ON LIVELY SPECIAL DUTY
"In the first place," resumed the Admiral, "you must know that
relations between Great Britain and the United States are, and for
some time have been, of an especially cordial nature. Throughout the
great war Great Britain has been compelled to buy a large part of her
food and munitions in the United States. Except for her being able to
do so she would have been forced out of the war and the Entente Allies
would have been defeated. There are Englishmen who will make you feel
that the saving force of the United States is greatly appreciated in
England, just as there are other Englishmen who will remark stupidly
that the United States as a seller, has had a great opportunity to
grow rich at England's expense.
"There can be no doubt that thinking Englishmen are prepared to go to
almost any extent to cultivate and keep the friendship of the United
States, just as duller-witted Englishmen declare that the United
States depends upon England for existence.
"During the present war Great Britain has felt compelled to impose
certain blockade restrictions upon our commerce with neutral powers in
Europe. This has hampered our commerce to some extent, and there are
many in the United States who feel deep resentment, and favor taking
any steps necessary to compel England to abandon her interference with
our merchant marine. Some Englishmen take an almost insolent attitude
in the matter, while others beg us to believe that England hinders
some of our commerce only in order to preserve her own national life.
In other words, if she did not carefully regulate the world's trade
with, for instance, Denmark and Holland, those countries would sell
much of their importations to Germany, whereby the duration of the war
would be prolonged by reason of help obtained by Germany in that
manner.
"As you can readily understand, the situation is full of delicate
points, and many sensibilities are wounded. There have been times when
only a spark was needed to kindle a serious blaze of mutual wrath
between Great Britain and the United States. And you may be sure there
are some governments in this world that would be delighted to see
feelings of deep hostility engendered between Britons and Americans.
"At present, however, there seems to be not the slightest cloud over
the relations between Great Britain and our country.
"Now, Mr. Darrin, you have obtained clues to a startling plot that has
for its object the causing of distrust between the two greatest
nations. If one or more British warships should be sunk, by some means
that we do not at present know, and if the blame could be plausibly
laid against Americans, there would be hot-tempered talk in England
and a lot of indignant retort from our country. It would seem
preposterous that any Englishman could suspect the American government
of destroying British warships, and just as absurd to think that
Americans could take such a charge seriously. Yet in the relations
between nations the absurd thing often does happen. Should England
lose any warships it would seem that only Germany or Austria could be
blamed, yet it might be possible for plotters to manage the thing so
successfully, and with so much cleverness, that the United States
would really seem to be proven to be the guilty party. Our duty as
officers of the Navy can be performed only by frustrating the hideous
plot altogether.
"So, Ensigns Darrin and Dalzell, while we are at Naples you will spend
as much of your time as possible on shore. You will go about
everywhere, as though to see the sights of the city and as if bent on
getting your fill of pleasure. Unless under pressing need you will not
be extravagant in your expenditures, but will conduct yourselves as
though sight-seeing within the limits of your modest pay as ensigns.
You will, however, not be put to any expense in the matter, as all
your expenditures will be returned to you out of an emergency fund in
my hands.
"Your object in going ashore will be to report if you see Gortchky in
Naples. I feel rather certain that the fellow is already there. You,
Mr. Darrin, will also keep your eyes wide open for a sight of either
or both of that pair whom you overheard talking at Monte Carlo. You
will also note and report if you find the Countess Ripoli in Naples."
"And if we meet her and if she speaks to us, sir?" asked Dalzell.
"What if she even wishes to entertain us, or to claim our escort?"
"Do whatever you can to please the Countess," replied the Admiral,
promptly. "Be agreeable to her in any way that does not interfere with
other and more important duties to which I have assigned you."
Judging by a sign from the fleet commander that the interview was now
at an end, Dave and Dan rose, standing at attention.
"Perhaps I have given you a wrong impression in one particular,"
Admiral Timworth continued. "I do not wish you to understand,
gentlemen, that I have intimated that any power, or any combination
of powers, has directly ordered any act that would lead to the sinking
of British warships. Governments, even the worst, do not act in that
way. The thing which the power I have in mind may have done is to give
certain secret agents a free hand to bring about war between England
and the United States. Undoubtedly, the secret agents at the bottom of
this conspiracy have been left free to choose their own methods. Thus
the foreign government interested in this conspiracy could feel that
it did not _order_ the commission of a crime, no matter what might
happen as the result. Now, gentlemen, have you any questions to ask?"
"None, sir," Dave Darrin responded immediately.
"None, sir," echoed Dalzell.
"Then you may go," rejoined Admiral Timworth, rising and returning the
parting salutes of the young officers.
* * * * *
It was presently noised about among the ship's company that Ensigns
Darrin and Dalzell had been ordered ashore on special duty.
"How did you work it?" Lieutenant Barnes irritably demanded of Danny
Grin.
"Why? Do you want to work a trick yourself?" asked Dalzell,
unsympathetically.
"No such luck for me," growled Barnes. "While in port I am ordered to
take charge of shifting stores below decks."
"Fine!" approved Dan.
"And I wish I had you for junior officer on that detail," growled
Barnes.
"If I get tired of staying ashore," Danny Grin proposed genially,
"I'll make humble petition to be assigned as junior on your detail."