st was
cold. The Admiral was like a boy again.

"If we can get rid of these curses of the sea," he said, settling down
at last to his bacon and eggs, "and get those Germans to come out, the
war will be over months before any one expected. I shall go down to the
Admiralty after breakfast and see if they've got anything to tell. Ralph
gave me a hint about the net scheme but he never even mentioned anything
else."

The telephone rang in the next room and a servant summoned Geraldine.

"Captain Granet wishes to speak to Miss Conyers," he announced.

Geraldine left her place at once and hastened into the library. She took
up the receiver.

"Is that you, Captain Granet?" she asked.

"I felt that I must ring you up," he declared, "to congratulate you,
Miss Conyers, upon your brother's exploit. I have had half a dozen
soldier fellows in already this morning to talk about it, and we're
simply mad with curiosity. Do you think we shall be told soon how it was
done?"

"Father's going down to the Admiralty to try and find out," Geraldine
replied. "Ralph doesn't say a word except that he sunk them. We've had a
wireless from him this morning."

"It really doesn't matter much, does it," Granet went on, "so long as
we get rid of the brutes. I was perfectly certain, when we were down at
Portsmouth, that your brother had something up his sleeve. Does give one
a thrill, doesn't it, when one's ashore and doing nothing, to read of
things like this?"

"You'll soon be at work again," she told him encouragingly.

"I don't know," he sighed. "They talk about giving me a home job and I
don't think I could stick it. Are you walking in the Park this morning,
Miss Conyers?"

She hesitated for a moment.

"No, I am playing golf at Ranelagh."

"Might I call this afternoon?"

"If you like," she assented. "After four o'clock, though, because I am
staying out to lunch."

"Thank you so much," he replied gratefully.

She set down the receiver again and went back to the breakfast-room.

"Captain Granet just wanted to congratulate us all," she announced, "and
to know if he could come in to tea this afternoon."

"Better ask him to dinner, my dear," the Admiral suggested hospitably.
"He's a fine young fellow, Granet. Very thoughtful of him to ring us
up."

Lady Conyers made no comment. Geraldine was bending over her plate.
The Admiral rose to his feet. He was much too excited to pursue the
conversation.

"I shall walk down to the Admi