THE HUE AND CRY
The late editions of the evening papers contained no mention of the
disappearance of John Dene. For one thing much valuable time had been
lost owing to the attitude of Sir Lyster Grayne, for another, Malcolm
Sage had decided to make a great display in the morning papers. All
that afternoon Department Z. was feverishly busy. Photographs of John
Dene had to be duplicated, and the story distributed through the Press
Bureau, in order that it might possess an official character.
On the morning following the discovery of John Dene's disappearance,
the British public was startled at its breakfast-table by an offer of
L10,000 reward for details that would lead to the discovery of the
whereabouts of one John Dene, a citizen of Toronto, Canada, who had
last been seen at 6 p.m. on the previous Monday outside his offices in
Waterloo Place.
The notice drawn up by Department Z. ran:
MISSING
L10,000 REWARD
Where is
JOHN DENE of TORONTO?
"On Monday at 6 p.m., Mr. John Dene, the well-known Canadian inventor
and engineer of Toronto, left his offices in Waterloo Place, after
bidding his secretary good night. Since then a shroud of mystery seems
to have enveloped his movements.
~HIS SECRETARY BECOMES ALARMED~
"His Secretary, Miss Dorothy West, arrived at the office at the usual
time on Tuesday morning. Mr. Dene was most punctual in his habits,
invariably reaching his office a few minutes after nine. Miss West
waited until two o'clock, then fearing that he might be ill, she rang
through to the Ritzton Hotel, where Mr. Dene was staying. To her
surprise she was informed that he had not returned to his hotel the
night before.
~WHERE IS JOHN DENE OF TORONTO?~
"Miss West immediately got into communication with the head of a
certain Government department with which Mr. Dene was associated; but
nothing was known of his whereabouts. The authorities have reason to
believe that Mr. Dene has been spirited away by some organisation that
has a special object in view.
~IS IT FOUL PLAY?~
"A reward of L10,000 will be paid to anyone who will give such
information as will lead directly to the discovery of Mr. John Dene's
whereabouts. It may be added that Mr. Dene is a distinguished engineer
and inventor, and it is the duty of every citizen of the British Empire
to endeavour to assist the Authorities in tracing the missing man.
~THIS IS WHAT HE IS LIKE.~
"The following is a description of Mr. John Dene:--Height 5 ft. 5 ins.
Clean shaven with grey eyes and a determined expression, invariably
carried a cigar in his mouth, very frequently unlighted. Has a
peculiar habit of twisting and twirling the cigar in his mouth. Thick
set with keen, rather jerky movements, and a habit of looking at people
suddenly and piercingly. A square jaw and tightly closed lips. When
last seen was wearing a dark grey tweed suit, trilby hat, dark blue tie
and brown boots. Spoke with a marked Canadian accent.
"All communications should be addressed to Scotland Yard, S.W."
In addition to the foregoing semi-official particulars, there followed
much information that had been gleaned by various reporters. Most of
the papers gave a leader, and several hinted at the hidden hand, urging
that this new outrage obviously pointed to the necessity for the
internment of all aliens. Great emphasis was laid upon the importance
of tracing the present whereabouts of John Dene of Toronto, and anyone
who had seen a man at all answering to his description, was called upon
to communicate with Scotland Yard.
The afternoon papers contained practically the same information, but
elaborated and adorned. Several hinted at the fact that John Dene had
come to England with a new invention of great importance, and that he
had disappeared just on the eve of the fruition of his schemes, with
the result that everything was at a stand-still. In support of this
theory the writers pointed to the amount of the reward. Ten thousand
pounds would not have been offered, they argued, unless there were good
reasons for it. One paper went so far as to suggest that the
Government itself was offering the reward, although in its next issue
it apologised for and contradicted the statement--this was a little
stroke of Malcolm Sage's.
Dorothy was besieged by interviewers, until at last she was forced to
refrain from answering the succession of knocks at the outer door. Her
head was in a whirl.
