a spy or made First Sea Lord," said Sir
Bridgman, looking up from a diagram that John Dene had produced.

"The Hun'll try to do the shooting; and as for my becoming Sea Lord, I
should be sorry for some of the plugs here."

John Dene's thoroughness impressed his three hearers. Everything had
been foreseen, even the spot where the _Destroyer_ was to be based.
The small island of Auchinlech possessed a natural harbour of
sufficient size for the mother-ship to enter, after which the entrance
was to be guarded by a defensive boom as a safeguard against U-boats.

John Dene explained that a month or five weeks must elapse before the
_Destroyer_ would be ready for action. In about three weeks she could
be at Auchinlech, crossing the Atlantic under her own power. Another
week or ten days would be required for refitting and taking in stores.

"When you've delivered the goods you can quit, and I shall be pleased
to see your boys again in four months."

John Dene regarded his listeners with the air of a man who had just
thrown a bombshell and is conscious of the fact.

"Four months!" ejaculated Sir Lyster.

"Yep!" He uttered the monosyllable in a tone that convinced at least
one of his listeners that expostulation would be useless.

"But," protested Sir Lyster, "how shall we know what is happening?"

"You won't," was the laconic reply.

"But----" began Sir Lyster again.

"If no one knows what is happening," interrupted John Dene, "no one can
tell anyone else."

"Surely, Mr. Dene," said Sir Lyster with some asperity in his voice,
"you do not suspect the War Cabinet, for instance, of divulging secrets
of national importance."

"I don't suspect the War Cabinet of anything," was the dry retort, "not
even of trying to win the war." John Dene looked straight into Sir
Lyster's eyes.

There was an awkward pause.

"Who's going to guarantee that the War Cabinet doesn't talk in its
sleep?" he continued. "I'm not out to take risks. If this country
doesn't want my boat on my terms, then I shan't worry, although you
may," he added as an afterthought. "No, sir," he banged his fist on
the table vehemently. "This is the biggest thing that's come into the
war so far, and I'm not going to have anyone monkeying about with my
plans. I'm going to have a written document that I've got a free hand,
otherwise I don't deal, that's understood."

"But----" began Sir Lyster once more.

"Excuse me, Grayne," broke in Sir Bridgman,