eathed, for it would have
had to be a graven image.

He looked at me critically, but all he said was--

"If it wasn't too wet for your nice uniform, Belke, we might have had
breakfast on the lawn."

"You are afraid some one may come and look in at this window?" I asked.

"On the whole there is rather more risk of that than of some one
climbing up to look in at your bedroom window," said he.

"You think a great deal of risks," I observed.

"Yes," said he. "I am a nervous man."

Eileen laughed merrily, and I could not but confess that for once he
had scored. I resolved not to give him the chance again. He then
proceeded to draw the table towards one end of the room, pulled the
nearest curtain part way across, and then locked the front door. But I
made no comments this time.

At breakfast Eileen acted as hostess, and so charming and natural was
she that the little cloud seemed to blow over, and we all three
discussed our coming plan of attack on the fleet fully and quite
freely. Tiel made several suggestions, which he said he had been
discussing with Ashington, and, as they seemed extremely sound, I made
notes of them and promised to lay them before Wiedermann.

When we had finished and had a smoke, Tiel rose and said he must go out
"on parish business." I asked him what he meant, and learned to my
amusement that in his capacity of the Rev. Alexander Burnett he had to
attend a meeting of what he called the "kirk-session." We both
laughed, and wished him good luck, and then before he left he said--

"You had better get back to your room, Belke. Remember we are here on
_business_."

And with that he put on his black felt hat, and bade us lock the front
door after him, and if anybody called, explain that it was to keep the
wind from shaking it. I must say he thought of these small points very
thoroughly.

The suggestion in his last words that I was placing something else
before my duty stung me a little. I was not going to let Tiel see that
they had any effect, but as soon as he had gone I rose and said to
Eileen--

"It is quite clear that I ought to return to my room. I have notes to
write up, and several things to do before to-night."

"Then you are really going to leave us to-night?" said she; "I am very
sorry."

So was I. Indeed, the thought of leaving her--probably for ever--would
have been bitter enough in any case, but to leave her alone with Tiel
was maddening. It had troubled me great