with Marie Louise. He saw that he was
not likely to pick up a cab in such a side-street, and so he walked on
briskly.

He was furious with Marie Louise. He had had hopes of her, and she had
fooled him. These Americans were no longer dependable.

And then he heard footsteps on the walk, quick footsteps that spelled
hurry. Nicky drew aside to let the speeder pass; but instead he heard
a constabular "Hay!" and his shoulder-blades winced.

It was only Jake Nuddle. Jake had no newspaper to sell, but he had an
idea for a collaboration which would bring him some of that easy money
the Germans were squandering like drunken sailors.

"You was just talkin' to my sister-in-law," said Jake.

"Ah, you are then the brother of Marie Louise?"

"Yep, and I couldn't help hearin' a little of what passed between
you."

Jake's slyness had a detective-like air in Nicky's anxious eyes. He
warned himself to be on guard. Jake said:

"I'm for Germany unanimous. I think it's a rotten shame for America to
go into this war. And some of us Americans are sayin' we won't stand
for it. We don't own no Congersmen; we're only the protelarriat, as
the feller says; but we're goin' to put this country on the bum, and
that's what old Kaiser Bill wants we should do, or I miss my guess,
hay?"

Nicky was cautious:

"How do you propose to help the All Highest?"

"Sabotodge."

"You interest me," said Nicky.

They had come to one of the circles that moon the plan of Washington.
Nicky motioned Jake to a bench, where they could command the approach
and be, like good children, seen and not heard. Jake outlined his
plan.

When Nicky Easton had rung Marie Louise's bell he had not imagined how
much help Marie Louise would render him in giving him the precious
privilege of meeting her unprepossessing brother-in-law; nor had she
dreamed what peril she was preparing for Davidge in planning to secure
for him and his shipyard the services of this same Jake, as lazy and
as amiable as any side-winder rattlesnake that ever basked in the
sunlit sand.

BOOK IV

AT THE SHIPYARD

[Illustration: There was something hallowed and awesome about it all. It
had a cathedral majesty.]

CHAPTER I

Davidge despised a man who broke his contracts. He broke one with
himself and despised himself. He broke his contract to ignore the
existence of Marie Louise. The next time he came to Washington he
sought her out. He called up the Widdicombe home and learn