rn a lot, which will, no doubt, cause our Lords of
the Admiralty a bad quarter of an hour."

"What would the British public think if they were told the truth--that
Germany is rapidly building a secret fleet?" I said.

"Why, my dear fellow, the public would simply say you were a liar," he
laughed. "Every Englishman fancies himself top-dog, even though British
diplomacy--apart from that of our excellent King--is the laughing-stock
of the Powers. No," he added, "the truth is out. All yesterday I spent
with Vera, preparing the information which she forwarded to the
Admiralty to-night. I registered the letter for her at the village post
office. The authorities owe her a very deep debt for succeeding in
obtaining the information which our secret service has always failed to
get. She, an admiral's daughter, is now able to furnish actual details
of the ships now building in secret and where they are being
constructed."

"A matter which will, no doubt, be considered very seriously by the
Government," I said.

"Oh, I suppose they treat the whole thing lightly, as they always do. We
invite invasion," he sighed as he rose, adding: "Let's turn in now.
To-morrow we'll keep an eye upon that unusually inquisitive maid."

That night the eyes of the German maid haunted me. I could not rid
myself of their recollection. Was it that this hunting down of German
spies was getting on my nerves?

Next day we were shooting Starlings Wood, about five miles distant, but
Ray having "cried off" one day, could not do so again. Therefore, at his
suggestion, I made an excuse and remained at home with the ladies. The
morning I spent walking through the park with Vera, a smart, sweet-faced
little figure in her short tweed skirt and furs, with her bright and
vivacious chatter. From her I learnt some further details concerning her
visit to Emden.

"Ray is most excited about it, Mr. Jacox," she was saying. "Of course, I
had to make my inquiries with great caution and discretion, but I
managed to find out what I wanted, and I sent all the details to the
Admiralty yesterday."

Then as we went along the wide beech avenue I told her of the curious
incident in the smoking-room on the previous evening.

"Ray was telling me about it just before breakfast," she said, turning
her splendid eyes to mine. "I have already made some inquiries of Mrs.
Hill-Mason, and it appears that the maid Erna Stolberg was recommended
to her by a friend when she was in Dresd