent for a moment, then said,

-quietly, "I have decided that Cherriton shall do this

-work; he has greater experience.  This time our

-movements must be all perfect.  Our staff work here, Baumer,

-must be even superior to the staff work in France.  We

-must in no degree underrate our enemies."  He was

-silent a moment, pondering the great scheme that had

-grown in his brain months earlier—the scheme that was to

-strike a blow at the very heart of England.  His orders

-were to restore new confidence throughout Germany in

-the failing U-boat campaign.  Minutely, piece by piece,

-he had worked out his daring and masterful plan.  The

-success of his country in discovering the sailing of British

-ships; the strength and equipment of our distant

-expeditions; the amount of munitions and arms being

-manufactured—these things were in the daily routine

-of espionage.  But General von Kuhne was no believer

-in defensive operations.  He, like his friend Bernhardi,

-was a disciple of Clausewitz—a believer in offensive

-warfare.  To strike, to strike hard and unerringly, after

-minute preparation, was his ideal of strategy.  Already,

-for many weeks, he had been placing his pawns ready for

-the great coup.  Cunningly and with infinite patience he

-had prepared for the great blow that was intended to send

-a shudder through the British Isles.

-

-

-

-

-

-.. vspace:: 4

-

-.. _`CHAPTER XI`:

-

-.. class:: center large

-

-   CHAPTER XI

-

-.. vspace:: 2

-

-The little clock on Dacent Smith's mantelshelf chimed

-the hour of seven.

-

-"I am as empty as a drum," exclaimed Captain X.

-His slender figure occupied one of the Chief's deep

-armchairs.  He was smoking one of Smith's cigarettes, and

-his handsome face and audacious-looking eyes were

-upturned as he watched the smoke ascend.  "How long

-have we been here, Treves?" he inquired.

-

-"Three hours," answered John.  He too occupied one

-of Dacent Smith's deep chairs and smoked his Chief's

-cigarettes.

-

-"What about asking old Grew if he knows anything,"

-continued Captain X——.  He leaned over and pressed

-his thumb upon the electric bell push.  Almost

-immediately, and quite noiselessly, the door opened and

-Dacent Smith's big-boned manservant came into the room.

-

-"Look here, Grew," said the Captain, twisting his head

-to get a view of the tall servant.  "When do you think

-the War Council will break up?"

-

-"I couldn't say, sir," answered Grew, looking at him

-with a wooden expression.

-

-"You mean if you could, you wouldn't," returned the

-Captain.  "But I would like to tell you, Grew, that both

-of us are most devilish hungry.  Can you tell us anything

-about food?"

-

-"I have orders to serve dinner at 7.30," answered Grew.

-

-For three hours John and his companion, acting upon

-orders, had been waiting in Dacent Smith's room.  The

-Chief had been called suddenly to a meeting of the War

-Council, and had not returned.

-

-"I expect there are big things afoot," observed John,

-glancing at the other.

-

-"It's a bit unusual," answered the Captain, "for him

-to stay so long.  Perhaps he has ferreted out something

-new, and is communicating what he knows to the mighty

-ones."

-

-He suddenly turned and looked close at John.

-

-"How do you like our sort of work, Treves?"

-

-"There is nothing to beat it," John answered.  "My

-only trouble is that I am apt to lose my temper.

-Somehow I cannot stomach spies, but traitors always make

-me see red."

-

-The Captain looked at him with smiling eyes.

-

-"Mrs. Beecher Monmouth.  The Chief would never

-trust me there.  She is too beautiful by far, eh, Treves?"

-

-John agreed that Mrs. Monmouth's beauty was undeniable.

-

-"In my opinion," went on John's companion, "the

-Department ought to put her out of harm's way.  But

-the Chief knows better.  He has ordered supervision of all

-the letters she posts, and she posts a good many."

-

-The door opened at that moment and Dacent Smith

-himself came hurriedly in.  He apologised politely for

-his absence.  The fact that he was head of a great

-department, that he was indeed a great man, never

-weighed with him in regard to his subordinates.  Socially

-he treated them all as his equals; only in matters of

-discipline was he superior.  He laughed as he looked at

-his depleted cigarette-box, and then seated himself at his

-desk.

-

-With a brisk movement he switched on the light.

-

-"I have had three hours of the War Council," he said,

-speaking to both Treves and the Captain.  "Now, Treves,

-what is the news?"

-

-John told him that Mrs. Beecher Monmouth was in

-communication with a person whose name was unknown

-to him; this person was evidently of great importance

-to the German secret service, and was considering the

-employment of John in a great undertaking.

-

-"Who is the great unknown?" inquired Dacent Smith.

-

-"I don't know, sir," John admitted.

-

-The elder man tightened his lips.

-

-"Mrs. Beecher Monmouth's acquaintances are becoming

-increasingly interesting to us, eh, Treves?"

-

-"I believe so, sir," said John.

-

-"We have been a little late in supervising her letters,"

-said Dacent Smith, looking across at Captain X.  "However,"

-he said suddenly, turning the conversation, "that

-is a matter outside Treves's duties.  I have other and

-more important work for both of you.  This afternoon,"

-he went on, "I have submitted a number of reports to

-the War Council, showing that certain of our defences are

-in a sensitive condition.  Something is occurring, and

-news is leaking out at a serious rate."  He was speaking

-particularly to John.  But it was evident that he wished

-Captain X. to listen to the conversation.  "There is a

-leakage of news from certain fortified zones on the South

-Coast.  In the case of some of the lesser forts it matters

-not a brass farthing what the enemy discovers, but at

-other places—well," he continued, "it has been decided

-this afternoon that a department is to direct its special

-attention to the South Coast.  Both of you gentlemen will

-resume uniform almost at once.  You will like that, eh,

-Treves?"

-

-"Very much indeed, sir."

-

-"The War Council," went on Dacent Smith, "was

-inclined to treat my fears a little lightly, but I am sure

-I am right.  There are secret operations preparing against

-us on the South Coast, which are of a greater magnitude

-than anything that has yet been attempted by German

-espionage.  I want you"—he suddenly rose and took

-John's hand in his—"I want you, Treves, to put everything

-into this—all your shrewdness and all your tact.

-You will need every quality of nerve and mind in the work

-I am going to entrust to you.  And believe me," he said,

-lowering his voice a little, "matters are very serious

-indeed.  We are out against a secret enemy, who has of

-late increased his power amazingly.  There is some one—a

-new power—directing German espionage in this country,

-which is a real menace to us.  Up to now we have done

-very well, but at present, I will quite frankly admit to

-you, our position is delicate in the extreme.  I dislike

-preaching," he concluded in a lighter tone, "but I think

-you know what I mean."

-

-John, who had gripped his hand cordially, answered

-simply, "Yes, sir; I think I appreciate the danger."

-

-The clock on the little mantelshelf chimed the half-hour.

-Grew knocked at the door.

-

-"Dinner's ready," exclaimed Dacent Smith.  "Come

-this way, and I'll show you how a miserable old bachelor

-lives."

-

-

-

-

-

-.. vspace:: 4

-

-.. _`CHAPTER XII`:

-

-.. class:: center large

-

-   CHAPTER XII

-

-.. vspace:: 2

-

-On the Saturday following John's first experience of his

-Chief's excellent bachelor cuisine, two men sat in a little,

-barely furnished room, four hundred feet above the sea.

-There was no view from the single window of the little

-apartment, the one-story building of which it formed a

-part was deeply embedded and concealed between high

-grass-covered mounds.  Both men were beyond middle

-age, one of them, in fact, wearing the gold stripes of

-a naval commander, was over sixty years of age, a

-trim-bearded, well-preserved officer, drawn for war service

-from the reserve.

-

-Lieutenant-Commander Grieves was chief naval officer

-attached to the fort.  His companion, Colonel Hobin,

-was ten years his junior—a sharp, nervous, over-strung

-little man.  Hobin held the reputation of a first-class

-officer; he knew every yard of Heatherpoint Fort,

-which was his present charge.  His big guns were as

-children to him, and in regard to his subordinates he

-was a strict disciplinarian, with a reputation for fairness

-both to officers and to men.

-

-At the present moment he was consuming marmalade,

-which he took from its jar with a dessert-spoon and

-spread on thick bread and butter.  There were none of

-the refinements of home in the mess-room at Heatherpoint.

-A tablecloth existed, and a limited number of

-knives, forks, and spoons.  The chef of the fort was a

-gloomy looking individual who had joined up at Liverpool

-and plain and good was his motto.

-

-"I don't like it," exclaimed Hobin, suddenly.  He was

-pouring the Commander another cup of black-looking tea.

-"I don't like the look of things at all."

-

-"Nor do I," said the Commander, "but the responsibility

-is yours, and I think you did well to communicate

-with the powers that be."

-

-"The powers that be will do nothing," complained

-Colonel Hobin; "they never do."

-

-"If things are wrong at all," said the old naval

-lieutenant, "somebody in the fort's wrong, for I'll bet

-my hat nobody can get in and out without us knowing it."

-

-"That's what is really troubling me," said the Colonel,

-the frown deepening on his brow.  "It's damnable,

-Grieves, to think that we are being outwitted.  I have

-turned every man in the fort inside out, and they all seem

-to me honest as the day."

-

-"Wasn't one of the men in the lower fort reported to

-have a foreign accent?"

-

-"He was," answered the Colonel, with a bitter laugh,

-"and I had him up and put him through a third degree

-examination, with the result that his accent turned out to

-be nothing more dangerous than an Irish brogue.  He's

-as loyal as I am, and when I mentioned the fact of the

-signal book I believe if I hadn't been in uniform he would

-have hit me."

-

-"If we were one of those tin-pot forts over there,"

-returned the Lieutenant-Commander, jerking his thumb

-contemptuously in a certain direction, "I wouldn't

-mind, but we really count in the defences."

-

-"We are the heart of this system of defence," returned

-Hobin tartly, "and yet we go and lose a signal book.

-If it was only that," he went on, "I might have thought

-there was carelessness in it, but there are other things,

-queer things, Grieves, that I cannot formulate into words

-even to you.  I put it all before the authorities.  Whiston

-listened as politely as he always does, and said he'd speak

-to the Intelligence Department about it, but nothing will

-be done."

-

-"They'll have to do something."

-

-"They won't," said Hobin.  Colonel Hobin was constitutionally

-inclined to pessimism, despite his ability.

-"They won't," he said.  And at that moment the door

-opened, and a young lieutenant, who had that day

-joined the battery, entered the room.

-

-"Good evening, sir," said the young man to Colonel Hobin.

-

-Hobin nodded grumpily.  The young man drew out

-a chair, seated himself, and reached for the bread and

-butter.  Hobin, from the head of the table, handled the

-teapot.

-

-"Weak or strong?" he demanded of the new-comer.

-

-"Weak," answered John Manton, who had been at

-Heatherpoint a matter of four hours, and was taking

-his first meal in the fort.

-

-The Lieutenant-Commander pushed the marmalade

-pot towards him, and John began to spread it upon his

-bread and butter, not quite so thickly as his Colonel had

-spread it a minute or two before.

-

-Everything was in order in regard to John's presence

-at Heatherpoint.  Dacent Smith had arranged the whole

-matter, and for the first time in his life John Manton,

-who had once before been on the way to an officer's

-uniform, found himself of commissioned rank.

-

-And for once, Colonel Hobin was mistaken in thinking

-that the War Office and Intelligence Department had left

-him entirely neglected.

-

-"Well, how do you like Heatherpoint, Mr. Treves?"

-inquired the old Lieutenant-Commander genially.

-

-"So far as I have got," answered John, "I am delighted

-with the chance to be here."  He spoke truthfully.

-

-"When you've had six months of it, and been through

-the winter," said the Colonel grimly, "with your

-wind-gauge showing seventy miles an hour for weeks on end,

-and the lighthouse siren never stopping booming, I am

-afraid you won't be in quite the same cheerful mood."

-

-"I am cheerful by nature, sir," said the young man,

-tucking into the marmalade.  He ate heartily, and

-by the time he had finished the Colonel was smoking a

-cigar.

-

-Lieutenant-Commander Grieves filled his pipe, lit it,

-and, with a nod at the Colonel, sauntered out to his

-quarters.  For the first time John was alone with Hobin.

-For some minutes there was silence, then the Colonel

-spoke.

-

-"You will take the leave book to-night, Treves.  Ask

-Parkson about it."

-

-"Very good, sir," John answered.

-

-"You can go now, if you like," said the Colonel.  "Get

-Parkson to show you the run of the place before parade

-in the morning."

-

-At this point John rose mysteriously, opened the door

-into the corridor and looked out.  Then, to the Colonel's

-surprise, he closed it again, and came quietly back into

-the room.  From the inner pocket of his coat he took a

-long, narrow, yellow envelope, which he handed to Hobin.

-

-"What's this?" demanded the Colonel.  He tore open

-the envelope and began to read with furrowed brows.

-

-When Colonel Hobin had perused the official-looking

-letter a second and a third time, his brow cleared; he

-lifted his eyes and looked at John with a new and keen

-interest.

-

-"So you are from the Intelligence Department?"

-

-"Yes, sir."

-

-"I had no idea of that."

-

-"My transfer was effected as quietly as possible, sir,

-with a view to arousing no suspicion.  The letter is

-merely my credentials from General Whiston."

-

-The Colonel nodded.

-

-"Judging from this," said the Colonel, "General

-Whiston has an extremely high opinion of your gifts."

-

-John tried to look as modest as possible.

-

-"I am a great believer in luck, sir," he said, "and up

-to now I have had plenty of it."  He was thinking of

-the saving of the *Imperator*, which had brought him so

-many laurels from Dacent Smith.

-

-"I hope you'll bring luck to me," said the Colonel.

-"I can promise you I need it."  He was delighted that

-the powers that be had really sent help, despite his

-disbelief in them.  His eyes were still upon John.  He

-liked the young man's frank expression, his cheerful

-and easy manners and the bold poise of his head.

-

-"A good-looking, heftily-built youngster," thought

-he.  "I only hope he is as shrewd as he looks active."

-

-"Now, I suppose," he said aloud, "you want me to

-tell you all the trouble?"

-

-"I should like to hear of anything, sir, that has aroused

-your suspicions," said John.

-

-"That's a tall order," answered Hobin.  "Everything

-has aroused my suspicions, and yet, if I put it into words,

-it may look like nothing to you.  Have you ever had the

-sensation, Treves," he said, "that things were going

-wrong around you, and yet you could not lay your

-finger on a thing that is definitely wrong?"

-

-"I have felt that way sometimes," admitted John.

-

-"That's the way I feel now," returned the Colonel.

-Then, quite briefly, he gave John particulars of the loss

-of a signal book, which, however, might have been due

-to carelessness.  Other things he told John were also

-mere surmises and sensations.  "I must explain," he

-said, "that this fort, and Scoles Head opposite, are key

-positions in our South Coast defences.  If we were

-incapacitated, the enemy would sneak in to —— and

-wreak the devil knows what damage.  Given a big

-enough concentration of submarines, he could probably

-get fifty to a hundred ships——"

-

-"It's hardly likely," John answered, "that he will

-ever be able to sneak in."

-

-Hobin was silent for a minute, looking John over

-carefully.

-

-"Would it surprise you to hear that we have already

-been incapacitated?" demanded the Colonel suddenly.

-

-He thrust out his chin truculently as though

-challenging John to doubt him.

-

-"How was that, sir?"

-

-"For an hour one morning last week the whole eastern

-side of Upper Fort was out of action.  I've been a

-gunner for thirty years, Treves, and until now such a

-thing has never occurred in my experience."

-

-"Could it have been an accident, sir?"

-

-"In normal times," answered the Colonel, impressively,

-"I would have said yes; now I say, no!  Three of the

-guns, numbers one, six and eight, in this battery"—he

-jerked his head towards the south—"went wrong

-suddenly.  A cleaning squad was at work on number one,

-and discovered that the gun could not be handled at all.

-It was just after daylight in the morning.  You know

-how perfectly these six- and nine-inch guns are swung?"

-

-John nodded.

-

-"A child can swing them like a toy cannon.  My own

-boy's often done it," went on the Colonel.  "Well, on

-this particular morning the guns would not elevate.

-Just lay inert, like dead masses of metal.  Everything

-was in order, both in the gun-chamber and engine house.

-But the guns wouldn't budge, and for an hour this whole

-upper fort was out of action.  If the enemy had tried to

-rush us at that time, we could have done nothing!  I

-was not quite so jumpy as now.  Not quite so many

-things had happened to arouse my suspicions, and I

-blamed Ewins."

-

-"Who is Ewins, sir?"

-

-"Our chief gunner."

-

-"Did Ewins discover what was wrong?" John asked.

-

-"Neither Ewins nor any of us," answered the Colonel.

-"What happened is a mystery to us all.  Ewins was in

-bed when the thing occurred, and, knowing how jealous

-he is of his gun, one of the cleaning squad called him.

-He came out of his hut half dressed.  I hear from Parkson

-that he was in a blind rage, and felt his gun all over, as

-a mother may feel for a bruise on her baby; but he

-could make nothing of it."

-

-"I'd rather like to see Ewins," said John, "if it can

-be managed."

-

-"He is on duty now," responded the Colonel.  "Come

-along and make his acquaintance.  But, for Heaven's

-sake, don't run away with any idea that Ewins is a wrong

-'un.  Ewins is the best gunner on the South Coast, one

-of the old rule of thumb school.  He knows nothing of

-trajectories or curves, and hardly ever looks at the wind

-gauge.  But he has made ninety-eight per cent. at a

-submarine target doing nine knots."

-

-"What was the range, sir?"

-

-The Colonel told him, and John opened his eyes in

-surprise.

-

-"Come along," said Hobin.

-

-Together they left the mess-room, crossed a narrow,

-asphalted pavement, ascended a short ladder and came

-upon a gorgeous view of the ocean and the blue waters

-of the Solent.  Beyond, to the right, lay England, an

-irregular coast-line, with swelling hills, green in the

-foreground and blue in the distance.  In the middle of

-the picture, to the right, rose the tall tower of Ponsonby

-Lighthouse.  The tower gleamed white in the bright

-sunshine.  Colonel Hobin led the way along the edge of

-a grass-covered cliff, and presently, below him, John

-observed the long muzzle of a six-inch gun camouflaged

-scarlet, blue and green.

-

-"That's Ewins's special gun," explained the Colonel.

-"You'll see he has the place of honour."

-

-The green cliff-top sloped stiffly here, and beneath

-him John could see the big, circular iron gun platform,

-and below it the ladder leading into the gun chamber.

-On a parapet beyond the gun, and on the very edge of

-the cliff, a sentry paced back and forth, his outline

-picked out sharply against the blue of the sea that

-murmured faintly four hundred feet below.  At the

-open breach of the gun itself another soldier was at work,

-a man who was long and thin, and a little grey at the

-temples.  He was delicately wiping certain shining parts

-of the weapon with an oiled rag.  As the Colonel's feet,

-followed by John, smote the iron platform, the soldier

-drew himself erect and stood at attention.

-

-"This is Ewins," said the Colonel to John.  John

-greeted Ewins with a friendly smile.  Until that moment

-he had doubted him.  Only a few days earlier he had

-met one traitor in Mrs. Beecher Monmouth, and as

-he and the Colonel approached the gun platform he

-had been wondering if in Ewins he was to meet a second.

-

-Ewins was thin-faced, with a weather-reddened skin

-and clear, brown eyes.  He was a man in the late forties,

-a typical old soldier.  John, looking at him, wondered if

-it was possible that he could have been corrupted, but

-somehow he found it difficult to suspect the man.

-

-Colonel Hobin made an excuse and left the two together.

-

-"You are in a grand position here, Ewins," said John.

-

-"Fine, sir," answered the soldier.  His accent was

-British through and through.  John gave him permission

-to carry on, and Ewins closed his breech with a

-heavy click.

-

-"The Colonel has been speaking very highly of your

-gunnery."

-

-Ewins looked up quickly, with an expression of pleasure

-in his eyes.

-

-"Has he, sir?"  He paused a moment and hesitated.

-"It makes a great difference being under him, sir; he

-sort of brings it out, if you know what I mean; puts you

-on your mettle."

-

-John made a mental note of his admiration for the

-Colonel.

-

-"I heard about your trouble last week, Ewins."

-

-"You mean Tuesday morning, sir?"

-

-"Yes," John answered.  "What was the trouble after all?"

-

-Ewins looked perplexed.

-

-"It beats me fairly, sir.  There was nothing wrong

-when they called me—that is, there was nothing wrong

-after I'd been here a minute or two.  You know how she

-works, sir."  As he spoke he almost with a finger raised

-the great muzzle of his weapon, then made a neat sweep

-to right and left.  "Well, she just lay here like a dead

-thing."

-

-"I suppose the explanation would be simple enough

-if we only knew it," answered John.

-

-Ewins shook his head.

-

-"I don't like it, sir.  I was pretty wild that morning,

-thinking some of these young recruits had been

-messing about, but the same thing had happened to

-number six and eight."  He pointed to a lower platform,

-beyond where the sentry was passing.  "They went

-wrong that same morning," he continued.

-

-"And got right again in the same mysterious way?"

-inquired John.

-

-"Yes, sir."

-

-"You don't think any of your cleaning squad had a

-hand in it?" inquired John.

-

-"No, sir; I talked pretty straight to them, but it

-wasn't them."

-

-"Perhaps you have an enemy in the fort, Ewins?"

-

-The old soldier smiled.

-

-"I don't know about that, sir," he said; "but everybody

-seems pretty friendly with me.  I have been here

-a long time, sir."

-

-"So I hear," said John.

-

-"I don't think anybody in the fort, sir," Ewins went

-on, "would do a dirty trick on me like that.  You see,

-sir," he said, in a voice of intense seriousness, "it put

-us out of Action."

-

-John was silent for a moment.  For the first time the

-full gravity of what had happened struck his consciousness.

-

-"I'll swear it wasn't an accident," continued Ewins,

-emphatically.  "Old 'Crumbs' said it was; but he

-don't know anything about guns."

-

-"Who's 'Crumbs'?"

-

-"I beg pardon, sir; I meant Private Sims, the baker."

-

-"He said it was an accident?" pursued John.

-

-"Yes, sir.  I lost my temper that morning, and when

-I come here and found how things were, I gave one of

-the squad a bit of a push."

-

-"Was 'Crumbs' one of the squad?"

-

-"Oh, no, sir; he come in to bring me a lump of cake."

-Ewins looked sheepish a moment.  "You see, sir, I am

-partial to cake, and he generally hands me a bit at odd

-times.  He was in the gun chamber when I got here,

-sir, looking for me, with a bit of cake in his hand."

-

-"But it was five o'clock in the morning!"

-

-"It was new cake," said Ewins; "he'd just baked it."

-

-"But you weren't supposed to be on duty."

-

-"No, sir," answered Ewins.

-

-"Wouldn't 'Crumbs'—Private Sims—know you were

-off duty?" probed John.

-

-Ewins smiled again.

-

-"He don't know much about soldiering, sir; they

-never do."

-

-John had further talk with the chief gunner, which

-talk grew more and more technical as Ewins noticed

-John's interest in his work.  But after a good many

-questions it still seemed to John that "Crumbs" walking

-about with cake at five o'clock in the morning showed

-an excessive benevolence.  He felt he wanted to make

-the acquaintance of "Crumbs."  And before going back

-to the Colonel in the mess-room, he looked in at the

-bake-house, a single-storied building next to the kitchen.

-

-"Crumbs" was in a white apron and a white cap

-when John entered and found him at work.  The bake-house

-was dark, the air warm and fragrant with a scent

-of freshly-baked loaves.  "Crumbs," with flour on his

-eyelashes, and a heavy, drooping moustache, also powdered

-with flour, turned as John entered.  In his hands he

-held a big iron tray of newly-baked loaves.  John

-introduced himself.  He felt that every step he made must

-be made with infinite caution.

-

-"You've got a fine bakehouse here, Sims."

-

-"Yes, sir; not so bad."

-

-"I hear you are a master hand at cake making."

-

-"Well, not exactly," deprecated "Crumbs."  "I can

-hardly say that."  He placed his tray of bread on the

-table.

-

-"Sergeant Ewins tells me he's very fond of cake,"

-went on John.

-

-"Crumbs's" eyes moved quickly.  The momentary,

-fleeting glance he cast at John was unobserved.

-

-"The sergeant has a sweet tooth, sir."

-

-"So have I," answered John, with a smile.  "Perhaps

-you will make a note of that, Sims."

-

-Sims smiled.  John noticed that his complexion was

-sallow, that he was a loosely built, shambling man of

-forty.  There was nothing in the least suspicious about

-him.  No trace, so far as John could gather, of a foreign

-accent.  He went out of the bakehouse in a dissatisfied

-frame of mind.

-

-The mystery of the guns was still a mystery.

-

-.. vspace:: 1

-

-.. class:: center white-space-pre-line

-

-   \*      \*      \*      \*      \*

-

-.. vspace:: 1

-

-Next morning, at parade, John ran his eye along the

-men of the battery until it rested upon "Crumbs."  The

-man, with his sallow complexion and glassy eyes, struck

-him as looking vacant and somewhat foolish.

-

-"You are either that, my friend," thought John, "or

-most devilish cunning.  I wonder which it is?"

-

-He made it his business during that day, and the days

-which followed, to acquaint himself with every member

-of the battery.  Nothing, however, occurred to arouse

-his suspicion or to give him the slightest clue to the

-untoward things that had happened.  He wrote a letter

-to Dacent Smith reporting matters, and on the afternoon

-of the third day he decided to go into Newport for an

-afternoon's recreation.  Colonel Hobin granted him

-leave instantly—and then John changed his mind, and

-decided not to go.  He had no reason for staying in the

-fort, other than that he wanted to be on the spot as much

-as possible.  He took a book from the badly-equipped

-fort library, and went to his room.  Here he flung himself

-on the bed, and read for an hour or two.  Save for the

-never-ending moan of the wind and the grind of the

-wind-gauge, the fort buildings were very quiet.  Colonel Hobin,

-Parkson, and another officer were on duty, a subaltern

-was on leave, and in the four bedrooms that ran along

-the corridor John was the only occupant.  He was lying,

-deeply absorbed in his book, when something made him

-turn his gaze towards the door.  To his amazement, he

-saw the latch lift without noise.  A moment later the

-door moved cautiously open, and "Crumbs," in white

-cap and apron, came softly in.  For a minute the intruder

-did not see John.

-

-"Well, Sims, what is it?"

-

-"Crumbs's" mouth clicked shut.  The start he had

-received caused his head to jerk.

-

-"What do you want, Sims?"

-

-"Crumbs" smiled under his black, flour-speckled

-moustache.

-

-"It was the cake, sir," he said.  "You told me you

-were fond of cake, sir, and I just put a cake in the

-mess-room for you."

-

-John rose from the bed.

-

-"Is there nothing else you want?"

-

-"No, sir, thank you," answered "Crumbs," moving

-towards the door.  John noticed, as he went, that his

-nose had been flattened at the bridge, as though at some

-time or other a heavy blow had fallen upon it.

-

-"I only wondered," John went on, "why you came

-into my room."

-

-"Merely to tell you about the cake, sir."

-

-He went out, closing the door quietly behind him.

-When the door was shut between himself and John, he

-drew himself suddenly erect, and listened for a moment,

-then moved quickly away down the passage.

-

-

-

-

-

-.. vspace:: 4

-

-.. _`CHAPTER XIII`:

-

-.. class:: center large

-

-   CHAPTER XIII

-

-.. vspace:: 2

-

-"'Crumbs' is the man," thought John the moment he

-opened his eyes next morning.  During the night he had

-been awake for hours pondering the situation, and this

-was the decision he had arrived at.  He decided, however,

-to say nothing of his suspicions to Hobin or to anyone

-else until "Crumbs" had further committed himself.

-Possibly, after all, he was mistaken; only time could

-tell.  The first thing he did, however, when breakfast

-was at an end, was to write a note to Dacent Smith,

-asking that Private Sims's history might be discreetly

-inquired into.

-

-"I think Private Sims is not quite what he seems," said

-John, concluding his letter.  Nevertheless, if "Crumbs"

-was the suspicious character John believed him to be, he

-possessed an extraordinary talent for hiding his guilt.

-

-John had pursued his investigations with such closeness

-during the past days, he now felt that the time had

-come when he might reasonably seek a certain amount

-of relaxation.

-

-Therefore the morning of the tenth day saw him

-briskly descending the long steps cut in the face of the

-cliff to the lower fort.  Here, immediately beyond the

-fort gates, a hired car awaited him.  Manton stepped

-into the car after answering the challenge of the sentry,

-and drove down the long, winding road.  A second

-sentry challenged him at the foot of the fort road, and

-thereafter the car bowled merrily along until it reached

-the gates of Colonel Treves's house at Freshwater.

-

-John was wondering what he should say to the old

-gentleman.  During the past weeks nothing had created

-a deeper impression on his mind than the pathetic figure

-of Bernard Treves's father.  The old man, the soul of

-honour, cursed with a worthless son, appealed intensely

-to the sympathetic side of John's nature.  John had

-learnt something of Bernard Treves's recent life from

-Dacent Smith.  Following the discovery that the young

-man had been associated with Manwitz and Cherriton,

-he had been kept in a nursing home in strict confinement.

-An attempt had been made to cure him of his drug

-habit, with the result that he had suffered an utter

-physical collapse, and now was lying seriously ill.  John,

-in discussing the matter with Dacent Smith, had

-mentioned the old Colonel, and the deception that had been

-practised upon him.

-

-"When the time comes," the Chief had answered,

-"you can either reveal your real identity to Colonel

-Treves, or not, as you wish.  In any case, I rather doubt

-if his amiable son will appear on the scene again; that is

-a matter entirely for the military authorities.  From

-what I hear," Dacent Smith continued, "the old Colonel

-hasn't much of this life before him, and if he learnt the

-truth about his son I know exactly what would happen.

-He would not be able to face it.  Either death would

-mercifully carry him off, or——" John nodded, "or," he

-thought, "he would seek the death he once offered me."  John

-saw now that the deception that had been practised

-upon the Colonel at the instigation of his friend, General

-Whiston, and Dacent Smith, was possibly the kindest

-thing that could have happened.

-

-At the door of the house, Gates, the elderly butler,

-appeared in answer to John's ring.  For a moment the

-servant paused wide-eyed, staring at the erect figure in

-uniform on the threshold.

-

-"Why, Master Bernard!" he exclaimed, "I didn't

-recognise you for a minute.  Come in, sir; I'll get your

-luggage."

-

-"There isn't any luggage.  Is—is my father in the

-library?"

-

-"Yes, sir."

-

-"How is he, Gates?"

-

-"Just the same as usual, sir."  Then the old servant

-forgot himself for a brief moment.  "He'll be beside

-himself with delight, sir," he said, "to see you like that,

-back again in the Army, an' all."

-

-John moved to cross the wide hall, but Gates followed

-him instantly.

-

-"Perhaps I'd better break the news to him, sir; it's

-a little sudden like."

-

-John followed him, and when the elderly butler knocked

-at the baize-covered door of the library a minute later,

-he heard Colonel Treves's voice from within.  Gates

-went into the room and closed the door behind him.

-The old Colonel was seated in his deep chair near the

-hearth.

-

-"I beg your pardon, sir," said Gates, crossing and

-standing before him, "but Mr. Bernard has returned."

-

-Colonel Treves, who held a book on his knee, laid down

-his big reading glass on its open page, and lifted his head

-slowly.  There was a stern light in his old faded eyes.

-

-"I won't see my son, Gates!"

-

-"Pardon me, sir," protested the old servant, "I

-think you would like to see him."

-

-Colonel Treves rose to his feet, felt for his stick, and

-began to move feebly across the room.

-

-"He is no son of mine, Gates," he said, as he went.

-"You can tell him that.  A liar and a humbug," he

-said.  "Always a liar and a humbug.  No soul of truth

-in him, no honour——"

-

-But Gates, the faithful servant of thirty years, knew

-his master well.  He made no attempt to argue with

-the Colonel, but moved quietly to the door behind which

-John was waiting, and whispered, "Come in, Mr. Bernard."

-

-John entered, and crossing the soft carpet laid his hand

-on the old Colonel's shoulder.  The Colonel turned

-quickly, flinging up his head in indignation, then

-something took place on his face that touched John to the

-heart.  The old firm lips quivered a moment.

-

-"Is that you, Bernard?" he asked.  He came nearer,

-peering at John, looking at the upright, uniformed

-figure.  "I can't believe it," he added.

-

-"It is true, sir," said John.  "I received a commission

-a month ago."

-

-"Take my arm, boy," said the Colonel, suddenly;

-"lead me back to the chair."

-

-John led him across to his deep chair, and Gates

-softly went out of the room.  When the Colonel was

-seated, he fumbled for his strong glasses, and put them

-on with fingers that shook visibly.  Once again he looked

-John over from head to foot.

-

-"It's the good blood that tells," he said after a long

-pause.  Suddenly he broke into a laugh.  "Do you

-know, Bernard, boy," he said, "a minute ago I was

-telling Gates you were no son of mine.  You see, I

-thought you had broken your promise; you broke it so

-often before."

-

-"That may be, sir," answered John quietly, "but

-this time I managed to keep it."

-

-He permitted John to help him into his chair at the

-hearthside, and John, at his bidding, rang the bell.

-

-"Gates," said the Colonel, when the old servant

-entered, "serve tea up here; I and my boy will have it

-together."

-

-"Very good, sir."

-

-"Now, Bernard, boy, tell me your news!" demanded

-the old soldier, when Gates had left the room.

-

-John gave a sketchy, vague account of his doings

-during the past weeks.

-

-"And so you are with Colonel Hobin.  You must give

-him my kind remembrances; we met thirty years ago,

-when he was a subaltern at Aldershot.  He had the

-making of a good soldier, I remember."  He talked on,

-on general matters, and all the while John felt that his

-mind was solely occupied with his pride and satisfaction

-at seeing his son in uniform once again.  In his excitement

-and pleasure he forgot two letters that had reposed

-on his desk for two days, waiting for John.  Finally, he

-remembered them.  "I must give you your letters, Bernard."

-

-"Thank you, sir," answered John, "I'll get them

-myself, if you tell me where they are?"

-

-He found the letters on the Colonel's desk, and

-excused himself for reading them.  The first letter began:

-"Dear Bernard," and the first sentence ran: "You bad,

-bad boy."  John knew in a moment that it was from

-Mrs. Beecher Monmouth, and skimmed the four closely

-written pages casually.

-

-.. vspace:: 2

-

-"*Have you seen the Great One yet? ... The Ogre is

-always in the House of Commons now ... I am utterly

-alone ... I wonder if any fine, handsome young man is

-thinking of sending me a hundred Russian cigarettes, the

-same as the last....  Next time you come, you must not

-be nearly so bold....*—Yours, ALICE."

-

-.. vspace:: 2

-

-"A very satisfactory letter," thought John, "if I had

-happened to care two straws about her."  A vision of

-Mrs. Beecher Monmouth's brilliant beauty came before

-his eyes.  It seemed strange to think that this woman,

-in the heart of London society, was a traitor, using

-her gifts of fortune and beauty for the nefarious purpose

-of ruining her own country, but such was indeed the case.

-What had been the original cause of Mrs. Beecher

-Monmouth's treachery, John did not know; only afterwards

-was the full truth made plain to him.

-

-He opened the second letter, which was in a

-handwriting unknown to him.  The note was from Captain

-Cherriton, to whom he had given this address when he

-left London.

-

-.. vspace:: 2

-

-"DEAR TREVES," ran the letter—"*Will you please

-call at Rollo Meads one day next week, Tuesday for

-preference, at five in the afternoon?  I shall be there,

-and you will meet a new friend, Doctor Voules, who will

-supply you with what you want.*"  (He was referring to

-the tabloids Manwitz had been in the habit of supplying

-to Treves.)  "* Our old friend,*" went on the letter,

-"*who formerly supplied you, you will regret to hear,

-was taken ill, and has gone away to the coast for a time*.

-

-.. class:: noindent

-

-"*Yours very truly,*

-    "JOHN CHERRITON."

-

-.. vspace:: 2

-

-John folded this letter carefully and placed it within

-his pocket-book.  A specimen of Cherriton's handwriting,

-he inwardly decided, would be useful to Dacent

-Smith.  Half an hour later John took his departure, and

-the old Colonel accompanied him to the door of the house.

-

-"Good-bye, my boy," said the old man, gripping his

-hand at parting, "come again soon"; then he lowered

-his voice so that Gates, who was waiting at John's hired

-car, could not hear, "Bernard, boy," said the Colonel

-wistfully, "when you are tempted to go a little wrong,

-just keep in mind that I am believing in you."

-

-"Very good, sir," John answered, "I won't forget

-that."  He stood at salute a moment, then ran down the

-steps and sprang into the car.

-

-"Good-bye, sir," said Gates, the old butler.

-

-"Good-bye," cried John as the car whirled out of the

-avenue.

-

-When John reached the foot of Heatherpoint Hill, and

-began to ascend the long slope towards the fort, it was

-already seven o'clock.  The sun lay low in the west,

-and there was no wind.

-

-"Fine visibility if there was any shooting for Ewins,"

-thought John.

-

-The car halted before the first sentry.

-

-"Friend," said John.

-

-"Pass, friend," answered the man.

-

-A minute later, from his seat in the car, John was able

-to see the south shore of the island, and obtained a

-momentary glimpse of a strip of sand below, which was

-accessible only to those within the area of the fort itself.

-Looking down into the little bay three hundred feet

-below, John was caught with admiration by the mirror-like

-blue of the water, the languid white roll of the

-waves.  The little beach, as always, was deserted,

-or at least, John thought so in the first moment.

-But a second glance showed him that a soldier was

-strolling about with apparent aimlessness down below.

-The man was smoking a cigarette, and in the clear

-evening air John could plainly see the white smoke.

-So much he saw, when the man was lost to view.

-

-In the fort, a minute later, John caught himself

-wondering what soldier it was.

-

-"Evidently somebody who is fond of his own

-company," thought John.  He went up to Commander

-Grieves's look-out.  The old naval officer was at the

-long telescope.  "May I have a squint through that,

-sir?" John requested.

-

-"By all means, youngster, by all means," returned the

-old man; "here you are."  He swung the telescope,

-and John found that, to his chagrin, he could see nothing

-of the man on the strip of beach below.

-

-"What do you want to see?" asked Commander Grieves.

-

-"I want to look sharp down from here to the south,"

-John said.  "Some one from the fort is walking down

-there, and I'm wondering who it is."

-

-"You can't see with this; I'll lend you my Zeiss,"

-returned the Commander.  He took out a pair of binoculars,

-and handed them to John.  "We do not cover that

-bit of shore," said Grieves, "either with the guns or with

-the searchlights.  It's of no importance, and isn't

-navigable for anything drawing more than three feet of water."

-

-John took the binoculars, and thanked him, then went

-to the cliff edge.  Here, moving with particular caution,

-he began to focus his glasses.  When definition seemed

-to be right, he leaned carefully forward, and surveyed the

-beach below.  The soldier was still there.  After pacing

-with apparent aimlessness back and forward, he had

-seated himself on the smooth strip of sand.  At the

-present moment the khaki figure was occupied in placing

-a pebble on the sand at arm's length.  He placed a

-second small stone next to this, then made a span with

-his fingers, and put a third pebble in a line with the

-first and second.  He made another span, and placed

-down a fourth stone and a fifth beside it.  His operations

-were steady and systematic.  He was absolutely absorbed

-with his work.  John, from that cliff top, watched him

-for a full five minutes; never once did the soldier raise

-his head.  In khaki uniform, at that distance, he might

-have been any soldier at the fort.  Finally, however,

-when he had finished his operations, which had grown

-more and more interesting to John, he rose and looked at

-his handiwork upon the smooth sand.  Evidently he had

-completed his task, whatever it was, for he turned and

-continued his aimless strolling.  This time he was pacing

-towards the fort, and as he turned he lifted his eyes,

-and swept the cliff in a swift, embracing glance.  In an

-instant John had recognised the sallow, upturned face

-of "Crumbs."

-

-For a full ten minutes he waited, holding himself back.

-At the end of that time, however, he again cautiously

-approached and looked down.  Below him spread the

-bright golden sands, a few chalk boulders were scattered

-here and there, and the waves continued to roll and

-break languidly as before.

-

-The figure of "Crumbs" had now vanished from the

-sands.  A steep, winding path ascended the cliff to the

-fort, and it was upon that path that John again saw

-Sims.  It was a good twenty minutes' walk from where

-"Crumbs" was to the fort itself, and John, after watching

-him for a minute, lowered his glasses, rose and made his

-way back to the mess-room.

-

-"Collins," he said to an orderly, "bring me the leave

-book."

-

-When the leave book was in his hand he ran his finger

-quickly down the list of names.

-

-"Pte. Sims, eight o'clock," he read.

-

-Sims was on leave until eight.

-

-"I'll wait and investigate," thought John, "when

-he is safely in his quarters."

-

-He went to his room after that, took the cartridges

-out of his Colt automatic revolver and examined the

-weapon closely.  Having reloaded the pistol, he slipped

-it into his hip pocket.

-

-At eight o'clock, when John passed across the asphalt

-pavement between the officers' quarters and the kitchen,

-he was able to observe Sims, who was fond of his

-bake-house, sitting in the open doorway of the bakehouse

-itself, innocently reading the morning's paper.  He

-appeared not to be aware of John's departure, and

-continued to read.

-

-Manton, in the meantime, made his way towards the

-sentinel-guarded wire entanglements.  A tall, double

-ladder, spanning the entanglement, here permitted exit

-on to the cliff edge behind the fort.  The ladder was a

-temporary affair, drawn in always at night, thus making

-the fort, with the aid of the sentries, impregnable from

-the rear.

-

-The sun was low in the west when John reached the

-expanse of sand whereon "Crumbs" had occupied

-himself.  Once upon the shore, it was the simplest matter

-in the world to trace "Crumbs's" path.  He walked

-briskly, following the man's footsteps, full of a keen

-desire to know what "Crumbs" had been doing.  No

-ordinary purpose, thought John, had been at the back

-of "Crumbs's" operations.  Nevertheless, an ordinary

-observer watching, as John had watched, would have

-entertained no suspicion at all.

-

-"Perhaps," mused John, as he followed "Crumbs's"

-irregular footprints, "I am a fool for my pains!  He

-may be the mere aimless nonentity he seems to be."  He

-remembered that "Crumbs" was known to be a

-collector of shells, that he spent a good deal of time

-searching for specimens upon the foreshore.  A baker

-and a conchologist are incongruous mixtures at any time.