The prevailing topic of conversation was the disappearance of John
Dene. Everybody was asking why such a reward had been offered. Shoals
of letters descended upon Scotland Yard. Hundreds of callers lined up
in a queue, waiting their turn to be interviewed. Telegrams rained in
from the provinces. Apparently John Dene had been seen in places as
far distant as St. Andrews and Bournemouth, Aberystwyth and King's
Lynn. He had been observed in conversation with men, women and
children, some of harmless, some of sinister appearance. He had been
seen in trains, 'buses, trams and cars. He had been seen perturbed and
calm, hastening and loitering, in uniform and in mufti.
Scotland Yard was almost out of its mind, and the officer in charge of
the John Dene investigation rang through to Malcolm Sage, demanding
what the funny peter he was to do with the enormous correspondence, and
the bewildering queue that already stretched along the Embankment
halfway to Charing Cross railway-bridge.
"Burn the telegrams and letters and tell the queue to write," was
Sage's laconic response, as he put up the receiver, whereat the officer
had sworn heavily into the mouth-piece of the instrument.
The Chief Commissioner was particularly annoyed because all his own
correspondence had been engulphed in the epistolary flood, and he was
expecting a letter from his wife telling him where to meet her on the
following day on her return from a motor tour. Those who knew Lady
Wrayle understood the Chief Commissioner's anxiety.
All day long Scotland Yard worked in a conscientious endeavour to sift
the mass of evidence that streamed in upon it from all parts of the
kingdom. Some of the stories to which weary but patient officials
listened were grotesque in the extreme. As the chief expressed it,
"Half the idiots and all the damned fools in the country are descending
upon us."
The callers were interesting as studies in obtuseness and optimism; but
they were as nothing to the telegrams. One man wired from St. Andrews
that he was tracking a strange man round the golf course, would
Scotland Yard telegraph a warrant for his arrest? Another enquired if
the reward would be in cash or war bonds, and if the Government
guaranteed the money--this man telegraphed from Aberdeen. Several
asked for railway warrants to London that they might lay certain facts
before the authorities. Scores telegraphed for photographs, as the
pictures in the papers were indistinct. One lady telegraphed from
Suffolk that a man with a beard identical with that worn by John Dene
in the picture in _The Daily Photo_ had that day come to her door
begging.
The telegrams were, however, nothing to the letters that followed them.
The lady who had telegraphed about a bearded John Dene, wrote to
apologise for her mistake, explaining it by saying that the paper boy
must have accidentally rubbed the paper before delivering it. She was
not to be denied, however, and went on to say that she thought the
picture strangely like the man who had begged of her. Did Scotland
Yard think that John Dene had disguised himself with a false beard?
Some correspondents wrote bitterly censuring the Government for not
interning all aliens, for allowing John Dene out of its sight, for an
Imperialistic policy, for plunging the country into war, for offering
the reward, and for a thousand and one other irrelevant things. The
one thing that no one did was to supply any information that would be
remotely useful to the authorities in tracing the missing man.
People waited eagerly for the morrow's papers. They contained another
surprise, this time in the form of a two column advertisement, offering
L20,000 for information that would lead to the discovery of the
whereabouts of John Dene. Clearly somebody was determined that John
Dene should be found.
When Mr. Llewellyn John opened the first morning paper he picked up
from the pile awaiting him he gasped. Himself a great believer in the
possibilities of the press, he felt, nevertheless, that Department Z.
was overdoing things, and he telephoned for its chief and Malcolm Sage
to call upon him at ten o'clock.
At two minutes to ten, the two presented themselves at No. 110, Downing
Street, and were immediately shown into the presence of the Prime
Minister.
"Has it struck you," asked Mr. Llewellyn John, indicating one of the
advertisements, "that questions will be asked in the House as to
whether or no the Government is offering these large rewards?"
"I should think it highly probable, sir," was Sage's response.
"And what are we to say?" demanded Mr. Llewellyn John. He was a keen
politician, and saw that the situation might be fraught with
considerable difficulties.
"Acknowledge that they are, sir," was the response.
