t of
the house, whereas this part is supposed to be closed. I can see that
he is right, but it is nevertheless very tantalising.

On that Saturday afternoon Tiel came back to my room some hours later,
and under his quiet manner I could see that he bore tidings of
importance. No one could come quicker to the point when he chose, and
this time he came to it at once.

"You remember the affair of the _Haileybury_?" he demanded.

"The British cruiser which was mined early in the war?"

He nodded.

"Perfectly," I said.

"You never at any time came across her captain? His name was
Ashington."

"No," I said, "I have met very few British officers."

"I don't know whether you heard that she was supposed to be two miles
out of her proper course, contrary to orders, did you?"

"Was she?"

"Ashington says 'no.' But he was court-martialled, and now he's in
command of a small boat--the _Yellowhammer_. Before the loss of his
ship he was considered one of the most promising officers in the
British service; now----!"

Tiel made an expressive gesture and his eyes smiled at me oddly. I
began to understand.

"Now he is an acquaintance of yours?"

Tiel nodded.

"But has he knowledge? Has he special information?"

"His younger brother is on the flagship, and he has several very
influential friends. I see that _my_ friends obtain knowledge."

I looked at him hard.

"You are _quite_ sure this is all right? Such men are the last to be
trusted--even by those who pay them."

"Do you know many 'such men'?" he inquired.

"None, I am thankful to say."

"They are queer fish," said Tiel in a reminiscent way, "but they
generally do the thing pretty thoroughly, especially when one has a
firm enough hold of them. Ashington is absolutely reliable."

"Where is he to be seen?"

"He went out for a walk this afternoon," said Tiel drily, "and happened
to call at the manse to see if he could get a cup of tea--a very
natural thing to do. Come--the coast is clear."

He led the way downstairs and I followed him, not a little excited, I
confess. How my mission was going to develop, I had no clear idea when
I set forth upon it, but though I had imagined several possible
developments, I was not quite prepared for this. To have an officer of
the Grand Fleet actually assisting at our councils was decidedly
unexpected. I began to realise more and more that Adolph Tiel was a
remarkable person.

In the front parlour an office