-Especially were they incongruous on that coast where

-shells are almost non-existent.  Keenly interested he

-drew nearer to the spot whereon "Crumbs" had occupied

-himself, but the smooth sand was undisturbed save for

-the man's heavy-footed indentations.

-

-John's spirits instantly fell.  There was nothing upon

-that spot which in the slightest degree could arouse his

-suspicions.  The sand was smooth and firm, with round,

-sea-eroded pebbles plentifully scattered here and

-there—the usual pebbles that lay in thousands upon the

-beach.

-

-"After all, I was a fool!" thought John.

-

-He could see quite clearly the impress of "Crumbs's"

-body as it had lain upon the ground.  And as he stood

-looking upon this impression he observed that "Crumbs"

-had made what might be called a crude pattern with

-pebbles—a row of parallel lines.  John was able to

-make out, in all, three separate lines of stones.

-

-For a long minute he remained looking down upon

-these innocent-seeming pebbles laid out with childish

-regularity.  Then gradually his first suspicions returned.

-His attention ran along the orderly row of little

-stones—a third and a fourth time.

-

-And suddenly a vivid light blazed in his eyes.  He

-uttered an exclamation under his breath.

-

-"Great Scott! so that's it."

-

-His whole mind focused upon the pebbles; he began

-to speak in measured tones.

-

-"Dot-dash-dot-dash; dash-dash-dash."

-

-As the words left his lips on the solitude of the sands,

-he was conscious of a quick thrill of excitement.  The

-stones laid thus innocently held a sinister meaning spelt

-out in the Morse code.  Two pebbles lay together, then

-further to the right an isolated pebble, then again two

-pebbles.

-

-"Dash-dot-dash," John interpreted.

-

-The message was quite a long one.  With a glance at

-the cliff edge—he knew that "Crumbs" was safely in

-his quarters—John took out his pocket-book and made

-a faithful copy of "Crumbs's" laborious message.

-

-When he had copied it all down he made his way back

-to the fort, pondering upon the significance of his

-discovery.  For whom was the message intended?  Both

-Hobin and Commander Grieves had told him that the

-possibility of any enemy signalling from the fort, or to

-the fort from outside, had been completely eliminated,

-and had said, "We should instantly see any light that

-might be exhibited by an enemy."

-

-"And yet," thought John, "our ingenious friend,

-'Crumbs,' seems to have thought out a plan which

-evades every one of their precautions."

-

-The ingenuity and simplicity of "Crumbs's" plan

-struck him with astonishment.  It was clear to John

-that "Crumbs" regularly placed his innocent-looking

-messages on the sands, to be subsequently taken up by a

-confederate who came ashore from a submarine in the

-darkness.

-

-"Cunning isn't the word for him," thought John, as he

-hurried towards the fort.

-

-

-

-

-

-.. vspace:: 4

-

-.. _`CHAPTER XIV`:

-

-.. class:: center large

-

-   CHAPTER XIV

-

-.. vspace:: 2

-

-A few minutes later in his own room and by candle-light

-he set to work to find a meaning for the arrangement

-of little pebbles "Crumbs" had placed upon the

-foreshore.  A dozen times he went over the dot-dash

-lines in his pocket-book, and each time the hidden

-meaning intensified in clarity.  Finally, he began to write

-with a sudden vivid and passionate interest.

-

-The first word defined was "Oberst."  Then he

-continued slowly and carefully: "*Mistrauish und aufgeregt.

-Neue Minen karte in Händen des Capitans.  Nicht

-möglich es sofort zu finden.  Von R. ist nichts zu hören.

-Ganze geschichte schwierig.  Bitte um antwort.—S*.

-

-"So, friend 'Crumbs' is a German after all, and an

-educated German at that," he exclaimed under his breath.

-

-Then he took his pencil and began to translate the

-message.  The result in English was as follows:

-

-"*Colonel suspicious and nervous.  New mine chart in

-hands of naval commander; impossible to find it at once.

-No news of R.  Matters difficult.  Answer this.—S.*"

-

-John looked up with a grave face.  Almost for the first

-time he felt a doubt.  In that moment he almost doubted

-even Dacent Smith's power to cope with such subtlety,

-such ingenious co-ordination as this.

-

-"Crumbs" was a spy actually in the heart of a vital

-fort, a spy who was possibly one of a score, or a hundred,

-busy upon the South Coast at that moment.  John felt

-oppressed by a consciousness of dark agencies planning

-evil.  Here was no romance.  Here was real, hard, solid

-fact; War.  Sims was an item in this warfare, one of

-a chain, of which Manwitz, Cherriton, Mrs. Beecher

-Monmouth, and the great unknown himself were

-all separate links.

-

-For some minutes John paced the narrow confines of his

-room.

-

-Who was R. from whom no news had arrived?  A

-sensation that calamity and failure was possible bore in

-upon him.  He had made a discovery truly, but would

-that discovery mean the frustration of the mysterious

-attack that was impending?  He did not know, he hardly

-dared to hope.

-

-"If Heatherpoint Fort were out of action," Colonel

-Hobin had said, "and if Scoles Head were similarly out

-of action, there might be the devil to pay."

-

-John realised as he paced his little room with

-"Crumbs's" message in his hand, that an attack by sea

-was planned.  Otherwise why the mention of the new

-mine chart?  And if an attack by sea was intended on

-the great naval port of ... Scoles and Heatherpoint

-must be first put out of action.  After that, the boom

-which ran across from Ponsonby Lighthouse to ... must

-be overcome.

-

-He looked again at the message.

-

-"This must be got to Dacent Smith at once," thought

-he; "and in the meantime 'Crumbs' must be watched."

-

-He placed the message carefully in his pocket-book.

-Then, a new thought having struck him, he hurried out

-and sought Sergeant Ewins.  The sergeant occupied one

-compartment of an old railway coach, which had been

-turned into huts for the men.  Ewins was lying on his

-bunk when John entered, reading a Sunday paper by the

-light of a fort candle as thick as a man's wrist.

-

-"I want to have a word with you, Ewins," said John,

-sitting on the edge of the chief gunner's bunk, which had

-formerly been a railway seat.  "Can you tell me," he

-went on, "if it is possible for anyone to make a landing

-on the south shore, there?  I mean in the bay below

-the look-out."

-

-"It's possible, of course," Ewins answered, "but risky."

-

-"You don't think it possible," inquired John, "for a

-submarine to lie out there in the bay and send a small

-canvas boat ashore?"

-

-Ewins shook his head.

-

-"You've forgotten our minefield—a submarine could

-not pass it, sir."

-

-"No, I haven't forgotten that," answered John;

-"but suppose the Germans know where our mines are?"

-

-"Then they'd know more than we do, sir," answered

-Ewins.  "Nobody in the fort knows that, except the

-Commander, and perhaps the Colonel."

-

-"The reason I am asking you," went on John, "is that

-I have discovered something and want to give you an

-opportunity of coming down on the shore with me."

-

-"To-night, sir?" inquired Ewins.

-

-John nodded.

-

-"I suppose, Ewins, it seems fantastical and impossible

-to you, but I have a theory that the Germans intend to

-bring a boat ashore there.  In my opinion, they have

-been there before to-night."

-

-Ewins's eyes opened wide.

-

-"Do you think that is so, sir?" he asked in a voice of

-deep amazement.  Then his eyes brightened.  "I'd

-like to come with you, sir, if you think there's any

-likelihood of that sort of thing."

-

-"I don't only think it, I know it," said John.  "It

-may not be to-night, because of the full moon, nor

-to-morrow night.  But some time or other, and maybe

-soon, I am prepared to bet my hat that a German will

-land from the sea.  He will land, Ewins, in the bay below

-us, within a quarter of a mile of where we are now sitting."

-

-The manner in which Ewins took this information filled

-John with satisfaction.  The old soldier was spoiling for

-a fight.  For four years he had had nothing better to

-shoot at than a target, and he was longing for a chance of

-real action.

-

-Nevertheless John's fear was correct, for that night

-and the next night the moon shone brilliantly, and

-nothing happened on the shore.  "Crumbs's" message

-lay unread in the bright moonlight.  The third night,

-however, the sky was overcast.

-

-But by a sudden, swift turn of circumstances John was

-not there to see what happened.

-

-Manton's record on "Crumbs's" secret signal had been

-taken with the utmost seriousness by Dacent Smith, and

-on the afternoon of the third day, when John was alone

-at tea in the mess-room, an orderly thumped along the

-passage.

-

-"A gentleman to see you, sir," said the orderly.

-

-"What's his name?" John asked.

-

-"Captain Sinclair, sir."

-

-John rose, and a minute later Captain X. stepped into

-the little room.  Captain X. was in uniform, and John

-noticed that he wore the Mons ribbon and the D.S.O.

-

-"Surprised to see me, eh?" exclaimed the young man,

-gripping John's hand heartily; then dropping his voice,

-"I'm here from the Chief.  Is it quite private here?"

-

-"Quite," John answered, "but I would rather take you

-into my room."

-

-They went along the passage to John's bedroom.

-John seated himself on the bed, and Captain X. or Sinclair

-occupied the only chair.

-

-"The Chief's thoroughly stirred up," said Sinclair,

-plunging into his subject without preliminary.  "He

-has passed on your information to me.  I must say you

-seem to have all the luck, Treves.  A signal on the sands,

-eh?  That beats everything for cunning.  I have heard

-of clothes being hung out in the Morse code, and Morse

-smoke signals from a chimney—by the way, do you think

-your chap Sims signals with smoke from his bakehouse?"

-

-John shook his head.

-

-"I have spent hours looking at his chimney," he said.

-"It was the first thing I thought of when I began to

-suspect him, and it was only an accident which made me

-get on to his real game after all.  I knew any kind of

-flash signal was out of the question here."

-

-"Neatest thing they've done yet, eh, Treves?  I must

-say this sort of thing makes the fight full of zipp and go,"

-he said.  Then he looked at John with a commiserating

-eye: "I am going to dash your spirits, old chap."

-

-"Well, get on with it," said John.

-

-"I am going to pick up the plums you have shaken off

-the tree."

-

-"How's that?"

-

-For answer Sinclair drew an envelope from his pocket.

-John recognised the colour and shape of the envelope in

-a minute.  He read the short, typed letter with gathered

-brows, then struck a match and destroyed it carefully.

-The letter contained an order from Dacent Smith that

-John should surrender his position at Heatherpoint to

-Captain X., and was to resume work immediately against

-Cherriton, Dr. Voules, and Mrs. Beecher Monmouth.

-

-"It's rough luck, old chap," said Captain X., "but I

-expect that before this big movement is finished you will

-have as much chance of adventure as I shall."

-

-"I hope so," said John.  "But I was looking forward

-to the result of 'Crumbs's' signal.  Last night the moon

-shone out of pure cussedness."

-

-Captain X. sprang up to the window and looked out.

-

-"It's clouding up to-night, old chap," he exclaimed

-joyously, "and you'll be away for the fun.  Hallo!" he

-said.  His eyes were lowered and were fixed upon a man

-in shirt-sleeves in the doorway opposite.  "Is that

-'Crumbs'?"

-

-"Yes," said John, "but don't let him see you looking

-at him.  I am not so sure that he hasn't spotted something."

-

-"He'll spot something in a day or two," said Captain

-X., coming back from the window, "and in the meantime

-the Chief's orders are to leave him a long rope."

-

-John's orders from his Chief were that he should

-report to Colonel Hobin and leave Heatherpoint

-immediately.  He began to change his clothes, and talked

-to his companion at the same time.

-

-"You can rub acquaintance with 'Crumbs' while I

-get out of the fort," he said.  "He mustn't see me in

-mufti.  I shall spend a night in Newport, and call on

-Dr. Voules to-morrow morning."

-

-"Who do you think Voules is?" asked the Captain.

-

-John shook his head.

-

-"I shall know more about that to-morrow," he said.

-

-When he was ready to go he shook hands cordially with

-his companion.  He always felt older than Captain X.,

-though their ages were the same.  Captain X.'s audacity

-and joy in life amused John.  His colleague always put

-so much zest into everything he did.

-

-"I should advise you," he said, gripping the Captain's

-hand, "to use Ewins if you want any help on the beach

-to-night.  He is an old soldier, and I should think, if an

-awkward moment arrived, you could rely on him."

-

-"Thanks," said Sinclair.  "This is a new game for me.

-I have never had the chance of angling for a German

-submarine commander before, but I expect there'll be

-one ashore here to-night, eh, Treves?"

-

-"Somebody comes ashore," responded John, "and

-reads those signals."

-

-He went out and sat in the mess-room for a few minutes,

-leaving Sinclair time to occupy "Crumbs'" attention

-while he slipped away from the fort.

-

-

-

-

-

-.. vspace:: 4

-

-.. _`CHAPTER XV`:

-

-.. class:: center large

-

-   CHAPTER XV

-

-.. vspace:: 2

-

-The situation at Heatherpoint was exactly to the

-liking of Captain Sinclair.  He realised, from what

-John had told him, that "Crumbs" was no mean

-antagonist, and he was feverish to make the spy's

-acquaintance.  But the manner in which he strolled

-into "Crumbs's" bakehouse before John's departure

-was the most casual in the world.  One of Sinclair's

-chief gifts was an innocent and infectious smile, and under

-the most trying of circumstances he was always cheerful.

-With this smiling cheeriness of manner Sinclair possessed,

-as is often the case, a fair share of astuteness.

-

-"It smells good in here," he said, putting his head into

-"Crumbs's" warm atmosphere.

-

-"Crumbs," who was kneading dough at his board,

-turned about.

-

-"Don't mind me," said Sinclair cheerfully.  He

-stepped into the bakehouse and held a good-humoured

-conversation with "Crumbs."  He spent a quarter of an

-hour in cheery garrulity, and when he went away,

-"Crumbs," from the darkness of his lair, watched him

-stride across the asphalt yard towards the officers'

-quarters.  The man's eyes narrowed as he recalled that

-Sinclair had been peering at him out of John's quarters a

-little while earlier.  When his work was finished that

-night "Crumbs" cleaned himself and had a chat with

-Ewins, who was smoking a pipe on the step of the old

-railway carriage that formed both men's quarters in the

-upper fort.

-

-"Who's this new captain we got?" Private Sims asked.

-

-"Don't know," answered Ewins.  "He's done his bit,

-seemingly."  He was referring to Sinclair's Mons ribbon

-and the D.S.O.

-

-"We seem to be getting a lot of changes lately,"

-pursued "Crumbs."  He had removed the flour from his

-eyelashes and moustache, and his lean, sallow, discontented

-face and glassy, strange-looking eyes struck Ewins

-as particularly unpleasant.  Sims was generous in

-handing cake and so forth whenever chance occurred,

-but he was not liked in the fort.  The other men could not

-get the hang of him, and when he rose presently and

-shambled away into the fort buildings, Ewins, who was

-expecting every minute to be called by Sinclair, was not

-sorry.

-

-For an hour or two that evening "Crumbs" pottered

-about.  He gossiped in the kitchen, had a talk with the

-sergeant controlling the leave-book, found his way into

-the mess-room, and complained to Parkson, who was

-adjutant, on the quality of the flour being supplied from

-outside.  After that the Colonel met him in the corridor,

-where he had no right to be, near Sinclair's bedroom.

-And, as the Colonel was the one man in the fort, outside

-Sinclair, who knew the truth about him, he questioned

-"Crumbs" somewhat sharply.

-

-"What are you doing here, Sims?"

-

-"I have just been in, sir, to complain about the flour

-to the adjutant.  I wasn't thinking," he went on, with a

-perfect semblance of an absent-minded air, "I wasn't

-thinking, and I came here instead of going along to the

-right——"

-

-"You ought to know the run of the fort by this time,"

-said the Colonel, and passed on.

-

-It was an hour later that Sims, who had made a

-shattering discovery, sat in his cubicle of the railway

-compartment, with the door locked, and penned a rapid letter.

-He wrote fluently, in the manner of a man whose education

-has been thorough and efficient.  His lips twitched

-slightly as his pen sped over the paper.  There was a

-tense expression upon his sallow face, and he pulled

-nervously at his long, drooping moustache.

-

-At the head of the letter he put no address.

-

-.. vspace:: 2

-

-"*Dear Doctor,*" he wrote, "*our plans are threatened.

-The new officer here, Lieutenant Treves, has been watching

-me closely for the past week.  He has cross-examined

-Ewins about the guns, and evidently knows something.

-To-day a second officer has arrived, a Captain Sinclair.

-I doubt him also.  They both suspect me.  But my

-important news is that to-night I secured my first

-opportunity of going through Treves's belongings.  I was able

-to open his dispatch-box, and among other papers of

-no importance, I discovered a letter from Cherriton, with

-whom he has apparently some association.  The letter

-was signed by Cherriton, which clearly showed me that

-Treves is playing both for and against us.  I have

-suspected him for days.  I implore you, doctor, to probe

-this matter.  If you hear no more from me you will

-know that things have gone wrong.  I beg of you to act

-drastically and immediately.*—S."

-

-.. vspace:: 2

-

-When "Crumbs" had finished this letter he read it

-carefully through and avoided blotting it, so that there

-could be no trace of its existence.  When the letter had

-dried he placed it in an envelope and addressed it to

-"Dr. Voules, Rollo Meads, Brooke."

-

-It was the custom at Heatherpoint for the fort letters to

-be sent to Freshwater post office every night at seven

-precisely in a locked bag.  "Crumbs," with his letter in his

-pocket, hovered about the orderly-room until the bugle

-began to blow seven.  He then hurriedly followed the

-orderly into the mess-room, where the adjutant nightly

-locked the bag with his key.  Lieutenant Parkson was in

-the act of locking the bag when "Crumbs" shambled into

-the little room with an apology.  He handed his letter to

-Parkson, who dropped it in and locked the bag.

-

-

-

-

-

-.. vspace:: 4

-

-.. _`CHAPTER XVI`:

-

-.. class:: center large

-

-   CHAPTER XVI

-

-.. vspace:: 2

-

-John decided to walk into Freshwater, and then take

-the train to Newport.  As he made his way along the

-road from Heatherpoint, carrying a small handbag, a red

-bicycle came towards him.

-

-"Are you going to the fort?" he asked the telegraph boy.

-

-"Yes, sir."

-

-"Anything for Treves?"

-

-The boy nodded.

-

-"Lieutenant Treves, sir."

-

-A minute later John had torn open an envelope

-containing a telegram, which ran:

-

-.. vspace:: 2

-

-*Come to me at the Gordon Hotel, Newport.  Shall be

-there this evening*.  ELAINE.

-

-.. vspace:: 2

-

-Elaine's wire came to him as an utter surprise, a

-surprise that was tinctured with pleasure.  He had never

-forgotten her since their first, and only meeting.  He

-had indeed thought of her a hundred times, recalling

-her as she stood in the little room in Camden Town.

-Without doubt she was the most beautiful woman he had

-ever seen.

-

-During the past weeks every moment of his time had

-been occupied, and there had been no possibility of

-carrying out his promise to visit her.

-

-As he walked he drew out her telegram and read it

-carefully through, possibly for the sixth time.  The

-wording brought to him a measure of comfort; he felt,

-somehow, that she was not in so distressed a state of

-mind as when he had received her former wire to Bernard

-Treves.

-

-"I shall see her within an hour," thought John, as he

-stepped into a train at Freshwater.  But as the train

-drew nearer to Newport his high spirits evaporated; he

-began to argue that Elaine Treves was outside his sphere

-of work.  Dacent Smith had impressed upon him the

-intense seriousness of the German menace on the South

-Coast; no private considerations, John told himself,

-held precedence of the duty that lay before him.  Elaine

-Treves was a victim of the innocent deception he had

-been obliged to practise.  But it was not his fault that

-she was an extremely beautiful woman, and that she

-believed him to be her husband.

-

-At the Gordon Hotel, a small quiet, specklessly clean

-building, John entered the hall, and found Elaine herself

-descending the stairs.  For a moment the girl did not

-notice him, and John was free to observe the daintiness

-of her costume, the slender dignity of her figure, and the

-quite astonishing beauty of her grey, long-lashed eyes.

-The note of pathos that had been apparent when he first

-met her was now not so marked.  She struck him as

-serious, but not depressed.

-

-Elaine had descended the stairs to the vestibule before

-her eyes met his.

-

-"Oh, Bernard," she exclaimed, and instantly took his

-hand in her gloved fingers.  "But you can't have come

-in answer to my wire?" she went on.

-

-"No," said John; "I came on other business."

-

-"You are not angry with me?"

-

-"No; why should I be angry?" asked John.

-

-"Because I wired to you," said Elaine.  "Let us go

-upstairs, Bernard.  The sitting-room's empty; we can

-talk there."

-

-She led him up to a little, parlour-like apartment, with

-a gay carpet, and a circular table in the middle of the

-room.  Here she closed the door and stood with her back

-to it, looking up into John's face.  Her eyes searched his

-closely.  Her splendid beauty, the wistful expression of

-her face, a certain shy girlishness, all appealed to John's

-feelings.  He found it difficult to sustain the searching

-gaze lifted to his.

-

-Suddenly Elaine drew in a deep breath.

-

-"Bernard," she whispered, "you are different."

-

-John turned away.

-

-"Yes," he answered, quietly, "I suppose I am a little

-different."

-

-"Ever since the last time I saw you I have felt it,"

-went on Elaine.  "I have thought much of our last

-meeting," she added.

-

-"So have I," John answered lamely, not knowing

-exactly how to handle the situation.  They were seated

-now on opposite sides of the hearth, and Elaine was

-taking the hatpins out of her hat with pretty feminine

-gestures that held John's attention.

-

-"I was only going a lonely walk," she explained,

-"when I met you, but I won't go now; we'll have tea

-here together.  You will notice," she went on, placing her

-hat on her knee and piercing it with her long hatpins,

-"that I have not scolded you for failing to write to me."

-

-"I am sorry," said John, "but I have been tremendously

-occupied."

-

-"I guessed," said Elaine, "that you were at home

-with your father.  I am so glad of that, Bernard; I

-used to feel," she went on, hesitatingly, "that you were

-not treating him well, and that his indignation against

-you was—was—" she hesitated a moment—"well—justified."

-

-John had been observing her closely.

-

-"Why did you wire for me, Elaine?" he said, using

-her name for the first time.

-

-Elaine looked at him, and then away.  The colour

-rose to her cheeks, a delicate colour that enhanced her

-beauty.

-

-"I don't know," she said.  "I got a little frightened,

-I think.  You see, your friend, Captain Cherriton, began

-to call on me rather regularly."

-

-John pricked up his ears.

-

-"Did he cross-examine you about me?"

-

-Elaine shook her head.

-

-"He scarcely mentioned you."

-

-"Oh, I see," said John, suddenly enlightened; "he

-came to force his unpleasant attentions upon you.  Is

-that it?"

-

-Elaine was silent a moment.  She was thinking how

-well John carried himself.  The husband she had known,

-neurotic and nerveless and irritable, now appeared before

-her clear-eyed, calm and more manly than she had ever

-believed him to be.  She felt herself drawn to him, as

-she had felt herself attracted on that last meeting in

-London.  Her nature was quick and ready to forgive.

-

-"I had to forbid him the house in the end, Bernard."

-

-John sat suddenly erect.

-

-"Was he impudent to you?"

-

-The sudden lowering of his brows and tension of his

-figure caught Elaine's interest.

-

-"Then you do mind, Bernard?" she asked quietly.

-

-"Of course I mind, when you are insulted," he returned.

-"Or, rather, I ought to mind."

-

-For, like a blow, the thought suddenly struck him

-that he himself was treating her with gross injustice.

-It was one thing to deceive, in a good cause, Colonel

-Treves; it was another thing to deceive this young

-and beautiful girl, who was another man's wife.  And

-he, John Manton, was standing in that other man's shoes.

-

-John's situation at that moment was as delicate as

-any situation in which he had yet found himself.  It

-was an easy matter to confront Manwitz and Cherriton,

-and even Mrs. Beecher Monmouth, in the character of

-Bernard Treves.  It was not so easy to present himself

-in that character before Bernard Treves's wife.  The

-thought that had occurred to him at their first meeting

-came again into his mind; at any moment he might

-make a false step.  An unlucky turn of phrase, a lack

-of knowledge of some incident in their mutual past,

-might instantly betray him.  For Elaine Treves, despite

-her striking beauty and her intense femininity, was

-quite keenly alive and intelligent.

-

-They took tea in the hotel, and after the meal John

-suggested a walk in the town.  Elaine readily assented,

-and together they explored the quaint side streets of

-Newport.  If matters had been different, if John had

-accompanied her in his own character, and had not had

-to act a part that was extraordinarily difficult, he would

-have been in the highest of spirits.

-

-Already he had remarked upon Elaine's air of

-distinction.  She knew how to dress, how to put on her

-hat, how to make herself in all respects a delightful

-picture of girlish attraction.  John knew nothing of

-feminine economics, or he would have been aware that

-her fashionably smart costume and that pretty hat she

-wore had cost almost nothing at all, and had been mostly

-the work of her own hands.

-

-During the walk they stopped and looked into a quaint

-curiosity shop.  John admired a set of old Chippendale

-chairs and a pair of inlaid duelling pistols.  He and

-Elaine were standing close together as he spoke, and

-he felt her slender, gloved hand laid delicately on his arm.

-

-"Bernard!"

-

-"What is it?" asked John.

-

-She was looking up into his face, a pleased expression

-in her fine grey eyes.

-

-"Your taste seems to have changed utterly."

-

-"Oh, I don't know," said John.  "I—I—perhaps my

-taste has matured——"

-

-"You used to hate all old things."

-

-John was looking down into her face, that appeared

-to him now as the most beautiful in the world.  He

-made no answer to her remark, and Elaine went on:

-

-"You look at things so differently, Bernard."

-

-"In what way?" John asked.

-

-"I don't know," answered she.  "I have a sort of

-queer feeling, Bernard, that you are yourself, and yet

-there is something that has occurred to make you

-different."

-

-John felt that the discussion was drifting in an awkward

-direction.

-

-"Do you know what I think?" he remarked.

-

-"What do you think?" asked Elaine, as they walked

-together.

-

-"I think I ought to do something to make up for all

-the bad times—er—I have given you in the past."

-

-She was silent, walking along gazing before her.

-

-"They were bad times, some of them, Bernard," she

-returned, quietly.  She moved a little nearer to him as

-they walked.  "But I have always felt," she went on,

-"that it was not really you.  I feel that—that the

-unfortunate habit you had contracted, the—the——"

-

-"I understand," John intervened.

-

-"I believe now," went on Elaine, "it was not really

-you.  You were not responsible, and I always hoped

-that some time, when you had conquered yourself, you

-would become different."

-

-She paused a moment, and John felt her arm slip

-through his.  It was strange, but his pulse-beat quickened

-at this quiet manifestation of her growing feeling towards

-him.  He felt that, somehow or other, she was being

-drawn towards him, that she was, as it were, shielding

-herself under his protection.  And yet, all the time, the

-situation was an impossible one.  He had no right to

-permit advances of this sort; the deception he was

-practising upon her was utterly and completely cruel.

-What would have happened, he asked himself, if he

-had suddenly faced her and had said: "I am not your

-husband, I am not Bernard Treves—but John Manton?

-The man you believe me to be—your husband—is a

-drug-sodden and hysterical degenerate, a soldier who

-has been guilty of treachery to his country."

-

-His thoughts switched back to the necessity of turning

-the conversation.  He could feel the warmth of her arm

-resting upon his own.

-

-"Let us talk of cheerful things," he said.  "For

-instance, that is a very pretty hat you have on."

-

-"Do you like it?  I made it myself."

-

-"Yes, I like it," responded John, appearing to look

-at it with the critical eye of a husband.  "Of course,"

-he said, "it is quite easy for a hat to look well where you

-are concerned."

-

-Elaine was frankly pleased.

-

-"Why are you flattering me, Bernard?"

-

-"That wasn't flattery.  If I set out to flatter you, I

-should talk in quite a different way to that."

-

-"Do you know," she went on quickly, "when I met

-you in the hotel my heart was beating terribly.  I was

-afraid you might be angry!"

-

-"How could I be angry?"

-

-"I don't know," she said; "but sometimes, Bernard,

-you used to be so dreadfully angry at the things I did."

-

-Somehow the recollection of these things appeared to

-sweep over her, for she drew her hand away from John's

-arm.

-

-"I thought we were going to talk of cheerful things,"

-John reminded her.  He began to draw her attention

-to the quaintness of the streets, and managed, until their

-return to the hotel, to keep her mind fully occupied with

-trivialities.

-

-When they reached the little sitting-room at the hotel,

-he rang the bell and ordered dinner to be prepared for

-two at seven o'clock.

-

-"May we have it here in the sitting-room?" he asked

-the waiter.

-

-"Certainly, sir," answered the man.

-

-Elaine, whose air of constraint had quite vanished again,

-went to her room, took off her hat, and put on an

-afternoon blouse.  When she returned to the sitting-room

-John noticed her little attempt to dress herself for the

-evening.

-

-"I thought you'd like to see me in something smarter

-for dinner," she said.  "Do you like it, Bernard?"

-

-"It could not be better," said John.  Inwardly he

-was saying: "I like everything about you; I like your

-fine, dark hair; I like your frank, beautiful eyes, and

-your honesty and your simplicity, and the fact that you

-are a girl and yet a woman.  What I do dislike, however,

-is the fact that you have a waster of a husband, and that

-I have no right to be here this minute standing in that

-waster's shoes."

-

-They sat down together at the round table in the

-middle of the hotel' parlour.  The waiter, a gloomy

-individual, in tired-looking dress clothes and in a white

-shirt that should have been washed a week earlier, lit

-four pink-shaded candles, served the soup, and went away.

-Soup was followed by fish and an excellent entrée.  John,

-looking over the top of the pink-shaded candles, saw a

-brightness in Elaine's eyes.  He had been talking gaily

-keeping the conversation away from anything personal,

-and telling her anecdotes that made her laugh.  And all

-the time, although he was not aware of the fact, he was

-drawing her towards him, fanning the flame of love that

-the real Bernard Treves had never kindled.  She was

-experiencing new feelings towards this man whom she

-believed to be her husband.  The shifty look in his eyes

-that she had disliked in the past had vanished.  The

-Bernard Treves who sat before her looked frankly and

-keenly into her face.  He was not in the least intimate;

-he was, indeed, somewhat aloof, but this very quality

-of aloofness puzzled and attracted her.

-

-By the time dinner was cleared away and the cloth

-removed, Elaine was completely at her ease.  Her old

-fear of offending her husband had totally vanished.  She

-could not understand her own feelings and began to

-take herself to task for having been hard with him in the

-past.  When Bernard Treves had persisted in his habit

-of heavy drinking and drug-taking, she had been obliged

-to make a stand.  She had done everything she could

-to win him to better ways.  But when to these habits

-he had added violence and other cruelties towards

-herself, she had informed him that until he made some

-effort to control himself she could not live with him as

-his wife.  It was characteristic of her, as it is sometimes

-characteristic of gentle people, that firmness lay beneath

-an unaggressive exterior.  She had kept her word.

-But to-night, for the first time, she began to doubt the

-justice of what she had done.  She told herself that she

-had been hard on Bernard Treves, that she ought to have

-clung to him, however low he sank.

-

-

-

-

-

-.. vspace:: 4

-

-.. _`CHAPTER XVII`:

-

-.. class:: center large

-

-   CHAPTER XVII

-

-.. vspace:: 2

-

-John, who had deposited himself on a chair at the

-hearth, lit a cigarette, and was consuming it with a good

-deal of satisfaction.  He had never in his life partaken

-of an evening meal that had given him so much

-satisfaction; even the funereal and shabby waiter seemed

-to him a creature of delight, and the little room in the

-hotel—he would always remember it as an apartment

-brightened by the eyes of Elaine Treves.  It was not

-usual for John Manton to be led away, but to-night, for

-some minutes, he let his senses toy with impossibilities.

-He permitted himself to forget the existence of Bernard

-Treves.  And when the waiter left the room, and Elaine

-rose and came towards him, he made no effort to avoid

-her approach, as he had done once or twice earlier in the

-evening.  She stood beside his chair and laid her hand on

-his shoulder.  John looked up and saw that her face had

-grown serious.

-

-"I want to make a confession to you, Bernard."

-

-"Let it be a cheerful confession," smiled John.

-

-"I was mistaken, after all."

-

-"It's easy to make mistakes," returned John.

-

-"I ought not to have sent you away from me," said Elaine.

-

-John thought a moment, then observed quietly:

-

-"Perhaps I deserved to be sent away."

-

-"Do you remember, Bernard, when you came to

-Camden Town after you had seen your father?"

-

-John, naturally, did not recollect.

-

-"I do not recall it very clearly," he said.

-

-"When you—you——"  She broke off, and again, as

-she had done in the street, she moved a little away from

-him.  A wave of aversion towards him appeared to

-sweep over her.  "When," she went on, "I told you that

-we could not be together again until—until——"

-

-"Until I could behave myself," John put in.

-

-Elaine nodded slightly in assent.

-

-"I thought that I was doing right, and when you said

-you'd never forgive me I still held out.  I wonder,

-Bernard, if you will forgive me?"

-

-"Of course I'll forgive you," returned Manton,

-magnanimously.  He would have forgiven her anything.

-He could not believe her capable of anything which

-would need forgiveness.  She came to him again and

-stood before him, looking down.

-

-John, out of politeness, that she should not be standing

-when he was seated, stood up, and suddenly he felt Elaine's

-hand in his.

-

-"Bernard," she whispered, "you care for me still——"

-

-"I care for you more than ever I did," said John.  He

-tried valiantly to slip his hand from hers.

-

-"You love me, I mean?"

-

-Elaine's face was upturned; there was a wistful

-expression in her fine, grey eyes, and there was something

-more than wistfulness.  John could see it shining there.

-Inwardly he was conscientiously cursing the Fates that

-had placed him in this impossible position—and yet

-outwardly he was glad.  He was thrilled and happy

-that this situation had arisen.  Then his thoughts took

-a turn, and his spirits sank.  The love he saw shining

-in her eyes was not for him, but for Bernard Treves.

-He put away her hand and moved back in his chair.

-

-"You do love me, Bernard?" she whispered again.

-

-"Yes," John answered.  He was convinced that there

-was no other thing for him to say.

-

-"And you'll forgive me for sending you away?"

-

-John nodded.

-

-Elaine went on again: "It was wrong not to let you

-stay with me.  I had no right to do it; after all, a wife

-has no right to act as I did."

-

-"Why think of it and worry about it now?" said

-John, attempting to strike an ordinary tone of voice.

-

-"But I want to make everything straight between us,

-Bernard."

-

-John led her to a chair, and she seated herself.  He

-tried to turn the conversation, but this time he failed.

-Elaine felt a growing desire to wipe away all

-misunderstandings between them.

-

-"I have still my confession to make, Bernard."

-

-"What is it?" inquired John cheerily.

-

-There was a silence for a moment—a silence that John

-felt to be momentous, that rendered him uncomfortable.

-Then Elaine's words came to him, uttered in a low tone.

-

-"I never loved you till to-night, Bernard!"

-

-John was conscious of a sudden and exultant thrill.

-

-"Is that all your confession?" he asked.

-

-Elaine nodded.  Her hand was in his.  John lifted it

-to his lips.  Then recollection came to him; he drew

-himself erect, standing away from her.

-

-"It's getting late, Elaine," he said.  "I ought to be

-going."  There was something vibrant and new in his

-voice that caused her heart to beat violently.  "You

-see," John went on, somewhat clumsily, "I have

-important work to do to-morrow."

-

-But Elaine had not loosed her grip of his hand.  She

-suddenly hid her face on his shoulder; he could feel her

-arms about him.  For a minute, what was to John an

-awkward silence, subsisted between them, then Elaine

-spoke again:

-

-"Why should you go, Bernard?" she whispered.  "I

-was cruel to you, but I did not wish to be cruel."

-

-"You are never cruel," protested John.  "Don't think

-of it any more."

-

-His situation in that moment was the hardest that

-Fate could have possibly imposed upon him.  Here was

-the finest woman he had ever met—young, beautiful

-and ardent, with her arms about his neck, whispering

-love to him.  She was speaking to him as a wife to a

-husband whom she loves, and all the time he was not

-that husband.  And, to complicate matters, he felt now

-that the love she was prepared to offer was not offered

-to the other—to Bernard Treves—but to himself alone.

-

-"Bernard," she murmured, "at the back of my heart,

-through all those black days, I whispered always that

-some time I should be happy."

-

-"I am sure you'll be happy," said John.  "It will not

-be my fault if you are not."  He drew in a deep breath.

-"But to-night—I must go; I—I am very busy; I have

-many things to do to-night.  Confidential work."  He

-lifted her hand, bent and kissed her slender white fingers.

-"Some day I'll explain."

-

-A minute later he was gone.

-

-.. vspace:: 1

-

-.. class:: center white-space-pre-line

-

-   \*      \*      \*      \*      \*

-

-.. vspace:: 1

-

-The gloomy-looking waiter, who had served dinner the

-night before, informed John that the only way to arrive at

-Brooke was by hired pony-trap or by bicycle.  Choosing the

-latter method, John, early in the morning, hired a bicycle,

-visited the hotel, and said good-bye to Elaine.

-

-"You'll come back to me this evening, Bernard?"

-whispered she as she kissed him good-bye.

-

-"This evening," said John.  "I had no right to let

-her kiss me," he continued inwardly, "but, after all, it's

-part of the deception, part of the character I am obliged

-to play."  Nevertheless, he felt uneasy as he rode the

-winding and hilly path to Brooke.  The night before he

-had played his part valiantly and well, but he felt that in

-regard to Elaine tremendous difficulties were ahead.

-

-It was eleven o'clock when John reached the road

-which led to the empty, forlorn line of shore at Brooke.

-He could see the sea ahead of him, a grand expanse of

-blue ocean.  He passed quaint Brooke church on his left

-hand, and suddenly slowed up near a large solid-looking

-dwelling, overgrown with creepers.  Here was Rollo

-Meads, with a strip of garden in front.  As John neared

-the dwelling he noticed a gardener at work.  Something

-in the quiet and homely exterior of the house made him

-for a moment think he had made a mistake, but as his

-hand fell upon the gate the gardener lifted his face, and

-John recognised the pallid countenance and close-set

-eyes of Conrad, the manservant who had first admitted

-him to Manwitz's house in St. George's Square.

-

-Conrad informed him that Dr. Voules was in and was

-awaiting him.

-

-"Now," thought John, as he followed Conrad to the

-front door, "matters may begin to move again."  Dacent

-Smith had for some time been groping towards the identity

-of Dr. Voules, and John realised that in being permitted

-to undertake the work he was now upon he was being

-trusted and favoured by his Chief.  He resolved, in his

-interview with the doctor, to exercise the most extreme

-caution, and to play the part of Bernard Treves with the

-closest simulation.

-

-There was silence as John stepped into the hall of

-Rollo Meads.  The servant preceded him along the

-passage, knocked on a door, then entered, and vanished,

-leaving John alone.  Conrad emerged a minute later,

-and summoned John towards him.

-

-"Will you please go in, sir."

-

-A moment later John found himself in a good-sized

-morning-room, with two windows overlooking a lawn

-and a garden.  The room was heavily furnished with

-a long oak table in the middle, and half a dozen massive

-dining-room chairs surrounding it.  At the head of the

-table Doctor "Voules" was seated.  He wore a markedly

-English-looking tweed suit, but his thick neck, his

-circular head, and heavy jaws showed him to be not

-quite the amiable retired doctor he pretended to be.

-Seated on Voules's right hand were two men, deeply

-sun-tanned.  One of the men wore a blond beard, and

-looked frankly and honestly at John.  The other was a

-fair-haired man, with a supercilious-looking expression.

-John put both down at once as naval officers.  Standing

-at the fire-place, in uniform, was Captain Cherriton.

-The air of the room was heavily impregnated with the

-smell of cigar smoke.  Cherriton was smoking a

-cigarette, but Doctor Voules held in his powerful mouth a

-long, black cigar.  He flashed a keen scrutiny upon

-John as the young man stepped into the room and closed

-the door behind him.

-

-"You are Mr. Treves, eh?"

-

-John assured him that he was.

-

-"You will take a seat," said Voules, pointing to a

-vacant chair upon his left hand.  "These are two

-friends of mine," he said, indicating the blond-bearded

-man and the supercilious younger man, "Mr. Sharpe and

-Mr. Rogers."

-

-"I am pleased to meet you," said John, making a

-swift mental summary of each man's appearance.

-

-"I am glad to make your acquaintance," responded

-the blond-bearded man, and his accent was so thoroughly

-German that it would have betrayed him anywhere.

-The other man appeared to speak no English at all, for

-he merely nodded.

-

-"Sit down, Cherriton," commanded Voules, and Cherriton,

-who was lounging at the hearth, came and seated

-himself at John's side.

-

-"I am in the thick of it," thought John.  He wondered

-what was to occur, what attitude Voules would take

-towards himself, whether Voules would regard him as

-of consequence, and of possible use, or would he fail

-to trust him.

-

-"You are no longer in the army?" Voules inquired,

-looking into John's face with cold grey eyes.  It was his

-custom to examine personally such men as were brought

-to him; he had infinite belief in his own powers of

-judgment, and in many ways he possessed a shrewd

-and penetrating mind.  His infinite confidence in

-himself, however, sometimes led him into mistakes.  He

-believed, as he looked at John, that he was examining

-a weakling, and a drug-taker.  Cherriton had supplied

-all information as to Bernard Treves's unstable character

-and habits, and though Voules was a little surprised to

-find the young man healthy and vigorous looking, he

-was deceived by the manner in which John avoided his

-eyes; he was still more deceived when John, cleverly

-resting his elbow on the table, permitted his sleeve to

-fall back so that Voules could see pinpricks on his wrist,

-the sort of wound that is left by a hypodermic syringe

-used for administering morphia and cocaine.

-

-Voules's sharp eyes instantly fell upon this tangible

-evidence of the drug habit.  He was quite satisfied with

-the evidence of his own eyes.

-

-"You are no longer in the army?" he repeated.

-

-"Well, as a matter of fact," John said, after a moment's

-hesitation, "my father has used his influence, and I am

-to be restored to my commission."

-

-Voules's eyes widened a little.

