he chart
discussing details for some time longer. It was finally handed over to
me, and Captain Ashington rose to go.

"By the way," I said, "there is one very important preliminary to be
arranged. How am I to get back to my boat?"

"That will be all right," said Tiel confidently; "I have just heard
from Captain Ashington that they have arrested the wrong man on
suspicion of being the gentleman who toured the country yesterday. The
only thing is that they can't find his cycle. Now I think if we could
arrange to have your motor-cycle quietly left near his house and
discovered by the authorities, they are not likely to watch the roads
any longer."

"I'll fix that up," said Captain Ashington promptly.

"How will you manage it?" I asked.

"Trust him," said Tiel.

"But then how shall I get back?"

"I shall drive you over," smiled Tiel. "There will probably be a dying
woman who desires the consolations of religion in that neighbourhood on
Monday night."

I smiled too, but merely at the cunning of the man, not at the thought
of parting with my motor-cycle. However, I saw perfectly well that it
would be folly to ride it over, and if I left it behind at the
manse--well, I was scarcely likely to call for it again!

"Now, Belke," said Tiel, "we had better get you safely back to your
turret chamber. You have been away quite as long as is safe."

I bowed to Captain Ashington--I could not bring myself to touch his
hand, and we left his great gross figure sipping whisky-and-soda.

"What do you think of him?" asked Tiel.

"He seems extremely competent," I answered candidly. "But what an
unspeakable scoundrel!"

"We mustn't quarrel with our instruments," said he philosophically.
"He is doing Germany a good turn. Surely that is enough."

"I should like to think that Germany did not need to stoop to use such
characters!"

"Yes," he agreed, though in a colourless voice, "one would indeed like
to think so."

I could see that Adolph Tiel had not many scruples left after his
cosmopolitan experiences.

IV.

WHAT HAPPENED ON SUNDAY.

That evening when we had the house to ourselves, I joined Tiel in the
parlour, and we had a long talk on naval matters, British and German.
He knew less of British naval affairs than I did, but quite enough
about German to make him a keen listener and a very suggestive talker.
In fact I found him excellent company. I even suspected him at last of
being a man of good birth,