ken a chance like this himself, had he been
in the way of it. But just now what was wanted was a chat and a drink
with a friend. He would go down to the hotel and find the lieutenant.

But this was not to be. As he entered the foyer of the hotel, a major
and a round-faced person in civilian clothes regarded him with
exaggerated attention. Their protracted examination of him made him feel
somewhat self-conscious, and to ease the situation he spoke to them.

"I'm looking for a friend of mine," he said, "a lieutenant in the
Harbour Office. I don't know his name."

"Don't know his name!" said the major, boring into Mr. Spokesly with his
cold ironical stare.

"I only met him this morning," he explained. "Me coming ashore from the
_Tanganyika_, you see."

"Oh, yes." This in a more human tone.

"And him being the only man I know, pretty near, I was looking for him."

"I see. Well, old chap, he's generally about pickled this time of day,
if he's the man I think you mean. Up at the Cercle Militaire--d'you know
it?--or the White Tower Bar. Better take a look along."

"Thanks," said Mr. Spokesly with a slight smile.

"Don't mention it. By the way, are you being sent home?"

"I'm going on a local ship down to the Islands," he replied.

"Not the _Kalkis_?"

Mr. Spokesly nodded, and said he was going mate.

"Well, look here. I'm Officer of Supply, you know. You might look me
up--you know where it is--and we'll have a word about the cargo. Yes, in
the morning."

The major and his friend the censor, who was also a novelist, gazed
after Mr. Spokesly as he went out.

"I believe that fellow Dainopoulos is on the level after all," said the
major, drawing hard at his cigarette. "I know his skipper is a
Britisher, and this chap's all right, I should say. Well, he's making
enough out of it to give us a fair deal."

"Most of these local people are on our side, I think," said the other.

"If we pay them more than the other side," added the major drily. And
then they went up to get ready for their dinner.

Mr. Spokesly called a carriage and started along the _quai_. He wondered
what they wanted of him about the cargo! Was it possible Captain Rannie
was not regarded with complete confidence at headquarters? He recalled
the extraordinary reception the Captain had given to his owner when Mr.
Dainopoulos described the undeviating rectitude of his course. Mr.
Spokesly was not simple enough to suppose that the _Kalkis_ was as
inn