-

-"Indeed," he remarked.  He appeared to consider

-this change in John's circumstances for a moment, then

-he put out a hand and laid his heavy fingers on John's

-sleeve.  "You have told this news, eh——" he paused

-a moment; "you have told this news to Alice?"

-

-For a second John hesitated; he did not realise who

-Alice was; then he remembered her as Mrs. Beecher

-Monmouth.

-

-"No," answered John, "I have not told her yet, but

-I intend to write and tell her to-night."

-

-"Ah," said Voules, "you think she will be pleased?"  The

-intensity of his gaze increased.  John saw quite plainly

-a doubt in his eyes.  "You think she will be pleased?"

-

-"I am sure of it," said John.

-

-"And why?"

-

-"Because I can be of more use, doctor."

-

-"We have a very high opinion of the lady in question,"

-said Voules; "we have every reason to trust her."

-

-"I hope you will have every reason to trust me," John

-said.

-

-Voules looked at him silently for a minute.

-

-"I hope so," he announced.  "We shall make it worth

-your while to serve us."  He paused for a moment, and

-glanced at Cherriton.  "Cherriton has already told you,"

-he said, "that when the Day arrives, when the success

-that is bound to come, has been given to us, we shall

-not forget our friends in England."  He suddenly turned

-away from John, and looked at the blond-bearded man

-on his right.  His voice seemed to deepen in tone, and

-he began suddenly and rapidly to speak in German.

-"What is your opinion of our young English friend

-here?" he rapped to the blond-bearded man.

-

-"I cannot judge of him, Excellence."

-

-Voules went on still in German:

-

-"Manwitz and Rathenau have each testified to his

-usefulness; he is also in the hands of a lady who can

-well supervise his doings."

-

-The blond man fingered his blond beard, sliding it

-through his hands.

-

-"Excellence, let me say, may I not suggest a certain

-reserve in our conversation, in the circumstances."

-

-Voules laughed for the first time.  John noticed that

-his teeth were strong and well kept, and that his laugh

-was not at all pleasant.

-

-"Our Englander," he said, "understands not one

-word of German.  We may speak freely, Muller.  Is it

-not so, Rathenau?"  He turned quickly to Cherriton.

-

-"Yes, Excellence," answered Cherriton, with his

-contemptuous curl of the lip.  "Not one English officer

-in a thousand knows half a dozen words of German;

-our friend is no exception."

-

-"He is well controlled by the particular lady

-mentioned?" inquired Voules.

-

-Cherriton smiled.

-

-"Quite, Excellence; even if she cared for him in the

-way he believes she does, she would still watch him like

-a cat."

-

-"True," said Voules; then again turned to John and

-spoke in English.  "My apologies to you, Mr. Treves,"

-he said, "for speaking in German, but my friends here

-speak no English."

-

-"I don't mind in the least," answered John.  He did

-not in the least, and as he had understood every word

-it made no difference.

-

-"In regard to your reinstatement in the army," went

-on Voules, "I offer you my felicitations.  You will be

-able to help us even more than in the past, and I may

-hardly say that the reward will be in proportion to the

-work done.  If you are stationed in London we can

-find work for you in London.  If, on the other hand, you

-are returned to your regiment, then you can also help

-us.  The treatment you have received at the hands of

-the army, Cherriton tells me, is abominable.  You are

-quite honourably acquitted of allegiance to your

-nationality.  I tell you this, that you may have no inner

-qualms; in serving us you serve the cause of Kultur.

-Is that not so, Cherriton?"

-

-"Yes, Herr Excellence."

-

-"Kultur," thought John; "Kultur, that stabs in the

-dark, that murders children and women; that calls

-might right.  Kultur that takes a man sodden with drugs

-and turns him into a traitor to his country; then, having

-made him commit crimes against his fellow-countrymen,

-has the audacity to tell him that he is acting the part

-of a man of honour!  Some day," thought John, a

-sudden blaze of fury burning through him, "you, Voules,

-will be taught a very different culture from that."  Aloud

-John said nothing, but merely sat nervously in his chair,

-fidgeting with his collar, and clasping and unclasping

-his hands upon the table—an excellent imitation of the

-real Treves.

-

-"Is there anything you would wish to say?" inquired

-Voules.

-

-John looked guardedly at the two men who sat opposite.

-

-"Please go to the window," commanded Voules.

-

-The two men rose obediently and crossed the room.

-John dropped his voice.

-

-"I understood," he said to Voules, "that I was to

-receive"—he stopped, looked into Voules's face, then

-turned his eyes away.

-

-"Rathenau," Voules commanded, "ring the bell."

-

-Cherriton rang the bell, and a moment later Conrad

-entered the room.

-

-"The packet, Conrad, for Mr. Treves."

-

-Conrad went out and returned a moment later, carrying

-a small white packet.  He handed it to Voules, and

-Voules passed it to John.

-

-"Thank you—thank you!" exclaimed John, taking

-it quickly.  He knew the packet contained cocaine, and

-he slipped it carefully into his pocket.

-

-"You will report to us wherever you are?" inquired

-Voules.

-

-"Wherever I am," answered John.

-

-"Great matters are pending," responded the doctor;

-"soon you will be of use to us.  In regard to finance,"

-he added, after a moment's pause, "you will write to

-our Captain Cherriton."  He rose and gripped John's

-hand.  "You will have no cause to regret your

-association with us, I can assure you of that."

-

-"Perhaps you'll have some cause to regret your

-association with me," thought John, as he looked into

-the heavy jowled face.

-

-Five minutes later he was out in the road, bidding

-good-bye to Captain Cherriton, who waved a careless

-farewell to him.

-

-"We shall meet soon again," said the captain.

-

-John nodded, leapt on to his bicycle, and rode briskly

-down the road.

-

-

-

-

-

-.. vspace:: 4

-

-.. _`CHAPTER XVIII`:

-

-.. class:: center large

-

-   CHAPTER XVIII

-

-.. vspace:: 2

-

-On the following evening, at eight o'clock, John Manton

-presented himself at Dacent Smith's apartment in

-Jermyn Street.  He had hurried to London in answer

-to a wire, telling him to report himself personally.  Elaine,

-who had made the journey with him, had gone on to her

-rooms in Camden Town.  The door of Dacent Smith's

-suite of rooms was opened by Grew, who conducted John

-immediately to the great man's apartment.  As always,

-when John visited his Chief's abode, the speckless cleanliness

-of the stairs, the glitter of varnish and brass reminded

-him somewhat of the interior of a battleship.

-

-His superior's own room was orderly as usual, and

-Dacent Smith himself, who occupied a deep leather-covered

-chair at the hearth, rose and greeted him with a

-cordial handshake.  The elder man was in evening

-clothes; he was, as always, plump, ruddy-cheeked,

-bright-eyed, and cheery in manner.  His politeness

-struck John in marked contrast to the gruffness of Doctor

-Voules.  These two men, Voules and Dacent Smith, heads

-of two great secret armies, were conducting a duel for

-supremacy.  They were totally different in character

-and calibre, and John (perhaps he was prejudiced in the

-matter) was prepared at any odds to back Dacent Smith

-to win.

-

-"Help yourself to a cigarette, Treves."

-

-John took a cigarette, and seated himself in a chair

-opposite his Chief.  For a moment there was silence,

-then Dacent Smith, who had been watching the ascending

-smoke, looked at the younger man with the faintly

-humorous light that sometimes animated his vivid eyes.

-

-"I am glad to see you alive, Treves.  You have had

-one of the narrowest of escapes."

-

-John expressed his surprise.

-

-"I wasn't aware of any narrow escape, sir."

-

-"Perhaps not," said Dacent Smith, "but yesterday

-morning, when you went to Voules's house, you literally

-walked into the lions' den.  Fortunately, however, you

-were successful in preserving a whole skin."

-

-"I had no sense of anything adventurous happening

-during that visit," John returned, full of curiosity.

-

-"I'll tell you exactly just what did happen," Dacent

-Smith continued.  He rose, went to his desk, and drew

-a letter from one of the drawers.  "Read that letter,"

-he said, "and see what your chances would have been

-if it had arrived at Voules's house before you did."

-

-"Who wrote it?" asked John, looking at the single

-initial "S" at the end of the sheet.

-

-"Your amiable friend, Crumbs," answered Dacent

-Smith.  "He discovered Cherriton's letter in your

-dispatch case."

-

-John lifted his eyebrows in intense surprise.

-

-"I had no idea that letter was discovered, sir.  I took

-every precaution against discovery, and should have

-destroyed it, but it appeared to me a specimen of

-Cherriton's handwriting might be useful to you in the

-future."

-

-"It will be useful when we come to stop his activities,"

-answered Dacent Smith.  "In the meantime its

-discovery by Sims very nearly resulted in your career

-coming to a sudden end.  You can imagine the situation,

-Treves," he went on, "if that letter had arrived at Brooke

-when you were in Voules's house.  For their own sakes,

-Voules and the others would never have dared to let you

-go.  However, the letter never reached Voules, for

-Sinclair had it out of the locked bag at the fort five

-minutes after Sims deposited it there."

-

-"It's a lucky thing for me," John said, handing back

-the letter to his Chief, "that Sinclair acted the way he

-did."

-

-"Devilish lucky, Treves."  Dacent Smith rose, placed

-the letter in a drawer in his desk and returned to his

-seat at the hearth.

-

-"Now, Treves, as to Voules.  Who is he?"

-

-"He is some one in authority," answered John.

-"There is no doubt of that whatever."

-

-"What is his appearance?"

-

-"He is a heavily-built, bullet-headed man, between

-fifty and sixty.  I should judge him to be used to

-exercising autocratic authority over others.  When I reached

-Rollo Meads there were also present in the house two

-Germans, who gave me the impression of being naval

-officers.  The fourth member of the party was Captain

-Cherriton, whose real name is Rathenau, as I discovered

-owing to the fact that they spoke German, which

-Cherriton believes I don't understand."

-

-John continued and detailed fully his interview with

-Voules.  He described his receipt of the cocaine tabloids

-from Conrad and his exhibition of the bogus five little

-wounds on his wrist, which had convinced Voules that

-he was a victim of the drug habit.  When he had

-concluded Dacent Smith's lips tightened.

-

-"You acted very shrewdly, Treves.  I will see that

-Voules and his little party are kept under observation.

-From your description, I can tell you exactly who Voules

-is, Treves," he said.  "We have suspected his identity

-for some time.  Until two months ago Voules was

-General von Kuhne, in command of a corps of the

-Fifteenth Army.  He is a Badenser, born and reared in

-Constance.  Our investigation department informs me

-that he is credited by the enemy with great ability.

-In character he is instinctively aggressive; a fighter

-imbued through and through with the offensive spirit.

-It is to General von Kuhne that we owe our present

-awkward predicament on the South Coast.  Outwardly

-nothing is wrong, but our department knows that

-Germany is preparing a heavy blow.  We are contending

-against something new, big, and masterful; something

-that has been arranged and planned for months.  How

-far General von Kuhne's plans have matured I do not

-yet know.  We are so far, Treves, only groping towards

-knowledge.  My reports tell me that at least eight forts

-on the South Coast are being subtly tampered with in

-one way or another.  You have seen yourself the

-masterly manner in which Sims managed to work his will

-at Heatherpoint.

-

-"Sims's dossier," he went on, "reached me in full

-only to-night, and is a further instance of an effective

-German trick.  Sims's real name is Steinbaum.  He is

-a Hamburg Jew, who emigrated to America in 1912.

-We cannot trace him from then until 1915, when, with

-the German naval attaché at Washington, Captain

-Boy Ed, he made an attempt to blow up the Pittsburg

-bridge works.  He escaped the American police, and

-vanished.  The next step in his career was when he

-landed at Liverpool from America.  He was already

-a German spy, and enlisted in our army under the

-name of Sims, a baker by trade."

-

-"I suppose," inquired John, "the idea of arresting

-Voules and his immediate confederates is outside our

-plan?"

-

-Dacent Smith nodded.  He put his finger-tips together,

-and remained thoughtfully silent for several

-minutes.

-

-"No; it would not do," he said, as though desirous

-of convincing John of the correctness of his judgment

-"If I were to lay Voules, and a dozen of the others whom

-we know, suddenly by the heels, we should damage our

-chances, possibly irretrievably.  You see, if we did that,

-we should be removing our special avenues of information.

-By arresting the spies we know, we should lose

-the great mass of information we manage to glean from

-them, and at the same time should be obliged to

-continue the fight against other agents whom we do not

-know.  Do you follow me?"

-

-John nodded.  "I confess it never occurred to me

-in that light, but I can see the force of your argument."

-

-"We always stand to learn something from Mrs. Beecher

-Monmouth, by secretly reading all her letters,"

-continued Dacent Smith, "but if we arrest her we lose

-that advantage.  Then, again, their present scheme in

-the South may be so far advanced that it will work to

-fruition by itself, even if we remove a dozen individuals.

-General von Kuhne is, of course, the keystone of the

-whole business, and when the time comes we shall get

-him——" he paused a moment, and looked quizzically

-into John's face—"or he will get us!"

-

-"He will have to rise pretty early in the morning to

-get you," thought John, genuinely impressed by his

-reasoning.  Nevertheless, he inwardly admitted that

-Kuhne was an antagonist well fitted to measure swords

-even with Dacent Smith.  Always, in these short interviews

-he obtained with his Chief, John felt himself drawn

-anew to the head of his department.  Manton had no

-doubt whatever of Dacent Smith's ability, his intelligence

-was keen as a sword-blade, and swift as that same blade

-in the hands of a brilliant fencer.  For all that, it seemed

-strange to John, as he sat in the well-furnished,

-neatly-ordered, bachelor apartment, to think that this quiet,

-well-groomed, middle-aged gentleman was the head

-and heart, the chief nerve centre, in fact, of the greatest

-defensive force in the country.

-

-"Now," said Dacent Smith, when he concluded his

-observations, "is there anything at all troubling your

-mind, Treves, anything you'd like to get off your chest,

-for instance?"

-

-John looked at him quickly, wondering if his keen

-eye had detected anything.

-

-"Well," he confessed, "as a matter of fact, there is

-something that bothers me a good deal."

-

-"Pass me another cigarette," said Dacent Smith,

-"and let me hear it."

-

-John handed him another cigarette, and hesitated.

-

-"Go on," urged his Chief.

-

-"Well, I should like to report, sir," John said at

-length, "that my personal position has become—well,

-peculiarly difficult during the past few days."

-

-"Do you find your work disappointing?"

-

-"I am keener on my work than ever," John answered.

-

-"What is it, then?"

-

-"Well," confessed John, "to be precise, I find I am

-getting rather entangled with a lady."  His tone was

-serious, and Dacent Smith took the statement gravely.

-

-"Mrs. Beecher Monmouth, do you mean?"

-

-John shook his head.

-

-"Mrs. Beecher Monmouth is rather pressing whenever

-I meet her," he said, with a deprecating smile, "but she

-is not the lady in question."

-

-"Who is the lady?"

-

-John was silent; he found a strange diffidence in

-tackling this subject.  It was a matter of some difficulty

-to state exactly what was the situation between himself

-and Elaine.  Dacent Smith waited, and then tapped the

-arm of his chair with his finger, which was his only manner

-of showing impatience.

-

-"Come, Treves, who is the lady?"

-

-"Bernard Treves's wife, sir!"

-

-"Oh!  And wherein lies the particular awkwardness?"

-

-"Yesterday she came down to the Gordon Hotel in

-Newport to see me, and stayed the night there."

-

-"Was that awkward for you?"

-

-"I'm afraid it was, sir.  It seems," went on John,

-"that there was a disagreement between her and her

-husband, which ended in the lady refusing to live with

-him until he improved his habits."

-

-"A very proper and spirited attitude to take,"

-responded Dacent Smith.

-

-"That is my opinion," said John, "but, unfortunately,

-she has decided to forgive her husband."

-

-Dacent Smith suddenly sat erect.

-

-"You don't mean she has made any untoward discovery?"

-

-"Oh, no," said John, "she accepts me absolutely.

-And so far as I know she has never experienced the

-faintest doubt.  But the awkwardness comes in through

-the fact that she has decided to forgive her husband and

-take him back again!"

-

-Dacent Smith looked at the younger man for a minute,

-then whistled softly.

-

-"By gad, Treves, yours is certainly a difficult path."

-

-"I am glad you see it as I do, sir."

-

-"Devilish difficult—and what's the lady like?  Is she

-young and pretty?"

-

-"She is about twenty-three years of age," said John,

-"and—and, well pretty doesn't quite describe her.  She

-has dark hair and grey eyes.  She is rather above the

-average in height.  She——"  John hesitated and

-stumbled.  "I am no connoisseur in these matters, sir,

-but in my opinion she is an unusually beautiful girl."

-

-Dacent Smith looked at him squarely.

-

-"And that, no doubt, intensifies your difficulty, eh,

-Treves?"

-

-"Well, my position last night," he said briefly, "was

-more than awkward."  A sudden note of irritation found

-its way into John's voice; he could not have himself

-explained why he felt irritation.  "The situation was

-wrong altogether.  I felt I had no right to pass as

-Bernard Treves.  It is one thing to deceive Treves's

-father in a good cause, or to deceive everybody else, but

-it is quite another matter to trick a young, good-looking

-woman the way I had to deceive Mrs. Treves.  It doesn't

-seem to me to be playing the game, sir."

-

-"You mean," inquired Dacent Smith, quietly, "the

-young lady made advances to you, she forgave you, and

-offered to live with you again as your wife, and you, being

-a man of honour, felt the situation keenly?  Tell me,

-Treves," he went on, with a new interest in the matter,

-"what is she like?  Her mental equipment, I mean?"

-

-"She is very feminine, and by no means a fool,"

-explained John.  "I evaded her last night, but she came

-to London with me to-day, and is waiting for me this

-evening.  She knows Cherriton and Manwitz.  Cherriton,

-as a matter of fact, has been paying her undesirable

-attentions."  John, who had been looking at the hearth-rug,

-suddenly lifted his face.  "That's the whole situation,

-sir, and I don't feel that I can go on deceiving her."

-

-For a long minute there was silence in the little room.

-Dacent Smith's little gilt clock on the mantelpiece chimed

-the half-hour.

-

-"We're in deep waters here, Treves," he said slowly

-and seriously.  "I can see only two ways out of it.  One

-is that she should be restored to her undesirable husband."

-

-"If," said John, "Treves is cured of his drug habit, I

-suppose that would be the right thing to do."  Even as

-he spoke a feeling shot through him that was quite

-definitely antagonistic to this idea.  He felt jealous and

-utterly resentful at the thought.

-

-"He isn't cured, and shows no likelihood of being

-cured," answered Dacent Smith.  "My last report is

-that he tried to break out of the nursing home, and very

-nearly got away.  He is in the condition where he would

-give his very soul to get drugs.  No," he said, shaking his

-head, "we'll leave Bernard Treves in his present

-isolation.  In surrendering his personality to you he is

-making some slight restitution; he is unconsciously doing

-something for his country.  We need waste no pity on

-him.  So far as we are concerned, Treves does not count."

-

-"What if Treves had actually managed to escape, sir?"

-

-"In that case 'Voules' and the rest of them would

-be down on you like a ton of bricks, but we need not at

-present anticipate a calamity of that sort.  Now in regard

-to Treves's wife, when you see her to-night, give her my

-compliments, and say I should like her to call here one

-afternoon this week.  I think I can then ease the

-awkwardness of your position in regard to her.  I have an

-idea at any rate."

-

-Half an hour later John made his way out to Camden

-Town, and rang the bell of 65, Bowles Avenue.  Elaine

-herself opened the door and offered him a smiling welcome.

-

-

-

-

-

-.. vspace:: 4

-

-.. _`CHAPTER XIX`:

-

-.. class:: center large

-

-   CHAPTER XIX

-

-.. vspace:: 2

-

-In the soft illumination of the white and gold

-dining-salon of the Golden Pavilion Hotel John found himself

-completely at home.  Two days had passed since his visit

-to Elaine, and he was again at work under the ægis of

-Dacent Smith.  He had chosen a quiet table in the corner,

-had selected the dishes for his dinner, and was leaning

-back in his chair surveying the brilliant scene with an

-appreciative eye.  The Golden Pavilion Hotel is famed

-alike for its refined and luxurious furnishings, its band,

-its cuisine, and its exclusiveness.  The head waiter, who

-looked like an archbishop, advanced soundlessly over the

-rich carpet, and stood at John's elbow.

-

-"I beg your pardon," said the man, in a low, smooth

-voice, "but the lady at the table beyond the second

-pillar, sir, would like to have a word with you."

-

-John raised his head and glanced in the direction the

-man had indicated.  He had already seen Mrs. Beecher

-Monmouth, and had made a special point of concealing

-the fact.  He rose now, however, and moved across the

-room between crowded tables.

-

-Mrs. Beecher Monmouth, seated with a party of friends,

-flashed a brilliant smile at him when he advanced.

-

-"Oh, you poor lonely creature," she exclaimed, as

-she placed her jewelled fingers in his.  "I saw you

-moping in your corner," she continued, when a waiter had

-brought an extra chair and John had accepted an

-invitation to dine with her party, "and took pity on you;

-don't you think that was nice of me?"  She looked at

-him with a long, deep glance, conscious of her striking

-beauty.  Her beauty was of the instantly arresting order.

-The fact that the art of coiffeur and cosmetic enabled

-her to heighten her charms was all in her favour where

-men were concerned.  Quite, as it were, by accident, she

-now laid her fingers on John's sleeve.

-

-"I must introduce you to my guests.  My husband

-you already know."

-

-John bowed slightly towards Mr. Beecher Monmouth,

-whose evening clothes intensified the sallowness of his

-complexion.  John noted the parchment-like character

-of his skin, the tired look in his eyes, and the manipulation

-of his thin hair to create the effect of youthful plenty.

-He was an old man striving hopelessly to look young.

-Mrs. Beecher Monmouth turned her eyes from her husband

-towards the slender figure of a woman at her right-hand

-side.

-

-"Lady Rachel," she said, "may I present Mr. Treves."  John

-bowed again, and Lady Rachel Marvin smiled at

-him graciously.  She was a woman of slender figure, with

-exceptionally large, long-lashed eyes.  Her neck was long,

-slender and white, and she wore diamond ear-rings, which

-scintillated as she moved her head.  Her age was

-probably thirty-five, and she was, in appearance, distinctly

-aristocratic.  Her voice was thin and high-pitched, and

-she talked incessantly.

-

-The third member of Mrs. Beecher Monmouth's party

-was a fat woman of fifty, the wealthy wife of a colonel

-in the gunners.  Any woman assessing the jewels

-Mrs. Pomfret Bond wore would have known that she was

-wealthy, and that she was determined other people should

-know it.  She was a foolish, vulgar woman, and John,

-looking at her, realised almost immediately that she would

-be as wax in the hands of Mrs. Beecher Monmouth.  But it

-was to Lady Rachel Marvin that John turned his attention.

-"Did you know the Seventh Division has been moved

-from Aldershot?" she was inquiring, looking at Beecher

-Monmouth.

-

-"No," said the elderly man, "we don't hear anything

-in Parliament, Lady Rachel."

-

-"I heard it only quite by accident," babbled Lady

-Rachel.  "You know my cousin, Derrick, is in the

-Coldstreams; you remember Derrick?" she said, turning

-her big eyes upon Mrs. Beecher Monmouth, "I have

-told you so much about him."

-

-Mrs. Beecher Monmouth smiled brilliantly and nodded.

-Lady Rachel then went on to explain that it was Derrick

-who had told her of a new gun being tested at Woolwich.

-Derrick had been on the G.H.Q. Staff, "and," went on

-Lady Rachel, "he is almost as mysterious about it as his

-friend Commander Loyson is about the new cruiser—the

-*Malta*, which has just been put into commission at ——"

-

-"Is there a new cruiser being commissioned at ——?"

-inquired John, sliding into the conversation.  He was so

-apparently interested that Lady Rachel looked at him

-with a pleased expression on her somewhat foolish face.

-

-"I am afraid, Mr. Treves, I ought not to chatter about

-it.  But being behind the scenes, and knowing so many

-people one naturally picks up little bits of news here and

-there.  It is quite easy to piece the bits together.  I have

-not heard anything actually about the new cruiser," she

-said, "the *Malta*, I mean, but from things Commander

-Loyson said to Derrick, and from other things I have

-heard, I can assure you it is something wonderful."

-

-John, listening to her chatter, wondered how much of

-this information she had, out of sheer vanity, passed on

-to Mrs. Beecher Monmouth.

-

-Lady Rachel Marvin certainly knew a great number of

-people, and her social position gave her many chances to

-pick up exclusive information.  Her silly, butterfly

-existence consisted in flitting from one drawing-room to

-another.  Here she exchanged such gossip as she had

-been able to collect from her equally frivolous friends.

-As John listened to her he realised that such women as

-Lady Rachel are a real source of danger to the nation.

-

-When dinner was at an end Lady Rachel went to

-speak to some friends at another table, and the minute

-she had gone Mrs. Beecher Monmouth turned her attention

-solely to John, ignoring Mrs. Pomfret Bond and the "Ogre."

-

-"Naughty boy," said Mrs. Beecher Monmouth under

-her breath.  "Why have you never been to see me?"

-

-"I have been in the Isle of Wight visiting my father,"

-answered John promptly.

-

-"I know that," answered she; "therefore, and

-because you sent me those Russian cigarettes, I intend

-to forgive you!  Now, you must come and see me soon,"

-she went on, "there are many things I want to talk to

-you about."

-

-"I should like to talk to you about quite a number of

-things," responded John in the same intimate tone.

-

-"When can you come?" asked she.

-

-"Any time you like."

-

-"Not to-morrow, the 'Ogre' will be at home then,"

-she said, in a voice too low for Mr. Beecher Monmouth

-to catch.  "Don't you think he is looking very old and

-worn?"

-

-John glanced at Beecher Monmouth's glazed countenance

-and tired eyes, and even at that moment the elderly

-politician was looking adoringly at his wife, admiring

-the richness of her hair, the fine contour of her shoulders,

-and the brilliance of her complexion.  John felt almost

-sorry for the befooled and weary Member of Parliament,

-who had sold his old age and his happiness into the

-bondage of this woman.

-

-"Come to tea the day after to-morrow," said

-Mrs. Beecher Monmouth, and John accepted the invitation

-with alacrity.

-

-Two days later when he presented himself at five

-o'clock in the afternoon at Mrs. Beecher Monmouth's

-residence in Grosvenor Square, he was ushered

-immediately into the lady's boudoir.

-

-He had seen that room only in the illumination of

-the pink-shaded electric light, now he saw it again in

-daylight, and found it even more luxurious than he had

-imagined—the white polar-bear rug, the brilliant-hued

-Chinese *kakemonos* hung on the wall behind Mrs. Beecher

-Monmouth's divan, the long gilt-framed mirrors, and

-gilt-legged chairs all conspired to create an atmosphere

-of sumptuous richness.  Mrs. Beecher Monmouth in an

-afternoon gown which gave her almost a slender and

-distinguished appearance, was seated in a low arm-chair.

-Lady Rachel Marvin occupied the divan, and John,

-much as he disliked this foolish ox-eyed woman of fashion,

-was obliged to admit that she had disposed herself

-gracefully upon the cushions.  The third guest was

-Mrs. Pomfret Bond, who was delighted to be in that society,

-and talked as much military gossip as she could to show

-that she, too, was in the swim.

-

-When John had been cordially received, and had

-accepted a cup of tea and a fragment of bread and butter,

-he seated himself at the foot of the divan and entered

-into conversation with Lady Rachel.  Under orders from

-Dacent Smith he had come there with that express purpose.

-

-"We have been talking of the dreadful news, Mr. Treves,"

-said Lady Rachel, biting a slip of bread and

-butter with long sharp teeth.

-

-"You mean the sinking of the *Malta*?" inquired John.

-

-"Yes, how appalling it is," said she.  "I heard it

-before it appeared in the papers."

-

-"It's one of the worst disasters we have had for

-some time," responded John; "a new ship costing a

-million pounds of public money, and two hundred fine

-lives."

-

-Mrs. Pomfret Bond spoke up indignantly.

-

-"I can't imagine how the Germans find out about our

-ships.  We're supposed to have an Intelligence

-Department.  Why don't they put a stop to this sort of

-thing?"

-

-"I expect they do the best they can," remarked John.

-

-"But one always has to reckon with spies," said

-Mrs. Pomfret Bond.

-

-"Of course," said John.

-

-"But the *Malta* was a new vessel," observed

-Mrs. Beecher Monmouth; "how could they find out when

-she was to leave ——?"

-

-"The Germans must have found out," intervened

-Lady Rachel, claiming the conversation again, "for no

-submarines had been in those waters for weeks, and they

-had been swept for mines the day before.  I know this

-for a fact."

-

-John looked at her keenly.  That afternoon he had

-had a long conversation with Dacent Smith in regard to

-Lady Rachel Marvin.  The fact that she had, two days

-ago, mentioned the *Malta* during her irresponsible chatter

-at dinner, had aroused a suspicion in John's mind that

-possibly the disaster which had happened to the new

-cruiser had been directly due to her foolish vanity—to

-her ineradicable desire to obtain social distinction by

-revealing to her friends her superior knowledge of what

-went on behind the scenes.  This idea, as he sat in her

-presence now, listening to her talk, grew in strength,

-and at the first opportunity that occurred, he drew

-Mrs. Beecher Monmouth aside.  He knew that he was

-venturing upon very thin ice in putting questions to her.

-

-"Well, you bad boy," whispered Mrs. Beecher Monmouth,

-"why have you been trying to flirt with Lady Rachel?"

-

-John had seated himself on a low Turkish stool at her

-side.

-

-"How could I see Lady Rachel when you are in the

-room?" he answered, gallantly.

-

-"If you only meant it," responded Mrs. Beecher

-Monmouth, "I'd give you two pieces of sugar in your

-next cup of tea!"

-

-"Lady Rachel cannot hold a candle to you," affirmed

-John.

-

-"You mustn't be hard on her," returned Mrs. Beecher

-Monmouth.  In the afternoon light the "Ogre's" wife

-looked scarcely twenty-five, a remarkably beautiful and

-imperious woman.  Even John was obliged to confess

-that no fault existed in her passionate and somewhat

-sensuous beauty.  For her part, Mrs. Beecher Monmouth

-was so used to admiration that she accepted John's

-flattery as a matter of course.  Bernard Treves, she told

-herself, was one of the strings to her bow, and quite the

-nicest-looking boy of them all.  "You mustn't be hard on

-poor Lady Rachel," she said; "she is such a dear,

-delightful chatterbox."

-

-"Lady Rachel seems to know a good deal about the *Malta*."'

-

-Mrs. Beecher Monmouth turned her eyes and fixed her

-gaze swiftly upon him; then she remarked, quietly:

-

-"One of her relations is a big-wig at the Admiralty."

-

-"That fact, and what she picked up from other of her

-naval friends, enabled her," said John, "to give a guess

-at when the *Malta* would leave ——"

-

-Mrs. Beecher Monmouth became suddenly very still.

-

-"How did you know that, Bernard?" she asked.

-

-John observed a hardening of the line of her mouth.

-

-"I merely put two and two together and assumed it,"

-he said.  Then, quietly daring, he leaned forward,

-unobserved by others in the room, and seized Mrs. Beecher

-Monmouth's hand.

-

-"Is it true?" he questioned.

-

-She looked at him a long minute, and then smiled, but

-there was a cruel light in her eyes.

-

-"It is true," pursued John.

-

-A silence followed; then Mrs. Beecher Monmouth

-inclined her fine head very slightly.  John was dexterous

-enough not to slide his hand away from hers too soon.

-The aversion he felt from her made him remove it as

-soon as he reasonably could.  Then he drew in a deep

-breath.

-

-"I see," he said, in a low voice, "she told you when

-the *Malta* was to sail."

-

-And though Mrs. Beecher Monmouth was too cautious

-to admit the fact, John knew in his heart that it was

-absolutely true.  Lady Rachel, exercising her silly desire

-for gossip, had been tricked into imparting this fatal

-information.  Because of this she was, John believed,

-just as much responsible for the sinking of the *Malta* as if

-she herself had discharged the torpedo which wrought its

-doom.  She was, in fact, an unwitting traitor to her

-country.  And John, as he moved from Mrs. Beecher

-Monmouth's side, felt a certain implacable animosity

-towards this vain society woman, with her wide eyes,

-her high-pitched voice, her elegant aristocratic poses.

-

-Nevertheless, he was politeness itself as he drew her

-towards the window.

-

-"I'd like to have a word with you alone, Lady Rachel,"

-he said.

-

-When they were out of earshot of Mrs. Beecher

-Monmouth and Mrs. Pomfret Bond, John lowered his voice,

-and looked down into the big, long-lashed eyes.

-

-"You were speaking a few minutes ago, Lady Rachel,"

-he said, "of the *Malta*."

-

-Lady Rachel smiled and nodded.

-

-"I think," went on John, "I ought to inform you that

-I am a member of the Intelligence Department!"

-

-"Oh, are you really?" exclaimed Lady Rachel, looking

-at him with a sudden vivid interest.  "I have so

-often wanted to meet some one in the secret service.  I

-think you all so splendid!"

-

-"I am glad you appreciate us," John answered dryly;

-"perhaps, Lady Rachel," he went on, "you would like

-to know more about our department?"

-

-"I should love it dearly," said she, with an expression

-of delight on her weakly pretty features.

-

-"Well," said John, "if you care to accompany me to

-my office in a few minutes, I will present you to my Chief.

-He has already expressed a wish to meet you."

-

-Lady Rachel looked puzzled for a moment.

-

-"Perhaps I know him, Mr. Treves.  I may have met

-him in society.  I suppose I mustn't ask his name?" she

-added mysteriously.

-

-"No, don't ask his name," answered John.

-

-Ten minutes later Lady Rachel Marvin was seated

-beside John in a taxi.  The vehicle glided out of

-Grosvenor Place and passed Green Park.

-

-"Why are you looking so grim?" observed the lady.

-as John leaned back with folded arms.

-

-"I am thinking of the *Malta* and of the two hundred

-fine fellows who were drowned yesterday."

-

-

-

-

-

-.. vspace:: 4

-

-.. _`CHAPTER XX`:

-

-.. class:: center large

-

-   CHAPTER XX

-

-.. vspace:: 2

-

-It was six o'clock when John stepped out into Dacent

-Smith's bachelor room.  His Chief was seated at his desk,

-deep in work.  John closed the door and crossed the

-room.

-

-"Well?" asked Dacent Smith, raising his head and still

-sitting with poised pen at his desk.

-

-"I was right, sir, in regard to Lady Rachel Marvin.

-The information that sunk the *Malta* was conveyed by

-her to Mrs. Beecher Monmouth two days ago."

-

-"You don't mean she intentionally conveyed it?"

-exclaimed Dacent Smith, rising and looking at John in

-amazement.

-

-"Oh no, sir, not at all; she conveyed it with no

-intention to do harm, and only out of an inveterate habit

-of gossip."

-

-Dacent Smith drew his brows together.  His expression

-was more stern in that moment than John had ever seen it.

-

-"A damnable habit of gossiping," he observed forcibly.

-"Well, what have you done, Treves?"

-

-"I have brought the lady with me, sir, thinking you

-would wish to act at once in regard to her."

-

-Dacent Smith nodded in approbation.

-

-"Send her in to me, Treves, and wait outside."

-

-John went out of the room, and Dacent Smith moved

-to the mantelshelf and looked for a moment at the

-photograph of a girl of eighteen, a girl who looked scarcely

-more than a child.  He was still at the hearth when Lady

-Rachel was ushered into the room by John, who closed

-the door and left the two together.  What took place

-between Dacent Smith and the woman whose foolish

-vanity had sunk the *Malta* John did not know, but he

-was able to guess pretty well, for twenty minutes later

-Dacent Smith opened the door and summoned him into

-the room.

-

-"Come in, Treves."

-

-John entered and found Lady Rachel standing near

-his Chief's desk.  Her face was white, her nose

-unromantically red; she had been crying.  On Dacent

-Smith's desk lay a letter in Lady Rachel's handwriting.

-

-.. vspace:: 2

-

-DEAR BOB, it ran, *I have had a sudden breakdown

-in health.  The doctors inform me I am to go to Pitt

-Lunan Hydro for at least four months.  I may not even

-be well enough to return to town even then.  Forgive me,

-Bob, for not being able to say good-bye, but I am obliged to

-hurry away at once*.

-

-.. class:: noindent

-

-*Your devoted wife,*

-    RACHEL.

-

-.. vspace:: 2

-

-As John entered the room Lady Rachel Marvin folded

-this letter, placed it in an envelope, and, still standing,

-addressed it to her husband, "Lieutenant-Commander

-Marvin, H.M.S. ——, Southampton."  She closed the

-envelope and accepted a stamp from Dacent Smith.

-

-Dacent Smith broke the long silence that followed.

-

-"Treves," said he, "Lady Rachel leaves Euston for

-Scotland to-night by the seven o'clock train."

-

-"I don't want to go to Scotland!" intervened Lady

-Rachel petulantly.  "I dislike hydros intensely; I

-think them absolutely detestable places!"

-

-Dacent Smith watched her for a moment with unrelenting

-eyes, then spoke in a tone there was no mistaking.

-

-"Lady Rachel, you will take the train for Scotland

-to-night.  You will then stay there the full period my

-department has prescribed for you."  Lady Rachel

-flashed a rebellious look at him, but Dacent Smith

-continued in his unyielding tones: "Failing this, you will

-find yourself, I can assure you, in a place far more

-'detestable' to you than even the most uncomfortable

-of hydros!"

-

-He turned to his desk.  For a moment Lady Rachel

-wavered, then, seeing from his attitude that resistance

-was hopeless, she lifted her head and went haughtily

-out of the room.  John escorted her to the street, helped

-her into a taxi, and saw her drive away after a flash of

-her big eyes that was meant either to consume him

-with fire or to freeze him to death; he did not know

-which.  When John returned his Chief was standing at

-the mantelshelf.  The expression of sternness had

-entirely left his face.  In his fingers he held the photograph

-of a charming girl, scarcely more than a child.  For a

-minute he was silent, his eyes upon the figure in the silver

-frame; then he held up the picture and showed it to John.

-

-"This is my niece, Treves," he said quietly.

-

-John took the photograph and inspected it critically.

-

-"An extremely pretty girl, sir."

-

-Dacent Smith nodded.

-

-"She is just eighteen, Treves.  She became engaged

-to young Rashleigh, gunnery lieutenant on the *Malta*."  His

-tones deepened in intensity.  "That was four days

-ago—and to-day Rashleigh is dead.  He was one of the

-finest fellows who ever stepped.  And, in my opinion,

-he and two hundred others lost their lives solely because

-Lady Rachel Marvin could not keep her mouth shut.

-My niece, who is still only a child—you can see for

-yourself what she is like, Treves"—for the first time his

-voice shook with emotion—"my niece is at home lying

-in a semi-conscious condition.  The doctors tell us that

-her reason is threatened—and all this because a silly

-woman babbled about things that didn't concern her!"

-

-The man who was one of the greatest powers in the

-country was still holding the photograph in his fingers,

-his eyes fixed pitifully upon the delicate girlish beauty

-of his niece.  He replaced it slowly on the mantelshelf,

-then, turning, stood looking before him, his hands

-clenched at his side.  The sternness of his lips at that

-moment revealed to John all the hidden strength behind

-his kindly exterior; he was stirred to the depths.  And

-suddenly he flashed a look at John and struck his open

-palm with a clenched fist.

-

-"If I had my way, Treves," he said between tense

-lips, "if the powers that be would make me autocrat

-for a week, I'd treat these fool women as traitors.  An

-unguarded word," he went on, "is, in my opinion, just

-as much an act of disloyalty in time of war as an insult

-to the flag or the army.  If the public only knew it, we

-have lost ship after ship, and possibly thousands of men,

-as a result of vain gossip in clubs, trains, shops and smart

-drawing-rooms.  On Saturday we lost a cruiser worth

-a million.  Young Rashleigh died, and two hundred

-splendid sailors, because Lady Rachel Marvin must

-have her afternoon's social success!  What do you

-think of it, Treves?"

-

-John was thinking of the tragedy of it all—of the

-desolated homes—the two hundred homes where

-sorrow stalked that day.  He was thinking of the

-sweet-faced, broken-hearted girl, hovering on the verge

-of sanity.

-

-"I'd like to wring Lady Rachel's neck!" said John,

-swept out of himself.

-

-"I could tell you a score of such cases," said Dacent

-Smith.  "In one case a present of a hundred cigarettes

-and a silly woman's curiosity meant one of the greatest

-disasters that has occurred to us since the war began."  He

-suddenly stopped, pulled himself up, and became

-normal in tone.  He was fully himself again, the keen,

-resourceful man of action.  "Now, Treves," he said,

-"we must get back to business.  Lady Rachel Marvin

-has been a valuable 'feeder' to the enemy.  She is now

-out of action, however.  I regard," he went on, "Beecher

-Monmouth, M.P., as also dangerous.  Is that your

-opinion?"

-

-"My opinion," said John, "is that Beecher Monmouth

-is not disloyal, but, as he is wax in his wife's hands, his

-political position makes him dangerous."

-

-"You don't believe he could keep a secret from her?"

-

-"From what I've seen of them both, sir, I should

-doubt it."

-

-Dacent Smith went to his desk and made a note on

-his writing pad.  "I will write a note to the Home

-Secretary.  I think we can get rid of Beecher Monmouth

-without arousing suspicion.  Now, Treves, in regard to

-the sinking of the *Malta*—we are a little bit at sea in this

-matter.  Mrs. Beecher Monmouth and her accomplices

-have out-manoeuvred us.  In some manner or other she

-managed to get her information to Germany, or to a

-German submarine commander, eight hours after picking

-up the facts from Lady Rachel Marvin.  We want to

-know how she managed to do this, Treves."

-

-He crossed the room as he spoke, and took a sheaf of

-papers from his cabinet of drawers against the wall.

-He handed the documents to John.  John observed that

-the sheets were thin and almost transparent, and that

-each sheet had been written over in indelible pencil.

-

-"You have in your hand," explained Dacent Smith,

-"intercepted copies of all Mrs. Beecher Monmouth's

-letters since the fifteenth of last month.  That is," he

-added, "all the letters she has sent through the post.

-You will notice among them three advertisements—all

-jewellery for sale."

