east thirty feet under water.
Then they have a recording instrument, according to which they alter the
gradient of a new gun, with shells that explode under water. Von Lowitz
was on the track of something of this sort last year, but he gave it up
chiefly because Krupps wouldn't guarantee him a shell."

"Krupps gave it up a little too soon, then," Granet muttered. "Collins,
if we can't smash up this little establishment there'll be a dozen
destroyers before long rigged up with this infernal contrivance."

The little man stood before the window and gazed steadfastly out
seawards.

"They'll be here this week," he said confidently. "You'd better go now,
Granet. It's all over for to-night."

Granet nodded and left the room quietly. Every one in the Dormy House
was sound asleep. He made his way back to his own apartment without
difficulty. Only the little man remained seated at the window, with his
eyes fixed upon the bank of murky clouds which lowered over the sea.

CHAPTER XX

Isabel Worth leaned back in the comfortable seat by Granet's side and
breathed a little sigh of content. She had enjoyed her luncheon party
a deux, their stroll along the sands afterwards, and she was fully
prepared to enjoy this short drive homewards.

"What a wonderful car yours is!" she murmured. "But do tell me--what on
earth have you got in behind?"

"It's just a little experimental invention of a friend of mine," he
explained. "Some day we are going to try it on one of these creeks. It's
a collapsible canvas boat."

"Don't try it anywhere near us," she laughed. "Two of the fishermen
from Wells sailed in a little too close to the shed yesterday and the
soldiers fired a volley at them."

Garnet made a grimace.

"Do you know I am becoming most frightfully curious about your father's
work?" he observed.

"Are you really?" she replied carelessly. "For my part, I wouldn't even
take the trouble to climb up the ladder into the workshop."

"But you must know something about what is going on there?" Granet
persisted.

"I really don't," she assured him. "It's some wonderful invention, I
believe, but I can't help resenting anything that makes us live like
hermits, suspect even the tradespeople, give up entertaining altogether,
give up even seeing our friends. I hope you are not going to hurry away,
Captain Granet. I haven't had a soul to speak to down here for months."

"I don't think I shall go just yet," he answered. "I want first t