"Acknowledge it!" cried Mr. Llewellyn John.
"Certainly, sir."
"Mr. Sage," said Mr. Llewellyn John severely, "you do not appear to
appreciate that this may seriously compromise the Government." Then
turning to Colonel Walton he continued: "Hitherto you have been given a
free hand, now I must ask you to explain why you are offering these
large rewards. You first of all suggested L1,000, rising daily from
L1,000 to L10,000. In two days it has amounted to L20,000."
"It won't rise any higher, sir. It has reached the limit."
"That is not the point," said Mr. Llewellyn John. "I want to know why
it is that you are advertising to Germany that we want John Dene. It
is an obvious confession of weakness." He made a quick nervous
movement with his right hand, he was far from easy in his mind.
Malcolm Sage continued to examine his finger-nails with great
intentness.
Seeing that he made no indication of replying, Mr. Llewellyn John
continued:
"I'm afraid that this cannot go on." There was a suggestion of
irritability in his voice.
"Then have it stopped, sir," said Sage calmly, still intent upon the
finger-nails of his right hand.
"The mischief is done," said Mr. Llewellyn John. "What is at the back
of your mind, Sage?" he demanded.
"I'm working on a hypothesis, sir," was the reply. "I think I'm right,
in fact I'm convinced of it; but until I know for certain, I must keep
my theories to myself. If you wish it, I'll tell you what I actually
know; but I make it a rule never to air theories."
Mr. Llewellyn John smiled. "Well, tell me what you actually know
then," he said.
"When Mr. Dene left his office at three minutes past six on Monday
evening, he stood for nearly a minute, as if making up his mind in what
direction to go. Just as he was about to turn and walk up Regent
Street a taxi crawled past him. The driver spoke to him and John Dene
got in and drove away."
"Kidnapped!" exclaimed Mr. Llewellyn John.
Malcolm Sage shrugged his shoulders.
"In which direction did he drive?" enquired Mr. Llewellyn John eagerly.
"Along Pall Mall, sir," was the reply. "Colonel Walton told you what
happened?"
Mr. Llewellyn John nodded. "And have you informed the police?" he
asked.
Malcolm Sage shook his head.
"Why?" enquired Mr. Llewellyn John eagerly.
"If my theory is right," said Sage, "it's unnecessary. If my theory's
wrong, it's useless. Believe me, sir, our best course is to continue
to boom John Dene's disappearance for all we are worth."
"But the _Destroyer_!" exclaimed Mr. Llewellyn John excitedly.
"You know the conditions, sir, that the island of Auchinlech was to be
left severely alone for four months."
"Do you imagine that Dene slipped off to the north to trick the
Germans?"
"That wouldn't trick them, sir," said Malcolm Sage quietly. "John Dene
would never have been allowed to reach Auchinlech alive. That was
settled. I may add that I have every reason to believe that the taxi
and its occupant did not go fifty miles from London."
"And that he is a prisoner?" Mr. Llewellyn John jumped from his chair.
Malcolm Sage inclined his head in the affirmative.
"Good heavens!" exclaimed Mr. Llewellyn John, "we must----"
"Depend entirely upon the advertisements," said Sage, rising. "You
will of course regard this as strictly confidential, and to be told to
no one. I cannot tell you how important it is." There was an
unaccustomed note of seriousness in Sage's voice, which did not fail to
impress Mr. Llewellyn John.
"But the questions in the House as to why we are offering this reward?"
persisted Mr. Llewellyn John. "What reply are we to make?"
"You might fall back on the old cliche, sir: 'Wait and see.'"
Mr. Llewellyn John smiled.
"That phrase," continued Sage, "was a great asset to one party, why
should it not be to another?"
"Look at this." Mr. Llewellyn John held out a slip of paper, which
Colonel Walton took and read aloud.
"Has the attention of the Home Secretary been drawn to a statement in
_The Tribune_ to the effect that it is the Government that is offering
the reward of L10,000 for information that will lead to the discovery
of the whereabouts of Mr. John Dene of Toronto, and if so can it
justify the offer of so large a sum of public money?"