-

-John glanced at the pile of letters in his hand.  There

-were among them orders to tradesmen, half a dozen

-letters to a dressmaker, showing the great care with

-which Mrs. Beecher Monmouth apparelled herself; and

-two letters written and posted to her husband.  These

-last were interlarded with extravagant expressions of

-affection and love.  But it was the third advertisement,

-addressed to a famous daily paper, that held John's

-interest.  This ran:

-

-.. vspace:: 2

-

-"Lady wishes to sell privately a pearl and platinum

-pendant, perfectly-matched pearls, surrounding Orient

-pearl of splendid lustre.—Apply Box A3656."

-

-.. vspace:: 2

-

-John closely examined this advertisement, and the

-other two, which were similar.

-

-"Do you think she is in debt, sir?"

-

-"Beecher Monmouth's a rich man," answered Dacent

-Smith, "with big interest in the timber business.

-However, one never knows what an extravagant woman may

-succeed in spending.  I think it may be worth your

-while, Treves, to follow up the trail of this advertisement.

-I want you to apply yourself assiduously to the cultivation

-of this lady for the present.  And keep well in mind

-the fact that, though her letters show nothing, she is

-yet conveying news regularly to the enemy."

-

-

-

-

-

-.. vspace:: 4

-

-.. _`CHAPTER XXI`:

-

-.. class:: center large

-

-   CHAPTER XXI

-

-.. vspace:: 2

-

-Two evenings later Mrs. Beecher Monmouth's Spanish

-maid came to the door of her mistress's boudoir, knocked,

-and entered quietly.

-

-"Doctor Voules is here, madam."

-

-"I told you, Cecily, I was not at home!" said

-Mrs. Beecher Monmouth.  "I don't want to see Doctor

-Voules—I don't want to see anybody!"

-

-"But, madam," protested the maid, "it would be

-impossible to refuse to see Doctor Voules!"

-

-Something took place between mistress and maid—an

-exchange of glances—which seemed somewhat to

-alter Mrs. Beecher Monmouth's mood of irritation.

-

-"Very well, Cecily, let him come up."  And when

-Cecily had departed to summon Doctor Voules,

-Mrs. Beecher Monmouth went to her low Turkish table, lit

-a buff-coloured cigarette, and stood with her back to

-the hearth, smoking somewhat more rapidly than usual.

-A knock came at the door, and Doctor Voules entered.

-He strolled into the apartment with his shoulders well

-back, his heavy chin thrust forward, the smile that sat

-so ill upon his harsh face was well in evidence.

-

-"My dear Mrs. Monmouth, my felicitations!"

-

-Mrs. Beecher Monmouth took the gloved hand languidly

-and turned away.

-

-"Don't felicitate me on anything, Doctor!"

-

-"But the *Malta*!" protested the Doctor.  "That was

-a superb stroke for the Fatherland!  It is not often I

-am lavish of praise."

-

-"You are certainly not a woman's man!" retorted

-Mrs. Beecher Monmouth, flashing a look at him.

-

-"Your beauty is apparent to me, as it would be to a

-much younger man, I can assure you of that, my dear

-*gnädige Frau*," said Voules.

-

-"I am not talking of beauty—I am talking of moods,"

-replied she.  "You observe nothing of my disturbance!"

-

-Doctor Voules, who did not believe in moods, who

-never permitted such weakness in his subordinates,

-pressed his lips tightly together.

-

-"You will be good enough, *gnädige Frau*," he

-commanded, "to be a little more precise and explicit.

-Something has occurred, no doubt, to ruffle your temper."  He

-went to a chair at the hearth, seated himself, asked

-permission to smoke, and lit one of his big, black cigars.

-

-Mrs. Beecher Monmouth looked at him squarely for a

-moment.

-

-"Of course, my personal sufferings are nothing to you!

-It is nothing to you, for instance, that my friend, Lady

-Rachel Marvin, has vanished!"

-

-Doctor Voules lifted his eyebrows.

-

-"In what manner has she vanished?"

-

-"She is one of the most useful friends I have ever had,"

-returned Mrs. Beecher Monmouth, "and has suddenly

-disappeared without leaving me a note or a line."

-

-Doctor Voules drew his brows together.

-

-"Refresh my memory, please, in regard to this lady."

-

-"She is the foolish little chatterbox who provided me

-with all the information I needed in regard to the *Malta*,"

-retorted Mrs. Beecher Monmouth curtly.

-

-Doctor Voules suddenly became all attention.

-

-"And you mean, *gnädige Frau*, that this lady has

-vanished?"

-

-Mrs. Beecher Monmouth assured him of the fact.

-

-"No one knows," she went on, "where she is.  She

-was my most intimate friend.  I had put all my hopes

-in her, Excellenz!  Then, to add to my vexation, my

-husband has been suddenly and unexpectedly appointed

-to a Government commission of inquiry in Ireland.  He

-is delighted, of course; it is an honour for him.  Then,

-again," went on Mrs. Beecher Monmouth, "Mrs. Pomfret

-Bond, who was in the habit of telling me everything she

-knew, who was always scraping up bits of gossip that

-were of use, is——"

-

-"Has she vanished also?" inquired Voules, suddenly

-rising.

-

-"No," returned Mrs. Beecher Monmouth, "but she

-has become mute as a fish.  My opinion is that she has

-been warned not to talk, and that I have at last become

-a suspected person!"

-

-Voules looked at her and shook his ponderous head.

-

-"No, no!  Your position, *gnädige Frau*, is too secure

-for that; also you are too clever."

-

-"I am not a fool," answered Mrs. Beecher Monmouth,

-"but these things disturb me!"

-

-"Your love of the Fatherland, your belief in final

-victory, will sustain you.  You lose your friend, Lady

-Rachel Marvin, but to a woman of your beauty and

-position nothing is impossible.  You shall get other

-fools—is it not so?  England, *gnädige Frau*, is full of

-fools!"

-

-He moved across to her and took her hand firmly in his.

-

-"Soon you shall have your reward.  I will promise you

-my very best efforts.  You will wait yet a little while

-longer.  My plans," he added quietly, "are shaping

-themselves with the perfection of clockwork.  Enormous

-things have been done, my dear *gnädige Frau*, in the last

-few weeks, and disaffection now, even from you, would

-destroy the harmony....  Remember your sentiments

-towards these people!"

-

-"I remember them well enough!" answered Mrs. Beecher

-Monmouth.  She was still standing at the hearth,

-and looked steadily before her as she spoke.

-

-"Good!" exclaimed Voules in his throat.  "We will

-now come to the purpose of my visit.  You shall have

-your part in the big work afoot.  I assure you there are

-bigger things than the sinking of the *Malta*!  For instance,

-on the twenty-eighth we shall strike a blow that will not

-rapidly be forgotten by these English!"

-

-He suddenly snapped his teeth together and drew tight

-his lips; a gleam of ferocity lit in his hard eyes.

-

-"These English!" he exclaimed between his teeth.

-"Their arrogance maddens me!  It is a torture to me

-to live among them, concealed thus as a civilian!  I am

-maddened by their complacency!" he went on, "their

-calm!  Nevertheless, we shall strike deep this time!

-Your work, *gnädige Frau*," he said, speaking in the tone

-of masterful authority that was his real habit, "your

-work is not difficult.  On the twenty-fourth I request

-you to go to Heatherpoint Fort.  It is fortunate that

-your husband is away.  You can thus go to the Isle of

-Wight ostensibly for a holiday.  While there you will

-make the acquaintance of the adjutant of Heatherpoint,

-who visits regularly the —— Hotel in Newport.  My report

-is that this young Lieutenant Parkson is susceptible to

-beauty.  You, *gnädige Frau*," he smiled his hard smile,

-"are, indeed, beautiful enough to engage the attention

-of one far less susceptible!"

-

-"What do you wish me to do with this particular

-susceptible man?" inquired Mrs. Beecher Monmouth,

-with slight sarcasm.

-

-"You are to engage the young man's attention, and

-his affections."

-

-"You appear to forget, Excellenz, that I am a married

-woman of social position!"

-

-"I do not forget, *gnädige Frau*; but your complaisance

-on that account will be more than ever flattering.  The

-young man in question will not be able to resist the charms

-of the beautiful and wealthy society woman who is—to

-fall in love with him!"

-

-Mrs. Beecher Monmouth smiled, and spoke with a

-touch of irony.

-

-"I am your servant, Excellenz!"

-

-"You are the servant of the Fatherland," answered

-Voules gravely, "and all I require is that this young

-man, Lieutenant Parkson, shall not be at his post in the

-fort on the night of the twenty-eighth.  How you will

-succeed in keeping him away from duty is a matter for

-your own discretion—I have the fullest confidence in

-you.  Captain Cherriton undertook the work, but the

-young man in question neither drinks nor gambles.

-Cherriton's efforts ended in complete failure.  Moreover,

-our agent inside the fort has been strangely silent of

-late.  We have received neither signal nor message from

-him for some days.  If you play your cards neatly with

-Parkson, you will possibly secure an invitation to tea

-at the fort mess."

-

-He went on and gave her a rapid sketch of Steinbaum,

-otherwise known as "Crumbs."  The silence of "Crumbs"

-during the past few days had puzzled and disturbed him.

-

-"We have made a number of arrangements in regard

-to Heatherpoint Fort," he concluded, "and it is

-absolutely essential to our purpose that no guns should be

-fired from that spot."

-

-His eyes suddenly lit up.  He was thinking of his

-great scheme, which was hourly drawing nearer fruition,

-and, on parting, he gripped Mrs. Beecher Monmouth's

-hand in his.

-

-"*Gnädige Frau*," he announced, "glorious things are

-shortly to occur!"

-

-When he had gone Mrs. Beecher Monmouth seated

-herself in a chair and stared thoughtfully into the fire.

-She was conscious of a sense of doubt and uneasiness.

-General von Kuhne was a soldier of long training,

-masterful and aggressive.  His gift of organisation, his theory

-of attack was always excellent—nevertheless, he was not

-subtle, he was not sensitive to the importance of little

-incidents.  The sudden disappearance of Lady Rachel

-meant nothing to him, aroused no suspicion in him, and yet...

-

-

-

-

-

-.. vspace:: 4

-

-.. _`CHAPTER XXII`:

-

-.. class:: center large

-

-   CHAPTER XXII

-

-.. vspace:: 2

-

-In pursuance of Dacent Smith's instructions, John

-presented himself at the massive doors of 289, Grosvenor

-Place, two nights later.  He had pondered much upon

-those three advertisements, and the more he considered

-the matter, the more Mrs. Beecher Monmouth's desire

-privately to sell her jewels struck him as unusual.  It was

-not usual, he told himself, for a woman of Mrs. Beecher

-Monmouth's position to dispossess herself of jewellery

-through the medium of advertisements in a newspaper.

-There are half a dozen firms in Bond Street alone, of

-proved honesty, any one of which is willing to make

-purchases of this kind.

-

-John rang the bell, and the butler presently drew open

-the door.

-

-"I am very sorry, sir," the man began, "but madame

-is not at home."

-

-John expressed his complete surprise.  He was, however,

-not in the least surprised, and had planned his visit

-with the sole object of finding Mrs. Beecher Monmouth

-away from home.  For a minute he hesitated, looking

-doubtfully at the butler.

-

-"Can you," he inquired, "tell me if Mrs. Monmouth's

-maid is in.  I have a message to give her for her mistress."

-

-"I can take any message you wish, sir."

-

-"Thank you, no," said John, smiling at him; "what

-I have to say is—is rather personal to Mrs. Beecher

-Monmouth."

-

-"Very good, sir," answered the sedate servant, and

-bowed.  "Will you kindly step into the morning-room."

-

-John went into the morning-room, moved to the

-window and looked into Grosvenor Place, out over the

-broad smooth road to the high brick wall surrounding

-the royal gardens.  A few minutes elapsed, and then

-Cecily, Mrs. Beecher Monmouth's maid, came quietly in.

-

-"You wish to see me, sir?"

-

-John turned.

-

-"Yes, Cecily."  He looked into her face, noted her

-bead-black eyes, her olive skin, and the slight tendency

-to a moustache at the corner of each lip.  "Cecily," he

-said, "I have really come to ask your advice on a little

-personal matter."  Cecily looked at him with an

-unreadable expression on her sullen countenance.  "I want

-to give Mrs. Beecher Monmouth a present," went on

-John.  "A little matter of a pair of pearl ear-rings.  Can

-you tell me if she is fond of pearls?"

-

-"Pearls, monsieur; oh, no!"  Cecily shook her head.

-"Rubies or emeralds, yes, monsieur, but pearls, no."

-

-"Oh," resumed John, "she doesn't care for pearls then?"

-

-Cecily shook her head.

-

-"She says they are insipid, monsieur."

-

-"Perhaps she is right, Cecily, but in that case," he

-said, "I shall have to think of something else.  Thank

-you, I am much obliged to you."  He slipped a pound

-note into the woman's hand.

-

-"Thank you, monsieur."

-

-"Perhaps," John probed delicately, "madame is not

-fond of pearls because she has so many?"

-

-Cecily was folding her pound note.

-

-"Pearls do not suit madame; she never wears them.

-She has none at all, monsieur, only one pearl necklace, a

-wedding gift from her husband.  She, however, never

-wears it."

-

-John appeared to think.

-

-"Surely, Cecily, I have seen her wearing a pearl pendant?"

-

-Cecily shook her head again.

-

-"No, monsieur, never.  Madame has no pearls."

-

-John laughed.

-

-"Well, in that case, it must be emeralds or rubies."

-

-"Emeralds or rubies," responded Cecily, "madame is

-most fond of them."

-

-Three minutes later John was out of the house and

-hailing a taxi.  As he relapsed back into the cushions, he fell

-into thought.  "There is certainly," thought he, "more

-in these advertisements than meets the casual eye.

-Mrs. Beecher Monmouth detests pearls, she has none, never

-had any—and yet advertises them for sale!"

-

-A quarter of an hour later, when John stepped into

-Dacent Smith's room, the elder man glanced quickly up

-from his desk.

-

-"Well?"

-

-"In regard to those three advertisements of jewellery,"

-answered John, "inserted in the newspaper by

-Mrs. Beecher Monmouth, I should be glad, sir, if you would

-have them decoded."

-

-Dacent Smith raised his eyebrows slightly.

-

-John narrated what had occurred at his private

-interview with Cecily, and Dacent Smith was instantly of the

-opinion that Mrs. Beecher Monmouth's harmless

-advertisements were a matter for closer scrutiny.  In the first

-place, he telephoned to his department and ordered that

-inquiry should be instituted at the newspaper office as to

-any earlier advertisements which may have been inserted

-in the paper by Mrs. Monmouth.  If the three advertisements

-were a code message the intelligence decoding

-department would find its task vastly more easy if a

-considerable batch of advertisements in the same code

-were submitted.  A brief code message, as John was now

-well aware, is always difficult to read.  The longer the

-message, the easier is it to decipher.

-

-The department's search at the newspaper office

-resulted in the finding of no less than sixteen earlier

-advertisements inserted by Mrs. Beecher Monmouth.  In

-each case, only a box number was given, therefore the

-lady's identity never became public.

-

-"It looks as if you are on the right track, Treves,"

-said Dacent Smith, when this information was conveyed

-to him on the telephone.

-

-Half an hour later Dacent Smith, again at the

-telephone, took down the decoded first advertisement,

-the one wherein Mrs. Beecher Monmouth had advertised

-a pearl pendant for sale.  John's chief wrote it out

-carefully, and handed the slip across to the younger man.

-

-"There is your advertisement, Treves," he exclaimed.

-There was a grave ring in his voice.  John took the slip

-of paper and read:

-

-"Note of Warning.—New standard eight thousand ton

-ship purposely advertised by shipping authorities here as

-fitting out at —— is a 'Q' ship, armed with six-inch guns,

-torpedo tubes are being fitted.  Further news in next

-message."

-

-John looked up from the pencilled lines.  He saw in a

-flash the exact purport of the message.  Mrs. Beecher

-Monmouth in pretending to advertise a pearl pendant

-was in reality sending a message to Germany to the effect

-that a certain vessel then building was a decoy ship, one

-of the famous vessels which had done so much to break

-the back of the submarine peril.  John could easily

-realise how swiftly that news would reach Germany.

-Automatically the paper would reach Holland within

-two days.  Any neutral ship might carry copies, and

-Berlin's Naval Department would possess the information

-a few minutes after the daily paper containing

-Mrs. Beecher Monmouth's advertisement reached Dutch soil.

-Every German spy in England who read the newspaper

-would receive the news on the morning of its insertion.

-

-"I think for cunning that beats everything," said

-John, handing back the paper to Dacent Smith.

-

-"They have been preparing this sort of thing for

-years," answered Dacent Smith.  "But I am willing to

-admit that Mrs. Monmouth has this time stolen

-something of a march on us.

-

-"Every one of her advertisements is being decoded,

-however, and every one, I have no doubt, will convey

-information of this nature.  On the other hand," he said,

-"we have not yet learnt in what manner she

-communicated with the submarine that sunk the *Malta*,

-That must have been a much quicker communication.  I

-shall leave it to you, Treves," he said quietly, "to find

-out what that method is.  You will have to learn much

-more of Mrs. Beecher Monmouth than we know already.

-The fight is quickening between us.  And the big fight

-which von Kuhne is planning in the Isle of Wight is not

-quite so indefinite to us as it was.  The date at least is in

-our possession.  And by then," he went on, "all the

-carrion will have wended their way there, even our friend,

-Mrs. Beecher Monmouth, will be there by then."  John

-looked at him in sudden surprise.

-

-"I thought she was seldom out of London, sir."

-

-"That is the fact," answered Dacent Smith; "it is

-also the fact, however, that from the twenty-fourth of this

-month she has engaged rooms at a select boarding house

-in Freshwater.  She is going to Freshwater," he added

-ironically, "to recuperate after an arduous London

-season!"  He looked meaningly at John.  John understood

-the significance of that look.  The carrion were

-gathering.  By the twenty-eighth all von Kuhne's active

-forces would be drawn to the Isle of Wight.  Mrs. Beecher

-Monmouth, in taking rooms at Freshwater, was acquiring

-a residence in close proximity to Heatherpoint Fort.

-John wondered what her particular manoeuvre was to be.

-He put that question to Dacent Smith.

-

-"We shall know all in good time, Treves," answered

-his chief.  "You yourself will be in the Isle of Wight by

-then."

-

-A few minutes later John bade good night to Dacent

-Smith.  Being free for that evening, he took the tube to

-Camden Town.  Here, at Bowles Avenue, in the quiet

-little street, he knocked once again at the door of Elaine's

-residence.  He had not visited Elaine for nearly a week,

-and he knew that for some days to come he would be

-deeply occupied with Mrs. Beecher Monmouth, so he

-wished to make the most of the present opportunity.

-Twice during the past week Elaine had written him short

-notes asking him when he could come to visit her.  There

-had been nothing in the notes to convey the idea that she

-wished him urgently to come.  He was surprised, therefore,

-when Elaine, in answer to his knock, drew open the

-door and recognised him with an expression of infinite

-relief in her grey eyes.  She was dressed prettily, quietly

-and inexpensively as usual.  John, comparing her

-appearance with the brilliant beauty of Mrs. Beecher

-Monmouth, realised that Elaine's attraction lay just as much

-in her fine and upright character, in her intense feminine

-gentleness and loyalty, as in her beauty itself.

-

-She took John's hand in hers, drew him into the little

-passage, and quickly shut the door.

-

-"Bernard," she whispered, resting her hand on his

-shoulder, and looking up into his face, "I am so very glad

-you have come!"

-

-She drew his face down to hers and kissed him as she

-had never kissed him before.  There was something that

-was almost passionately fervent in her embrace.

-

-"I have been so afraid for you, Bernard," she murmured.

-

-John released himself.  He felt the extreme

-awkwardness of the situation.

-

-"What made you afraid, Elaine?"  He thought at

-first that an over-vivid imagination had been running

-away with her, that some feminine mood had made her

-fear for him.  Then he remembered her beliefs as to his

-character.  The man she believed him to be was a

-weakling with will undermined by drugs, a nervous,

-overstrung neurasthenic; capable of drifting into all sorts of

-trouble and embarrassments.

-

-Elaine led him into the little parlour, lit the gas and

-drew down the blind.  John noticed again that something

-troubled her mind.  She appeared to look at him strangely

-and thoughtfully.  And, for an instant, for a fleeting

-space of time, he feared that she had penetrated the

-secret of his identity.  If this was the case, all his castles

-in the air would in a minute come toppling about his ears.

-

-"Why are you looking at me so anxiously, Elaine?"

-he asked, assuming a casual tone of voice.

-

-"It is because of Captain Cherriton, Bernard; he has

-been here to-day, and has been asking questions about you."

-

-"What sort of questions?" John asked quickly.

-

-"He asked me if you had been at Heatherpoint Fort

-lately.  He himself has been down at the Isle of Wight

-and he appears to have found out something about you

-that disturbs him terribly."

-

-John made the best effort he could to play his difficult

-part.

-

-"Well, Elaine?" he questioned, "did Captain Cherriton

-tell you the particular cause of his disturbance?"  He

-was smiling slightly as he spoke, treating the matter

-airily.  Nevertheless, inwardly he was deeply perturbed.

-If Cherriton suspected him, and communicated his

-suspicions to Voules and his confederates, John knew

-that the position for himself would be one of infinite peril.

-He had experienced one fortuitous escape from discovery

-owing to the interception of "Crumbs's" letter to

-Voules, but he could hardly hope that fortune would

-again favour him.

-

-He questioned Elaine closely, and learned that

-Cherriton had definitely heard of his presence at

-Heatherpoint Fort at a time when he was supposed to be working

-in the interest of Voules.  This knowledge, John knew,

-would confirm all Cherriton's suspicions the minute it

-was discovered that "Crumbs" had been trapped and

-had vanished from the fort.

-

-However, it was not in John's nature to meet trouble

-half-way, and for the present he was happy to be in

-Elaine's radiant company.  Elaine, for her part, had

-much to say to him; in the first place, she detailed all

-that had occurred in an interview she had had with

-Dacent Smith.  The great man had treated her with

-marked courtesy, and had, without revealing John's true

-identity, enlisted her services in much the same manner

-as Mrs. Beecher Monmouth acted for his adversaries,

-Voules, Cherriton, Manwitz, and company.  Elaine had

-undertaken the work in the idea that she could thus

-protect from danger the man she loved, whose name

-she believed she bore.

-

-John listened to her narrative with the deepest interest,

-and gradually the wonderful subtlety of Dacent Smith

-made itself manifest.  The great man had promised to

-relieve him of his awkward predicament in regard to

-Elaine, and the manner in which he had accomplished

-his promise was simplicity itself.  Elaine was to

-permit—within limits—the advances of Cherriton, and was to

-pretend to keep her "husband" at a distance!  The

-neatness of this plan filled John with admiration.  He felt

-instantly much freer with Elaine.  The delicate moment

-when she had offered to resume marital relations with

-him would not immediately occur again.

-

-For some minutes after Elaine had ceased speaking

-John held silence—a doubt had come to him.

-

-"Elaine," he said, earnestly, "Captain Cherriton is far

-more dangerous, perhaps, than you know."  He rose,

-and, pacing back and fore, with an anxious face, warned

-her that the man was one who would stop at nothing to

-attain his ends.  Elaine listened patiently; then, on

-a sudden, quick impulse, flung her arms about his neck.

-

-"Bernard," she whispered, "don't you know I love

-you, my darling?  All those minutes that you have been

-pacing up and down there in raging jealousy——"

-

-"Jealousy!" echoed John.

-

-"It was jealousy, Bernard," she smiled, happy in the

-possession of his love.  "All the time I have been

-adoring you and loving you more and more.  Bernard,"

-she whispered, "I am to pretend not to care.  But you

-will know in your heart, won't you, that I am yours

-always?"  She drew her face away from his and looked

-deep into his eyes.  "You know that, dearest?"

-

-"I know it," said John, looking back at her.

-

-"And you love me as I love you?" questioned she.

-

-He had never seen her so beautiful as in that moment,

-with her face upturned to his, her cheeks flushed, and her

-eyes offering him her love.  He was standing in another

-man's shoes, and at that moment those shoes pinched

-him to the point of anguish.  For a fleeting moment he

-was tempted to fling all prudence to the winds and confess

-everything.  Then the recollection that she was a married

-woman smote him like a blow.  Whatever happened, she

-could never be his.  Very gently and tenderly he held her

-from him.

-

-"You can't doubt me, Elaine," he said, in a low voice.

-"Nevertheless, I think Dacent Smith is right; you ought

-to pretend not to care for me, for just a little

-while—anyway, until the great contest that is now beginning

-between our department and Cherriton and his

-confederates is at an end."

-

-He led her back to her chair, lit a cigarette, and made

-an effort to give a humorous description of his life during

-the past few weeks.  He told her of Sinclair, of "Crumbs,"

-of his adventure and his visit to Voules; everything, in

-fact, except his real identity and his arrest in mistake for

-Bernard Treves.

-

-As his narrative unfolded, Elaine's eyes widened in

-amazement and admiration.

-

-"I had no idea you were so splendid, Bernard."

-

-"But I am not splendid.  I am not telling you that I

-am splendid."

-

-"Of course you are not, you silly boy; you are trying

-to make out you are nothing at all.  But I shouldn't love

-you as I do if I couldn't read between the lines.  Oh,

-Bernard, what an idiot I have been about you.  I used

-to think——" she paused and looked away.

-

-"You used to think awful things of me," continued

-John, "that I took drugs, that I consumed whisky by

-the half-bottle, that I was a brute both to you and to my

-old father."

-

-"Yes," said Elaine slowly.  "I used to think I——"  Then

-suddenly, and with the inconsequence of woman,

-she broke off and covered her face with her hands.  She

-was crying softly and steadily.  It was not John's

-business to comfort her.  The only man who had the

-right to do that was the drink-sodden neurotic, who was

-still a prisoner in the nursing home.  Nevertheless, in less

-than a minute John was kneeling before her.

-

-"What is it, Elaine?" he asked in passionate anxiety.

-She looked at him with eyes bright with tears.

-

-"It is the past, Bernard; I can't understand it.

-Those days, long ago, lie like a pain in my heart, always.

-You have grown so different.  It is cowardly and mean

-of me to think of it, but I love you, Bernard, and I

-cannot bear to think there was a time when you were not

-as now."  She paused for a moment, and a shadow, a

-twinge of agony crossed her face.  She looked at John

-with affrighted eyes, then spoke in a low voice.  "That

-night when you struck me, Bernard!"

-

-John felt the blood quicken in his pulses.  Some time

-in the past Bernard Treves had struck her.  How and

-under what circumstances he could not guess.  He turned

-away his head, so that the sudden rage which blazed in

-his eyes should not be visible to her.  For a moment he

-was silent, then collecting his senses, he said quietly, and

-still without looking at her:

-

-"Elaine, I swear that if in the past I ever raised my

-hand to you, ever was cur enough to strike you, then I

-know nothing of it.  I have no memory of such a thing,"

-he went on, speaking the truth.

-

-"I tell myself that, in those early days, you were not

-yourself," conceded Elaine.

-

-"I want never to recall those days," said John.  "If

-I ever acted as you say, I must have been mad."  He

-suddenly turned towards her.  And all his passionate

-desire to protect her, the deep love he had grown to feel

-for her seemed in that moment to animate his face.

-"Elaine," he said, "promise me you'll forget it, and

-never think of it again?"

-

-"Never again," answered she.  She slid her arms

-about his neck and drew him towards her.  For a minute

-he forgot his compact with himself.  But presently his

-self-possession returned to him.  He fell back a pace,

-and, lifting her hand, kissed her fingers, and once again

-assumed the light conversational tone.

-

-"We are comrades now, Elaine," said he, "both working

-against Voules and his myrmidons."  He turned and

-looked at the little clock on Elaine's mantelshelf.

-"Hallo!" he exclaimed, "I must be off; I am on duty

-to-night."

-

-He felt that it was safer to go, and five minutes later he

-was at the door of the house.

-

-"Remember, Elaine," he said, looking down at her in

-the dim little passage, "any time you want me, if

-Cherriton offends you in any way, ring me up at the

-Golden Pavilion Hotel."

-

-

-

-

-

-.. vspace:: 4

-

-.. _`CHAPTER XXIII`:

-

-.. class:: center large

-

-   CHAPTER XXIII

-

-.. vspace:: 2

-

-One evening, a week later, when darkness had fallen,

-John found himself in Grosvenor Place, pacing

-unobtrusively in the shadow of the russet-brown brick wall

-which surrounds the royal garden of Buckingham Palace.

-He was watching a taxi which was waiting before the

-broad door of Mr. Beecher Monmouth's residence.  Some

-minutes passed before John, from his discreet

-vantage ground, observed Mrs. Beecher Monmouth

-herself, a vague, befurred, silk-clad figure in the distance,

-descend from her house and enter the vehicle.

-

-The lady's taxi sped away, and John lifted his attention

-from the door of the house to the first floor.  Here a

-chink of light from two windows showed him that

-Mrs. Beecher Monmouth's maid, having attired her mistress

-for the evening, was still busy, either in the bedroom or

-Mrs. Beecher Monmouth's boudoir.

-

-"When Mademoiselle Cecily puts out the light and goes

-downstairs, I'll make a dash for it," thought John.

-

-For a quarter of an hour after that he waited patiently

-in the shadow of the royal wall.  Then first one light,

-and then another, vanished behind the first floor curtains

-of the house across the road.  John gave Cecily sufficient

-time to descend to the housekeeper's room, where she

-usually spent the evening.  At last, however, with

-something of alacrity and a quickened pulse-beat, he crossed

-the road.  He was the veriest amateur as a burglar, but

-his cause was the best in the world, and in less than a

-minute he had slipped a small Yale key into the hall door.

-He had possessed himself of that key from Mrs. Beecher

-Monmouth's handbag earlier in the evening, and he

-knew she would not miss it until her return from her

-dinner-party at the Savoy.

-

-The key moved noiselessly in the lock.  No drama at

-all accompanied his entry into the lofty, deeply-carpeted

-hall.  The light was dim, the hall deserted, and when

-John had soundlessly closed the front door behind him,

-he hurried forward and ascended the carpeted stairs,

-two steps at a time.

-

-From the servants' quarters in the lower regions he

-could hear voices faintly.  No other sounds came to

-him, and in less than a minute after he passed the front

-door he found himself in Mrs. Beecher Monmouth's

-intimate boudoir.  Here he cautiously closed the door

-behind him, turned the key in the lock and switched on

-the light.  Everything was as usual, save only that on

-every previous visit to that room Mrs. Beecher Monmouth,

-brilliantly gowned, brilliantly beautiful, and always

-amiable to himself, had been his chief centre of interest.

-To-night, however, it was not Mrs. Beecher Monmouth

-he desired to cultivate, but that lady's belongings.

-

-He was there under Dacent Smith's instructions to

-search for clues which would enable John's chief of

-department to check her flow of information to the

-enemy.  For not yet had John been able to discover in

-what manner, within eight hours, she had been able to

-communicate with the submarine which sank the *Malta*.

-

-John, standing with his back to the gold and white

-boudoir door, surveyed the room with a slight sense of

-bewilderment.  It was difficult to know where to begin.

-Nevertheless, he did begin, and during the quiet minutes

-that followed he made a close search for documents in

-every possible hiding-place he could discover.  His care

-and patience, however, met with no reward; he found

-nothing of the slightest significance.

-

-When John had thoroughly exhausted the possibilities

-of the boudoir and had found nothing, he opened the

-door which communicated from that room directly into

-Mrs. Beecher Monmouth's spacious bedroom.  He had

-never viewed this apartment before, and he was much

-impressed by its gorgeous furnishings, its shining brass

-twin bedsteads, its white French furniture and deep

-carpet of pale grey and rose colour.

-

-Having quietly locked the second door of the room

-which opened into the passage, he began a rapid search,

-taking care to replace everything as he found it.

-Mrs. Beecher Monmouth would probably not return until

-half-past nine, and he felt that if he could complete his

-business quickly he would be able to slip downstairs and

-out of the house before being observed.

-

-Cecily was the only person likely to disturb him, and

-he had already thought of a plan which might secure his

-safety in this event.  In regard to Mr. Beecher

-Monmouth, John felt completely at ease about him.  The

-"Ogre" had, a fortnight ago, been neatly transhipped

-to Ireland as a member of a Government commission

-of inquiry.  Dacent Smith, with the aid of the Home

-Secretary, had brought this about without arousing

-Monmouth's suspicions.  The fact that Beecher

-Monmouth adored his wife, and had desired to take her

-with him, had created something of a difficulty, but

-Dacent Smith had overcome this point in his habitual

-neat manner.

-

-"No; I don't think I need worry," thought John,

-glancing at an expensive clock of ivory and silver which

-adorned the dressing-table.  "I shall be safe for another

-half an hour at least."

-

-Mrs. Beecher Monmouth's bed was covered with a

-rich eiderdown covered in purple satin.  John seated

-himself upon this sumptuous covering and rubbed his

-chin thoughtfully.  He had been twenty minutes in the

-bedroom of Mrs. Beecher Monmouth, and had discovered

-nothing.

-

-He noticed now a door, with a crystal knob, which

-opened into a wardrobe, which was a small room in itself.

-Here Mrs. Beecher Monmouth's numerous costumes hung

-in rows.  John caught a glimpse of a shelf containing a

-score of pairs of boots, shoes and slippers.  Beneath this

-shelf was a big tin box, a black japanned box, which

-immediately engaged John's attention.

-

-The lock was a simple one, and John had it open in a

-moment.  Then the disappointment that had been

-growing on him intensified, for in the box was nothing

-but Mrs. Beecher Monmouth's costly sables laid away

-for the summer.  A reek of camphor assailed his nostrils

-from the folded furs.  He was about to close the box,

-when the idea occurred to him to run his hand down the

-sides.  A moment later he was glad of this impulse,

-for from the bottom of the tin he drew up a small,

-strong-looking cash-box.

-

-He rattled the box, and was able to detect a faint

-rustle from within.  Carrying the dispatch case, which

-was something under a foot in length, he went into the

-bedroom.  Once again he seated himself on the purple

-eiderdown and tried all his keys.  None of them fitted

-the dispatch box, which was protected by an unassailable

-Chubb lock.

-

-John contemplated this lock for some minutes with an

-unfavourable eye, then he took out a heavy steel tool he

-had brought with him.  It took him less than two

-minutes to wrench open the lid.  Within the box, completely

-filling its interior, were neatly folded and tightly

-packed letters and papers.

-

-John's interest quickened mightily as, opening one of

-the letters, he discovered it to be in German.

-

-The note-paper was of the flimsy description, almost

-tissue paper, in fact.  John, examining it closely, observed

-with a certain degree of interest that the paper had been

-folded very small indeed, evidently for facility in

-transmission.

-

-As he sat on the edge of the bed, with the open box

-on his knee, and this letter in his hand, he swept

-Mrs. Beecher Monmouth's large and expensively furnished

-room with his glance.  There was a deep silence in the

-room, and between the rise and the fall of the traffic

-noises outside, John could hear the light ticking of the

-little ivory and silver clock on the dressing-table.  He

-was not occupied with the silence, however, but with the

-contents of the letter, which he read rapidly, eagerly,

-and with swiftly augmented interest.  Written purposely

-small in a firm, foreign hand, the missive, which was to

-Mrs. Beecher Monmouth, ran, in German:

-

-.. vspace:: 2

-

-.. class:: noindent

-

-"DARLING ALICE,

-

-"*Your loving letter reached me only yesterday, and I

-am hastening to answer it by the usual channels.  I am

-still jealous.  You tell me your husband is very old, but

-one of the solaces to my captivity here is the English

-newspapers, which we are allowed to read, and yesterday,

-in one of the picture papers, I observed Mr. Beecher

-Monmouth's photograph.  He is not so old as you

-pretend, and though his face assures me that he will never

-win your heart, yet still I am jealous.  It makes me

-laugh to think of you as the wife of an English politician,

-a member of their stupid Parliament!  I wonder if in

-society you ever meet the Duke of Thule and Lord

-Harrisgrove.  I recall our beautiful happiness in Washington

-together.  You loved me then, I believe, more than you

-do now.*"

-

-.. vspace:: 2

-

-The letter ended with expressions of endearment, and

-was signed "Kurt von Morgen."

-

-As John read the signature his lips tightened.  In

-great haste he ran his eye over the handwriting of at

-least a score of other letters, each one of them in the same

-handwriting, that of Kurt von Morgen, a German Cuirassier

-officer, a young aristocrat who had been captured on

-the Western Front six months earlier.  He knew that

-Count Kurt von Morgen was a prisoner in the —— camp

-for officers.  And as he handled the flimsy sheets of

-paper he wondered consumedly how the young man

-had managed to convey these letters to Mrs. Beecher

-Monmouth.

-

-A word in another letter by von Morgen caught his eye:

-

-.. vspace:: 2

-

-"*I am glad you have met General von Kuhne,*" said the

-writer.  "*Kindly convey to him my compliments, and

-tell him his nephew, who is a prisoner here, is well and

-happy.  His Excellency's presence in England means

-much.  I throb with interest to know what will happen.

-But perhaps, Alice, meine herzliebste, I shall soon be

-free, and shall soon see you!  Preparations for my

-escape are going better than ever.  I have for my servant

-a very intelligent fellow from the Black Forest.  Do not

-let your English 'Ogre' love you too much.  Think of

-me always and the little week when you were my wife

-at Palm Beach.  I kiss you behind the ear.*—KURT."

-

-.. vspace:: 2

-

-A smile crossed John's face as he finished reading this

-amorous missive.

-

-"Here," thought he, "we get a pretty complete clue

-to Mrs. Beecher Monmouth's earlier history before she

-came from America.  It shows also where Mrs. Beecher

-Monmouth's affections are really centred."

-

-John had already read enough to know that these

-letters must be delivered as swiftly as possible into Dacent

-Smith's hands.  One or two had slipped to the floor as

-he scanned them hurriedly.  He bent down to pick them

-up, and saw very neatly written on a slip of paper the

-key of the code which Mrs. Monmouth had used in

-her newspaper advertisements.  As Smith's department

-already knew this code, the discovery was not of much

-importance, but on another sheet of paper which also

-lay on the rich rose and grey carpet he discovered a

-second code with its accompanying key.  His attention

-fixed upon this with swift intensity.  He had at last

-made a discovery of importance, and he became suddenly

-animated by the hope that his department had hit upon

-the manner of Mrs. Beecher Monmouth's swift

-communication with the enemy.  He reached out, took up

-the slip of paper—and then suddenly became still.  For

-an instant he remained motionless, his mind working

-with lightning rapidity.  A sound had come to him from

-Mrs. Beecher Monmouth's boudoir, a soft impact of

-footsteps upon the thick carpet.

-

-John could scarcely believe his ears.  He had carefully

-locked the door of the corridor boudoir when he entered

-the room.  As a further protection, he had left the key

-in the lock.  And now this sound!  He was still on

-his hands and knees, and very slowly he turned his head.

-At that instant the boudoir door opened towards him,

-and a man enveloped in a heavy tweed overcoat and

-wearing a soft grey hat stood in the aperture.  At sight

-of John on his knees near the bed, the new-comer stopped

-dead and stared with wide-amazed eyes.

-

-John leapt to his feet.  Mechanically, at the same

-moment the figure at the door removed his grey hat,

-and the thin hair, the parchment-like face, and the thin,

-sharp nose of Mr. Beecher Monmouth stood revealed.

-Moved by his passionate desire to be with his wife, the

-elderly politician had unexpectedly hurried from Ireland

-to spend the week-end in London.  Beecher Monmouth's

-expression was one of simple and complete amazement.

-He blinked two or three times; then, suddenly recovering

-himself, drew shut the door behind him, and stood with

-his back to it.  His sallow face grew pale with swift

-kindled hate and rage.

-

-"Mr. Treves," he demanded, drawing in a sharp breath,

-"what are you doing here?  Are you here with my

-wife's knowledge?"

-

-"No," answered John frankly.  "Your wife hasn't

-the faintest idea that I am here."

-

-"You mean you came to the house in her absence?"

-

-John felt it was necessary to tell him something near

-the truth.

-

-"I suppose you have a right to know that I came here

-in her absence.  I came without her knowledge—let

-myself in with a key and locked the doors outside there,

-so that I should not be disturbed.  How you got in I

-don't know."

-

-"I got in through my own bedroom which is beyond

-the boudoir," retorted Beecher Monmouth icily, amazed

-and further enraged at his calmness.

-

-"Oh!" said John.  "There must have been a door

-I didn't lock.  Well, to get along with my explanation—"

-

-Beecher Monmouth drew away from him; mechanically

-he drew off his overcoat and threw it to the floor.

-

-"Young man," he shouted, his face suddenly turning

-from white to scarlet, "what are those letters there?"  His

-eyes fell upon the opened cash-box lying on the bed.

-He rushed to it and took it up.  "What were you doing

-with this?"

-

-"I was breaking it open," answered John.

-

-Beecher Monmouth fixed upon him bewildered and

-stupefied eyes.  Then he hurried across the room and

-put out his hand for the bell.  John, however, was too

-quick for him; he leapt forward and flung his arms

-powerfully about the lean, elderly figure.

-

-"You mustn't ring that bell," he said in a low, tense

-voice.  "I am here on very particular business, and

-there must be no disturbance whatever."

-

-"Will you let me go?" shouted Beecher Monmouth,

-his face contorted with rage.  "Let me go!"

-

-"Certainly," said John, stepping with his back towards

-the bell.  Beecher Monmouth eased his collar, which

-had been disturbed.  He put his hand to his thin,

-neatly-ordered hair.  He was breathing heavily.

-

-"You'll drive me mad.  Have you come here to rob

-me, or——"

-

-Then his mood suddenly changed.  The one passion

-of his life welled to the surface.  If John was there

-intending to rob him he cared little.  There was one thing

-only that could really strike at him deeply, and that

-was his wife's love and fidelity.

-

-"Look here," he said, suddenly pulling himself

-together, "tell me that it is not an assignation; that

-you are not waiting for my wife."

-

-John looked at him and was silent for a surprised

-moment; then he said, quietly and solemnly:

-

-"I swear I am not waiting for your wife.  I am here

-on far more serious business, and, as for your wife, I

-neither care, nor have I ever cared, anything about her."

-

-Beecher Monmouth's eyes took on a visible expression

-of relief; his gaze travelled away from John and looked

-about the room.  Once again his glance fell upon the

-disorder of letters upon the bed.  He made a step

-forward and, before John could stop him, picked up one.

