that morning, and he snorted with derision
when Lepine, having secured admission for a moment, told him of
Crochard's request for an audience at eleven o'clock.

"Impossible!" he said. "The Board of Inquiry is to convene at that hour,
and I must be present to address them."

"Perhaps it would be possible to adjourn the meeting until afternoon,"
Lepine suggested.

Delcasse stared at him in astonishment.

"Possible, yes," he said; "most things are possible. But do you know
what it is you are proposing?"

"I am proposing," said Lepine boldly, "that you permit nothing to
interfere with the conference which Crochard requests."

"But Crochard--who is Crochard that I should disturb all my arrangements
for him?"

"I will tell you who he is, sir," said Lepine, gently; "he is the man
whom, next to yourself, I consider the most remarkable in France."

Delcasse softened. The compliment was, perhaps, not delicate, but it was
at least deserved.

"You believe that?" he asked.

"Yes, I do believe it. I must tell you more of Crochard, some day.
Beside him, I am a mere bungler--I realise it more deeply each time I
meet him. And I assure you that I am not one to underestimate myself."

Delcasse looked at him with a little smile.

"It seems to me that your note has changed," he said. "This morning--"

"I have seen Crochard since then," explained Lepine, simply.

"And you are in earnest about this conference?"

"In deadly earnest, sir. So is Crochard."

Delcasse pondered a moment.

"You may bring him here at seven o'clock to-night," he said, finally.
"That is the first moment I have at leisure."

"It will not do, M. Delcasse," said Lepine, firmly. "The other inquiry
must wait. It is not that inquiry which is important, it is this one."

Again the Minister stared.

"But it seems to me that you are telling me what I must do," he said.
"Explain yourself."

"Your official inquiry," answered Lepine boldly, "for all the famous men
who take part in it, will discover nothing--it will be like that other
inquiry into the affair of the _Jena_."

"And what will yours discover?"

"It is not mine--it is Crochard's," Lepine corrected. "It is he who is
in command. And it seems to me that he has already made a beginning. I
am convinced that he has something more to tell us. He has charged me to
secure answers to two questions."

"What are they?"

"Whether there are any wireless stations in the town, or in the
neighbourhood,