"They haven't lost any time," remarked Sage quietly.
"They never do." There was an unaccustomed note of irascibility in Mr.
Llewellyn John's voice. "These questions are a scandal."
"Except when one happens to be in opposition, sir," said Sage,
apparently absorbed in examining the nails of his left hand.
Mr. Llewellyn John made no response, and Colonel Walton handed back to
him the slip, which he tossed upon the table.
"Well," he demanded, looking from Colonel Walton to Sage, "what are we
to reply?"
"The answer is in the affirmative, sir," said Malcolm Sage.
For a moment Mr. Llewellyn John looked at him, frowning, then he broke
into a smile.
"That's all very well, Sage, but it's not sufficient."
"If I may venture a suggestion----" began Sage.
"Do--do, that's why I sent for you--both," he added, as if in deference
to Colonel Walton.
"I would say that for reasons not unconnected with the prosecution of
the war, the discovery of Mr. John Dene's whereabouts is imperative."
"But that would be giving us away more than ever."
"I think it would be desirable to temporise," said Sage.
Mr. Llewellyn John made a movement of impatience.
"You might reply that it is not in the public interest to answer the
question," continued Sage.
"But that would be tantamount to acknowledging that we are offering the
reward," said Mr. Llewellyn John with a suspicion of irritation in his
voice.
Malcolm Sage looked at him steadily, but without speaking.
"There will inevitably be other questions arising out of this,"
continued Mr. Llewellyn John.
"I was going to suggest, sir, that if we could arrange for some
newspaper to make a definite statement that the Government is offering
the reward, we could prosecute it under D.O.R.A."
For fully a minute Mr. Llewellyn John gazed at Malcolm Sage, as if not
quite sure of his sanity. "But," he began, and then broke off, looking
helplessly across at Colonel Walton.
"Of course, sir, I'll relinquish the enquiry if you wish it."
"This is not the time to talk of relinquishing anything, Sage," said
Mr. Llewellyn John with some asperity in his tone. "What I want to
know is what all this means."
"That's exactly what I'm endeavouring to discover," said Sage evenly.
"If I were a stage detective, I should be down on my knees smelling
your carpet, or examining Pall Mall with a strong lens; but I'm not. I
never carry a magnifying-glass and I know nothing about finger-prints.
The solving of mysteries, like the detection of crime, is invariably
due to a mistake on the part of somebody who ought not to have made a
mistake."
"Then tell me how far you have got." Mr. Llewellyn John glanced across
to Colonel Walton, and was conscious of a slight knitting of his brows,
then he looked back again at Malcolm Sage, who for some moments
remained silent.
"If you were uncertain of my sanity, sir," said Sage quietly, "would
you discuss the matter with others, or would you first assure yourself
of the accuracy of your suspicions?"
He looked up suddenly, straight into Mr. Llewellyn John's eyes.
"We all know you are hopelessly and irretrievably mad, Sage," said Mr.
Llewellyn John with a smile.
"When I know definitely what has become of John Dene, I'll tell you,
sir," said Sage. "I'm not spectacular, sir. I can't deduce bigamy
from a bootlace, or murder from a meringue. I can tell you this,
however"--he paused and both his listeners leaned forward
eagerly--"that if my hypothesis is correct, the policy to pursue is to
magnify the importance of John Dene's disappearance. Incidentally," he
added, "it might result in Mr. John Dene revising his opinion of the
incapacity of British officialdom."
"Then you refuse to tell me?"
"It would be highly injudicious on my part to tell you of a mere
suspicion which might----" Malcolm Sage lifted his eye from the nail
of his left thumb, and looked straight at Mr. Llewellyn John--"which
might dictate your policy, sir."
"But the time we are wasting," protested Mr. Llewellyn John, rising and
pacing up and down impatiently.
"Nothing is lost that's wrought with tears, sir," was the enigmatical
response.