-John saw his head jerk curiously as the first words

-smote his eyes.  "Liebste Alice."  His gaze went to

-the date of the letter.  It was scarcely a fortnight old!

-He read a few lines of the German missive, which he

-understood, then he lifted his eyes to John.

-

-Never in his life had John seen a man alter so in a

-moment as Beecher Monmouth altered in that moment.

-

-"Do you know what these letters are?" he asked in

-a jerking voice.  "Do you understand German?"

-

-John nodded.

-

-"Yes," he said.  "I have read several of them."

-

-Beecher Monmouth took out a silk handkerchief and

-wiped his brow.  Then he bent down and slowly gathered

-a handful of the letters.  But before he could read another,

-John placed a friendly hand on his shoulder.  He was

-moved by the tragedy that was about to strike this

-elderly man, who seemed so ill able to bear it.

-

-"Mr. Monmouth," he said, "it is only fair that you

-should know all the truth.  I can see no other way out."

-

-"What is the truth?" asked Monmouth in a dazed voice.

-

-"I am here," John answered, "on behalf of our

-Intelligence Department, to make a search of your wife's

-belongings."

-

-"Intelligence Department!" echoed Beecher Monmouth.

-

-"Yes," John said; "and I am afraid it will be my

-duty to take away all the letters in this room.  In the

-meantime, however, I am prepared for you to study

-them at your leisure."

-

-"What do you mean?" asked Monmouth.  "Intelligence

-Department——"

-

-"You will learn everything from the letters, which

-you can read if you wish—on condition, of course, that

-you give me your word of honour as a gentleman to

-destroy nothing.  Also you will remain indoors, within

-call, until I have communicated with my chief of

-department."

-

-Beecher Monmouth put a shaking hand over his brow.

-

-"Yes," he said, "I suppose I understand what you

-say.  I feel very much bewildered."

-

-"Would you like to read the letters?"

-

-"I have read one; I must face the others."

-

-"You will give me your word of honour to destroy

-nothing?"

-

-"Yes."  His voice was low, almost inaudible.

-

-John, pitying his utter desolation, stepped quietly out

-of the room, and, leaving the door open, seated himself

-in the boudoir.  He had been there perhaps three

-minutes, when Beecher Monmouth looked in at him.

-His expression was utterly tragic.

-

-"I should like to close the door, Mr. Treves, if you

-don't mind."

-

-"Certainly," said John.  He was something of a judge

-of men; he had accepted the elder man's word, and for

-ten further minutes he remained seated.

-

-During that time Beecher Monmouth stood alone in

-his wife's brilliantly decorated bedchamber, and strewn

-about the rose-grey carpet lay the letters which meant

-the end of all happiness, which for him meant

-tragedy and darkness unutterable.  He went down

-on his knees, and, with shaking hands, gathered up

-the strewn sheets.  Then, dropping into a low chair near

-the dressing-table, he read, one after another, Kurt von

-Morgen's amorous letters to his wife.  And in reading he

-pieced together, bit by bit, his wife's dark past.  For

-the first time her utter shamelessness became known to

-him.  And then, gradually, through the tragedy of his

-own wrecked life, he saw something that filled him with

-horror.  He learnt, bit by bit, that his wife was not

-only faithless to him, but was faithless to his country

-as well.  The woman he had adored and had sold his

-happiness to was a traitor—either that, or a spy in the

-enemy's pay.

-

-As these things swept over him in great waves he clasped

-his hands to his head and swayed back and forth in a very

-agony of horrified shame.  Presently, like a man in a

-dream, he rose and walked unsteadily across the floor.

-Quite neatly, and with a sort of mechanical carefulness,

-he had replaced all the letters and documents back in the

-box, and now, carrying the box under his arm, he went

-unsteadily over the carpet.  He drew open a drawer of

-the little cabinet near his bed, and took out a beautiful

-plated ivory-handled Colt pistol.  Then he took in a deep

-breath, assured himself that the pistol was loaded and

-clicked it shut again.  He moistened his lips with his

-tongue, looked at the weapon for a moment with dazed

-eyes, and slipped it into his pocket.  This done, he turned,

-and with steps that were steady and resolute, crossed

-the room and drew open the door of the boudoir.

-

-

-

-

-

-.. vspace:: 4

-

-.. _`CHAPTER XXIV`:

-

-.. class:: center large

-

-   CHAPTER XXIV

-

-.. vspace:: 2

-

-There was a strange light in Beecher Monmouth's eyes

-as he stepped into the outer apartment.  He was a man

-who irrevocably and finally had made up his mind.

-

-"Mr. Treves," he said, "I hand these into your care.

-You have discharged your duty very well indeed.  I

-think the letters will be of great service to your

-department."  He uttered the words tonelessly and his manner

-puzzled John, who took the box, and then observed that

-Monmouth's hand was outstretched.

-

-"You carried out your duty honourably and well."

-

-Their hands touched and John noticed how icy cold

-were the other's fingers.

-

-"I hope, sir," he said, in a sudden rush of pity for

-the utterly broken and deluded husband, "I hope you

-will forgive my seeming harshness of a few minutes ago."

-

-"Certainly, certainly," said Beecher Monmouth dully.

-He appeared grateful that John had shaken him by the

-hand.  "You can tell your chief that I feel no animosity

-and that I shall keep my promise not to leave this

-house.  Whenever you return you will find me here."

-

-"On behalf of the department I think I can say,"

-remarked John, "that you will suffer as little

-inconvenience as possible."

-

-"Thank you," said Beecher Monmouth.  "This discovery

-is for me, as you can well understand, a tragic

-one."  He paused a moment.  "In any case," he

-added, "you will find me in my wife's room when you

-return."

-

-John took the japanned box and bowed slightly.  He

-was quite sure that Beecher Monmouth would make no

-attempt to escape.  He was also quite sure in his own

-mind that no charge would be brought against him.

-The case was clearly one of a duped and shamelessly

-deluded husband who had unwittingly aided his country's

-enemies.  For a moment the elder man appeared to

-hesitate on the point of making some further communication,

-then, turning slowly on his heel, re-entered his wife's

-room and shut the door.

-

-Beecher Monmouth's unfortunate advent had delayed

-John longer in the house than caution allowed.  He

-made haste now to repair the tactical disadvantage, and

-the moment the door closed upon the elder man he

-emptied the letters from the box into his overcoat, hurried

-out of the room and down the great staircase.

-

-In two minutes he reached the front door, which he

-drew open upon the darkness of the night.  He inhaled

-a deep breath of relief.  His task had been accomplished;

-in another moment——

-

-Then he stopped and stood stock still upon the

-top-most step—exactly opposite him a taxi had drawn to a

-halt.  A light laugh floated up to him, and Mrs. Beecher

-Monmouth, shimmering in silk and jewels, alighted

-briskly!  She was the last person in the world John at

-that moment desired to see, still if she had been alone

-John believed that he could have still escaped unobserved.

-She was not alone, however.  With her were two men in

-evening clothes, and as the little party of three crossed

-the pavement John made out that the heavily-built,

-thick-necked figure who had helped her to alight was

-Doctor "Voules," and that the taller figure who walked

-upon her left hand was Captain Cherriton.

-

-Cherriton's keen eyes had recognised John in an instant,

-and almost simultaneously Mrs. Beecher Monmouth

-uttered an exclamation.

-

-"Why, Mr. Treves!"  She ran lightly up the steps,

-holding out her hand in greeting.  "I had no idea you

-were coming to-night."

-

-"Nor had I," said John.  "I came upon the impulse

-of the moment."

-

-"But you knew I should be out," protested Mrs. Beecher

-Monmouth.

-

-"That is true," John admitted; "but as you were not

-going to a theatre I expected you would be back early."

-

-"That was very nice of you; now you must come in

-again."  She laid her hand lightly on his arm and

-shepherded him back to the wide hall.

-

-"Where is the butler?"  Mrs. Beecher Monmouth,

-sweeping the empty hall with her eyes, turned in surprise

-upon John.

-

-"I don't know," said John; "I think he's downstairs."

-

-"But surely some one was here to let you out?"

-

-Cherriton and his Excellency von Kuhne had both

-entered the hall.  His Excellency pushed shut the big

-door, and as John heard the latch click a curious sensation

-of finality seized him.  On several occasions in past

-months he had been in tight situations.  He had been

-in an awkward position, for instance, half an hour earlier,

-with Beecher Monmouth.  The situation, however, which

-now held him in its grip was in point of danger beyond

-anything he had yet experienced.  He knew that

-coolness and sang-froid and daring were the only weapons

-with which he could fight against the three national

-and ruthless enemies who stood about him in the dimly

-lit hall.  He had shaken hands with Mrs. Beecher

-Monmouth, and, avoiding a direct answer to her last question,

-he now turned to von Kuhne and held out his hand.

-

-"How do you do, doctor?"

-

-"I am very well," answered his Excellency in his thick

-voice.  He looked steadily into John's eyes.  Manton

-could read nothing in his expression, and he gave his

-attention to Cherriton.

-

-"It is a long time since we met, Cherriton!"

-

-Cherriton bowed.  He made no effort to shake hands;

-nevertheless his manner was not openly hostile, rather

-was it sharply and keenly watchful.

-

-"Quite a long time," he answered.

-

-John, looking again into the captain's cold, light blue

-eyes, his pale shaven face with its bony contours,

-his cruelly-turned mouth, thought him even more

-unpleasant than he had formerly believed.  He was willing

-to grant, however, that Cherriton carried himself with an

-air, that he was a powerful, big-boned, tall, well-set-up

-fellow.

-

-His own eyes and Cherriton's remained engaged for the

-fraction of a second, then Mrs. Beecher Monmouth's

-voice broke the tension.

-

-"Come, come," she exclaimed, "we mustn't stand in

-the hall.  I'll ring for Duckett to bring us something

-upstairs, and in the meantime you shall each have a

-cigarette in my boudoir."

-

-"I don't like cigarettes!" said von Kuhne curtly.

-

-"Then you shall smoke one of your black cigars,"

-concluded Mrs. Beecher Monmouth, flashing at him one

-of her brilliant smiles.  She rang the bell, and when the

-butler appeared, commanded him to bring wine and

-glasses upstairs.

-

-Mrs. Beecher Monmouth began to run up the wide

-carpeted staircase.  John noticed that she wore grey

-shoes with scarlet heels, and that her stockings were of

-dark red silk to match her dress.  She ascended half a

-dozen steps, then turned, noticing that John had begun

-to frame an excuse.  He wanted to get away before she

-reached her boudoir, before she could enter her bedroom

-where her husband awaited her.  The meeting between

-these two which was imminent was not one which John

-wished to witness.  He waved a farewell hand, uttered

-conventional apologies and made to go.

-

-Mrs. Beecher Monmouth, however, would hear nothing

-of it.  She ran down the stairs, took him by the arm,

-shook a finger in his face, called him a "bad, cruel boy,"

-and led him upstairs.

-

-Cherriton and von Kuhne closed in behind.

-

-The boudoir was empty when Mrs. Beecher Monmouth

-entered and switched on the lights.  In a swift survey

-of the apartment John noticed the rifled dispatch-box

-on a gilt-legged chair where he had left it.  Very swiftly

-and dexterously he whipped off his light overcoat and

-threw it over the box, hiding it from view.

-

-Mrs. Beecher Monmouth, who wore extensive *décolletée*,

-with a small tiara glimmering in her perfectly arranged

-dark tresses, permitted John to relieve her of an opera

-cloak of grey silk brocade.  She stood for a minute

-displaying herself in perfect consciousness of her striking

-beauty.  Her arms and shoulders, perfectly modelled,

-were white as marble.  There was a challenging light in

-her brilliant eyes as they sought John's.  She was one

-of those women who look best at night, a flower that

-bloomed best in artificial light.

-

-John's mind, since their entrance into the room, had

-not, however, been occupied either with her beauty or

-his own personal danger.

-

-He was thinking only of a sound he had heard some

-minutes earlier, at the moment he had drawn open the

-front door.  The sound, like a distant crack of a whip,

-had reached him from the interior of the house.  Only

-now did that sound gather to itself significance.

-

-Sudden doubts assailed John.  In that room behind

-the closed door Beecher Monmouth had seen his own

-doting attempts at love mocked and laughed at; he had

-read the passionate letters of her real lover, Kurt von

-Morgen.  She had betrayed not only her husband but

-her husband's country.

-

-What if Beecher Monmouth strode in among them?

-At any moment the door of that silent room might fly

-open....  John could conceive Monmouth in a frenzy,

-rushing into the room and putting his lean hands about

-that white, bejewelled throat.  The situation tingled

-with terrible possibilities.

-

-In those tense and throbbing moments John felt a

-kinship between himself and the deluded man beyond the

-closed door of the bedroom.

-

-Cherriton, he was certain, suspected him, and would

-take the first opportunity to cross-examine him as to his

-visit to Heatherpoint Fort.  Nevertheless, he was

-determined to escape from that house with Mrs. Beecher

-Monmouth's incriminating letters, and with the newly-found

-code.  He was not afraid of Cherriton; he feared neither

-the tall German's subtlety of wit, nor his strength of arm.

-His sole feeling indeed towards this unpleasant enemy

-was one of infinite antagonism.  He knew the time was

-bound to come, possibly at any minute, when he and

-Cherriton would enter upon open conflict.

-

-The butler came into the room bearing a large silver

-tray, decanters and glasses.  General von Kuhne lit one

-of his big black cigars, and seating himself, drank a glass

-of champagne.  The butler went out of the room and

-closed the door noiselessly behind him.  John and

-Cherriton each accepted from Mrs. Beecher Monmouth's

-hands a whisky-and-soda.  John felt Mrs. Beecher

-Monmouth's eyes steadily upon him.  A faint shadow of

-doubt seemed to flit across her face and then vanish.

-With an almost imperceptible movement of her head she

-beckoned him towards her, and seizing a moment when

-Cherriton and von Kuhne were in conversation, she said

-to him in a whisper:

-

-"Why did you come to-night, when you knew I should

-be out?"

-

-John had been expecting the question, and was prepared.

-

-"I knew you would be out," he said, looking deep into

-her eyes; "but I expected you'd come in again!"

-

-"What do you mean, you enigmatical boy?"  Then

-feeling that she had read his mind, she added: "Do you

-mean—you came because my husband was away?"

-

-John smiled at her.

-

-"Don't you think that an excellent reason for coming?"

-he asked.

-

-This struck her as an extremely amusing remark.  As

-always she was conscious of, and confident in, the potency

-of her beauty.  She laughed and tapped him on the

-shoulder with her fan.

-

-"I don't believe you love me," she uttered almost

-soundlessly, shaping the words with her lips.

-

-"Don't you?" said John.

-

-"Did Cecily let you in?"

-

-"No," admitted John.

-

-At that moment a knock fell upon the door of the room,

-and in answer to Mrs. Beecher Monmouth's summons,

-Cecily herself entered.

-

-"I beg your pardon, madame," she said, "but the

-corridor door of your room is locked."

-

-"Locked, Cecily?"

-

-"Yes, madame."

-

-Mrs. Beecher Monmouth saw no significance in the fact.

-

-"In that case, Cecily," she said, "you may come

-through this way."

-

-"Thank you, madame."  Cecily, in her black dress,

-white cap and apron, and high-heeled shoes, crossed the

-carpet.  She reached the second door of Mrs. Beecher

-Monmouth's bedroom and opened it.  Nobody but John

-was watching her.  As the maid pushed open the door

-she gave a violent start, stood stock still, then uttered a

-loud and terrified scream.

-

-"Madame!  Madame!" she called, turning a frantic

-face and wide-staring eyes at her mistress.

-

-"What is it?" cried Mrs. Beecher Monmouth, springing

-swiftly to her feet.

-

-The four of them were now standing staring blankly

-at Cecily, who was leaning against the door-frame

-covering her eyes with one hand and waving an arm

-frantically towards the bedroom.

-

-Mrs. Monmouth hurried towards her, but it was John

-who first succeeded in reaching the door.  From the

-threshold he looked into the room.  All the softly-shaded

-golden lights were full on.  And half lying, half sitting

-on the bed he saw the figure of Beecher Monmouth.  The

-inert form was reclining upon its side on the rich purple

-counterpane.  One arm hung over the edge of the bed

-towards the floor.  On the floor itself lay the politician's

-ivory and electro-plated pistol, one barrel of which had

-been discharged.

-

-John rushed into the room and looked close into the

-ashen grey face, but even before he reached the bedside,

-the very stillness of the prone figure had told him the

-truth.

-

-.. vspace:: 1

-

-.. class:: center white-space-pre-line

-

-   \*      \*      \*      \*      \*

-

-.. vspace:: 1

-

-The knowledge that had come upon Beecher Monmouth

-that night had marked the end.  And with a courage

-for which few would have given him credit, considering

-his weakness, he had taken arms against a sea of troubles.

-His political life, his ambition, his hopes, the love that he

-had lavished, had all vanished in a flash.  Kurt von

-Morgen's letters had told him everything, had revealed

-a sink of iniquity and duplicity such as he had never

-thought possible.  The blow had been too heavy for him

-to bear.  A younger man might have sought relief in

-vengeance upon the woman who had betrayed him, but

-he was not of that spirit.  He could think of one way

-only, one act only which could extricate him from his

-tragic position.

-

-Innocently for months and years he had been a traitor

-to his country.  Unwittingly he had been supplying to

-the scheming, brilliant woman whom he adored, all the

-knowledge that came to him in virtue of his position in

-Parliament.  In doing this he had himself become a

-criminal.  No court of law could, or would, punish him.

-That he knew.  But with all his weaknesses he was a loyal

-Englishman, and in thinking of the tragedy that had been

-wrought by his doting folly, he resolved to act manfully

-at the last.

-

-Monmouth left no word, no scrap of writing, no murmur

-of complaint against the woman who had betrayed him,

-and as John looked into the waxen face that looked old,

-even beyond its years, he felt for the dead man a genuine

-and deep sense of pity.

-

-"After all," thought he, "he has chosen the only way

-out!"  He looked up from the face of the dead man, and

-saw Cherriton's eyes brooding upon him narrowly.  And

-all through the ensuing excitement he could feel

-Cherriton's eyes following him keenly, spying upon every

-movement he made.  As the minutes passed John realised that

-the Captain not only suspected him of playing a double

-game in regard to Heatherpoint Fort, but he suspected

-him also of the murder of Beecher Monmouth.

-

-John wondered what would happen when the ravished

-dispatch-box was discovered.  And the thought came

-to him that, despite the tragedy that had occurred,

-Beecher Monmouth's return had been a useful

-circumstance for himself and his department.  For when

-Mrs. Beecher Monmouth found that her lover's letters and the

-code had disappeared she would instantly jump to the

-conclusion that her husband had discovered them.  Having

-made this discovery, his despair at her duplicity would

-account for his self-destruction.

-

-Soon after the finding of the body the servants were

-summoned from below, but no one had heard the fatal

-shot.

-

-Von Kuhne, who was disturbed and annoyed, showed

-an urgent desire to take himself off.  He was gone,

-accompanied by Cherriton, by the time the police appeared.

-

-When the police were in full possession of the situation

-John himself took leave of Mrs. Beecher Monmouth.

-She was standing in her boudoir, her face deathly white,

-her usually scarlet lips bluish in hue.  John noticed that

-her hand, as she touched his, was ice-cold.  His feelings

-were of intense detestation towards her, and he found it

-difficult to be even conventionally polite.  As to offering

-her words of comfort or condolence, that would have

-been the merest mockery.  He was amazed, in bidding

-her good-bye, to find that there were tears in her eyes.

-She was an astounding woman.  Beecher Monmouth

-had destroyed himself solely because of her unutterable

-depths of treachery.  She had never loved him; she had

-incessantly betrayed and duped him, and yet she could

-still shed tears for him!

-

-John went away pondering upon the mystery of the

-eternal feminine.

-

-

-

-

-

-.. vspace:: 4

-

-.. _`CHAPTER XXV`:

-

-.. class:: center large

-

-   CHAPTER XXV

-

-.. vspace:: 2

-

-John's work of that night was commended highly by

-Dacent Smith.  For his discovery of the japanned box

-had put the department in possession of Mrs. Beecher

-Monmouth's code and a score of letters evidently part

-of a secret correspondence conducted with a camp for

-officers, and with Kurt von Morgen, whose "plans for

-escape were progressing nicely"!

-

-The great man commended this achievement.  But,

-like John, he felt pity for Beecher Monmouth, who had

-fallen so easy and gullible a victim to his wife's treachery.

-In regard to Cherriton's suspicions of John he took a

-serious view.

-

-"I think, Treves," he said, leaning back in his chair,

-"we shall have to remove Cherriton from the scene.  He

-appears, from what you tell me, not to have confided his

-suspicions of you either to Mrs. Beecher Monmouth or to

-von Kuhne.  It is unfortunate that he chanced to be

-appointed by von Kuhne to watch Heatherpoint.  But

-I don't think we can blame Lieutenant Parkson for letting

-out the fact that you were for a brief period attached

-to that fort.  Nevertheless the position is one that

-must be handled swiftly and effectively."

-

-He suddenly smiled at John.

-

-"You have done very well up to now, Treves," he said.

-"But I should not like your career to be suddenly cut

-short when there are big things ahead.  We have safely

-got rid of Lady Rachel Marvin in Pitt Lunan Hydro,

-where she can enjoy the company of other fools of her

-own sort, and will be unable to endanger any more of

-our forces by loose gossip."  He paused, then went on:

-"The virtual suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act was

-a god-send to us in the handling of dangerous social fools

-like Lady Rachel.  We could do still more than we do at

-present, Treves, if every one who knew of suspicious

-persons or suspicious gossip would only let us know.  If

-members of the public would take the trouble to write a

-letter to their favourite newspaper the information would

-always reach us, and would enable us to keep watch on a

-good many suspicious characters who would otherwise

-escape us."

-

-"The trouble is," said John, "the members of the

-public do not understand either the power of the German

-spy system in this country or the wideness of its extent."

-

-"Exactly," nodded his chief.  "Who, for instance,

-would suspect Mrs. Beecher Monmouth, the beautiful

-and wealthy wife of a well-known member of Parliament?

-But, to my mind, persons like Lady Rachel

-Marvin are just as dangerous to us as the actual German

-spies who pick up their information."

-

-John went away from Dacent Smith's bachelor abode

-that night full of intense curiosity as to what

-Mrs. Beecher Monmouth would do in the immediate future.

-If, however, he thought that the death of her husband

-would check her activities he was speedily disillusioned.

-For immediately after the funeral of the late politician,

-Mrs. Beecher Monmouth, looking beautiful in her widow's

-weeds, departed for the Isle of Wight.  The funeral of

-Beecher Monmouth had been an impressive public affair,

-and there had been much commiseration for the tragically

-bereaved young widow.  It was only natural, therefore,

-that after so terrible a shock she should wish to withdraw

-herself from the public gaze.  Rooms were engaged at

-an hotel at Newport, and Mrs. Monmouth, in deepest

-widow's weeds, made the journey accompanied by her

-maid Cecily.

-

-She arrived at Newport on the twenty-fourth of the

-month, and the proprietor of the hotel, who knew of her

-bereavement, received her with a grave and discreet

-cordiality.  He himself showed her to the parlour which

-had been allotted to her, and assured her that he would

-do all that was in his power to make her stay as quiet

-and reposeful as he possibly could.

-

-Mrs. Beecher Monmouth thanked him cordially.  That

-night she dined in the retirement of her little parlour,

-but on the following evening it was discovered that her

-chimney smoked a little.  She therefore decided to take

-her dinner in the public dining-room.  As the chimney

-in her sitting-room had never smoked before, the

-proprietor of the hotel was a little puzzled.  Nevertheless he

-prepared for her a table in a quiet corner of the dining-room

-downstairs.  Here, accompanied by Cecily, her

-confidential maid, who placed her chair for her and then

-departed, the newly-bereaved widow took her meal.

-The only other diners in the room were four young officers,

-who sat at a table in an opposite corner.  Mrs. Beecher

-Monmouth, in her simple and costly black dress,

-immediately engaged their attention.  They respected her

-sorrow, however, and, despite the evident admiration of

-one of them, who thought her possessed of the most

-beautiful profile he had ever seen, Mrs. Monmouth did

-not encounter from the young men a single glance.  When

-dinner was at an end she rose gracefully, and, carrying her

-novel, went upstairs to her apartments.  When the door

-had closed upon her the four young officers became

-animated in a surprising manner.

-

-"By gad!" exclaimed one, "she's a dashed fine-looking

-woman, and young, too."

-

-"A dashed sight too young for Beecher Monmouth, I

-should think," remarked another.  "What a rotten thing

-to happen to her.  I wonder what made him shoot

-himself."

-

-They speculated upon Mrs. Beecher Monmouth and

-her tragedy for some minutes, then rose to go.

-

-In the meantime Mrs. Beecher Monmouth had reached

-her sitting-room.  Strange to say, the fire no longer

-smoked.  She turned swiftly to the sallow-skinned

-Cecily.

-

-"Cecily!"

-

-"Yes, madame."

-

-"Go downstairs and find out which of those young

-officers was Lieutenant Parkson, of Heatherpoint Fort.

-You know how to find out?"

-

-Cecily looked at her knowingly.

-

-"Yes, madame."

-

-Presently Cecily returned.

-

-"Lieutenant Parkson, madame, was the one with the

-black hair and the little black moustache who sat facing

-you."

-

-"Thank you, Cecily," said Mrs. Beecher Monmouth.

-"Did you discover when he was coming again?"

-

-"He and his friends have engaged the same table for

-to-morrow night, madame."

-

-"Thank you."  Mrs. Beecher Monmouth lit one of her

-Russian cigarettes, flung the match into the fire, and,

-relapsing into a chair at the hearth, began to smoke

-quietly.  "I shall dine downstairs at the same time

-to-morrow, Cecily," she said.

-

-"Very good, madame."

-

-The next night the four young men were already seated

-at their table when Mrs. Beecher Monmouth entered the

-old-fashioned dining-room, followed by Cecily.  This

-time Lieutenant Parkson caught the full view of

-Mrs. Monmouth's beauty for the first time.  Her fine eyes

-met his, lingered for a moment, then turned away.  After

-that the young man watched her during the entire meal.

-He watched her as she moved away.  She carried herself

-superbly.

-

-For some minutes, unheeding his companions'

-conversation, Parkson looked at the vacant place she had

-occupied.  He remained absorbed in thought until

-something gleaming caught his eye on the carpet, within

-a yard of Mrs. Beecher Monmouth's vacated chair.

-Parkson saw this object, left his seat, and discovered it to

-be a small gold cigarette-case.

-

-He took it up quickly and examined it with a good

-deal of interest.  On the gold surface of the case the

-letters "A.B.M." were outlined in small rubies.  For

-a minute the young man hesitated, holding the article in

-his hand; then suddenly he made up his mind what to do.

-He determined to seize advantage by the forelock.

-

-Excusing himself to his friends, Parkson hurried out

-of the room.  He had determined upon a course which

-would enable him to make her acquaintance.  The single

-glance Mrs. Beecher Monmouth had rested upon him

-when entering the room gave him courage.  At the door

-of No. 9, which was her sitting-room, he knocked quietly.

-A low voice bade him come in.

-

-Then Parkson, embarrassed despite his boldness,

-stepped into the room.

-

-"I beg your pardon for intruding upon you, but I

-think you dropped this cigarette-case in the dining-room."

-

-Mrs. Beecher Monmouth looked at him, then at the

-case, and came quickly to her feet.

-

-"Oh, yes," she exclaimed.  She accepted it from his

-fingers and smiled at him, looking steadily into his eyes.

-"I am so grateful to you," she said.  "I cannot," she

-lied, "tell how I came to drop it!"

-

-Parkson bowed, and was moving towards the door.

-

-"Not at all," he murmured.

-

-"You know, the servants," went on Mrs. Beecher

-Monmouth, "are sometimes so dishonest in these hotels."

-

-"Quite so," answered Parkson clumsily.  Then he

-noticed that Mrs. Beecher Monmouth had opened the

-cigarette-case and was holding it towards him.  There

-were four buff-coloured cigarettes in its interior.

-

-"Won't you give me the pleasure of accepting one of

-them?  I am afraid it is the only reward you will permit

-me to offer you, Mr.——"

-

-She paused, looking questioningly at him.

-

-"My name is Parkson."

-

-Mrs. Beecher Monmouth uttered a pleased exclamation;

-her face wreathed itself in smiles.  For a devastated

-widow she looked at that moment particularly

-light-hearted.

-

-"Oh, how very nice that is.  Then you must know my

-cousin, Captain Cherriton?"

-

-"Yes," said Parkson; "I've met him a number of

-times here."  His tone conveyed to her swift intelligence

-the fact that Captain Cherriton was not high in his

-favour.  She looked at him seriously.

-

-"I am afraid he was not the best of company for you."

-

-At that moment Cecily, who had been conveniently

-absent from the room, entered with coffee upon the tray.

-

-"You will please bring another cup, Cecily.  I am sure

-Captain Parkson——"

-

-"Lieutenant Parkson," corrected the young man.

-

-"Lieutenant Parkson will join me."

-

-Five minutes later Lieutenant Parkson was comfortably

-seated in a chair on the opposite side of the hearth.

-He was consuming one of Mrs. Beecher Monmouth's

-buff-coloured cigarettes, and was very much at home

-drinking some of Mrs. Beecher Monmouth's after-dinner

-coffee.  After the first few minutes he gathered together

-his natural self-possession.  He was generally at home

-where women were concerned, and he was intensely

-susceptible to feminine beauty.  At that particular

-moment he was flattering himself that he was making

-a good impression upon this rich and beautiful young

-widow.  It occurred to him that she was, in the circumstances,

-unduly cheerful, but he attributed this to his own

-good company.  The fact that Mrs. Beecher Monmouth

-had cunningly put him in this frame of mind was, of

-course, unknown to him.  His own social position was

-quite a modest one, and this *tête-à-tête* with a woman

-of Mrs. Monmouth's importance and aristocratic

-connections flattered his vanity.

-

-"Do you know, Mr. Parkson, I don't look upon you

-as a stranger in the least.  You are a friend of my

-reckless cousin, and, therefore, we are in a sense mutually

-acquainted."

-

-"It is very nice of you to say so," acknowledged

-Parkson.

-

-In her amiable presence he began to grow expansive,

-until suddenly Mrs. Beecher Monmouth, as it were,

-appeared to recollect her tragic widowhood.  She

-dismissed him very neatly, but before he went away they

-shook hands, and she thanked him again.  He could

-feel her fingers warm, vibrant, and vital in his.  Her

-brilliant eyes held his for a moment; then she permitted

-him to depart.

-

-Cecily came into the room when he had gone.

-

-"You can take away the cups, Cecily," said Mrs.

-Beecher Monmouth, "and to-morrow night, in addition

-to coffee, you will provide whisky and liqueurs."

-

-"Very good, madam."

-

-"Glasses for two," announced Mrs. Beecher Monmouth.

-

-Within four days of her arrival at her hotel

-Mrs. Beecher Monmouth had completely enchained the

-susceptible young officer.  Parkson was amazed at his

-own success, yet perhaps not so much amazed after all.

-He began to see himself as a newly fledged Don Juan, a

-dog, a daring and romantic fascinator of women.

-

-

-

-

-

-.. vspace:: 4

-

-.. _`CHAPTER XXVI`:

-

-.. class:: center large

-

-   CHAPTER XXVI

-

-.. vspace:: 2

-

-One afternoon, when Colonel Hobin's permission had

-been obtained, Parkson invited Mrs. Beecher Monmouth

-to tea at Heatherpoint Fort.  It was only occasionally

-that ladies were allowed to enter the fort gates.

-Mrs. Beecher Monmouth, however, was a well-known woman,

-and her recent sorrow won for her every one's

-commiseration.  In sending her the permit to enter the

-fort—a slip of yellow paper, rubber stamped, and with Colonel

-Hobin's signature scrawled at the foot—Parkson

-apologised for the roughness of the fare he would be able

-to offer her.

-

-Mrs. Beecher Monmouth had been deftly angling for

-an invitation to the fort from the moment of her

-arrival.

-

-Upon the next afternoon she attired herself with

-special care, and, when ready, made the eleven miles

-journey to Heatherpoint in a hired car.

-

-She smiled graciously at the first sentry to halt her

-vehicle at the foot of the wide road leading to the fort

-gate.  At the tall iron gates themselves, which clanked

-noisily open when her pass had been inspected by the

-guard, Mrs. Beecher Monmouth was conscious of a slight

-tremor.  The sensation of being behind closed gates—for

-the gates clanked immediately shut upon her entrance—filled

-her with a sudden throb of fear.  The abrupt

-movements, the expressionless faces of the guard also

-disturbed her.  She had ventured a great deal in her

-work on behalf of the German secret service, but this

-was the first occasion where she had, as it were, stepped

-deliberately into the jaws of the lion.  Her quick eyes

-took in all her surroundings; the cliff rose abruptly to

-her left; the muzzle of a six-inch gun peering out over

-the Solent was visible twenty yards away upon her right.

-A sergeant, still holding her pass in his hand, looked at her

-inquiringly.

-

-"You wish to see Lieutenant Parkson?"

-

-"Yes, please."  Her heart was still beating swiftly.

-She had not foreseen that the gates would be clanged

-ruthlessly shut behind her.

-

-The sergeant turned on his heel.

-

-"Will you come this way, madame?"

-

-He began to ascend steep ladder-like steps laid against

-the face of the cliff.  Mrs. Beecher Monmouth followed

-the grim khaki-clad figure.

-

-"Please, not quite so fast," she entreated, and paused

-for breath.

-

-Three hundred feet below her, looking almost straight

-down, she could see the blue waters of the Solent shining

-in the sunlight.  Tiny white-crested waves fell languidly

-into the little bay, with its jutting pier that before the

-war had been thronged with holiday-makers, but which

-was now empty and deserted.  Beyond the pier, three

-miles away, on the mainland promontory the tower of the

-Ponsonby Lighthouse gleamed beautiful and white.

-

-"What a lovely view, sergeant."

-

-"Yes, madame."

-

-"But in winter it must be very cold up here."

-

-"Yes, madame."

-

-He was standing eight or ten steps above her, eyeing

-a tangle of barbed wire which covered a green hill slope,

-with indifferent eyes.  He did not approve of visitors to

-the fort, especially ladies.  What did ladies want

-climbing ladders and nosing about in places where they

-were not wanted; they were never allowed to see

-anything important.  And as for the so-called view, they

-could get a better one at the Shakespeare Monument a

-little farther along the downs.  This was Sergeant

-Ewins's opinion as he conducted Lieutenant Parkson's

-visitor up the steep steps to the little well-hidden

-mess-room at the cliff top, and even Mrs. Beecher

-Monmouth's unparalleled beauty and charm failed to win a

-smile from him.  Parkson, who had been on duty until

-that minute, came running towards them as they entered

-the small asphalted courtyard.  Mrs. Beecher

-Monmouth, her eyes shining, her breath coming quickly

-with the exertion of the ascent, clasped his hand in

-hers.

-

-Parkson dismissed Ewins and apologised briskly for not

-being able to receive her at the fort gates.

-

-"I was on duty till this minute.  Our colonel's a bit

-of a martinet."

-

-"Is he not popular?" asked Mrs. Beecher Monmouth

-in the low intimate—we two are alone in all the

-world—voice she knew so well how to use.

-

-Parkson opened his eyes wide.

-

-"Good Lord, yes; he's most awfully popular.  He is

-just, you see, and the men always appreciate that."

-

-He led his visitor into the single story building, and

-along a passage toward the little mess-room.  Here

-Mrs. Beecher Monmouth seated herself in the only

-armchair—a cheap wicker article—and surveyed the room with

-smiling, but intensely receptive eyes.  In a flash she took

-in the bare boarded floor, the trestle table, the colonel's

-cigar box on the mantelshelf, the Admiralty chart of

-the Solent which covered the end wall and lastly, the old

-piano, which was the worst treated instrument in the Isle

-of Wight.

-

-Parkson bustled about at the tea-table, and Mrs. Beecher

-Monmouth presently turned her attention upon him.

-

-"Will anyone come in and disturb us if I help you

-to make the table a little more presentable?" she asked.

-

-"I'm afraid they will," Parkson answered.  "But I

-managed to choose a time when only one officer is likely

-to come in."

-

-"Is he old and grumpy, or young and nice-looking

-like you?"  Mrs. Beecher Monmouth looked at him

-with raillery in her fine eyes.  She was helping herself to

-marmalade, and was making the best of the thickness of

-the bread and butter, and the strong tea Parkson had

-poured out for her.

-

-"Oh, he's a dashed sight better looking than I am,"

-admitted Parkson modestly; "his name is Sinclair, an

-old regular officer."

-

-"I am sure I shall not like him," said Mrs. Beecher

-Monmouth.

-

-It was fully a quarter of an hour before Sinclair

-made his appearance, and then the tea was nearly

-cold.  He came in, and was introduced to Mrs. Beecher

-Monmouth.  Looking at his lean, handsome face and

-audacious eyes she could have sworn that she had

-seen him somewhere before.  As a matter of fact, his

-appearance was vaguely familiar to her because one of

-Sinclair's earlier duties that year had been to watch her

-at little dinner parties at the Savoy, Carlton and Ritz

-Hotels.

-

-"I think we have met before," probed Mrs. Beecher

-Monmouth, furrowing her brows, and fixing her gaze on

-Sinclair's face.

-

-"I am afraid I have not had that pleasure," replied

-Sinclair, who could act the part of smiling fatuity to

-perfection.  He was thinking how well she looked in her

-widow's weeds, and how extraordinary cheerful was her

-manner, considering the tragedy that had recently

-befallen her.

-

-Parkson and Mrs. Beecher Monmouth soon left the

-mess-room, and immediately they were gone Sinclair rose

-from the table, hurried to his room, and wrote a code

-telegram to Dacent Smith.

-

-.. vspace:: 2

-

-*Mrs. Beecher Monmouth is here.  What action shall

-I take?*

-

-.. vspace:: 2

-

-Two hours later his Chief's answer came.

-

-.. vspace:: 2

-

-*Take no action.  Treves handling the matter.*

-

-.. vspace:: 2

-

-While Sinclair was writing his telegram Mrs. Beecher

-Monmouth had accompanied Parkson out into the

-asphalted yard.  Only certain limited areas of the fort

-were open to friends of the officers.  "I am afraid it is

-very feminine of me," exclaimed Mrs. Monmouth as they

-passed the bakehouse door, "but I should so love to

-peep inside."

-

-"By all means," responded Parkson, showing himself

-indulgent to feminine curiosity.

-

-She tripped across the yard, and peered into the half

-darkness of the bakehouse.  She was carrying out her

-instructions, which were to find out what had become of

-Sims, but even the astuteness of Dacent Smith himself at

-this moment would have failed to detect guile in the

-girlish innocence of her expression as she looked into the

-face of the red-haired Scotch baker who had succeeded

-Sims.  She examined the great tray of newly-baked

-loaves, uttered feminine exclamations of astonishment

-and admiration at all she saw, and finally smiled sweetly

-into the face of the dour Scotch corporal.

-

-"I suppose you have been here ages and ages, Mr. Lyle?"

-

-"No, madam, it's no more than a month since I came."

-

-Parkson, who had listened good-humouredly, awaited

-her at the door, and as they crossed the asphalt together

-Mrs. Monmouth questioned him as to the baker who had

-preceded Lyle.  She put her questions deftly, in a manner

-that would arouse no suspicion.

-

-"Oh, no, Sims isn't at the front."  He looked at

-her for a moment with fleeting doubt in his gaze, and

-decided to say no more about Sims.  But Mrs. Monmouth's

-keen eyes interpreted his expression of reserve.

-He knew something.  She smiled inwardly.  What he

-knew she, too, would know.

-

-"I am afraid we must stop here," Parkson suddenly

-said, "I am not allowed to take anyone beyond this

-barbed wire."

-

-"Do you never allow visitors to go there?"

-

-"Never," answered Parkson emphatically.

-

-Mrs. Beecher Monmouth turned her resplendent

-countenance upon him.  There was a vivid colour in her

-cheeks; the rich curve of her lips glowed scarlet.

-

-"How wonderful it all is—and, I suppose," she went

-on, looking at him with what he and any other man would

-have believed to be admiration, "you are watching and

-waiting, all day and all night—waiting for the enemy?"

-

-"Something of the sort," answered Parkson wearily.

-"You never know; he may come any time."

-

-"Do you expect him?"

-

-They were at the top of the steps which led to the lower

-fort, the superb panorama of Alum Bay, the Ponsonby

-Lighthouse and the English coast lay at their feet.

-

-"I can't say that we expect him any longer," answered

-Parkson, naturally, "but we live in hope!"

-

-"I suppose the fort is very strong?"

-

-"I expect it's capable of doing its bit," Parkson

-answered judicially.

-

-"I suppose you have made it much stronger in the last

-few months—since the Germans began to do badly on

-the Western front?"

-

-Parkson looked at her quickly, and she broke into a

-little musical laugh.

-

-"How silly I am!" she exclaimed.  "I am talking just

-like a man.  That comes of living with a Member of

-Parliament."

-

-This was the only reference she had made to her

-husband, but she made it in a tone which was intended

-to convey to Parkson that Mr. Beecher Monmouth was

-completely and irrevocably dead, and that being a young

-and vital woman, she, on her part, could not be expected

-to mourn his loss eternally.

-

-They descended the steps together, and, in pretty

-timidity, she laid her fingers upon his arm.  In Parkson's

-short career of gallantry he had never felt so much a man

-of the world as at that moment.

-

-When the steep descent had been made, and they

-were upon the level of the lower fort, Mrs. Beecher

-Monmouth expressed much interest in the view that was to

-be obtained from that level.  But Parkson shook his

-head, and explained that no visitors whatever were

-admitted to the lower fort.

-

-Failing in that project, Mrs. Beecher Monmouth turned

-her eyes upon the tall barred gate which cut her off from

-the world outside.  Parkson explained to her with a

-masterful smile, that, until he gave the word, she was a

-prisoner in the fort.

-

-"You can test it, if you like," he said; "all you have

-to do is to walk to the gate and try to get out."

-

-It was nearly six o'clock, and Parkson was due upon

-duty at seven.

-

-"Look here," he said, "I have just time to show you

-out of the fort the other way, across the links.  I'm

-afraid you'll have to go up the steps again."

-

-Mrs. Beecher Monmouth, however, showed herself quite

-willing to make an ascent to the upper level.  She was

-interested and delighted in everything she saw.

