There was a rap at the door, and Harding entered with a telegram
addressed to me. I tore open the flimsy blue paper, and saw that it was
in cipher from Berlin. The sender, I knew, was Kaye.
"What's up?" my friend asked. "Some affair of State?"
"Yes," I answered mechanically, as I went across to the safe, and took
out the decipher-book which gave the key to the cipher used by members
of the secret service. By its aid I had quickly transcribed the
message, which read:
"_Suspicions regarding Yolande de Foville proved beyond doubt. She is a
French agent employed indirectly by the Quai d'Orsay. Am returning
to-night. In the meantime instruct Osborne to keep strict observation
upon her movements_.
"_K_."
"Anything serious?" asked Deane, watching my face.