only one of the three who regarded their
visitor in a humane manner. He nodded slightly in response to the low
bow made by Mr. Dainopoulos on his entry. The latter, however, knew
better than to presume on this. He paused until the major invited him to
approach, and the major did not do this. He simply waited, leaning over
his safe, for Mr. Dainopoulos to explain his intrusion, his existence on
earth, and his intentions as to the future, and anything else which
might be regarded as extenuating his conduct. When Mr. Dainopoulos
remarked that he had called on a little matter of business, the major
bent his head again and went on investigating the papers in the safe, as
though Mr. Dainopoulos had suddenly and completely evaporated.

"Well," he observed at length, straightening up and laying some papers
on his desk, "why do you call on a little matter of business in the
middle of the night?" He brought his left arm up in a peculiar whirl to
the level of his eyes and looked at his wrist watch. "Eleven-twenty," he
added in a tone of detached contempt, and shot a severe look at his
visitor.

Mr. Dainopoulos remained standing by the door and maintained his
attitude of calm urgency. He explained that the departure of the consuls
had led him to remodel his arrangements. All three looked at him with
attention when he made this statement. The naval lieutenant, whose work
it was to examine and pass all neutral vessels, knew Mr. Dainopoulos
very well. To his regret he had never found that gentleman doing
anything at all shady, but he had never abandoned his conviction that he
would catch him some day. The civilian, who was a censor and decoder of
neutral correspondence, was familiar with the Dainopoulos _dossier_ in
his office and had read with surprise the chatty letters to girls in
London which came from the man's wife. He, however, was not in a
position to reveal his knowledge, and looked at Mr. Dainopoulos with
good-tempered curiosity. The major, who knew his visitor better than
either of the others, having purchased large quantities of stores from
him at a handsome profit to the vendor, looked as if he had been
insulted when the consuls were mentioned. As well he might, since those
astute gentlemen had done their best to keep all possible material out
of his hands, had blandly checkmated the armies of occupation at every
turn, even preaching a holy war against them among the owners of Turkish
baths in the Via Egnatia. They had f