seen a wolf in sheep's
clothing, it seemed to me that I beheld one now in the person of Adolph
Tiel, attired as a Scottish clergyman, reading a solid Scottish
newspaper over the peat fire of this remote and peaceful manse. And,
to complete the picture, there sat I arrayed in a German naval uniform,
with the unsuspecting Grand Fleet on the other side of those shuttered
and curtained windows. The piquancy of the whole situation struck me
so forcibly that I laughed aloud.

Tiel looked up and laid down his paper, and his eyebrows rose
inquiringly. He was not a man who wasted many words.

"We are a nice pair!" I exclaimed.

I seemed to read approval of my spirit in his eye.

"You seem none the worse of your adventures," he said with a smile.

"No thanks to you!" I laughed.

Again he gave me that keen look of inquiry.

"I landed on this infernal island last night!" I explained.

"The deuce you did!" said he. "I was afraid you might, but as things
turned out I couldn't get here sooner. What did you do with yourself?"

"First give me one of those cigars," I said, "and then I'll tell you."

He handed me the box of cigars and I drew up an easy-chair on the other
side of the fire. And then I told him my adventures, and as I was not
unwilling that this redoubtable adventurer should see that he had a not
wholly unworthy accomplice, I told them in pretty full detail. He was
an excellent listener, I must say that for him. With an amused yet
appreciative smile, putting in now and then a question shrewd and to
the point, he heard my tale to the end. And then he said in a quiet
manner which I already realised detracted nothing from the value of his
approval--

"You did remarkably well, Mr Belke. I congratulate you."

"Thank you, Mr Tiel," I replied. "And now may I ask you your
adventures?"

"Certainly," said he. "I owe you an explanation."

II.

TIEL'S STORY.

"How much do you know of our scheme?" asked Tiel.

I shrugged my shoulders.

"Merely that you were going to impersonate a clergyman who was due to
come here and preach this next Sunday. How you were going to achieve
this feat I wasn't told."

He leaned back in his chair and sucked at his pipe, and then he began
his story with a curious detached air, as though he were surveying his
own handiwork from the point of view of an impartial connoisseur.

"The idea was distinctly ingenious," said he, "and I think I may also
venture to claim for