-

-At the top of the cliff, with the short green turf

-underfoot, old Lieutenant-Commander Greaves met them, and

-saluted, and went to his eyrie, his glass-covered look-out

-with its great swivel telescope.

-

-"What a delightful old naval officer!"

-

-"He is," returned Parkson, "and as keen as mustard."

-

-His companion put a few deft questions; it was as

-though she put out invisible tentacles, groping for matter

-that could be valuable.

-

-Before they reached the confines of the fort Parkson

-led her to the cliff edge, to the exact spot wherefrom

-Manton had looked down upon Sims busy upon the sands.

-Far below them lay the quiet little bay—there was

-scarcely a ripple upon the blue sunlit water, and the waves

-rolled and fell languidly with a musical cadence.

-

-Mrs. Beecher Monmouth seated herself beside Parkson

-and admired the view.  She was clever enough not to

-force the pace; he was already entangled in her meshes,

-but he was not yet completely helpless.  Aforetime she

-had conquered and wrought the undoing of men far

-subtler than Parkson.

-

-"What a lovely, lovely bay, Mr. Parkson!"

-

-Parkson admitted the beauty of the bay.  He told her

-that it was within the area of the fort, and that it was

-not accessible to the public, and that there was only

-one way of approaching it by a narrow path descending

-the chalk cliff.  Then quite insidiously and with

-incredible dexterity she led him round to talk of Sims.

-Months later, when Parkson recalled that conversation,

-he was totally unable to account for the manner in which

-she had achieved a return to this subject.  Sims, the

-lank, cadaverous and bead-eyed Sims—who was really

-Steinbaum and a German spy—what had this man to

-do with the beauty and splendour of the sunlit evening?

-Why should his existence interest the tragically bereaved

-young widow, the society woman, who Parkson truly

-believed had fallen in love with himself?  "Heart taken

-at the rebound," the young man quoted in fatuous

-gratification.  He felt delighted to think that old Greaves

-had seen him in company of this lovely widow.  He

-wanted the ancient naval officer to think him a dog,

-and when he and Mrs. Beecher Monmouth rose and

-passed between attentive sentries out of the fort into

-the downs, Parkson helped the lovely widow up certain

-steps, out through certain areas of barbed wire, by

-taking her arm in his.  He wondered if old Greaves,

-in his glass look-out, was watching them—old Greaves

-saw pretty much everything that went on in the upper

-fort.  But on this occasion it was not Greaves, but

-Captain Sinclair who watched him—watched every

-movement they made from Greaves' glass-encompassed

-tower.

-

-"What do you think of that friend of Parkson's,

-Commander?" asked Sinclair, as Parkson and his guest

-passed finally out of the fort.

-

-"She's the best-looking woman I've seen here since

-the war began," responded Greaves.  "When I was a

-young man," he went on wickedly, drawing at his

-pipe, "I always went in for widows.  There is always so

-much more to 'em."

-

-"In this case," Sinclair answered, "the widow seems

-to be bearing her sorrow pretty lightly!"

-

-"Old husbands are soon forgotten by young wives,"

-observed Greaves philosophically.  "When I was in

-Minorca, in the old Benbow, in '72 or '73," he began,

-and told Sinclair with never-ending gusto one of his

-somewhat highly-spiced stories of youthful adventures

-of his midship days.

-

-In the meantime Parkson conducted Mrs. Beecher

-Monmouth down to her waiting motor-car.  They

-descended the steep hillside, and Parkson still helped her

-on every occasion.  The hired Ford car had been turned

-in the narrow road.  Parkson, with a glance at his watch,

-helped her into the vehicle, daringly stepped in beside

-her, and placed the dust-cover over both their knees.

-

-"I can have a five minutes' drive with you and get

-back by seven," he announced.

-

-"But I didn't invite you, Mr. Parkson."

-

-"Your eyes invited me," he returned audaciously,

-and under the dust-cover he slid his fingers towards hers.

-

-There ensued a palpitating moment, then Mrs. Beecher

-Monmouth turned her radiantly beautiful face slightly

-towards him; under long, curved lashes she gave him

-a sidelong glance.  Then, so that the chauffeur should

-not overhear, she whispered, framing the words with

-her lips:

-

-"You bad, bad, naughty officer!"

-

-But she did not remove her hand, which was now

-enclosed in his.

-

-Parkson thought it a lucky chance that she had

-discarded her gloves.  Parkson, in fact, was green enough

-to trust her absolutely.  He was, indeed, the veriest

-babe in her hands.  Her face was full towards him now.

-She was smiling, exhibiting her splendid teeth, and

-looking deep into his eyes.  Her black hat and widow's

-weeds added only to the brilliancy of her complexion,

-to the scarlet richness of her fine lips.  There was

-something in her gaze, in the warm intensity of her regard, its

-lingering softness, that utterly swept away Parkson's

-self-possession.  He leaned toward her and dropped his

-voice.

-

-"If it wasn't for the sentries there on the hill-top,"

-he murmured, "I'd kiss you now!"

-

-"Bad boy," she said with her lips.

-

-She had a way of talking with her lips and uttering

-no sound that concentrated attention on her sensuous

-charms.

-

-Parkson's five minutes in the car seemed to him five

-minutes of heaven.  He was completely and utterly

-enamoured—and as to the future, the future seemed to

-blaze before him in radiant and glorious romance.  He

-wondered how far he could go—he had never seen a

-woman like her.  Beautiful, feminine, coy, loving....

-What a blind idiot, thought he, Beecher Monmouth

-must have been to shoot himself.

-

-"When shall we meet again?" he whispered, as he

-alighted from the car at the end of the fort road.

-

-"I'm afraid I shall have to meet you again soon, you

-naughty boy!"

-

-She put out her supple white hand, adorned only with

-a wedding ring.  Parkson seized her fingers and

-impressed a fervent kiss upon them.

-

-As the car swept away, Mrs. Beecher Monmouth turned

-and waved a little handkerchief in farewell.

-

-

-

-

-

-.. vspace:: 4

-

-.. _`CHAPTER XXVII`:

-

-.. class:: center large

-

-   CHAPTER XXVII

-

-.. vspace:: 2

-

-When Mrs. Monmouth reached the hotel in Newport,

-something over an hour after bidding Parkson farewell,

-Cecily awaited her in the little sitting-room.

-

-"Are you ready, madame, to dress for dinner?" asked

-the maid.

-

-"Yes, Cecily, and I shall dine here to-night."

-

-She went into the bedroom, and Cecily disrobed her.

-During this ceremony the girl hesitated once or twice

-on the point of speaking, then refrained.

-

-"Well, what is it, Cecily?  What is it you want

-to say?"

-

-"It is something important, madame, that has occurred."

-

-Mrs. Beecher Monmouth turned and opened her eyes

-in interrogation.

-

-"What, for instance?" she demanded.

-

-Cecily, who was at the wardrobe, took out her

-mistress's evening skirt.

-

-"To-day, madame, when you were away, I made

-acquaintance of one of the men at Heatherpoint

-Fort——"

-

-"Ah!" ejaculated Mrs. Beecher Monmouth, suddenly

-interested; "so soon—that was clever of you."

-

-"He told me, in regard to Sims, madame, he merely

-left the fort——"

-

-Mrs. Beecher Monmouth nodded indifferently; she

-was disappointed.

-

-"Is that all you learned, Cecily?"

-

-"No, madame.  I learned also that Lieutenant

-Treves, who was supposed by us to be staying with his

-father, was, however, at that time acting as one of the

-officers at Heatherpoint."

-

-This was the first Mrs. Beecher Monmouth had heard

-of John's presence at the fort.  She was at first inclined

-to disbelieve it.  Then, when Cecily proved

-circumstantially that the statement was true, Mrs. Beecher

-Monmouth felt inclined to dismiss the matter as of no

-moment.  If Treves had been at Heatherpoint, he was

-there evidently with the knowledge of von Kuhne, and

-possibly was acting in von Kuhne's interests, and, for

-her part, she was not in the least inclined to doubt

-John—he was one of her admirers.  A more resourceful and

-more attractive man than Parkson, and, nevertheless,

-equally a victim of her charms.  She flattered herself

-she could do a great deal with Bernard Treves.  As for

-his attempting to deceive her, that seemed out of the

-question.  She pointed out to Cecily that Treves's stay

-at Heatherpoint Fort did not mean that the young man

-had betrayed the German secret service, which was

-rewarding him so handsomely.

-

-Cecily, however, had a further and more serious

-statement to make.

-

-"When I am suspicious, madame," she said, "I am

-thinking not so much of Mr. Treves's visit to the fort——"

-

-She was at Mrs. Beecher Monmouth's back now, hooking

-her dress, and a silence fell.

-

-"Well?" demanded her mistress shortly.

-

-"I am thinking, madame," went on Cecily, "of the

-night of Mr. Beecher Monmouth's death."

-

-She paused again, but her mistress made no remark,

-and Cecily went on:

-

-"On that night, madame, when I had folded away

-your things, I took a skirt into the housekeeper's room

-to brush.  While I brushed it I talked with Mr. Duckett,

-the butler, who was also there.  There was no ring at

-the front-door bell, madame—and yet when I returned

-to your bedroom there was a light there."

-

-"You left it on before you went down, Cecily!"

-

-"No, madame, I turned it off.  I was very surprised

-to see the light, as I knew you were out, madame, and

-I—I——"

-

-Mrs. Beecher Monmouth turned and scrutinised the

-maid's sallow face and bead-like eyes.

-

-"You looked through the keyhole!" she said.

-

-"Yes, madame."

-

-"And saw my husband, who had come back unexpectedly."

-

-"No, madame; I saw Mr. Treves.  Mr. Beecher Monmouth

-had not come home then; and Mr. Treves, madame,

-was standing near your dressing-table with a small box

-in his hands."

-

-Mrs. Beecher Monmouth flashed an intense glance

-upon her.

-

-"What sort of box?"

-

-"A black box, madame, the one you kept among your furs."

-

-Mrs. Beecher Monmouth's hand suddenly leapt out

-and gripped Cecily's wrist.  Her voice grew low, little

-more than a hissing whisper.

-

-"What are you saying, Cecily?  What was Mr. Treves doing?"

-

-"I don't know, madame."

-

-Cecily twisted her arm, attempting to free it.

-

-"Please, madame, you are hurting my wrist!"

-

-Mrs. Beecher Monmouth thrust forth her face—her

-brilliant eyes had grown hard as agate.

-

-"Why did you never tell me this before?"

-

-"I thought, madame, you knew he was there."

-

-Mrs. Beecher Monmouth relaxed her grip; she stepped

-back a pace or two and threw up her head.

-

-"God in heaven, what a fool you are!"

-

-"It was natural I should think that," protested Cecily,

-recoiling a step or two.

-

-"Natural!  You idiot!"

-

-"He came in with your key, madame."

-

-Mrs. Beecher Monmouth stared in utter amazement.

-

-"My key?"

-

-"Yes, madame; I saw him fling something under the

-table, and found afterwards it was your key.  He must

-have taken it from your bag, madame, when he visited

-you in the afternoon."

-

-Mrs. Beecher Monmouth suddenly twisted on her heel

-and began to pace the room.  The truth had smitten her

-like a blow.  Wild thoughts surged through her brain.

-All these long months she had believed herself tricking

-and duping Bernard Treves—her business in life was to

-trick, dupe, and mould men to her own ends, to the ends

-of the Fatherland, to the imposition of its monstrous

-Kultur upon the world—and now this man, this

-handsome, drug-sodden weakling had out-manoeuvred her!

-She had spun a web for him, had toyed with him,

-expended her charm upon him, and all the time he had

-been secretly and darkly laughing in his sleeve.  Instead

-of a friend and a tool, he had been an astute and daring

-enemy!

-

-Enemy—that was the word.  An enemy of infinite

-danger to herself, to von Kuhne, to Cherriton, to

-Manwitz—to them all.  An enemy to the Fatherland!  An

-enemy to the great, crushing blow that was about to fall

-upon those arrogant and high-stomached English!

-

-Her concealed letters, that meant everything, that

-exposed everything, had been found—not by her husband—but

-by this cool and steel-nerved, subtle-witted enemy—this

-young man who now, from that evidence, could

-piece together all her life-history.

-

-As this thought flashed into her mind, she saw her

-own immediate jeopardy.  She lacked nothing of courage;

-and, being a woman, it was not her own physical peril,

-nor the wrecking of von Kuhne's plan, that struck her

-deep—it was not this, but her own vanity that was

-stricken.  She had made many advances to Bernard

-Treves—she had given much.  And, as she thought of

-the past, a murderous and implacable hate blossomed

-in her mind against John.  An instinct to seize

-something and rend it to shreds grappled her.  She longed to

-slap Cecily—first on one side of her sallow face and then

-on the other.  She would have liked to take Cecily's arm

-and twist it until the woman yelled with pain.

-

-But as these things were not permissible, she sat down

-and wrote a fiery and vitriolic letter to General von Kuhne.

-She cared nothing now for von Kuhne's authority; they

-were all in danger.  This pleasant, amiable young

-Englishman had obviously acted against them from the

-very first.  They believed him to be a drug-taker and a

-discredited English officer with a grievance.  And all

-the time he had been something utterly different.

-

-She wrote this news to von Kuhne, and poured her

-contempt upon him.  She knew these things would hit

-the chief of the German service between the eyes, and

-she revelled in the thought.  And all the time her intense

-and passionate nature dwelt upon the thing that must

-befall Bernard Treves.  How much information Treves

-had conveyed to his department she did not know; but

-this she knew, that von Kuhne and his myrmidons would

-effectually stop his mouth.  The dark corps of espionage

-would add another death, another extinction to its

-secret crimes.

-

-When Mrs. Beecher Monmouth had finished the letter,

-she closed it, addressed it to Godfrey Manners, Esq., and

-handed it to Cecily.

-

-"You will take this to Mr. Manners now, and ask him

-to deliver it to Doctor Voules first thing to-morrow.

-The doctor is in London to-day, but he will return in

-the morning.  Tell Mr. Manners that the letter is of the

-utmost importance."

-

-"Very good, madame."

-

-Mrs. Beecher Monmouth detained her a few minutes,

-questioning her as to Treves's visit on the night of

-Beecher Monmouth's death; then permitted her to go.

-

-When the maid had departed, Mrs. Beecher Monmouth

-stood before the little mirror on the hotel dressing-table.

-"Tricked, duped and fooled!" she murmured.

-

-Then, catching sight of the pearl and emerald pendant

-John had given her, she snatched it violently from her

-breast and hurled it into the hearth.  It would have given

-her infinite pleasure at that moment to have murdered

-John by slow and excruciating torture.  Her thoughts

-were still seething, when the dejected hotel waiter

-knocked at her door and announced in plaintive tones

-that dinner awaited her.

-

-

-

-

-

-.. vspace:: 4

-

-.. _`CHAPTER XXVIII`:

-

-.. class:: center large

-

-   CHAPTER XXVIII

-

-.. vspace:: 2

-

-Next morning, at twelve o'clock, Doctor Voules sat at

-the big oak table in his dining-room at Brooke.  He had

-arrived from London in the morning, and was busy

-consuming a heavy lunch.

-

-The brightness of the day before had vanished; a

-heavy driving rain was falling.  From the single window

-of the apartment the doctor could obtain a view of

-drenched foliage in his garden.  And, sharp to the left,

-as one stood at the window, a view of the sea, grey and

-restless beneath a leaden sky, was visible.

-

-The doctor ate stolidly, grinding his food in heavy,

-powerful jaws.  The only other occupant of the room

-was Captain Cherriton, who lounged in a chair at the

-hearth and read a morning newspaper assiduously.

-Beside him, on the floor, lay four or five other morning

-news-sheets.

-

-For many minutes, save the drive of the rain and the

-chink of Voules's knife and fork, no sound broke the

-stillness of the room.  Then Voules turned his chair,

-took out a cigar and lit it.

-

-"The barometer is falling, Rathenau," he said in his

-grating, imperious voice—quite another voice from that

-which he assumed as the bland Doctor Voules.

-

-"It is going down steadily, Excellenz," answered

-Cherriton.

-

-"Good," returned the elder man.  "We must have

-unsettled weather for the twenty-eighth—eh, Rathenau?"

-

-"It is much to be desired, Excellenz."

-

-The twenty-eighth—it was always the twenty-eighth

-with General von Kuhne.  With machine-like precision

-his forceful mind returned again and again to that

-date—the date which was to mark the consummation of his

-work.  The blow, the subtle, heavy blow at England's

-heart—the blow planned, schemed for, and ordered;

-the great destruction that had originated in his martial

-and ruthless mind.

-

-"Things go well, eh?"

-

-"Quite well, Excellenz," Cherriton answered promptly,

-for as yet he had not found courage to mention to the

-general his suspicion of Treves.  He was not yet positive

-that Treves had betrayed them, and, in the meantime,

-he had resolved to say nothing.  Rather would he wait

-and watch, seeking for tangible proof of duplicity on

-Treves's part.

-

-These thoughts were passing through his mind when

-a knock came at the door, and Conrad entered to clear

-away the luncheon things.  In his hand he carried a

-salver upon which lay a single letter, addressed to Doctor

-Voules, and without a stamp.

-

-The doctor took up the letter.

-

-"Herr Manwitz brought it from Newport, Excellenz,"

-said the servant in German.

-

-"Tell Herr Manwitz I will see him presently, and

-remain out of the room until I ring for you."

-

-General von Kuhne had recognised Mrs. Beecher

-Monmouth's handwriting.  He began to read almost

-casually; then, suddenly, his interest intensified, and

-as he read the lines of his heavy face grew hard, firm

-and implacable.  His colour rose; he eased his collar

-about his throat and bit heavily upon his long cigar.

-

-Cherriton, noticing his agitation, noticing the blazing

-wrath that illuminated his face, watched him with

-anxious eyes.

-

-Suddenly von Kuhne sprang to his feet.

-

-"Stand up!" he bellowed, looking at the younger

-man with an expression of utter ferocity.  "You blind,

-thick-witted fool!"

-

-Captain Cherriton's pallid features were flushed, an

-angry light lit in his eye.  He opened his mouth and

-was about to speak, but von Kuhne swept the words out

-of his mouth with a savage gesture.

-

-"Speak no words to me, you —— but read that letter!"

-

-He thrust Mrs. Beecher Monmouth's closely-written

-sheets into the younger man's hands.

-

-"Read that!" he roared, "and see to what pass you

-have brought us!"

-

-Cherriton began to read, and as he read the colour left

-his face.  Von Kuhne hurried to the bell and jangled it

-savagely.  Conrad precipitated himself into the room in

-a state of nervous agitation.  He was used to authority,

-but he had never yet known a bell to ring with such

-violence.

-

-Doctor Voules's face turned towards him did nothing

-to dissipate his alarm.

-

-"Tell Herr Manwitz to come here this instant," roared

-Voules.

-

-"Very good, Excellenz."  He paused a moment, then

-added: "Mr. Bernard Treves is here, Excellenz.  Shall

-I also tell him to enter?"

-

-Doctor Voules drew in a deep breath.  He turned

-slowly and looked into Cherriton's eyes.

-

-The stillness that ensued was intense and portentous.

-The glance that passed between Voules and Cherriton

-was one of infinite meaning.  Voules's expression of ferocity

-moderated; he turned his eyes again to the intimidated

-Conrad standing in the doorway.

-

-"How long has Mr. Treves been here?"

-

-"A few minutes only, Herr Excellenz.  He came in

-after Herr Manwitz."

-

-"Very good, Conrad!  You will take particular care

-Mr. Treves does not leave the house, and you will in the

-meantime send Herr Manwitz to me."

-

-"Very good, Excellenz."

-

-"You understand my order in regard to Herr Treves?"

-

-"Yes, Excellenz.  He is not to leave the house."

-

-General von Kuhne nodded and turned on his heel.

-As the door closed upon Conrad, his implacable eyes

-once more sought Cherriton.

-

-"The letter you hold," he began, making a stiff gesture

-towards Mrs. Beecher Monmouth's missive, which

-Cherriton was still studying—"the letter you hold in your

-hand convicts this man completely.  His treachery to

-us, his espionage"—he paused a moment—"may bring

-upon us the utmost disaster.  In failing to discover his

-duplicity you have shown yourself no less than a

-sheep-headed fool!"

-

-"Herr Excellenz!" protested Baron von Rathenau,

-drawing himself up, a flush of colour animating his dull

-pallor.

-

-"I am your superior officer!" countered von Kuhne.

-"It is, fortunately, my privilege to speak plain words

-to you; it is equally my privilege to command your

-obedience.  You have failed in regard to this young man,

-Bernard Treves.  From the first hour of his contact with

-Manwitz he has clearly tricked you both!"

-

-"May I venture to remind you, Excellenz, that he

-tricked you also?"

-

-Von Kuhne lifted his fierce and truculent gaze.

-

-Cherriton was neither intimidated nor silenced.

-

-"He tricked you, Herr Excellenz, the day of his first

-visit here.  You announced to me then that you were

-satisfied.  You observed upon his wrists the punctured

-marks which proved him, as you said, Excellenz, to be

-addicted to the injection of drugs."

-

-Von Kuhne waved these objections aside.

-

-"I based my opinion upon his dossier provided for

-me by you and Manwitz."  He began to pace the floor,

-with his hands behind his back, his head thrust forward

-in deep thought.  "This affair, Rathenau," he said at

-length, "this discovery grows more and more sinister.

-It is clear to anyone not utterly a fool that every step of

-yours and Manwitz has been dogged for many weeks

-past.  What this young man knows of our plans we shall

-never learn; what he has confided to his authorities we

-can only guess.  One thing, however, is certain: whether

-he knows much or little, his activities must cease."  He

-paused and looked full into the younger man's face.  "Do

-you gather my meaning?"

-

-Cherriton bowed.

-

-"I understand, Excellenz."

-

-Von Kuhne continued to pace the carpet.

-

-"I shall rely upon you for effective measures."

-

-At that moment a knock fell upon the door, and

-Conrad ushered Herr Manwitz into the room, and closed

-the door upon him.  The big, fat man, with his swarthy,

-pouched cheeks, his bristling black moustache and

-iron-grey hair, bowed deferentially to von Kuhne.

-

-"You desired to see me, Excellenz?"

-

-Von Kuhne walked to the table, took up Mrs. Beecher

-Monmouth's letter, and handed it to him.

-

-"Read that!" he said curtly.  He spoke in German,

-and used the commanding tone of an exalted German

-officer speaking to a subordinate.  Manwitz read the

-letter from end to end, and as he read the colour receded

-from his cheeks, his heart-beat quickened in growing

-apprehension.  As the import of the letter grew plain to

-him, his apprehension amounted almost to terror.  The

-thought that Treves was a member of the English secret

-service filled him with infinite dread.  He had never in

-his most suspicious moments conceived such a thing as

-possible.  Treves, the neurotic, the weak-minded

-drug-taker!  The man who had shown cowardice in the face of

-the enemy, and had narrowly escaped court-martial!

-Was it possible that this good-looking, feeble fool had

-been at one and the same time a steady-nerved, watchful

-member of the English Intelligence Department?  Even

-now, as he read Mrs. Beecher Monmouth's plain words,

-he could not credit them.  Nevertheless he was

-afraid—mortally afraid—for his own skin.  The Tower of London

-and a firing squad had always loomed at the back of

-Manwitz' mind as a thing of infinite menace.  The

-English were so peremptory in these matters—no talk,

-no fuss; merely a firing squad and oblivion!  He

-possessed none of Cherriton's cold and brutal courage.

-And the thought that his own name was written in the

-tablets of the English secret service, the knowledge that

-his every movement may have been watched by a skilful

-English spy, sent a tremor through him that was visible

-both to von Kuhne and Cherriton.

-

-"You discovered this man!" said von Kuhne, thrusting

-out his chin and fixing his cold gaze upon Manwitz.

-

-"That I admit," answered Manwitz; "but I am prepared

-to swear that he was indeed what I thought him to

-be.  I took the utmost care, Excellenz, and it was long

-before I trusted him.  His information, Excellenz,

-enabled us to sink the *Polidor*."

-

-"That is quite true, Excellenz," Cherriton said,

-suddenly puzzled.

-

-"And in regard to his habits," went on Manwitz, "I

-have seen him many times under the influence of drugs,

-with all the symptoms, Excellenz, which I was careful to

-study—dilation of the pupils, irritability, fear of imaginary

-enemies——"

-

-Von Kuhne waved his hand, but Manwitz persisted.

-

-"Excellenz, he must have changed greatly, if he is,

-indeed, the man mentioned here!"

-

-"You fool!" von Kuhne thrust at him; "of course

-he is the same man!  We are speaking of Treves, and no

-other!"

-

-"He must have changed, Excellenz!" protested

-Manwitz.  "Treves, as I knew him, would never have

-had the nerve to act against us.  I impressed upon him,

-Excellenz, what the punishment for treachery would be,

-and he values his own skin above all things in the

-world."

-

-"Perhaps almost as much as you value yours!" added

-von Kuhne, with a sneer of contempt.  "I have to warn

-you, Manwitz, I shall expect you to act decisively and

-without reservation!  The Fatherland requires that this

-man who has betrayed us shall expiate his treachery!

-Do you get my meaning?"

-

-"Yes, Excellenz."

-

-"You will understand," he said, looking from one to

-the other, "that I am speaking officially and in my

-capacity as director of intelligence.  You will obey

-me"—his eyes turned towards Cherriton—"as though we were

-upon the sacred soil of the Fatherland!"

-

-He was standing at the table, resting one hand on the

-cloth.  He spoke as a judge pronouncing a sentence,

-and in the eyes of von Rathenau and Manwitz he was,

-indeed, this.  They took orders from him as inferior

-officers receiving orders from a general of division.  "The

-removal of this man is an act of mere military justice.

-My orders are that you, Manwitz, and you, Baron von

-Rathenau, administer this just sentence!"  He was

-passing what amounted to sentence of death on Bernard

-Treves.  In doing this he felt no qualm, no sensitive doubt

-whatever.  If he had occupied an English town in his

-true character as a German general in command, he

-would have put to death a hundred persons for not a

-tithe of the crime that John had committed against him.

-In sentencing John to death, in appointing Cherriton

-and Manwitz his executioners, he was carrying out what

-to him was a just, even a moderate law.  He had been

-brought up to slaughter; he had been taught from

-boyhood to crush the Fatherland's enemies.  To

-intimidate by frightfulness was the highest German ideal.

-He was a typical military German—that is, a typical

-cold-blooded murderer.  He crossed to the bell now and

-jangled it again—this time not quite so sharply.

-

-"My orders," he said to Cherriton, over his shoulder,

-"are to be carried out as expeditiously as possible.  I

-leave the method in your hands."  He turned his eyes

-upon Manwitz.  "I shall expect you to co-operate in

-the work, Manwitz!"

-

-At that moment Conrad presented himself in the door-way.

-

-"Tell Mr. Treves to come in," said von Kuhne.

-

-Two minutes later John entered the room.  His erect

-figure, his clear eye, instantly caught von Kuhne's

-attention; every one of the German's suspicions was in that

-moment doubly confirmed.  For a moment von Kuhne

-felt inclined to draw his pistol and shoot Manton down

-where he stood, but by a powerful effort he assumed his

-suave "Doctor Voules" manner.

-

-"Come in, Mr. Treves," he said.  "We have seen very

-little of you of late."

-

-John came into the room and shook hands with

-Manwitz.  He had not seen him for some time.  Manwitz's

-hand was cold and flabby to the touch.  John felt the

-atmosphere tense and electrical; he knew in some subtle

-way that Voules' smoothness of tone was a veneer to hide

-other and deeper feelings.  The eyes of the three Germans

-seemed to watch him with unusual closeness.  He

-instantly jumped to the conclusion that Cherriton had

-been conveying his suspicions to von Kuhne.  The thought

-that Mrs. Beecher Monmouth's suspicions had been aroused

-was the last thing that would have entered his head.

-

-He stayed for some minutes talking upon general

-topics.  He had come in answer to a summons from von

-Kuhne, and was surprised that the German had given

-him no definite instructions.  On behalf of Dacent

-Smith, John had already gathered a good deal of data

-about the approaching operations.  He knew more than

-a little of the great blow Germany was preparing, and he

-felt a little puzzled that von Kuhne appeared to have

-upon this occasion nothing for him to do.

-

-"You must come again," said the German; "we will

-have a further talk."  He glanced at Cherriton.  Cherriton

-understood the meaning of the look.

-

-"Which way are you going, Treves?"

-

-"Oh!  I shall cycle back to Freshwater," John

-answered.  "I promised my father I'd stay a night with

-him."

-

-"That's exactly my way back," answered Cherriton.

-

-"It is my way also," added Manwitz, "but I'm afraid

-you'll have to leave me behind, as I have no cycle."

-

-The upshot was that a few minutes later, in a pause

-between two heavy downfalls of rain, John and Cherriton

-set out and cycled away together from Voules's residence.

-

-John and Cherriton cycled side by side.  It was John's

-plan to spend the night with Treves's father.  He was

-fond of the old soldier, and in deceiving him was merely

-carrying out his chosen part.  He was playing a

-dangerous game in his country's interests.  And the first

-man to applaud his actions would have been the fine old

-soldier, whose own son had proved so utter a disappointment.

-Therefore John felt no compunction in the deception.

-

-He knew that infinite caution was required of him, and

-that the shrewd eyes of Captain Cherriton were always

-upon him.  He knew that at any moment "Voules,"

-or Cherriton or Mrs. Beecher Monmouth might stumble

-upon the knowledge of his true identity.  In that case

-not only would his utility to Dacent Smith come to an

-abrupt end, but his own chances of escape from his

-enemies' ruthlessness would be hardly worth

-contemplating.  He was surprised to find that, as he and

-Cherriton rode side by side, the tall German talked more

-volubly and affably than usual.  He seemed to have

-forgotten his suspicions of John, his peculiar attitude in

-Doctor Voules's room had vanished.  He questioned John

-cheerfully as to his recent movements, and, when John

-evaded his questions a little too obviously, he rallied his

-companion, suggesting that he was a gay dog, that he

-was neglecting his wife and bestowing his attentions

-elsewhere.

-

-John looked at him keenly upon the mention of Elaine's

-name, but he could read nothing on the German's pallid,

-heavy-boned face.  Nevertheless, as he rode, and as they

-drew near to Freshwater, John became aware that his

-companion had been pumping him with a good deal of

-subtlety.  He was trying to find out something—what

-that something was John could not guess.

-

-They rode up a long hill together and came in sight of

-the sea.  The view was magnificent, despite the lowering

-clouds and the rain, which had begun to fall again.  Upon

-their right hand, sloping towards the sea and the white

-cliffs, lay a wide expanse of down, broken by small

-coppices and clumps of gorse.  There was an old grey

-stone farm-house, with farm buildings, in the distance

-and in the middle of the down, near a clump of trees,

-were two single-storied labourers' cottages.

-

-Cherriton drew John's attention to these buildings.

-

-"I want you to come and have a look at that little

-place, Treves," he said, in a casual tone.

-

-"What is its particular interest?" asked John.

-

-"It has a particular interest for me," Cherriton

-answered, "because I have rented it furnished for six

-months.  It is a delightful little place, and just the sort

-of bachelor abode to suit me."  He turned his light blue

-eyes and looked with what might have been called

-frankness into John's face.  "I hope you'll give me the

-pleasure of being my guest there one of these days soon.

-Doctor Voules is lending me Conrad for servant, and I

-shall be able to make you fairly comfortable."

-

-"Thanks," said John; "I shall be pleased to come."

-

-"Why not come and have a look at it now?"

-continued Cherriton.  "We can't ride across the heather,

-but there is a path, and we can push our bicycles."

-

-"Thanks all the same," said John, "but I am afraid

-I cannot spare the time."

-

-"I can give you a very decent peg of whisky," said

-Cherriton, quietly.

-

-John, playing the part of Bernard Treves, smiled.

-

-"I am afraid I must keep off the whisky, as I am going

-to see my father," he answered adroitly.

-

-After that Cherriton pressed him no more.  Presently,

-however, he slackened his pace.

-

-"This is where I get off," he said.  He dismounted, and

-John also alighted.  "Why not come in until the rain is

-over?"

-

-"I don't mind the rain," said John.

-

-Cherriton turned and pushed his bicycle through the

-gap in the stone wall.  He was still scheming with all his

-thoughts to get John into the secluded cottage.  A new

-thought came to him.

-

-"By the way," he said, "has your friend Manwitz

-been able to give you any of the tablets you used to be so

-anxious about?"  He paused a moment, looking John

-steadily in the eyes, "or have you managed to break the

-habit?"

-

-John detected something in his tone which caused him

-to move warily.

-

-"I have had nothing from him for some time; and, as

-for breaking that sort of habit, it isn't so easy.  What

-made you ask that?"

-

-"Merely the fact," answered Cherriton, cunningly,

-"that I think I can give you what you want."

-

-John had already detected that the other had a strong

-reason for getting him into the cottage, and, though at

-first he had made up his mind to accept no invitation, he

-now saw that he was liable to fall into a trap.  For if he

-declined to come to the cottage for the tablets, which

-were a mania with Treves, he would without doubt deepen

-Cherriton's suspicions.  Therefore, acting the part of

-Treves, he broke into a laugh.

-

-"Well, if you put it like that," he said, "I suppose I

-must come."

-

-Five minutes later he followed Cherriton through a

-gate in a low stone wall, crossed the patch of ground

-before the cottage, and entered the single-storied building.

-The house was silent and deserted.  John discovered

-that the place, formerly two workmen's cottages, had

-been knocked into one, and furnished for the purpose of

-letting.

-

-The room in which John stood was low, and a gate-legged

-table occupied the middle of the apartment.  There

-was an old-fashioned fireplace, three or four

-chintz-covered chairs, and chintz curtains.  From the window

-John could obtain a distant view of a grey sea and a

-leaden sky.

-

-"It's not over cheerful in here, is it?" said Cherriton.

-"I think we had better have a fire."  He put a match

-to the fire, then took whisky and glasses from the

-cupboard.  "One peg won't hurt you," he remarked, pouring

-out a drink for John.  "While you are drinking, I'll

-look for the tablets."

-

-He stayed in the room for some minutes after that.

-John noticed that he poured himself a stiff dose of whisky,

-and drank it down with only a moderate addition of

-water.  He gave John the impression of a man who is

-strung up to a high pitch of tension.  He was restless and

-walked the floor, explaining to John that he intended to

-spend the rest of the summer and the autumn there.

-

-"I have a good deal of writing to do," he said, "and

-Dr. Voules wants me to be near him.  It's not a bad little

-place this, is it?"

-

-"Not at all," said John.

-

-Cherriton went out of the room into a bedroom with

-two windows, one of which looked over a deserted-looking

-yard, with a covered well at the further end.  He stood

-at the window, gazing out into this yard, with puckered

-brows, for several minutes.  Then he began to open and

-shut drawers in the dressing-table, making a considerable

-noise.

-

-He came into the sitting-room a few minutes later and

-apologised to John, saying that he must have made a

-mistake about the tablets.

-

-"I can find no sign of them," he said, "but you must

-come again, and I promise to have some for you."

-

-John, who had been watching him closely, suddenly

-rose from his chair and confronted him.

-

-"Look here, Cherriton," he demanded, "what's your game?"

-

-Cherriton's face took on a stony expression

-

-"What game?" he demanded.

-

-"Why are you so deucedly restless?"

-

-Cherriton broke into a laugh.

-

-"It's your imagination.  I am not in the least restless;

-I am only worried that I have dragged you here for

-nothing.  Have another whisky?"

-

-"No, thanks," said John, this time firmly.  "I must

-be pushing along."  He happened to be looking into

-Cherriton's face as he said this, and something took place

-on the other's face that startled him—a flame of

-something like ferocity lit up in the German's eyes, then

-instantly vanished.  After that, however, he made no

-further attempt to detain John.  He came to the end of

-the little cottage garden as John went away, and watched

-him as he mounted his bicycle and rode away towards

-Freshwater.  Then he returned to the cottage, closed

-the door behind him, and, dropping into a chair, took

-out Mrs. Beecher Monmouth's letter and read it

-carefully from end to end.

-

-He was still in his chair at the hearth half an hour

-later when Manwitz knocked at the door, and came in.

-

-"Come in, Manwitz, come in!" said Cherriton, rising.

-Manwitz had halted in the doorway, and was slowly

-drawing off his mackintosh.  There was a mute expression

-in his eyes.  Cherriton, reading his expression, pointed

-to a chair at the opposite side of the hearth.

-

-"Sit down, Manwitz; nothing has happened yet;

-our friend is spending the night with his father, but

-he has arranged to come over here to see me to-morrow."

-

-Manwitz took a handkerchief from his inner pocket,

-and mopped his brow.

-

-"It is terrible, Herr Baron!  His Excellenz affirms

-that he has been watching us from the beginning, but in

-that case how can he explain the sinking of the *Polidor*?"

-

-"The time for explanations has gone, Manwitz.

-Treves's discoveries, whatever they are, must not be

-permitted to check the great work his Excellenz has put

-his hand to."

-

-For some minutes after that there was silence between

-the two men; then Manwitz spoke, easing his collar

-about his fat throat:

-

-"His Excellenz impressed upon me, Herr Baron, the

-business of Mr. Treves is of the utmost urgency."

-

-"That is understood," Cherriton answered grimly.

-"But His Excellenz has no wish that I should play the

-fool and expose myself to unnecessary danger.  His

-Excellenz can rely entirely upon my discretion—and our

-united capacity to carry out his command, eh, Manwitz?"

-

-Manwitz smiled and nodded, but entirely without

-enjoyment.  Cherriton's coolness in face of the terrible

-duty that lay before them filled him with both terror

-and envy.

-

-

-

-

-

-.. vspace:: 4

-

-.. _`CHAPTER XXIX`:

-

-.. class:: center large

-

-   CHAPTER XXIX

-

-.. vspace:: 2

-

-At six o'clock that same evening Colonel Treves issued

-from the front door of his fine Tudor residence at

-Freshwater, and made his way down the drive.  The weather

-had cleared, there was a golden light in the west, and the

-Colonel, wearing a tweed suit, walked briskly towards

-the lodge-keeper's cottage.  He told himself that he had

-come there entirely upon business—merely to give the

-man certain personal orders.  The truth of the matter

-was, however, that he could no longer stay in the house.

-He was expecting his son; he was looking forward to

-meeting his boy Bernard with a keener and happier

-interest than he had felt for many years.  During recent

-months all his old love for his only offspring had returned.

-He was an old man, and the son who for many years had

-disappointed him had now grown to be a real Treves, and

-a man of honour.  A smile flitted across his fine, kindly

-face.  He believed that he had at last discovered the

-reason of Bernard's altered behaviour.  The boy who

-had been tragically cashiered from the army, who had,

-indeed, been almost proved guilty of cowardice in the

-face of the enemy, had righted himself; and not only

-had he won the confidence of his superiors, but he had

-been entrusted with delicate and difficult duties.

-

-When Colonel Treves reached the lodge-keeper's

-single-storied abode, he held the man in conversation for some

-minutes, but his eyes turned incessantly towards the

-sloping road that led past his gate.  When at last he saw

-a khaki-clad figure on a bicycle, he turned to his elderly

-employée:

-

-"Adams," he said, "is that Mr. Bernard coming along?"

-

-"Yes, sir," answered the man, after a minute or two's

-scrutiny.

-

-When John reached the drive, the Colonel was at the

-gate to meet him.

-

-"Well, Bernard, boy, so there you are," he exclaimed,

-gripping the young man's hand.  "I just happened to be

-doing a little business here with Adams, and caught sight

-of you.  Come in, boy, come in.  How do you think

-Mr. Bernard's looking, Adams?" he said, turning to the old

-servant.

-

-"He's looking fine, sir," answered the man.  "I've

-seldom seen him looking so well."

-

-"Leave your bicycle with Adams," said the Colonel;

-"you can take me up to the house.  I am not quite so

-brisk as I used to be."  And he slipped his arm through

-John's and went up the drive, talking happily and

-cheerfully as he went.  John had always felt drawn towards

-him; it was impossible for him not to feel admiration and

-pity for this splendid old fellow.  He experienced a sense

-of pleasure that his visit could give the old man such

-genuine delight.

-

-"Now, Bernard, boy," said the Colonel, "I have a

-word to say to you before we go in the house.  I have a

-surprise waiting for you there, but before we go in I want

-to ask you one thing?"

-

-"What is it?" John asked quietly.

-

-"It's this, Bernard, boy; you haven't been trusting

-me.  You haven't relied upon me as a son should rely on

-his father."

-

-"In what way, sir?"

-

-"You'll find that out, Bernard, boy, when we get

-indoors," said the Colonel enigmatically.

-

-John questioned him closely, but he could learn nothing,

-and presently Gates, the old butler, drew open the door,

-greeted John with a smile, and took his hat and gloves.

-

-"Your suit-case arrived this morning, sir," he informed

-John.  "I have taken it to your room."

-

-"It's the south room, Bernard, boy," intervened the

-Colonel; "it's the first time you've had the honour of

-sleeping in the room that used to be your mother's.  But

-this is a special reunion, Bernard.  I had to do

-something to mark the occasion."

-

-He took John's arm again, and together they ascended

-to the library, the room in which John had first made his

-acquaintance.  There was something on the Colonel's

-mind which gave him pleasure, and filled him with an

-air of humorous mystery.

-

-"When you've seen who's in the library, Bernard,"

-he said, as they drew near the green baize-covered door,

-"you'll understand what I mean about trusting me better

-in the future."

-

-He drew open the door.

-

-"Come in, Bernard, boy; come in."

-

-John followed him into the big, handsome apartment,

-with its mullioned windows and its fine view of the sea.

-There was some one standing by the hearth with back to

-the fire-place, and John suddenly caught his breath and

-stood still.  Elaine Treves was there, smiling at him,

-and as he entered the room she came forward, holding out

-both hands in greeting.

-

-"Bernard," she exclaimed, a light of happiness

-radiating her gentle beauty; "you didn't expect to

-find me here, did you?"

-

-John's surprise was complete.  Thoughts of Elaine

-had been with him during the greater part of his ride,

-but he remembered Treves's secret in regard to his wife,

-the fact that he had always kept his marriage from his

-father's knowledge.  He was therefore astonished to

-find Elaine installed under her father-in-law's roof.

