r was like a
search-light that studies and registers, then moves away.

Marie Louise disliked Easton more and more, but Lady Webling kept
recommending him with her solicitous manner toward him. She made
several efforts, too, to shift the conversation from the _Lusitania_;
but it swung always back. Much bewilderment was expressed because the
ship was not protected by a convoy. Many wondered why she was where
she was when she was struck, and how she came to take that course at
all.

Lady Clifton-Wyatt, who had several friends on board and was uncertain
of their fate, was unusually fierce in blaming the government. She
always blamed it for everything, when it was Liberal. And now she
said:

"It was nothing short of murder to have left the poor ship to steal in
by herself without protection. Whatever was the Admiralty thinking of?
If the Cabinet doesn't fall for this, we might as well give up."

The Liberals present acknowledged her notorious prejudices with a sigh
of resignation. But the Marquess of Strathdene rolled a foggy eye and
a foggy tongue in answer:

"Darlling llady, there must have been war-ships waitin' to convoy the
_Lusitania_; but she didn't come to rendezvous because why? Because
some filthy Zherman gave her a false wireless and led her into a
trap."

This amazing theory with its drunken inspiration of plausibility
startled the whole throng. It set eyeballs rolling in all directions
like a break in a game of pool. Everybody stared at Strathdene, then
at somebody else. Marie Louise's racing gaze noted that Mr.
Verrinder's eyes went slowly about again, studying everybody except
Strathdene.

Lady Clifton-Wyatt's eyes as they ran simply expressed a disgust that
she put into words with her usual frankness:

"Don't be more idiotic than necess'ry, my dear boy; there are secret
codes, you know."

"S-secret codes I know? Secret codes the Germans know--that's what you
mean, sweetheart. I don't know one little secret, but Huns-- Do you
know how many thousand Germans there are loose in England--do you?"

Lady Clifton-Wyatt shook her head impatiently. "I haven't the faintest
notion. Far more than I wish, I'm sure."

"I hope so, unless you wish fifty thousand. And God knows how many
more. And I'm not alluthing to Germans in disguise, naturalized
Germans--quinine pills with a little coating. I'm not referring to
you, of course, Sir Joseph. Greates' respect for you. Ever'body has.
You have done all you could