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."