-She looked very much at home, and John wondered

-consumedly how she had managed to come there.  He also

-foresaw new difficulties for himself; nevertheless he was

-delighted to see her, her freshness, her beauty, her

-winning confidence in himself all tended to please him.

-It took him very few minutes to observe that her presence

-brightened Colonel Treves's home amazingly.  It was

-obvious to John that she had already won her way into

-the old fellow's heart, and as Elaine reached up and shyly

-kissed him, the Colonel smiled upon them both with an

-air of infinite benevolence.

-

-"Now," exclaimed Colonel Treves, rallying John half

-an hour later, when Elaine had gone to dress for dinner.

-"Now do you see why I asked you to trust me?"

-

-"I think I do," said John, somewhat awkwardly.

-

-"Here, you young rascal, you go and marry a charming

-girl, who would bring credit and honour to my family,

-and you hide her away from me, pretending all the time

-that I am the strict and cruel father.  That shows how

-greatly you misunderstood me, Bernard boy.  Why, if

-I had chosen a wife for you myself, I couldn't have made

-as good a choice as you made in marrying Elaine.  She's

-been here three days, Bernard, and already I feel towards

-her as to my own daughter.  I always feared you would

-make a fool of yourself in marrying."  He paused and

-looked at John with his dim eyes.  "Sometimes, Bernard

-boy," he said, with a touch of wistfulness in his tone,

-"I cannot understand the change that has come over

-you, the improvement.  But it's the good blood coming

-out, eh—the Treves blood.  I always hold that blood

-tells, and in your case my conviction has been proved

-more than right.  Now, Bernard, how long can you stay

-with me this time?"

-

-"Only to-night, sir, I am sorry to say."

-

-"Come, come," protested the old Colonel, "I'd

-expected a week at least."  As he spoke the door opened,

-and Elaine entered the room dressed for dinner.  For the

-first time John saw her in evening apparel.  Her dress

-was of an inexpensive pale yellow material, muslin or

-silk, John did not know which, and did not care.  Her

-dark hair was beautifully coiffeured, her cheeks glowed

-with colour, and there was a light of happiness in her

-eyes.

-

-Colonel Treves glanced at the clock on his desk.

-

-"Why, it's nearly seven!" he exclaimed.  "I had no

-idea it was so late.  I must run away and change.  You'll

-want to get out of those puttees, Bernard," he said,

-glancing at John.

-

-"Thank you," said John.  "I am in the south room, sir?"

-

-The Colonel nodded, and John, wondering exactly

-where the south room might be, went out of the library.

-He walked along the corridor, and chanced upon a house-maid.

-

-"Which is my room, please?" he said.

-

-The housemaid preceded him along the passage, and

-opened a door, switched on the electric light.

-

-John thanked her, and found himself in an imposing

-bedroom, beautifully furnished in the French style.  His

-suit-case had been unstrapped and was upon a stand at

-the foot of the bed.  Laid neatly out upon the bed

-itself were his clothes for the evening.  A fine apartment,

-thought John, and at that moment a knock fell upon

-the door.

-

-"Come in," he called.  The door opened quietly, and

-Elaine stepped into the room.  She advanced across

-the room in the most natural manner in the world.

-There was a light in her fine grey eyes, and she was

-visibly and quite frankly delighted to be alone with

-John.  John, for his part, saw in a flash the awkwardness

-of the position chance had imposed upon him.  In his

-sudden surprise in finding Elaine under Colonel Treves's

-roof he had overlooked a *tête-à-tête* of this kind.  He

-had indeed hardly had time to think of the matter at all.

-

-"Bernard, are you really pleased to see me?"

-

-"Delighted," John answered, wondering what other

-word he could use, for, as a matter of truth, he was

-delighted and appalled at the same time.  He felt that

-the situation involving him would require the utmost

-finesse, if he meant to escape satisfactorily.  His own

-nerves were strung up to a high pitch of tension, and it

-came as a surprise to him that Elaine should act as

-though their presence together in that stately sleeping

-apartment was the most natural event in the world.

-

-"Do you like my dress, Bernard?"

-

-She came towards the glittering dressing-table and

-turned slowly for his inspection.  Her attitude, her

-confidence were exquisitely attractive to John.  Her

-wifely anxiety to win her husband's approval was the

-prettiest thing he had ever seen.  And once again the

-splendid rich duskiness of her hair, the gentle glow of her

-cheeks, the fine contours of her well-turned lips, and the

-fairness of her skin won his admiration.  But it was not

-this, it was in no sense her radiant and girlish beauty

-that had evoked John's feelings.  Mrs. Beecher Monmouth

-possessed beauty, but she lacked utterly the

-frankness and generous natural trust, the appealing

-femininity, in fact, which is always potent in the winning

-of a man's love.  For it was love, and love only that

-John felt for this girl who was Bernard Treves's wife, who

-was nothing to him, and could never be anything.

-

-To ease the situation he told her lightly that her dress

-suited her to perfection.

-

-"You said when we first met, Bernard, that this

-primrose colour suited me best, so I put it on to-night."

-

-"Only to please me?" asked John.

-

-Elaine nodded.

-

-"Of course I like to please your father, too, Bernard,"

-she went on.  "I think he is wonderful; just the beau

-ideal of a fine, upright soldier.  I cannot understand how

-you could ever have doubted his generosity."

-

-"I didn't doubt him," John answered.  "I only

-misunderstood him, and acted like a fool."

-

-"But in regard to our marriage.  If you had told him

-months ago, I am sure he would have been just as pleased

-as he is now.  Why didn't you, Bernard?"

-

-"I don't know," John answered.  "But I am sure he

-would have been pleased if I had been sensible enough to

-trust him."

-

-Elaine seated herself upon an ottoman, an old-fashioned

-circular piece of furniture which decorated the middle of

-the apartment.  For a minute she let her eyes wander

-over the refined luxury of the room, then said quietly and

-thoughtfully:

-

-"So this used to be your mother's room, Bernard?"

-

-John drew in his breath slowly.  "Yes," he answered,

-and, as he spoke, he felt suddenly and acutely the falsity

-of his position.  He was upon dangerous ground, and he

-felt again intense dislike at having to deceive this woman,

-who was everything in the world to him.

-

-"I think it was so dear of your father," resumed

-Elaine thoughtfully, "to let us have this room."  John

-cast a swift look in her direction.  "He could not have

-paid us a greater compliment," Elaine went on.

-

-She was entirely absorbed in her thoughts.  To her

-it was the most natural thing in life that the Colonel

-should honour his son and his son's wife by allotting to

-them this fine apartment.  In doing so he was tacitly

-informing the young couple that Elaine in her turn was

-to be the lady of the house.  But so far as John was

-concerned, Elaine's quiet acceptance of himself and of

-this fact filled him with consternation.  He felt himself

-enmeshed and hopelessly bewildered.  This was not his

-room only, but Elaine's.  It had not entered his mind

-to look into the wardrobe; he had not even noticed the

-pair of ladies' gloves which lay upon the dressing-table.

-But now as he turned away, so that Elaine might not

-read his glance, his eyes fell upon her gloves for

-the first time.  A moment of acute crisis had arisen.

-Nevertheless he still fenced, peeking a way out of

-the situation.

-

-"I cannot understand," he said, "how you managed

-to get into touch with my father after all."

-

-Elaine laughed brightly.

-

-"I have been wondering when you would ask that,

-Bernard.  It was all owing to the old butler, Mr. Gates.

-He came to 65, Bowles Avenue.  It seems that you gave

-that address once at the Savoy Hotel in case Mr. Dacent

-Smith sent for you suddenly.  Gates went to the Savoy

-to find you, to give you a message from your father, and

-the Savoy people gave him my address.  I answered the

-door to Gates myself, and in the course of his inquiries

-about you, I told him who I was.  He had never heard of

-me before and was very much surprised.  Naturally,

-when he came back here, he told your father."

-

-"I see," said John, "and my father invited you here?"

-

-Elaine nodded.

-

-"Not only invited me, but he has been absolutely

-charming to me."

-

-"I don't see anything very extraordinary in that,"

-returned John.

-

-"Oh, but I might have been the most horrid sort of

-creature.  He knew nothing whatever about me."

-

-"He only needed to look at you," John answered,

-"to see that—that I had made an ideal marriage."

-

-"I have made him tell me everything about your

-boyhood, Bernard."

-

-John winced.  He had no wish to discuss a boyhood

-that was naturally a blank to him.

-

-"I believe I know more about your schoolboy days

-than you do yourself," smiled Elaine.

-

-"I shouldn't wonder," said John with a smile.

-

-Despite himself, against caution and his better judgment,

-he was beginning to enjoy the scene.  He was still

-at the dressing-table, and in the depths of the mirror he

-could see behind him Elaine's reflection, a delicate and

-beautiful picture, seated on the ottoman behind him,

-looking at him with admiring and loving eyes, believing

-in him, and trusting him.

-

-"Bernard!"  Her tone was low and intimate.

-

-"Yes."

-

-"Come and sit beside me."

-

-"Oh, I don't know whether I can," said John; "I've—I've

-got a letter to write."  He was quick at inventing

-excuses.

-

-"You can't care much for me, Bernard, if you bother

-to write a letter, after not seeing me for so long."  She

-rose and came towards him.  He felt foolish and awkward

-when she took his hand in hers, led him to the

-ottoman and seated him beside her.  "Tell me what

-you have been doing all these long days."

-

-"Oh, all sorts of things," John answered.

-

-"Did you ever think of me?"

-

-"Often," John answered, truthfully.

-

-"Have you been loving me?  Look into my eyes and

-say it, Bernard."

-

-John turned his face towards hers.  He saw love in her

-eyes; love that was offered to himself alone; and as he

-sustained the radiant tenderness of her gaze a wild

-impulse came to him to cast discretion to the winds.

-He hovered on the verge of telling her frankly and bluntly

-that he was not her husband.  Nevertheless he longed

-to tell her that she was the one woman in all the world

-for him, that she had won his deepest love, and that he

-was prepared to break down all barriers, to risk

-everything if——.  Then suddenly he caught himself up.

-His lips were sealed.  As an honourable man, even if he

-admitted his true identity, he must not utter his love.

-

-"Why are you looking at me so strangely, Bernard?"  There

-was a puzzled and anxious light in her eyes.

-

-"Was I?"

-

-"You suddenly drew your brows together and looked

-at me so furiously that I thought I must have offended

-you."

-

-"You could never offend me."

-

-"I don't think you love me after all."  She was holding

-his hand in hers, looking wistfully up into his face.

-"Do you?"

-

-John slid his fingers away from her touch and rose.

-He began to pace the floor uneasily.  As always, he was

-seeking a way out, racking his brains for a solution.

-But there was only one method of escape, and that lay in

-sudden and ignominious flight.

-

-"Look here, Elaine!" he said, suddenly and brutally.

-"It has occurred to me that I ought to go away again

-to-night, immediately after dinner!"

-

-She rose and looked at him with startled eyes.  John

-went on, clumsily:

-

-"Something important has turned up!"

-

-"Oh, but, Bernard, that would be too cruel.  I have

-hardly seen you!"  She came to him quickly and laid

-her hands on his shoulders.  There was entreaty in her

-fine eyes, upraised to his.  "You'll stay just to-night,"

-she implored, wistfully, "just for my sake."

-

-John put her away from him almost roughly; his voice

-was hoarse and low.

-

-"It's impossible, Elaine!"

-

-She stood for a moment regarding him with steady

-gaze.  A long, tense silence lay between them.  Then

-she spoke, quietly, and with a dignity that somehow

-wrung John's heart.

-

-"Then all your protestations of love for me mean

-nothing at all!"

-

-"They mean everything," said John, in the same low tone.

-

-"And yet you repulse me as if you hated me?"

-

-"I don't mean to act cruelly."

-

-"If you had any regard for me at all, you'd stay.  It

-isn't the first time, Bernard, that you—you've humiliated

-me!"

-

-John looked into her face that had grown suddenly

-tragic.  He saw in a moment how completely justified

-she was in her attitude.  He had protested his love for

-her only a few minutes earlier, and had then snatched at

-something that must have seemed to her the thinnest

-of excuses for hurrying away—for leaving her.

-

-"If you loved me really, Bernard, you'd stay."  Her

-voice was very low.  "However, I have suffered the

-humiliation of your refusal.  I shall not make the same

-mistake again."  She turned and walked slowly towards

-the door.  John saw that she could scarcely restrain her

-tears; her head was uplifted—she was superb in her

-dignity.  For the life of him John could not refrain from

-striding a few paces towards her.

-

-"Elaine!" he implored, in a voice that rang with

-emotion.  "Don't misjudge me.  And as for humiliating

-you, I'd do anything in the world rather than do that!

-Look here, Elaine, you think I don't love you?"

-

-She turned quietly and looked at him.

-

-"I have every proof of it!  In London you refused to

-stay with me; it is the same here.  Your words say one

-thing—your actions another!"

-

-"You will be able to make some excuse to your father

-for not occupying the same room with me——"

-

-In that moment, with her face pale, her head erect, a

-strange light in her eyes, she was more than ever beautiful.

-In John's eyes she was the fairest and finest-looking

-woman that ever breathed.  Something made him put out

-his hand and grip her fingers.

-

-"Elaine!"

-

-She strove with surprising strength to release herself.

-

-"No, Bernard, don't!"

-

-Then John's elaborate and well-sustained defences

-fell.  He forgot everything in a sudden wild rush of

-passion.

-

-"I don't love you, Elaine?" he cried.

-

-"You never loved me——" she began.  And in that

-moment John's arms swept about her.  He forgot

-everything—the world faded.  He and the fairest of

-women—the woman of his love—were together, and he

-was kissing her as he had never kissed any woman....

-Elaine's weak protests faded; astonishment swept over

-her, and gave place to a wonderful and radiant happiness.

-

-"My God!" breathed John; "if you only knew how

-much I loved you!"

-

-"Bernard—Bernard—Bernard!" she whispered.

-Then, to her infinite astonishment, John wrenched himself

-free; he put his hands to his brows, and fell back several

-paces, like a man who has received a stunning blow

-between the eyes.

-

-"Elaine," he said, with clenched fists, his face suddenly

-pale, his eyes wild—"forget that I held you in my arms!

-Forget what I said!  Forget everything!"  His voice

-rose almost to a shout.

-

-A moment later he had rushed out of the room, and

-had drawn the door behind him.

-

-

-

-

-

-.. vspace:: 4

-

-.. _`CHAPTER XXX`:

-

-.. class:: center large

-

-   CHAPTER XXX

-

-.. vspace:: 2

-

-Almost as John closed the door of the south room Gates

-began to strike, in rising and rhythmic cadences, the great

-dinner-gong that stood in the hall.  The elderly butler

-turned as John halted at his side.

-

-"Is that the dressing-bell, Gates?" he asked.

-

-"No, Mr. Bernard, the dressing-bell went at the usual

-time, sir."

-

-John looked at him in surprise.  He had heard nothing.

-During that scene in the room upstairs, when he had lost

-possession of himself, the sound of the bell had passed

-unheard.  John felt no wonder at that; even now his

-thoughts whirled through his brain.  His temperament

-was naturally cool, equable, and determined.  Never in

-his life could he recollect having completely forgotten

-himself, as he had forgotten himself with Elaine a few

-minutes earlier.  The power of love, indeed, had reduced

-him to the common standard.  His nerve, his self-possession,

-his swift power of decision—all the gifts, in

-fact, that commended him to Dacent Smith, had deserted

-him in a flash.  For a brief moment—for a space of a

-moment—he had forgotten everything, save the fact that

-he loved a woman.

-

-He stood now thinking of these things, and was amazed

-at the blind passion that had seized him.  He began to

-condemn himself bitterly and savagely.  His deception

-of Elaine stood before him as a monstrous thing.  The

-thought that he occupied another's man shoes, and had

-thus led her to pour out a love which she would have

-otherwise concealed, struck him as a criminal proceeding

-upon his part.  He was obliged to confess to himself that

-he had dallied with the situation, that he had not acted

-firmly enough.  On the other hand—a small voice

-whispered this—his deception of Elaine was not his

-fault; he had not wittingly deceived her.  He had,

-indeed, acted all through as an honourable man.  This

-last thought gave him a certain amount of comfort as

-he crossed the great hall and entered the drawing-room.

-Colonel Treves was the sole occupant of the room,

-and was standing with his back to the white marble

-fire-place, his hand resting on the stick he used as support.

-John noticed that in evening clothes the old man looked

-more imposing and distinguished than ever.  The Colonel

-drew out his watch.

-

-"Where's Elaine?"

-

-John explained that he had left Elaine upstairs a few

-moments ago, and presently Elaine, a little pale, came

-into the drawing-room.  No glance passed between her

-and John.  With a courtly air, Colonel Treves advanced

-towards her and crooked his elbow.

-

-"May I have the honour?" he said.

-

-Elaine slipped her arm into his.  In her pale primrose

-dress, with her well-coiffeured dark hair emphasising the

-whiteness of her neck, she looked scarcely more than a

-child.  John noticed with admiration that her head was

-held erect.  She smiled and talked graciously to the

-Colonel as he led her into the dining-room and placed her

-upon his right hand.  For John there was no smile.

-

-Just as the south room and the drawing-room were

-strange to John, so also was the dining-room.  He seated

-himself opposite Elaine at the head of a long gleaming

-white table.  Gates moved from place to place softly

-and noiselessly.  Colonel Treves, who was happier than

-he had been for years, made a perfect host.  His

-happiness intensified John's own loneliness.  A sensation of

-being a pariah came upon him; he felt that he would

-have given ten years of his life to be actually sitting

-there in the flesh as the real son of the fine old man who

-headed the table.

-

-As to Elaine, and his relations with Elaine, he dared

-not let his mind dwell upon that subject.  He was

-attempting to indicate by his attitude his complete

-contrition for what had occurred.  He tried to catch Elaine's

-eye.  She looked at him, but there was something

-enigmatical in her expression that he was unable to

-understand.  Her good breeding was such that to the

-outward eye—to the Colonel's eye, in fact—their

-relationship was exactly as it had been before, and yet John

-knew that a barrier had risen between them.

-

-Elaine maintained her air of stately reserve during the

-rest of the evening, and at ten o'clock, when she rose to

-go to her room, the Colonel politely conducted her to the

-door.  As he closed it upon her he turned and looked

-towards John.

-

-"You are a lucky man, Bernard!" he exclaimed.

-

-He came slowly across the room, using his stick, as

-was his general habit.

-

-"I hope some day, my boy," he said, "when this

-place is yours, Elaine will reign here as graciously and

-be as well beloved as your dear mother was."

-

-"I am sure she will, sir," answered John quietly.

-

-The old man slid his arm through his.

-

-"You shall take me up to the library.  We can smoke

-there, and make ourselves comfortable."

-

-In the library that night John heard much of Colonel

-Treves's past history, much of the family history, of the

-man whose identity he was wearing, and the more he

-heard of Bernard Treves the more he realised what a

-complete and utter waster that young man was.  Often

-of late he had thought of Treves in the nursing home,

-and wondered what were the conditions of his detention

-there.  Dacent Smith was always reticent upon that

-point.  The sinking of the *Polidor* through the agency of

-Treves had been a black and irredeemable crime.  A

-time was bound to come when the young man must

-answer for that piece of black treachery against his

-country.  Looking at the matter in the most charitable

-light, John regarded Treves, as evidently Dacent Smith

-regarded him, that is, as a feeble, will-less creature,

-whose reason had been unseated, at any rate temporarily,

-by the drugs which were a mania with him.

-

-The fact that Manwitz and Cherriton had plied him

-with these drugs showed only the bold unscrupulousness

-of the German methods.  The German Intelligence

-Department had used Bernard Treves, and had moulded

-him to its purpose as though he had been of wax.  And

-had not Dacent Smith brilliantly substituted John for

-Treves, untold disasters would have ensued.

-

-"Bernard!"  The Colonel's voice startled John out

-of his thought.  "Bernard, I have seen Gosport lately."

-

-John wondered who Gosport might be.

-

-"Yes," went on the Colonel.  "I was hasty with you,

-but I have made everything right.  I have made up

-my mind to leave everything to you after all.  What do

-you say to that?"

-

-"It is very generous of you, sir," John answered.

-He knew that it was utterly impossible that a penny of

-the Colonel's possessions should ever be his.

-

-"No, no, it is only right," responded the Colonel.

-"You have married well.  You have rehabilitated

-yourself in every way, and I find you more what a Treves

-should be every time we meet."  He suddenly gripped

-John's hand in his.  "You have given me great happiness,

-Bernard, and one of the reasons I made haste to

-change my will is that the doctor has given me rather a

-bad report of myself.  I don't think you'll have to put

-up with me for very long, Bernard!"

-

-"Don't say that, sir!" answered John, quickly and

-impulsively.

-

-"I fear it is the truth," said the Colonel; "but I can

-face the next world with a far better grace than I could

-have done a year ago."

-

-He was thinking of the fine old house and the properties

-which a year ago might have fallen into the hands of a

-worthless son.  Now, as by a miracle, that son had

-become a man—a man of honour—and a Treves.  The

-two things were synonymous in the Colonel's eyes, and

-the future, whatever it might be, however soon darkness

-might come, held for him no terrors.

-

-It was after eleven that night when the Colonel went to

-his room.

-

-"I'll sit up and write a few letters at your desk, if I

-may, father," said John, after escorting the elder man

-to the door of his bedroom.

-

-He went back to the library, shut himself in, and

-dropped into a chair at the hearth.  What Elaine was

-doing, what were her thoughts, he could not guess.  He

-wondered if she was waiting for him, expecting him to

-come and ask for forgiveness.  Perhaps some time in

-the dim future, when the whole truth was told, she

-might forgive; but for the present he knew that nothing

-he could do would right him in her eyes.

-

-He sat in the arm-chair, dozing and thinking, until

-dawn came.

-

-When the breakfast gong rang next morning Elaine

-descended and found the Colonel alone at the table.  The

-old man looked disturbed, but in no way depressed.

-

-"You will have to content yourself with me, Elaine,"

-he said, "now that Bernard has deserted us again.  He

-left me a note saying that important business has arisen,

-and ran away before I was down.  But of course," added

-the old man as an afterthought, "you know all about it."

-

-Elaine inclined her head, and said nothing.  Colonel

-Treves put out his hand and laid it on her slender fingers.

-

-"When the war is over, you and my boy Bernard

-will live here together, and be as happy as crickets."

-

-"It is very, very dear of you to say so, father."  Sudden

-tears glistened in her eyes.  She clasped the Colonel's

-old, frail fingers in hers.  In that moment it seemed to her

-that he was the only friend she possessed in the world.

-

-So far as John was concerned, Elaine dared not let

-herself think.  The strange scene in the south room had

-burnt itself into her brain.  John's tremendous anxiety

-to get away from her, together with the undoubted fact

-that he loved her, was bewildering beyond solution.

-The thought that her husband had reverted to the drug

-habit had long been discarded.  None of the symptoms

-that had marked him in the early days of their marriage

-were present—he was as another man in her eyes.  She

-loved him—she was afraid, and she was bewildered.

-Every post that came found her anxiously awaiting a

-letter from John.  But none came; two eventless days

-passed.  But upon the evening of the second day after

-John's departure a dramatic mischance that had been

-impending—that had, indeed, been inevitable from the

-beginning—occurred.

-

-Elaine had made her way alone into the grounds.  Her

-mood was one that called for solitude, and in the quiet

-of the long, fir-treed avenue, the drive which led from

-the mansion to the road, she found the seclusion she

-needed.  The evening was clear, and through tree-stems

-the ocean, glassily blue and empty of shipping, spread

-to the far horizon.  The scene was calm, reposeful—everything,

-in fact, a troubled spirit could require.

-

-Presently, however, the entrance gate at the end of

-the drive was pushed open.  A young man in a green

-felt hat and wearing stiff Sunday clothes came into the

-drive and walked slowly forward.  Elaine, as the stranger

-drew near, noticed that he was a youth, little more than

-twenty, wearing a service-rendered badge.  The young

-man wore his green hat slightly on one side—his

-complexion was fresh, his cheeks ruddy, and his general

-expression one of amiable stupidity.

-

-Elaine glanced at him and was about to pass, thinking

-he carried a message to the house, when the visitor

-halted in his walk and sheepishly lifted his hat.  As he

-halted he drew from his pocket a crumpled, rather

-grimy-looking envelope.

-

-"Is that Colonel Treves's house, miss?"

-

-"Yes," said Elaine.

-

-"I've got a letter for there, miss," went on the young

-man; "it's addressed to Mrs. Treves."

-

-"There is no Mrs. Treves," Elaine answered; then

-quickly remembering, she smiled the gracious smile that

-was always so attractive to John.  "I'm Mrs. Bernard

-Treves."

-

-The young man handed her the letter, and instantly

-Elaine's casual air vanished, for the address was in her

-husband's handwriting, and had been scrawled hurriedly

-in pencil.

-

-She tore open the envelope and read the single sheet

-of notepaper within.

-

-.. vspace:: 2

-

-DEAR ELAINE, ran the note, *I want you to give the

-bearer of this ten shillings.  Then, if you can, and as

-soon as you can, you must raise ten pounds and let him

-bring it here to me.  General Whiston and a person called

-Dacent Smith have been keeping me prisoner here.  The

-suggestion is that I am* non compos mentis.  *I don't

-know whether my father's in it or not, so on no account

-mention this letter to him.  Whatever you do, don't fail

-me; I have been suffering the tortures of the damned

-here.  The young man who brings this can get to me,

-and there is a nurse here who can help me to get away

-if I can get hold of ten pounds.  Remember this, Elaine,

-you are my wife, and I hope you aren't siding with

-my father against me.  I can't stand the torture of

-being here any longer, so I look to you to act quickly.

-You can act quickly enough when you want to.  I am

-nearly off my head with being deprived of the medicine

-I used to take.  The bearer of this would get into trouble

-if found out, so don't forget to treat him well.*

-

-.. vspace:: 1

-

-.. class:: noindent white-space-pre-line

-

-*Your affectionate husband,*

-    BERNARD TREVES.

-

-.. vspace:: 2

-

-As Elaine slowly read this letter for a second time the

-colour fled from her cheeks.  Her heart-beat quickened

-almost to suffocation—she could make nothing of it.

-

-Her eyes travelled to the head of the missive and read:

-

-"St. Neot's Nursing Home, Ambleside Road, Ryde."

-

-"St. Neot's Nursing Home—St. Neot's Nursing

-Home."  Under her breath she uttered the words in

-a dazed, stupefied fashion.

-

-It seemed impossible that her husband, who had been

-with her only forty-eight hours before, could be

-incarcerated there.  Then the strangeness of the

-letter! ... She read it again, shrinking instinctively from its

-tone.  Here was her husband as she had known him

-from the beginning—querulous and domineering.

-

-For a minute she wondered if there had been some

-extraordinary and unexplainable mistake, but she knew

-his handwriting.  Nevertheless, with a great effort to

-steady herself, she looked into the face of the messenger.

-

-"If you will come to the house," she said, "I shall

-be pleased to give you something for being so kind as to

-bring this to me."

-

-"Thank you, miss."

-

-"Are you one of the servants at St. Neot's Home?"

-

-"No, miss.  I work for the dairy that supplies them."

-

-Again Elaine glanced at the crumpled letter in her

-fingers.  There was no possibility of forgery—and yet

-how came it that Dacent Smith should wish to detain

-her husband?  She recalled that the brilliant Chief of

-the secret service had had nothing but praise for Bernard.

-

-Again she looked quickly into the young man's face.

-

-"Have you seen Mr. Treves lately?"

-

-"I saw him this morning, miss."

-

-It seemed ridiculous to put the question, to dally still

-with the idea of forgery.  Nevertheless, she put it.

-

-"Could you describe Mr. Treves to me?"

-

-"Yes, miss.  He's a good-looking gentleman.  Tall,

-dark hair——"

-

-"Thank you," said Elaine, interrupting him—and her

-last doubt vanished.

-

-Something had happened to Bernard since yesterday

-morning, since his departure from the house without

-saying good-bye to her.  He had evidently been seized

-and incarcerated in the nursing home against his will.

-Yet, even now, as she strove to accept the fact, her

-instinct rebelled against it.  The thing seemed so motiveless,

-so utterly outside the natural order of events; and

-Bernard must have been seized almost immediately

-after he left his father's house, for she noted that his

-letter was dated the day before.

-

-She again questioned the young man.

-

-"How long has Mr. Bernard Treves been at St. Neot's

-Nursing Home?"

-

-"The first time I saw him there, miss, was about two

-months ago, when he asked me to get him something at

-a chemist's; but he must have been there more than a

-month before that.  I should think, miss, he's been there

-going on for three months or thereabouts."

-

-"Three months!"

-

-"About that, miss."

-

-Elaine looked at him with widened eyes.  The thing

-was impossible and incredible.  Nevertheless, she dared

-not let the matter rest where it was.  She decided to

-act, and to act instantly.  As yet no suspicion of the

-truth had dawned upon her.

-

-

-

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-.. _`CHAPTER XXXI`:

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-   CHAPTER XXXI

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-

-At the very hour when Elaine received the strange letter

-signed "Bernard Treves," a letter which awoke all her

-defensive feminine instincts, John occupied a chair in

-the little mess-room at Heatherpoint Fort.  The occasion

-was one of deep and portentous significance.  At the

-head of the table, where Mrs. Beecher Monmouth had so

-recently taken tea with Lieutenant Parkson, General

-Whiston was seated in state.  His big, commanding

-figure bulked largely in the chair usually occupied by

-Colonel Hobin.  Beneath the General's eyes was a map

-of the South Coast defences—an elaborate, minutely

-particularised map, which in a layman's eyes would have

-been almost undecipherable.

-

-The General held a blue pencil over a particular section

-of the Solent; his eyes, however, were fixed upon the

-countenance of a naval captain who sat at his left hand,

-a little farther down the table.  Opposite the naval

-captain was Colonel Hobin, and next to Hobin sat old

-Commander Greaves.

-

-John occupied an insignificant position next to Greaves,

-and near the end of the table there was a vacant chair.

-

-"Is there no possibility, Captain," inquired General

-Whiston, speaking to the naval officer, "of altering the

-mine-field in the time at our command?"

-

-Before the naval officer lay a small Admiralty chart of

-the Solent clustered with a multitude of red crosses.

-

-"Well," he said, deliberating upon the situation,

-"this is a pretty elaborate field, and it would take us

-quite two days to make an effective new arrangement.

-Of course, we could mine the free channels, but that

-prevents us coming in."

-

-He went into technical details.

-

-General Whiston cast a glance at John.

-

-"You are quite sure your friends Voules and Company

-intend to strike on the twenty-eighth?"

-

-"All the evidence I have been able to get points to

-that, sir," answered John promptly.

-

-"The twenty-eighth is the day after to-morrow," put

-in Greaves.

-

-"Mr. Dacent Smith," said John, "had an idea that

-the attack might be postponed, but he has now come

-round to my view."

-

-As a matter of fact, John had that day amply convinced

-his chief that the German blow was to fall on the

-date originally prescribed.  Since leaving Colonel Treves's

-house, and since his embarrassing interview with Elaine,

-John had made certain valuable discoveries, all of

-which pointed to the imminence of the German attack

-on the South Coast defences.  With infinite subtlety

-von Kuhne had managed to institute nefarious schemes

-in a dozen different directions.  The night of the

-twenty-eighth had been marked out in the German general's mind

-with the clockwork precision which was a second nature

-to him.  And John believed that nothing would shake

-his resolution.  Mrs. Beecher Monmouth's particular

-work of the early part of that night was to see that

-Lieutenant Parkson was not at his post.  All her potent

-charms were to be expended to that end.  That she

-would succeed in her task was, in von Kuhne's and the

-lady's own eyes, a foregone conclusion.  As to Manwitz,

-he was to be mysteriously occupied with certain men

-of his Majesty's forces whose business it was to operate

-the boom between Ponsonby Lighthouse and Windsor

-Fort.  Cherriton's particular duty upon the eventful

-night John had not been able to discover.  The tall

-German still occupied the isolated cottage he had recently

-taken on the Downs near Freshwater.  Since John's

-visit to the cottage he had not had further meeting with

-this particular formidable enemy.

-

-In thinking of his visit to the cottage, however, John

-was conscious that the man's attitude upon that day

-had been singular in the extreme.  What had been in

-Cherriton's mind he did not know, and he was, of course,

-totally unaware that sentence of extermination had

-been passed upon him.  It is no stretch of imagination

-to say that in visiting the cottage he had, without knowing

-it, walked within the very shadow of the grave.

-

-"Friend Cherriton is no mean antagonist," thought

-John, pondering upon the German's personality as he

-sat in the little mess-room.

-

-Now that the great blow was so soon to fall, Dacent

-Smith—an unusual circumstance with him—had left his

-post in London and come to the Isle of Wight.  General

-Whiston and Captain Throgmorton, who respectively

-commanded the counter military and naval measures,

-found the pleasant, keen-eyed Chief of Intelligence an

-invaluable ally.  His intuitive knowledge of the German

-character proved to be of the utmost assistance.  He had

-been studying Germany and the German secret service

-for twenty years, and what he did not know about

-Teutonic psychology, chicanery and guile, was not worth

-knowing.

-

-Dacent Smith, however, never made the mistake of

-under-estimating his enemy.  Von Kuhne's blow would,

-he conceded, be a well-wrought and scientifically delivered

-attack.  There was one slight thing, however, which von

-Kuhne had possibly overlooked—he had possibly overlooked

-the important fact that the Isle of Wight is after

-all an island, and that in gathering his forces upon this

-particular portion of His Majesty's dominions he was

-isolating himself from chances of escape in case of failure.

-

-Dacent Smith thought a good deal upon this subject

-during his first day at Heatherpoint Fort.  But when he

-presently resumed his chair at the end of the table in the

-little mess-room, opposite General Whiston, his pleasantly

-good-humoured face showed nothing of the intense mental

-activity within.

-

-General Whiston lifted his eyes as Dacent Smith took

-his seat.

-

-"Well, have you found out anything else for us?"

-

-"Nothing," answered Dacent Smith, "except further

-confirmation that von Kuhne will make his attempt the

-day after to-morrow.  He has disposed his forces with a

-good deal of ingenuity.  This end of the Isle of Wight is

-at present dotted with amiable Britishers who happen to

-be Germans!"

-

-A curious smile flitted across the face of John's

-Chief.

-

-"It must have been very gratifying," said he, "to

-Captain Cherriton, Manners, and von Kuhne to say

-'British subject' to our good-looking policeman as they

-stepped on board the boat at Lymington.  Manners, so I

-hear, was the only one of a dozen who came that way

-who showed the slightest trace of nervousness.  I think

-we shall have to reckon, General," he concluded, "upon

-von Kuhne providing something pretty forceful and

-daring!"

-

-The naval captain whose eyes were still occupied with

-the chart of the Solent, lifted his keen gaze.  "Something

-in the nature of our own adventure at Zeebrugge and

-Ostend, do you think?"

-

-Here he turned his red-starred chart face downwards.

-On its back were twenty or thirty neatly-pencilled lines.

-

-"That," he said, pushing the chart towards Dacent

-Smith, "is my forecast of what is going to happen in this

-area during the next forty-eight hours.  If your date is

-correct, I think my forecast will be pretty well right.

-What do you think, General?"

-

-Throgmorton's incisive, clean-cut features turned

-towards Whiston.

-

-"I think it's a devilish clever piece of work!" answered

-General Whiston, generously.

-

-Dacent Smith's eyes lifted from the pencilled forecast.

-His vivid gaze rested for a minute in admiration on

-Throgmorton's handsome, well-wrought features.

-

-"Some day, young man," thought he, "you will be

-ruler of the King's Navy."

-

-He pushed back the chart towards the naval officer;

-then turned towards John.

-

-"You can go, Treves," he said, "with the General's

-permission."

-

-Whiston nodded.

-

-John saluted and withdrew from the room.

-

-As Manton passed out into the asphalted courtyard he

-met Chief Gunner Ewins.

-

-"Well, Ewins," he said, "what about your wife's

-dangerous illness?"

-

-"She wasn't ill at all, sir.  I can't make it out—I've

-just got a letter from her to-day, saying she's as well as

-ever she was."

-

-"Of course, she never sent the wire," explained John.

-

-"Who could have sent it?" said Ewins, looking at

-John with puzzled eyes; "it's a silly sort of joke to play

-on anybody, sir."

-

-"Very silly," John admitted.  "It looked as if somebody

-wanted to get you out of the fort for a day or two.

-That's why the Colonel wouldn't grant you leave.  He

-didn't think you were playing a trick on him.  He thought

-some one was playing a trick on you.  How are your guns,

-Ewins?"

-

-"Nicely, sir, thank you," answered the chief gunner.

-"But I'm sorry we've missed our nine-inch practice this

-week."

-

-"You won't miss much by that," John answered.

-"You'll shoot as well as ever when the time comes."

-

-He knew how soon the time would come, though

-Ewins did not.

-

-John descended the steps of the fort, took his bicycle,

-and, with due observance of ceremonies, passed through

-the great gate that had recently all but intimidated

-Mrs. Beecher Monmouth.

-

-An hour later, John, still pedalling steadily, descended

-the winding road into Brooke.  At the outskirts of the

-village he placed his bicycle against a gate, climbed into a

-field, and, by a detour, made his way to the back of

-Doctor Voules's house.  In the darkness he walked softly

-forward under the shadow of the doctor's garden wall

-He had made only a few paces when a voice came to him

-out of the gloom.

-

-"Who's that?" demanded the voice, in a guarded whisper.

-

-"Treves," answered John.  "Is that you, Watson?"

-

-"Yes, sir," came the answer.

-

-John drew himself to the top of the garden wall and

-looked down upon a corporal in uniform.

-

-"Anything happened?" John asked.

-

-"Yes," answered Watson; "three men came to the

-house after dark, stayed a little while, and went away

-again, sir."

-

-As a matter of fact, half an hour earlier Doctor Voules

-and two tall young men had stealthily mounted the wall

-and entered the house by the back way.  Corporal Watson

-had been concealed in the garden and witnessed this

-visit, and Voules's and his friends' departure in the same

-stealthy manner.

-

-"They are evidently trying to give the impression that

-the house is uninhabited, sir," the corporal amplified.

-

-John, who had climbed into the garden and was standing

-by him, gave a few further instructions as to Voules's

-abode, presently mounted his bicycle and rode away.

-Three quarters of an hour later, in a small clump of trees

-on the heather-clad cliff-top near Freshwater, he spoke

-to another soldier.  This man, with three others, had

-been detailed to watch Cherriton's cottage.

-

-"The captain's been in his cottage all the evening,

-sir," said the man to John, "and the big, fat man's been

-with him."

-

-Having satisfied himself as to the whereabouts of

-Cherriton and Manners, John cycled on and entered the

-Freshwater Hotel.  Here he put through a trunk-call

-to Newport.  When he had been connected with a

-particular number he inquired into the telephone:

-

-"Is that you, Gibb?"

-

-"Yes, sir," came the answer.

-

-"Do you know who is speaking?"

-

-"It's Mr. Treves, isn't it?"

-

-"Yes," John answered.

-

-Having satisfied himself that he was in touch with the

-gloomy-looking waiter at the Newport Hotel, he put

-a discreet inquiry.  He had parted with certain Treasury

-notes to the benefit of the gloomy waiter.  The waiter,

-thereafter feeling himself a small but important wheel

-in a piece of vast machinery, made himself busy and active

-in John's service.

-

-"Is anybody at home, Gibb?"

-

-"She's not been out all day, sir, and went to bed

-immediately after dinner.  She told her maid that she had

-a lot to do to-morrow, and asked to be called at eight."

-

-These details were, for the moment, enough to satisfy

-John.

-

-"You know where to ring me up, Gibb, if anything

-exceptional occurs."

-

-John, having concluded his duties for that day,

-pedalled slowly back to the fort.  The night was overcast,

-the air close, and as he led his bicycle up the long

-white road to the gates, he could hear the waves softly

-falling at the foot of the cliffs in the bay below him.

-No other sound broke the stillness, and when the outer

-sentinel suddenly barred his path and a challenge rang

-out on the close air, John was startled out of a mood of

-dreams.

-

-He passed the second and the third sentries, a wicket

-in the great gate of the fort opened and admitted him,

-and, having reported himself to the Colonel, he went

-straight to his room.  For the better part of that night

-his mind occupied itself with the momentous doings of

-the morrow.  The cloud that had gathered itself about

-that end of the island was about to break.  What would

-happen to himself and others on the morrow he could

-not forecast.  But one thing he knew—the long, hidden

-contest between Voules and Dacent Smith would reach

-its culmination.  Each man, with his pawns, had

-manoeuvred, moved, finessed and counter-moved.  The

-subtlety of Dacent Smith had been pitted against the

-precision and military skill of von Kuhne.  What was

-to be the end?  John did not know, and at that moment

-his mind was only secondarily occupied with the point;

-he was thinking, not of to-morrow, but of yesterday, of

-his interview with Elaine, of his abrupt separation from

-her, of his apparent brutality and harshness.

-

-He wondered at himself, that he, a capable, alert and

-non-sentimental young man, an individual who had

-withstood the seductive blandishments of Mrs. Beecher

-Monmouth, he wondered to find himself deeply and

-passionately in love with a girl whose knowledge of artifice

-was of the slightest.  Elaine's genuine trust in him, her

-belief in his integrity, her delight in the improvement

-in his character, all helped to enchain John's deepest

-affections.

-

-As he lay now in the quiet and darkness of his room,

-he felt he dared not let his mind dwell upon the future.

-He had tricked and duped Elaine, and some day she

-would be bound to find him out.

-

-What would happen then?  What would happen when

-she learned the truth?

-

-"There is nothing for it," John pronounced suddenly

-and emphatically.  "I must tell her myself—I must

-confess the whole thing from the beginning."

-

-Having arrived at this decision, he saw himself making

-the confession, though he could not see what her attitude

-would be.  He could visualise, always standing between

-them as an impassable and sinister barrier, the man

-whose identity he had borne for so many months.

-Bernard Treves—his *alter ego*, his *doppel-gänger*—had

-become what he had probably been from the first—his

-evil genius.  From the very first he had disliked Treves;

-he had later grown to despise him.  The man was

-contemptible beyond words.

-

-At this point John took himself resolutely in hand—or,

-rather, he thought he took himself resolutely in hand.

-What really happened was that he put away thoughts of

-Elaine, hiding them courageously and tenderly in the

-deeps of his mind, for the sole reason that to think of

-her, to think of the hopeless situation between them,

-meant nothing but misery and bitterness.