"Sage," said Mr. Llewellyn John, as he shook hands with Malcolm Sage,
"you're the most pig-headed official in the British Empire.
Chappeldale can be tiresome; but you're nothing short of an
inconvenience. Mind, Walton," he continued, turning to the chief of
Department Z., "I shall hold you responsible for Sage. If he lets me
down over this Dene business, I shall lose faith in Department Z." The
smile that accompanied his words, however, robbed them of any sting
they might have contained.
"Why don't you take the Skipper into your confidence, Sage?" enquired
Walton, as they walked towards the Duke of York's steps.
"Vanity, chief, sheer vanity," was the response. "We have never failed
him yet, and if I started barking up the wrong tree, he'd never again
have confidence in Department Z. I suppose," he added irrelevantly,
"that some day we shall be taken over altogether by the colonies. It
would not be a bad thing for the British Empire, either. John Dene
might be our first president."
There was one man who was deeply thankful for the disappearance of John
Dene. Mr. Blair went about as if he had received a new lease of life.
He became almost sprightly in his demeanour, and no longer looked up
apprehensively when the door of his room opened. Sir Bridgman North
commented on the circumstance to Sir Lyster Grayne and, as he passed
through Mr. Blair's room, openly taxed him with being responsible for
the kidnapping of John Dene. Mr. Blair smiled a little wearily; for to
him John Dene was no matter for joking.
When Mr. McShane's question with regard to the disappearance of John
Dene came up for answer, the Home Secretary replied that for the
present at least it was not in the public interest to give the
information required.
"That's tantamount to an acknowledgment," cried Mr. McShane, springing
to his feet. "It's a scandal that public money----"
He got no further, as at this point he was called to order by the
Speaker.
It was clear that the House was not satisfied. In the lobbies Mr.
McShane's question and the answer given were discussed to an extent out
of all proportion to their apparent importance. The feeling seemed to
be that if John Dene were of such value to the Government, he should
have been guarded with a care that would have prevented the possibility
of his disappearance. If on the other hand the Government had no
interest in the enormous reward offered for information concerning him,
then a statement to that effect should have been made. Whatever the
facts, the Government was obviously in the wrong. That was the general
impression.
The next day several newspapers commented very strongly upon the
incident. There seemed to be a determination on the part of the press
to make an "affaire John Dene" out of the Canadian's disappearance.
The Government was attacked for adopting German bureaucratic methods.
"A dark age of bureaucracy is settling down upon the country," said
_The Morning Age_. "The real danger of Prussianism is not military,
but bureaucratic."
The Government was called upon to lift the curtain of mystery with
which it had surrounded itself. If it were responsible for the rewards
offered, then let it say so. If, however, these rewards were in no way
connected with the Government, then a denial should immediately be
made. At the moment everybody regarded the Government as responsible
for the tremendous press campaign resulting from John Dene's
disappearance.
Malcolm Sage read the newspapers with obvious relish. Mr. Llewellyn
John, on the other hand, frowned heavily at finding his administration
attacked. The Home Secretary rang up the Deputy-Commissioner at
Scotland Yard, telling him that something must be done, and the
Deputy-Commissioner had replied with some heat that if the Home
Secretary would step across to the Yard, he would see what actually was
being done. He further intimated that the whole work of the Yard had
been disorganised.
The Prime Minister sent over for Colonel Walton. "Look here, Walton,"
he cried as the chief of Department Z. entered the room. "This affair
is getting rather out of hand, and it looks dangerous. You've seen the
papers?"
Colonel Walton nodded. He was a man to whom words came with difficulty.
"Well, I don't like the look of it," continued Mr. Llewellyn John.
"Sir Roger has just rung through that he's been urging Scotland Yard to
greater efforts."
"They can do no harm," remarked Colonel Walton drily.
"I want Sage to go round and see the Deputy-Commissioner."
"I doubt if he'll do it," was the grim response.
"Not do it!" cried Mr. Llewellyn John, with a note of anger in his
voice.
"In fact, I'm quite sure he won't."
