after an early dinner at the hotel, we took train to North
Queensferry, and on alighting at the station he sent me up to the
golf-links to show a light for half an hour; promising to meet me later
at a certain point on the road to Rosyth.

I gained the lonely spot on the golf-course and duly showed the light.
Then I hastened to rejoin my friend at the point he indicated, and found
him awaiting me behind some bushes.

Almost at the moment we met, a female figure came along beneath the
shadow of a high wall. She was a poorly dressed girl, but the instant
she addressed my friend I recognised by her refined voice that it was
Vera, the dainty daughter of the Admiral Superintendent.

"Elsie is waiting down by the Ferry Barns," she said quickly, in a low
whisper, after greeting me. "Heinrich has not kept his appointment with
her."

"You have the note?" he asked. "Recollect what I told you concerning the
man Hartmann."

"Yes," she replied. Then, addressing me, she said, "Take care of these
people Mr. Jacox. They are utterly unscrupulous"; and she again
disappeared into the darkness.

Ray and I turned and again walked back in the direction of Rosyth. But
when we had gone a little distance he told me to approach the naval
offices carefully, conceal myself in the bushes, and watch until he
joined me. On no account was I to make any sign, whatever I might
witness.

Though intensely cold the night was not very dark, therefore I was not
long in establishing my position at a spot where I had a good view of
the offices. Then I leaned upon a tree-trunk and waited in breathless
expectation. I touched my father's old repeater which I carried and
found it to be a quarter past midnight.

For over an hour I remained there, scarce daring to move a muscle.

Suddenly, however, upon the mud at the side of the road I heard soft
footsteps, and a few moments later two figures loomed up from the
shadow. But when about forty yards from the offices they halted, one of
the men alone proceeding.

With great caution he climbed the spiked railing, and crossing rapidly
to the main door of the offices he unlocked it with a key and entered,
closing the door after him. As far as I could distinguish, the man wore
a short beard, and was dressed in tweeds and a golf cap. Holding my
breath, I saw the flashing of an electric torch within the building.

Fully twenty minutes elapsed before he reappeared, relocked the outside
door, and clambering back