flagpost. Old Glory, isn't it?"

"The American flag, sir. Yes, sir."

"Well," said Donovan, "I guess that's good."

Smith appears to have been remarkably cool. Both Donovan and Gorman
agree that he showed no sign of fear or excitement. Yet he must have
known that he was in serious danger. He had been a member of the
German Secret Service. He had deserted it, revealed its secrets and
acted against his employers. He had very good reason to expect to be
hanged or shot within the next couple of hours. He cannot, I imagine,
have placed much confidence in the protection afforded by the American
flag. But he seems to have had a profound belief in Donovan.

When the Queen and Kalliope, wind torn and dishevelled, reached the
palace, it was Smith who met them and in answer to her eager questions
told the Queen that the submarine was German. He added that the
captain would probably come ashore. He asked where the Queen would
like to receive him.

"I'm afraid, your Majesty," he said, "that there may be some trouble.
I mean to say that it won't be quite a friendly visit to your Majesty.
He'll be expecting a supply of petrol, and----"

The Queen gave a little gasp of surprise. Then she burst into a peal
of laughter.

"There's not a drop left," she said. "He'll be just mad. I wonder what
he'll say. Do you think he'll be rude?"

"Quite possibly, your Majesty," said Smith. "The Germans haven't got
very good manners."

"We'll have him in the big hall, Smith. And we'll all be there. If
he's nice about the petrol and takes it as a joke we'll ask him to
dinner. If he's rude he can just go back to his old submarine and sulk
by himself."

Smith was quick in making preparations for the reception in the great
hall. But the captain of the submarine reached the landing steps
before the party in the palace was ready for him. The Queen hurried
into the hall and took her seat on a chair which Smith placed for her.
Konrad Karl ran to warn his Corinne to stay in her room and keep the
door locked. Smith went to summon Donovan. Gorman, eager now and full
of curiosity, stood at the door of the hall to watch the landing of
the German officer. As the Queen took her seat he turned to her.

"Hullo," he said, "it's our old friend von Moll."

"_That_ man!" said the Queen.

"Funny to think of his turning up here again," said Gorman. "Hope
he'll keep sober this time."

Von Moll was sober enough at the moment. He stood very erect, very
stern, m