begged. "Of
course, it is all some absurd mistake, and I'm sure we shall get to the
bottom of it presently--Tell me what you think of the storm?" she added,
as Mills entered with the tea tray. "Do you think it will get any worse,
because I am terrified to death already?"

"I am no judge of the weather here," he confessed. "I believe the
fishermen are preparing for something unusual."

She seated herself before the tea tray and insisted upon performing
her duties as hostess. Afterwards she laid her hand upon his arm and
addressed him with an air of complete candour.

"Now, Captain Griffiths," she began, "do listen to me. Just one moment
of common sense, if you please. What do you suppose there could possibly
be in our harmless seaside village to induce any one to risk his life by
coming here on behalf of the Secret Service of Germany?"

"Dreymarsh," Captain Griffiths replied, "was not made a prohibited area
for nothing."

"But, my dear man, be reasonable," Philippa persisted. "There are
perhaps a thousand soldiers in the place, the usual preparations along
the cliff for coast defence, a small battery of anti-aircraft guns, and
a couple of searchlights. There isn't a grocer's boy in the place who
doesn't know all this. There's no concealment about it. You must
admit that Germany doesn't need to send over a Secret Service agent to
acquaint herself with these insignificant facts."

Her visitor smiled very faintly. It was the first time he had relaxed
even so far as this.

"I am not in possession of any information which I can impart to you,
Lady Cranston," he said, "but I am not prepared to accept your statement
that Dreymarsh contains nothing of greater interest than the things
which you have mentioned."

There was no necessity for Philippa to play a part now. The suggestion
contained in her visitor's words had really left her in a state of
wonder.

"You are making my flesh creep!" she exclaimed. "You don't mean to say
that we have secrets here?"

"I have said the last word which it is possible for me to say upon the
subject," he declared. "You will understand, I am sure, that I am not
here in the character of an inquisitor. I simply thought it my duty, in
view of the fact that you had made yourself the social sponsor for
Mr. Lessingham, to place certain information before you, and to ask,
unofficially, of course, if you have any explanation to give? You may
even," he went on, hesitatingly, "appreciate the mo