"If you tell him that those are my instructions----" began Mr.
Llewellyn John.
"It's no use, sir, he'll merely resign. He's as independent as an
American boot-boy."
Mr. Llewellyn John flopped down in a chair, and sat gazing at Colonel
Walton. "But he's got us into this muddle," he began.
"I've never known Sage's judgment at fault yet," replied Colonel Walton.
"Then you advise----" began Mr. Llewellyn John.
"I never venture to advise," was the reply.
"Now look here, Walton," said Mr. Llewellyn John persuasively, "this is
a very serious matter. It has already been magnified out of all
proportion to its actual importance. I want to know what you would do
if you were in my place."
"Exactly as Sage advises," was the terse response.
"Why, you're as bad as he is," grumbled Mr. Llewellyn John. "Still, I
suppose I must do as you suggest. I don't like the look of things,
however. It's invariably the neglected trifle that wrecks a
government."
The mysterious disappearance of John Dene was made the subject of
special consideration at a meeting of the War Cabinet. It was urged
that the curious nature of the circumstances exonerated the Prime
Minister and the First Lord of the Admiralty from the personal pledge
they had given to John Dene, and that it was a matter of vital national
importance that the _Destroyer_ should be put into commission with the
least possible delay.
Mr. Llewellyn John looked interrogatingly across at Sir Lyster Grayne,
who shook his head decisively.
"We have given a personal pledge," he said, "under no circumstances
whatever to communicate or endeavour to communicate other than by
wireless with the island of Auchinlech for the period of four months
from the date of our undertaking. The words 'under no circumstances
whatever' admit of only one interpretation."
"But," protested Sir Roger Flynn, the Home Secretary, "Mr. Dene could
not have foreseen his own disappearance. Circumstances surely alter
the aspect of the case," he urged.
"If you, Flynn, were to promise under no circumstances to move from
this room, then fire or flood would not justify you in breaking that
promise," said Sir Lyster with decision. He was notorious for his
punctiliousness in matters of personal honour. "What was possible to
the Roman sentry is imperative with responsible Ministers," he added.
Mr. Llewellyn John nodded, and made a mental note of the phrase.
"Besides," continued Sir Lyster, "Mr. Dene was particularly emphatic on
this point. I recall his saying to the Prime Minister, 'When I say
under no circumstances, I mean under no circumstances,' and he went on
to expound his interpretation of the phrase."
"But," persisted Sir Roger, "if the majority of the War Cabinet take
the opposite view, then you and the Prime Minister would be absolved
from your promise."
"Nothing can absolve a man from his personal pledge," was Sir Lyster's
calm retort. "He can be outvoted politically; but he has always his
alternative, resignation."
Mr. Llewellyn John looked up quickly. "I think," he said, "that Grayne
is right. Nothing can absolve us from our pledge."
"The point is," said Sir Roger, "what is happening at Auchinlech?" He
fixed an almost accusing eye upon Sir Lyster Grayne, who merely shook
his head with the air of one who has been asked an insoluble conundrum.
"Here we are," continued Sir Roger indignantly, "with a weapon that
would exercise a considerable effect in bringing victory nearer,
debarred from using it because--
"The Prime Minister has given his word," interpolated Sir Lyster
quietly.
Sir Roger glared at him. "Death nullifies a contract of this
description," retorted Sir Roger.
"But the Prime Minister is not yet dead," said Sir Lyster drily.
Mr. Llewellyn John started slightly. He did not like these references
to death and resignation.
"In law----" began Sir Roger.
"This is not a matter of law, but of a private promise." Sir Lyster
was insistent.
"I think, gentlemen, you are looking at it from different points of
view," interrupted Mr. Llewellyn John with a tactful smile. "Let us
hope that Mr. John Dene will be found. If it can be proved he is dead,
then we shall be fully justified in sending to Auchinlech, acquainting
his second-in-command with what has happened, and instructing him to
assume command of the _Destroyer_ in accordance with Mr. Dene's wishes."
