erly.

"You have!" cried Admiral Heyworth.

"Sure," was the self-complacent reply. "I've got a boat fitted with an
apparatus that'll sink any ship that comes along, and she needn't show
her periscope to do it either. What's more, she can see under water.
If I don't deliver the goods"--John Dene rummaged in his pocket once
more and produced the envelope containing the cheque--"here's fifty
thousand pounds you can give to the Red Cross."

Sir Lyster and Admiral Heyworth gazed at each other wordless. John
Dene sat back in his chair and chewed the end of his cigar. Sir Lyster
fumbled for his eye-glass, and when he had found it, stuck it in his
eye and gazed at John Dene as if he had been some marvellous being from
another world. The Admiral said nothing and did nothing. He was
visualising the possibilities arising out of such a discovery.

It was John Dene who broke in upon their thoughts.

"The Huns have got it coming," he remarked grimly.

"But----" began Admiral Heyworth.

"Listen," said John Dene. "I'm an electrical engineer. I'm worth more
millions than you've got toes. I saw that under water the submarine is
only a blind fish with a sting in its tail. Give it eyes and it
becomes a real factor--_under water_." He paused, revolving his cigar
in his mouth. His listeners nodded eagerly.

"Well," he continued, "I set to work to give her eyes. On the St.
Lawrence River, just below Quebec, I've got a submarine that can see.
Her search-lights----"

"But how have you done it?" broke in the Admiral.

"That," remarked John Dene drily, "is my funeral."

"We must put this before the Inventions Board," said Sir Lyster. "Let
me see, this is Friday. Can you be here on Tuesday, Mr. Dene?"

"No!"

Sir Lyster started at the decision in John Dene's tone.

"Would Wednesday----"

"Look here," broke in John Dene, "I come from T'ronto, and in Can'da
when we've got a good thing we freeze on to it. You've got to decide
this thing within twenty-four hours, yes or no. Unless I cable to my
agent in Washin'ton by noon to-morrow, he'll make the same offer I've
made you to the States, and they'll be that eager to say 'Yep,' that
they'll swallow their gum."

"But, Mr. Dene----" began Sir Lyster.

"I've been in this country fourteen hours," proceeded John Dene calmly,
"and I can see that you all want gingering-up. Why the hell can't you
decide on a thing at once, when you've got everything before you? If a
man