-

-At eight o'clock, when John appeared in the little

-mess-room, Colonel Hobin was alone at breakfast, at

-the head of the table.

-

-"Well, Treves," he said, "if your predictions are right,

-this is going to be the day of our lives!"

-

-"I think I am right, sir," John answered.

-

-"We shall see," answered the Colonel.  "Pass the

-marmalade, please."

-

-John passed the marmalade.  He noticed the Colonel's

-hand was steady—none of the nervous irritability that

-characterised him usually was apparent—and the old

-soldier's eyes had taken on a new masterful expression

-of command—the countenance of a good captain on the

-bridge in face of a great oncoming storm.

-

-

-

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-.. vspace:: 4

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-.. _`CHAPTER XXXII`:

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-

-   CHAPTER XXXII

-

-.. vspace:: 2

-

-The portentous day, the twenty-eighth of the month,

-passed at Heatherpoint Fort with no untoward incident

-whatever.  There was a difference, however; there

-existed an atmosphere of tense expectancy.  Something

-was afoot, for doubled sentries held all points of

-vantage along the cliff-tops, doubled sentries guarded

-the fort gates, and the barbed wire entanglements at

-certain other places.  All leave had been stopped, and

-at midday, when Lieutenant William Parkson asked

-for leave for very urgent personal reasons, he was

-astonished to find that the Colonel had grown totally

-immovable.

-

-"If you would let me go from eight o'clock till ten, sir,

-I should be satisfied.  I assure you, sir, it is most

-important."

-

-It was indeed important in Parkson's eyes.  But

-though rebellion surged in him there was no possible

-means of getting out of the fort that night without the

-Colonel's pass.  Only one person, in fact, left Heatherpoint

-Fort that evening.  This person happened to be

-John Manton.  General Whiston uttered final words of

-advice as the young man took his departure.

-

-"If you are successful, Treves," he said, "you will be

-probably back here before the dust-up begins."

-

-"I hope so," said John.  He saluted and clattered

-down the flight of steps to the main gate.

-

-It was still light as he cycled swiftly away along the

-white road.  A smile curled the corner of his mouth.

-The work he was upon was exactly to his liking; there

-was something in it of danger, and something of finesse.

-When John had cycled for half an hour he looked at his

-watch.

-

-"Parkson's appointment with her," he said, "was for

-seven o'clock.  I wonder how she intended to handle him?"

-

-He mused upon Parkson, and admitted that the young

-man would be as wax in Mrs. Beecher Monmouth's adroit

-fingers.  He recalled Mrs. Beecher Monmouth's long,

-black record, her superlative daring, the manner in which

-she had expended her great personal gifts and keen

-intelligence in the service of the enemy.  He thought of

-the *Malta*—of the two hundred fine lives sacrificed upon

-her information.  And at the thought his lips tightened,

-his smile vanished, and the face that Dacent Smith

-always knew as good-humoured and pleasant to look

-upon, grew hard and forbidding.

-

-Darkness had fallen by the time John turned off the

-Newport road towards Brooke.  He did not light his

-lamp, however, but this time rode straight through the

-village and alighted at Dr. Voules's house.  The

-doctor's residence was completely dark.  No light shone

-from any of the windows.  John advanced to the door

-and placed his fingers on the bell.  He rang twice, but

-no answer came to him, no sound of footfall reached him

-from the interior of the house.  Then, noticing that the

-door was slightly ajar, as if left purposely, he entered

-the hall, and in complete darkness walked along towards

-the room at the end of the passage, which he remembered

-as Voules's dining-room.  He had advanced but ten

-paces when a door opened quietly in the darkness, and

-a low voice came to him.

-

-"Is that you, Billy?"

-

-John was silent for a moment.  He had braced

-himself for an intensely violent scene.  Now, in a

-flash, he realised that there were new and exciting

-possibilities.  Nevertheless, caution animated his entire

-conduct.

-

-In regard to Mrs. Beecher Monmouth he did not know

-that she had discovered his association with Dacent

-Smith; he was not aware of the lady's sentiments of

-bitter antagonism, of virulent hatred towards himself.

-He was to learn these things later.  But at the moment

-he felt there was little danger of stepping into a trap.

-The beautiful woman whispering to him from the darkness

-awaited William Parkson, not Bernard Treves or John

-Manton.

-

-"Is that you, Billy?"

-

-Her voice came to him again in a tense whisper.

-

-"Yes," answered John in a tone low as her own.  She

-drew wider the door of Voules's dining-room.

-

-"I told you to come straight in, Billy.  Why did you

-ring the bell?" she admonished him, lifting her voice to

-a more ordinary tone.

-

-"Oh, I don't know; I forgot," answered John.

-

-"Come in——"  Her hand groped forward and took

-his.  She drew him into the heavily-curtained darkness

-of the dining-room and closed the door.

-

-"We mustn't light up till eight o'clock, Billy," she

-whispered.

-

-"Why not?"

-

-"It's a fad of mine."

-

-Then she put her face close to his; she let her smooth,

-firm hand glide about his shoulder as she drew his face

-down.  She kissed him firmly on the lips.

-

-If John had been easy to deceive, that kiss would have

-deceived him.  He would have believed absolutely and

-implicitly that its fervour and passion were genuine.

-

-"I thought," she whispered, her cheek close to his,

-"that you would not be afraid of the darkness."

-

-"Oh, I won't be afraid," responded John in her ear.

-He could have laughed—the situation was throbbing

-with exhilarating possibilities.

-

-"I was afraid you would be late, or wouldn't be able

-to come."

-

-"You knew I'd come," said John.

-

-He groped his way towards the hearth, holding her

-hand in his.

-

-"Won't you sit down?" he asked.

-

-"You sit down."  She forced him into Dr. Voules's

-comfortable chair, then seated herself on its arm, and

-slowly smoothed his hair with her hand.  She lowered

-her face and pressed it to his.  Her rounded cheek was

-firm, cool and satin smooth.

-

-"You can stay with me quite, quite a long time," she

-whispered.

-

-"Thanks," mumbled John; "that's awfully good of

-you."  He squeezed her hand.  He could understand

-what would have happened to Parkson at that moment—Parkson

-already enamoured, flattered to think of a

-woman of her social position and extraordinary beauty

-flinging herself at his head.

-

-"Will they miss you at the fort to-night, little Billy?"

-

-"I don't know that they'll miss me particularly,"

-said John.

-

-"Oh, but you're so—so important there.  Did you

-find it difficult to get away, Billy mine?"

-

-"Not so very," John answered; "all the same, I

-haven't much time—I've only managed to get two

-hours' leave."

-

-She drew in her breath sharply, then suddenly flung

-out both arms and drew him towards her.

-

-"Oh, Billy, Billy!" she protested.

-

-John instantly made mental note that she had in her

-mind a certain time during which she intended to detain

-him there.

-

-"Then you can't love me," she breathed ardently.

-"You said you'd stay—a long time."

-

-"Three-quarters of an hour is every minute I can stay,"

-John said.

-

-"Oh, but it won't matter if you're just a tiny, tiny

-bit late—just once in a lifetime!  You don't know how

-difficult it is for me, Billy.  I have risked everything for

-you!  I should be ruined utterly if it was discovered

-that I gave you this *tête-à-tête* here at this time of night....

-You must stay, Billy, until I'm ready to let you go;

-it will make it easier for me."

-

-"I don't see that," protested John.  "You can slip away——"

-

-"No, no; don't ask questions—don't say that!  If

-you only knew how difficult it was.  You won't bother

-me with questions, will you dear, dear Billy?  And

-you'll be nice to me and let me get you something to

-drink.  You bad boy," she said, after a moment's pause,

-"I don't believe you realise the honour I am conferring

-on you!"

-

-"Oh I do—I am fully aware of it," answered John.

-She had risen from the arm of the chair, and had gone to

-the window.  John heard the creak of the window blind

-as she drew it up upon the semi-darkness of the garden.

-For an instant he was startled, wondering if her

-movement portended some sort of signal.

-

-As the blind ascended the complete darkness of the

-room sped away.  He could now make out the rich

-shadows of her hair, and something of the outline of her

-fine features.  Her hands in contrast with the black

-widow's weeds, looked unusually white.

-

-"I thought you were fond of the darkness?" questioned John.

-

-"I am, silly Billy."  John guessed that she was wasting

-a coquettish smile upon the encumbering gloom.

-

-She had gone to the sideboard, which was in shadow

-at the far end of the room and returning now to the middle

-table, placed upon it glasses, a soda syphon, and a whisky

-bottle.

-

-"I must give you just a little peg!"

-

-John heard the gurgle of liquid, and the "squirt" of a

-syphon.  A moment later Mrs. Beecher Monmouth came

-across the room, put a glass in his hand, and lightly kissed

-his ear.

-

-"I wish it was a little lighter," she whispered in a

-cooing fashion that was peculiar with her, "then I could

-see my pretty boy's face."

-

-"If you did see your pretty boy's face," thought John,

-"you'd get the shock of your life!"

-

-He took the whisky glass from her fingers.  Silence

-lay between them for a moment, then Mrs. Beecher

-Monmouth spoke again.

-

-"Drink," she whispered urgently.

-

-John, who had been holding his glass in his left hand,

-shifted it to his right.

-

-"Well, here's to you," he said, lifting the glass.

-

-"Have you drunk it?"

-

-"What else do you think?" inquired John, and laughed.

-

-As a matter of fact he had not drunk it, for before

-raising the glass he had dexterously poured its contents

-upon the carpet.  Her trick was too obvious.  Parkson,

-blinded, enamoured by love, might have fallen into the

-trap, but he, John, knew his antagonist in this singular

-duel which was taking place in the semi-darkness.  He

-came well armed with a knowledge of her character.

-

-Minutes passed, during which Mrs. Beecher Monmouth

-held him enchained, as she believed, by her finished

-coquetry.

-

-John, who had been probing about in his mind, hoping

-that she might divulge something useful, rose at last and

-stretched his legs.

-

-Mrs. Beecher Monmouth was again at the window.  He

-noticed that several times during the last quarter of an

-hour she had drifted there, as if with some intent and

-watchful purpose.

-

-"Why do you keep going to the window?" he asked,

-suddenly and abruptly.

-

-"I like to look out at the night."

-

-"There's nothing much to see," returned John.  "It's

-clouded over again, and the air is close enough to stifle

-one!"

-

-"Yes," answered she.

-

-In the gloom John saw her put up her hands to her

-throat.  "It is enough to stifle one," she breathed,

-slowly and intensely.

-

-Then John knew that big things were afoot, that she

-was waiting, strung up tensely to more than concert pitch.

-He put up his hand, pushed up the catch of the window,

-and opened it quietly upon the sultry night.  A faint

-wind stirred, rustling the leaves.  There was silence for

-a minute, then Mrs. Beecher Monmouth seemed to

-remember the role she was playing, slid her fingers into

-his and looked up into his face.

-

-"Billy," she whispered.

-

-And at that moment a sudden thunderous and heavily-resonant

-boom rent the stillness of the night.

-

-John knew it in an instant as the detonation of a heavy

-gun.  The door of the room creaked under the heavy

-vibration, the casements of the window rattled, and a

-red smear of light blazed against the low clouds and

-vanished.

-

-Mrs. Beecher Monmouth had turned her face to the

-window.  For an instant John saw it, tense and ecstatic

-in the glare of light—then darkness fell again.

-

-And suddenly Mrs. Beecher Monmouth stood away in

-the dark room.  The passionate sibilance of her whisper

-smote John's ears, like that of a snake.

-

-"At last!  At last! ... Oh, you can go now, Billy,

-Mr. Parkson.  Yes—go, or stay!  It matters not!"

-

-"But it does matter," said John, "a deuce of a lot!"

-

-And as he spoke the room was shaken with the detonation

-of a heavy gun—was again lit up with a red light.

-A second and a third gun was fired—one sound mingling

-with the other in tremendous crashing reverberation.

-And at each report a red glow filled the room, searching

-out the darkness in its most distant corners.

-

-Mrs. Beecher Monmouth had turned towards John—in

-the leaping red light, amid the roar of artillery, her

-eyes pinioned themselves upon his.  She drew nearer—peering,

-as it were, with all her senses, her hands clenched.

-

-Their faces were close together when a red glare

-revealed his features in every lineament.  He was smiling,

-looking down upon her with easy nonchalance.  Even in

-the fleeting light John caught the swift distortion of her

-features.  She made a movement in the darkness——

-

-In Mrs. Beecher Monmouth's entire life of daring

-adventure, in all her vicissitudinous career, never had such

-a blow stricken her as that moment.  She had expected

-to see the good-humoured and somewhat stupid countenance

-of Parkson, and instead, she had seen John.  She

-had been outwitted by the enemy whom of all others she

-hated most.  From the very first this pleasant looking,

-resourceful, cool young man had outmanoeuvred her.

-What had happened to Parkson, and how John had

-managed to substitute himself for that enmeshed young

-man, she could not guess.  She was conscious only that

-in the darkness her mortal enemy had received her

-caresses, and laughed in his sleeve.

-

-Her tryst had been with Lieutenant Parkson, and by

-a manoeuvre that was a mystery to her this other had

-substituted himself....

-

-John heard her move softly in the darkness, and draw

-in a low, sibilant breath.  He was taking no chances,

-however, and had already stepped cautiously behind the

-big dining table.  Here he paused for a moment, listening,

-then swiftly struck a match.  In the orange glow

-of the light he saw Mrs. Monmouth's face of undeniable

-beauty contorted with fury.  As the match flared and

-John put out his hand to light the lamp which was on the

-table, she made a strong effort to control her features.

-She was a woman who seldom remained long at a

-disadvantage.  Every move in the whole gamut of feminine

-emotion seemed to be at her command.  There had been

-a momentary stillness; now the roar of heavy artillery

-thundered again and again.  The red glow from the

-window filled the room.

-

-A false expression of smiling irony crossed Mrs. Monmouth's

-features.

-

-"So, Mr. Treves, you have been exercising your

-cleverness again!"

-

-"What I did was all in the day's work," John began;

-then he stepped swiftly towards the end of the table and

-barred the way to a certain chair upon which her long

-black coat had been thrown.

-

-"No, don't go to your coat," he politely admonished

-her.  "I am afraid I don't trust you!"  He knew that

-ladies of Mrs. Beecher Monmouth's temperament and

-activities are apt to carry lethal weapons, and are not

-scrupulous in the use of the same.  She had already

-made an attempt upon him with what he shrewdly and

-correctly guessed to be drugged whisky.

-

-"How subtle and resourceful you are!" laughed

-Mrs. Monmouth.  She turned and strolled with an air of

-indifference towards the window.

-

-John was wondering what her next move would be.

-He had already made up his mind as to his own next

-move, when Mrs. Beecher Monmouth strode to the table,

-and, in a flashing change of mood, smote it sharply.

-

-"You think yourself extraordinarily clever, Mr. Treves!"

-

-"Oh! not at all!" protested John.  He really did

-not think himself clever, but he was satisfied with the

-present position as he found it.  He had taken her coat,

-and was holding it over his arm.  There was no weapon

-in its pockets.

-

-A roar of artillery again filled the room.  Mrs. Beecher

-Monmouth's eyes blazed in exaltation and excitement.

-

-"Do you hear those guns?"

-

-"I can hear scarcely anything else!"

-

-Beecher Monmouth's widow paused, looking him over,

-excoriating him with her fine eyes; then went on slowly

-and intensely.

-

-"Well, Mr. Treves, perhaps it will surprise you and

-your friends to know that we have outwitted you from

-the beginning."

-

-"I don't quite get your meaning," said John.

-

-She lifted her head and laughed aloud in his face.  Her

-mask was off.  She let herself go.  She swept her arm

-toward the darkness of the night, then looked at him

-with the eyes of a fiend.  "Those guns you hear now

-mean that we are making our great attack."  Her voice

-rose shrilly; her scarlet lips writhed.  She was truly

-possessed at that moment.  "For all your espionage and

-cunning we shall be able to make our way into Portsmouth.

-We shall deliver a blow from which you will not

-easily recover.  Your ships——"

-

-John moved to the end of the table and motioned

-towards the door.

-

-"Thank you," said he, "that is very interesting, no

-doubt, but I think it is time we were going."

-

-The fury beyond the table paid no heed.  With both

-hands on its surface she thrust her chin towards him and

-spat out her words.

-

-"Every fort on this coast has been silenced by our

-finesse!"

-

-John, listening to the roar of the guns, was unperturbed.

-

-"That was a pretty heavy one," he remarked, as

-the room reverberated again to the renewed crash of

-artillery.

-

-"Our guns, you fool!"  Mrs. Beecher Monmouth

-lifted her voice to a scream.  "Our guns—German guns!"

-

-John stared at her.  He had never seen anything like

-the tornado of passion that was sweeping through her.

-He listened, enthralled, against his will.  Nevertheless,

-he was master of the scene.  She hated him—loathed

-him—because he had tricked her.  She had expended

-charm, she had enveloped him in the sunshine of her

-beauty to no end.  Her vanity was outraged.  He had

-enjoyed her caresses and laughed in his sleeve.

-

-"The boom——"

-

-"What about the boom?" John asked.

-

-"From Ponsonby Lighthouse to Windsor Fort the

-boom is not down to-night.  Think of that.  Your

-searchlights—where are they?  Dark—dark—every one

-of them."  She dropped her voice suddenly in a

-measured, triumphant whisper, "and our Unter-see boats

-are creeping in."

-

-Even now she was beautiful, but there was something

-animal-like in the distortion of her mouth.

-

-"Where, precisely, are your U-boats creeping into?"

-inquired John calmly.

-

-"Into—into Portsmouth."  She mouthed the name

-of the great harbour.

-

-"You thought to outwit us, and we outwit you!"

-

-John bowed.  "I have only your word for it."

-

-She paid no heed and went on.  "So you see, Mr. Treves,

-what you get in wasting your time on me—a woman!"

-

-His obstinate coolness maddened her, and in a wild

-gust of rage she crashed her fist on the table.

-

-"You fool!  You fool!  You sheep's head!" she

-announced, elegantly.  She paused a moment, breathing

-heavily, then sweeping round the table, snatched her

-coat from his arm and strode towards the door.

-

-"There is no hurry, Mrs. Beecher Monmouth——"

-

-She halted and gave him a glance that would have

-turned Parkson to stone.

-

-"What do you mean?" she demanded.

-

-"I mean that our interview is not at an end!"

-

-The menace of her eyes glittered upon him.  If her

-strength of body had been equal to it at that moment, she

-would have leapt forward and strangled him with her

-bare hands.  Knowledge of her own peril, of the Nemesis

-that was sweeping upon her, had not yet entered her

-disordered mind.

-

-John made—in pursuance of his prearranged plan of

-action—no effort to stay her as she went towards the

-door.  But as Mrs. Beecher Monmouth paused and cast

-a final look at him, a sudden doubt crept into her eyes.

-For John had gone to the window.  He appeared no

-longer to be occupied with her.  His back was towards

-her, and presently he lifted a whistle to his lips and blew

-two short, shrill blasts.

-

-A transformation passed over Mrs. Beecher Monmouth's

-face that was startling.  The colour flowed from

-her cheeks.  Her lips seemed suddenly to become bloodless.

-

-"Why do you do that?"

-

-John turned upon her slowly.  There was no pity in

-his eyes.

-

-"When I did it," he answered, grimly, "I was thinking

-of the *Malta*, and two hundred fine fellows who died

-at your hands.  I am thinking now of other things—of

-the *Polidor* and her scores of non-combatant passengers

-who were drowned by your machinations....  You

-have had a long run for your money, but at last——"

-

-He stopped—a sound came to him, a tramp of heavy

-booted men advancing in the passage.  Some one pushed

-open the door, and a corporal—a tall, grim-looking

-fellow—appeared on the threshold.

-

-"Is that you, Davis?"

-

-"Yes, sir!"

-

-John spoke over Mrs. Beecher Monmouth's head to the

-man beyond.

-

-"This is the lady, Davis!"

-

-"Very good, sir!"

-

-"You will take her at once.  Put her in a car and

-drive her to Newport to-night.  I have already

-communicated with the Chief Constable, who has made

-arrangements to receive her."

-

-He turned his eyes once more, and for the last time in

-life, on the beautiful woman in the doorway.

-

-

-

-

-

-.. vspace:: 4

-

-.. _`CHAPTER XXXIII`:

-

-.. class:: center large

-

-   CHAPTER XXXIII

-

-.. vspace:: 2

-

-"Hallo—what's that?"

-

-A red glare of light saturated the low hanging clouds

-and suddenly vanished.  Close, windless air vibrated

-under the detonation of heavy artillery.  A Sergeant,

-who had been concealed in the shelter of a stone wall

-which ran round Captain Cherriton's cottage, turned to

-the man at his side.

-

-"What d'you reckon it is, Nobby?"

-

-"It must be night practice."

-

-"Not it," answered the Sergeant, "that's the

-'nine-inch' at Heatherpoint, with a full charge!"

-

-As the words left his lips a second crashing roar

-reverberated from the fort.  Then, almost before Sergeant

-Watson could further comment upon the fact, a sound

-like rapid beating of a tom-tom came to them.  Busy,

-drum-like notes, some deep and long-drawn, as if coming

-from the bowels of the earth, some sharp, short, and

-angry, took up the refrain.

-

-"Hallo!" exclaimed Watson, amazed, "they're all

-at it.  There's something up."

-

-He stared at the sky, thence out to sea.

-

-"Hallo, where's all our searchlights?" exclaimed Nobby.

-

-"That's just what I was going to ask you," Watson

-answered; then instantly dropped down behind the wall,

-pulling his companion with him.  Watson had seen a

-figure approaching from the road.  The stranger wore

-mufti and a soft felt hat, and as he came stumbling and

-hurrying through the grass, leaping artillery flashes

-momentarily lifted him into view, and again plunged him

-into utter darkness.

-

-Watson, with Nobby and two other men, had,

-under John's directions, kept a three-days' watch on

-Cherriton's cottage.  At the present moment Cherriton

-himself was alone in the low, single-storied building which,

-from two workmen's dwellings, had been converted into

-an artistic residence.

-

-Watson waited.  And presently, in the silence between

-the roll of drumfire at the western end of the island, he

-could hear the fall of footsteps, and presently, through

-the screen of bushes, and in the light of gunfire he made

-out the figure of a tall young man, whose face for a

-moment looked familiar to him, then caused him to pull

-Nobby by the arm.

-

-"Who is it, Nobby?" he asked.

-

-The new-comer had reached Cherriton's gate and was

-hurrying into the little garden.

-

-"Why, it's Lieutenant Treves!"

-

-"What's he doing out of uniform?"

-

-"I don't know," answered Nobby.  "It's him right

-enough.  Look again."

-

-"He looks as if he'd had the fright of his life—I've

-never seen him look like that."

-

-"Nor me, neither," answered Nobby, eyeing the figure

-hurrying towards Cherriton's door.

-

-Both men watched the visitor disappear into the

-cottage, then discussed the matter in low tones.  There

-was something that puzzled them about Treves's visit

-to Captain Cherriton—there was something that to

-Sergeant Watson's intelligent mind seemed altogether

-wrong about that visit, and yet he could not tell what.

-

-Cherriton had been at the back window of his cottage

-peering out since the heavy gunfire began, and a look of

-triumph animated his pallid, hollow-cheeked countenance.

-He was startled at length by a low, feverish rapping at

-the cottage door.  He paused a moment in thought

-before answering, then shifted a Mauser pistol from his

-hip pocket to the left hand pocket of his coat.  He was

-a left-handed man, a fact which at certain moments of

-crisis was apt to redound to his advantage.  With a due

-amount of caution he drew open the door, and the man

-from the threshold strode in upon him.

-

-As Cherriton's eyes fell upon the stranger in the candle

-light the lines of his mouth altered.

-

-"Why, it's you, Treves—this is a surprise!" he

-exclaimed.  He gripped the young man's hand and drew

-him forward into the room.

-

-Bernard Treves, pale, haggard, swept the room with

-his restless glance.  His likeness to John Manton was

-striking even now.

-

-"Have you got anybody here?" he asked quickly.

-

-"No."

-

-"Where's Manners?"

-

-"He isn't here," answered Cherriton.

-

-"Where is he?"  Treves came forward and laid a

-hand on the other's arm.  "I must see Manners."

-

-"Why?"

-

-Cherriton looked at him with sudden malice.  He felt

-that this man who had tricked and betrayed them from

-the beginning, was still pursuing his deep game.

-However, they were playing now upon even terms.

-Mrs. Beecher Monmouth's information had opened wide his

-eyes.  Moreover, a mandate had been issued.  General

-von Kuhne had spoken....

-

-A sickly smile crossed the visitor's pallid, handsome

-countenance.  "It's no good trying to keep it quiet,"

-he said; "but I must have cocaine.  It's a matter of

-life and death with me.  Look at my hands!"

-

-He held out his hands which shook visibly.

-

-"I don't mind saying it," he went on; "but I've been

-pretty nearly over the brink two or three times lately.

-Yesterday I tried every chemist's shop in Ryde and

-Newport, but I couldn't get anything."

-

-He wiped his brow with a handkerchief.  Cherriton

-was regarding him closely, puzzled at the change in him.

-

-"You managed to get along without it for a long

-time," retorted Cherriton, looking at him coldly.

-

-"I had to—there was nothing else for it.  That damned

-nursing home——"  Suddenly he put out his hand and

-laid it on the German's arm.  "Where's Manners, for

-God's sake tell me—tell me?  I must have some——"

-

-Then he became aware of a narrowing of the other's

-gaze.  "Why are you looking at me like that?"

-

-The Captain laughed.

-

-"Don't do it; it makes my blood run cold," Treves

-protested.

-

-"I was thinking of your drug habit—how conveniently

-it comes and goes."

-

-"Don't sneer at me, for God's sake," pleaded Treves.

-"I'm desperate."  He walked the floor in a state of

-nervous tension, which would have been pitiable to

-witness, had there been in Cherriton any spirit of mercy.

-"It seems there's been a law passed forbidding

-chemists—you can't get cocaine anywhere," he jerked out,

-hopelessly.

-

-Cherriton's dark gaze was again upon him.

-

-"I can't give you cocaine, Treves," he said, "but if

-you come into my bedroom there, I'll give you something

-else."

-

-Treves clutched his arm.

-

-"What?"

-

-"Morphia," answered Cherriton.

-

-He led the way into a low-ceilinged bedroom at the end

-of the cottage, carrying the candle from the parlour table

-as he went.  He placed the light on the dressing table

-near the window, took a key from his pocket, and opened

-a drawer in the only chest of drawers in the small room.

-

-Treves, watching him with impatient eyes, moistened

-his lips and waited.

-

-Cherriton searched in the drawer and drew out a

-syringe and a small bottle.

-

-"Here," he said to Treves, "sit over on the chair

-near the dressing table."

-

-Treves greedily eyed the syringe, and obediently

-seated himself with his back to the little mirror.  The

-candle on the white dimity cloth of the dressing table

-threw its light full upon him.  He watched Cherriton fill

-the syringe with morphia, and almost clutched it from

-his hand.

-

-"Wait," said the German, holding him off, "you shall

-have it full."

-

-"Thanks—thanks—thanks."

-

-Treves watched him as a famished dog watches a bone.

-

-"You don't know what I've suffered, Cherriton—that

-nursing home, St. Neot's, curse it—it's been hell!"

-

-"You are so clever, Treves, I wonder you didn't get

-cocaine before?"

-

-"My God, if you knew how I've tried."

-

-Cherriton was standing about a yard away from Treves,

-with his big chin thrust forward.  The expression of his

-face at that moment would have shot terror into his

-visitor's heart, if he had lifted his eyes.  But Treves was

-busy.  He was pulling back his sleeve, and in another

-instant he had dug the needle into the flesh of his

-forearm.  His lips tightened as he forced the morphia into

-his blood.  Then he slowly raised his head, a look of

-ecstatic happiness glowed in his eyes; he drew a deep

-sigh of contentment.

-

-"A-h-h," he exclaimed.

-

-And Cherriton, who had been standing still as a statue,

-still as death, moved.  The veiled light in his eyes blazed

-into murder.  With swiftness and stealth he whipped

-the Mauser from his pocket, aimed and fired.  His

-shot passed through Treves's heart....  Before the

-reverberation had died, he fired into Treves's body a

-second time, and this time so near was he that the blaze

-scorched his victim's waistcoat.  He had made assurance

-doubly sure, and his next quick move was to lean forward,

-blow out the candle, drop his pistol near the body, that

-had fallen heavily, and fling open the window.

-

-Two minutes later he was speeding swiftly across

-the yard at the back of the cottage.  As he ran a

-gun-flash from Heatherpoint lifted the darkness for a

-moment, and again he was enveloped in the surrounding

-gloom.

-

-Before Sergeant Watson and his three men could reach

-the door of the cottage, Cherriton had vanished into a

-clump of trees.

-

-"There's something wrong!" said Watson.  "I'm

-going in."  He took Nobby with him, hurried along the

-path, and knocked at Cherriton's portal.

-

-No answer came.  He thrust open the door and found

-the living-room in darkness; he struck a match, lit a

-candle from the mantelshelf, and held it aloft.

-

-"Hallo, there's nobody here."

-

-The door of the bedroom was open, and the draught—a

-puff of close air—from the open window beyond

-suddenly blew shut the front door with a crash.

-

-Sergeant Watson was a man of steady nerve, but he

-did not like the crash, neither did he like the silence, the

-heavy, brooding silence.  Nevertheless, he lifted his

-voice valiantly.

-

-"Is there anybody there?" he called.

-

-He could hear the curtain rings faintly rattling in the

-bedroom, but no answer came to him.  Then with the

-candle in his hand and followed by Nobby, gripping his

-rifle, he went into Cherriton's bedroom.  On the floor

-beyond the end of Cherriton's bed, near the dressing

-table, they could see a foot and the lower part of Treves's

-trouser leg.

-

-"My God!" exclaimed Watson, hurrying forward

-with a fleeting glance at the open window.

-

-The figure lying near the dressing table with a revolver

-near it, and a morphia syringe a little distance away,

-was huddled and motionless.

-

-.. vspace:: 1

-

-.. class:: center white-space-pre-line

-

-   \*      \*      \*      \*      \*

-

-.. vspace:: 1

-

-Three minutes later, Watson, Nobby and two other men

-stood in an open space on the downs, forty yards before

-Cherriton's cottage.  Watson was busy rearing a tripod

-stand about five feet in height.  When the tripod was

-ready Nobby handed him a lantern, which was

-dexterously screwed upon its apex.  He struck a match,

-lit the lantern and flicked open a shutter.

-

-"Stand back out of the line of light," he cried to one

-of his men.

-

-Then with little scraping clicks of the lantern shutter,

-the single eye of light turned westward, he began to spell

-out a message.

-

-Three times he gave his opening call before receiving an

-answer by signal lantern from behind the fort at Freshwater.

-Having achieved connection he patiently spelt

-out the following message:

-

-"Report to officer in command Heatherpoint."

-

-"Who are you?" came the answer.

-

-"Watson, emergency light number 6."

-

-"Yes, what is it?"

-

-"Lieutenant Treves been murdered.  Lying dead

-Heather Cottage."

-

-The lantern at Freshwater took the message, and

-before signalling on said, "Repeat."

-

-Watson, with a grim face, repeated the message and

-added:

-

-"Shot by Captain Cherriton.  Murderer escaped,

-running north by east."

-

-

-

-

-

-.. vspace:: 4

-

-.. _`CHAPTER XXXIV`:

-

-.. class:: center large

-

-   CHAPTER XXXIV

-

-.. vspace:: 2

-

-John having disposed of Mrs. Beecher Monmouth

-returned to Heatherpoint Fort.  Within the fort gates the

-ground quivered and vibrated.  Far below him the

-Solent was alive with the sweeping beams of

-Throgmorton's cunning emergency lights.  John could see

-flashes of fire from Ponsonby Point, from Scoles Head, and

-from a new secret battery beyond Windsor Fort.  His

-time was emphatically not his own, he had received

-orders to leave the fort on a new mission.  Within

-five minutes he had passed the rear defences and the

-barbed wire of the fort, and was out upon the downs.

-He sprinted forward over the short springing turf, and

-soon came to the cliff edge and the narrow path that

-descended the chalk to South Bay.

-

-As he reached the cliff edge and looked down an

-amazing panorama smote his eyes.  Dover lights—tremendous,

-blinding blue-white illuminations—floated

-upon the surface of the water shedding forth almost

-painful rays of light.  The yellow of the sand in the little

-bay became a ghost-like floor in this radiance.  Sinclair,

-he knew, was down there busy at his telephone, but it

-was not Sinclair nor the drama of the scene that occupied

-his thoughts; he was thinking not of them, but of a

-slip of paper Throgmorton had handed him bearing the

-message of his own death, and of Throgmorton's words,

-"Somebody was murdered."

-

-"Yes," thought John, "somebody who was mistaken for me."

-

-His mind projected itself upon the scene in Cherriton's

-cottage, and the thing he had suspected from the very

-first instant revealed itself fully.  Bernard Treves had

-escaped in his second effort to free himself from his

-enforced detention at St. Neot's, and, of course, the first

-thing he had done was to search out the whereabouts of

-Cherriton and Manners in order to obtain the drugs that

-were a passion with him.  He had gone to the cottage,

-Cherriton had received him, and had clearly shot him in

-cold blood....

-

-John turned his mind away from the possibilities

-Treves's death had created for himself.  After all, he was

-sorry.  Treves's broken and enfeebled will had been too

-much for the young man to contend against.  He had

-failed—death had come upon him suddenly and terribly,

-but perhaps, after all, it was for the best....

-

-His thoughts turned to Colonel Treves....  As was

-to be expected, and inevitably the delicately beautiful

-vision of Elaine rose before him....  Her life of bondage

-was at an end....  Then John drew himself up and

-took himself severely to task.  These thoughts were not

-for him.  In this hour of drama, of tragedy, he must

-not let his thoughts dwell upon her.  There were decencies,

-and he was a man of honour; nevertheless, in the depths

-of his heart, something moved, a dim obliterated ray of

-hope flickered into life....

-

-To the music of the guns he continued his descent of

-the chalk path.  Where the damp penetrated it was

-slippery beneath his feet, nevertheless he went quickly

-with steps that must have been noiseless.  The path

-reached the beach some distance away from the scene of

-activity, of which Sinclair was the centre.  And as John

-came within thirty or forty feet of the shore, he saw

-below him, at the bend of the path, a man crouching.

-The man was huddled in a sheltered corner, intent upon

-some occupation invisible to John, who halted and

-looked down upon him with some curiosity.  The silent

-figure was in khaki, and his shoulder and half his cap

-were visible.  He was deeply absorbed, and John was able

-to go forward and descend two or three turns of the path

-without being observed.

-

-Presently, walking softly on the narrow path in the

-cliff's face, he came full into view of the stranger, whose

-presence was concealed by the projection of a cliff from

-the pitiless Dover flares.

-

-The man was Captain Cherriton.

-

-John was not in the least surprised to find his able and

-resourceful enemy crouching down working a flashlight

-towards a portion of the sea cut off from the fort

-lights.

-

-Manton knew that the hour of destiny had arrived.

-The thought came to him that Cherriton's hands were

-stained with blood, that not an hour ago he had——

-

-He moved forward a pace, his face grim and set.  Cherriton,

-still crouching, heard him, and turned, but in the

-gloom of that sheltered place he did not see clearly.

-Quick as thought, however, he turned his electric torch

-and flashed it full upon John's face.  In the circle of

-incandescent light he saw something that caused him to

-choke with horror—that something was the face and the

-living eyes of the man he had murdered an hour ago.

-

-The sight was too much for him, the light fell from his

-fingers.  John, guessing what had happened, resolved

-to give him no chance of discovery.  With a shout he

-leapt forward and flung his arms about him.

-

-Half in terror, half in growing knowledge that he had

-to deal with a living and determined enemy, Cherriton

-struggled like a maniac.  Each man put forth his entire

-strength.  John sought to get his hands round the

-German's throat.  Together they rocked, bumped, and

-swayed, and, finally, together they fell, tumbling and

-thumping to the sand, fifteen feet below.

-

-For a minute each man lay still, stunned by the

-impact of the fall.  Then John, first to recover, creeping

-on hands and knees, approached Cherriton and fell upon

-him again.

-

-"I'm done," breathed the German, "get off me...."  There

-was a truce for some minutes after that, during

-which John sat with a Mauser in his hand, and recovered

-himself fully.

-

-Cherriton, who had been lying on his back in the sand,

-turned.

-

-"Who are you?" he asked, staring with strained eyes

-into John's face.

-

-The mystery was beyond him.  Were there two

-Bernard Treves?  He had killed, or as he would have

-put it, he had legitimately executed Bernard Treves in

-the cottage less than two hours ago.  So far all was clear

-to him.  But this other man, this replica and simulacrum

-of Treves, who was he?  He was Treves, and he was not

-Treves.  He continued to stare and his mystification

-deepened.  John, feeling that the moment for

-explanation had come, came to his aid.

-

-"You are recalling that you killed me in your cottage

-less than two hours ago?"

-

-"Yes," began Cherriton.

-

-"All along," went on John, "you and your colleagues

-have been mistaken in me.  I have played the part of

-Bernard Treves with some success, but my real name

-happens to be John Manton."

-

-.. vspace:: 2

-

-Dawn came, and with it victory for the defenders of

-the Solent.  In the last moment von Kuhne's plans had

-gone astray.  His submarines which had intended to cause

-havoc among the multitude of shipping at Portsmouth

-had indeed passed the boom, only to meet destruction

-beyond.  Eight submarines went to the credit of the

-R.G.A. and the Navy that night; eighty German marines

-were captured on the little shore of South Bay.  And now,

-in the fort mess-room that had known so much of drama

-during the last few months, Colonel Hobin occupied his

-chair at the head of the table.  Beside him was seated

-Throgmorton, the Flag-Lieutenant.  Commander Greaves

-and John Manton were also present, grouped at the end

-of the room, near the window whence the dawn crept in.

-At the far end of the room stood Ewins, something of a

-hero that morning, but the time for compliment had not

-yet arrived.

-

-"Bring them in, Ewins," commanded Hobin.

-

-Ewins saluted and clattered away.

-

-Five minutes later he returned with a squad of men

-who waited in the little passage outside.  And Ewins

-ushered into the mess-room Captain Cherriton, still in

-British uniform.  With him was the tall German naval

-lieutenant John had some time ago seen at Voules's house

-at Brooke.  The last prisoner to enter the room was

-Voules himself, the General von Kuhne who had so

-industriously instituted the attack which had met with

-disaster.

-

-Colonel Hobin put a few questions.

-

-"I am an officer of the German Navy," said the tall

-lieutenant.  "I demand all the privileges of an

-honourable prisoner of war."

-

-"Certainly," intervened Throgmorton, "in your case

-there is no question of the death penalty."

-

-"I, too, am an officer," began Voules in his rasping

-voice.

-

-"I am afraid the fact," said Colonel Hobin, "that you

-neglected the formality of wearing uniform in your attack

-upon us will tell somewhat severely against you.  All I

-want this morning," he concluded, "is that you should

-each admit your identity."

-

-The three Germans had no objection to this.

-

-When the prisoners had been removed Hobin and then

-Throgmorton gripped John by the hand—in fact,

-everybody in the room shook hands in the grey of the dawn

-that morning.

-

-"All the luck in the world was ours, Treves," said

-Throgmorton.

-

-"My name is Manton," John reminded him.

-

-"Of course, of course—I had quite forgotten that."

-

-.. vspace:: 2

-

-John's life story was only just beginning—the

-recovery of his own name marked an epoch.  Summer

-went and autumn came; the sun of Peace rose over the

-horizon.  Letters at first somewhat formal, but later

-growing in cordiality, passed between himself and Elaine.

-Then, at last, on a certain autumn day—a red-letter day

-for John—he received an epistle in Colonel Treves's shaking

-hand.  "*My dear boy,*" ran the Colonel's letter, "*I want

-you to come and visit me.  We have been friends a long

-time—you have played your part well and truly.  That

-which my poor boy failed to do, you have done in his name.

-You have done credit to my house and to the name of Treves.

-I am well again now, and shall welcome you with all my

-heart.*"

-

-John did not know how it was, but a film came before

-his eyes as he finished reading the old Colonel's letter.

-And on the Saturday following, when he drove up to the

-Colonel's house in a hired motor, from Freshwater, the

-sun was setting over the Solent and yellow leaves were

-falling in the long drive.

-

-Gates drew open the front door of the mansion before

-John alighted and conducted him straight to the Colonel,

-in the library.  The old man, who had been standing in

-the window expecting his arrival, came across the room

-and gripped his hand.  He looked into John's face, then

-smiled.  There was conviction in his voice.

-

-"Yes," he said.  "You're a Treves in everything

-except name."

-

-There was much to talk about.  In the first place the

-Colonel spoke of Elaine always as his daughter-in-law.

-She had completely won his heart.

-

-"This gives me a new lease of life, my boy," he said to

-John.  Then the smile that was so attractive in him lit

-up his face.  "And when that lease is run out she shall

-have all that is mine just as she would have had if my

-boy had lived."  The Colonel laid his hand on John's

-shoulder.

-

-"John, my boy," he said, "your attention's wandering,

-it isn't me you want to hear talking, so I'll take myself

-off now."

-

-He went out of the room, and John, walking to the

-window, looked for a moment upon the autumn scene

-outside.  Then a sound came to him, and he turned to

-see Elaine, radiant yet doubtful, and strangely

-shy—looking like spring in autumn.

-

-For a moment John was still; then he hurried across

-the room and took her hands in his.

-

-"Elaine," he whispered, "is everything forgotten and

-forgiven?"

-

-Elaine lifted her eyes to his.  She was ten times more

-beautiful at that moment than the image he had treasured

-in his heart.

-

-"There is nothing to forget, and nothing to forgive,

-John," she said quietly.

-

-John drew in a deep breath.

-

-"You love me, don't you?"

-

-"You know I do."

-

-Again John drew in a deep breath, this time of

-complete happiness.

-

-"Thank goodness," he said—"so that's all right!"  Then,

-without more ado, he swept her into his arms.

-"I'm going to make mad love to you until seven o'clock,"

-he announced masterfully.

-

-.. vspace:: 4

-

-.. class:: center small

-

-Printed in Great Britain by Wyman & Sons Ltd., London and Reading

-

-.. vspace:: 6

-

-.. pgfooter::