The matter was then dropped, although it was clear that the members of
the War Cabinet were not at one on the subject either of John Dene or
his disappearance.
The Home Secretary promised personally to urge the police to greater
efforts.
Slowly and with infinite labour Scotland Yard sifted the enormous
volume of evidence that poured in upon it, proving conclusively that
John Dene had been seen in every part of the United Kingdom, not to
mention a number of places on the Continent. Police officers swore and
perspired as they strove to grapple with this enormous problem. Night
and day they worked with the frenzy of despair. They cursed the war,
they cursed the colonies, they cursed John Dene. Why had he not stayed
in Toronto and disappeared there, if he must disappear anywhere. Why
had he come to London to drive to desperation an already over-worked
department?
One thing that the police found particularly embarrassing was that
constables were constantly being called upon, by enthusiastic and
excited members of the public, to arrest inoffensive citizens on the
suspicion of their being John Dene of Toronto. In some instances the
constables would point out that no resemblance existed; but the
invariable reply was that the object of suspicion was disguised.
All these false scents were duly reported to headquarters through the
local police-stations, with no other result than to increase the
sultriness of the atmosphere at Scotland Yard.
An elaborate description of John Dene was sent to every coroner and
mortuary-attendant in the country. The river police were advised to
keep a sharp look-out for floating bodies. In its heart of hearts
Scotland Yard yearned to discover proof of the death of John Dene,
whilst all the time it worked steadily through the deluge of
correspondence, and listened patiently to the testimonies of the
avaricious optimists who were convinced that they, and they alone,
could supply the necessary information that would lead to the discovery
of the whereabouts of John Dene, and transfer to themselves the not
inconsiderable sum of L20,000.
"If ever another blighter comes from Toronto," remarked
Detective-Inspector Crabbett, as he mopped his brow, "it would be worth
while for the Yard to subscribe L20,000 for him to disappear quietly."
Having thus relieved his feelings he plunged once more into the opening
of letters, letters that convinced him that the whole population of
Great Britain and Ireland had gone suddenly mad.
Articles appeared in many of the German newspapers upon the subject of
the mysterious disappearance of John Dene. A great point was made of
the fact that he was an inventor, and was known to be in close touch
with the British war chiefs. Emphasis was laid upon the extraordinary
efforts being made to discover his whereabouts. "It is inconceivable,"
said the _Koelnische Zeitung_, "that the anxiety of the relatives of
the missing man could have prompted them to offer a reward of 400,000
marks for news of his whereabouts, and that _within two days of his
disappearance_. Imagine a private citizen in Germany being absent from
home for two days, and his friends offering this colossal reward for
news of him. What would be said?" The writer went on to point out
that behind this almost hysterical anxiety of the English to find John
Dene lay a mystery that, whatever its solution might be, _was certainly
not detrimental to German interests_.
The _Vorwaerts_ hinted darkly at something more than John Dene having
disappeared, a something that was so embarrassing the British
authorities, as to be likely to have a very serious influence upon the
conduct of the war.
The _Berliner Tageblatt_ openly stated that the British Admiralty was
offering the reward, and left its readers to draw their own
conclusions. "Victory," it concluded, "is not always won with
machine-guns and high-explosive. Fitness to win means something more
than well-trained battalions and valiant soldiers; it means a perfect
organisation in every department of the great game of war; violence,
bluff and intrigue. The country with the best-balanced machinery was
the country that would win, because it was _fit_ to win."
In Germany, where everybody does everything at the top of his voice,
italics are very popular. An excitable people think and live italics,
and a daily newspaper either reflects its public or ceases to be.
With great tact the Paris papers limited themselves to the "news"
element in John Dene's disappearance, reproducing his portrait, with
the details translated from the London dailies.
The neutral press was frankly puzzled. Those favourable to Germany saw
in this incident a presage of victory for the Fatherland; whilst the
pro-Allies journals hinted at the fact that someone had blundered in
giving such publicity to an event that should have been regarded as a
subject for the consideration of the War Cabinet rather than for the
daily press.