f imperturbable dignity.

"No use, sir; you must have a pass. They are obtainable across the
road there."

"It will mean at least twenty minutes' delay," muttered the motorist
savagely, as he turned away. "Come on, Mr. Trefusis, let's try our
luck across the way."

As Ross descended the short flight of stone steps leading from the
lobby to the street, he nearly cannoned into a couple of naval officers
who were about to enter the building. Suddenly remembering that he was
in uniform, the midshipman brought his right hand smartly to the peak
of his cap. As he did so, he recognized that one of the naval men was
his father.

The recognition was mutual.

"Hullo, pater!"

"Hullo, Ross! What brings you here? Duty, eh? It's the same in my
case. Sorry I can't have you to lunch, but must catch the first train
north. This is the first time I've come up to town since the war
started. In any case I'm not sorry that I am not stopping the night
here. Judging by reports, it's a jolly sight too dangerous for me.
Don't fancy being run over by a taxi in a dark main thoroughfare. Give
me the North Sea any day. Well, I must be moving. Can't keep My Lords
waiting, you know. Good-bye, Ross!"

It was Admiral Paul Trefusis' way. Whenever he had any business on
hand that kept him from his ship, he invariably spoke in short, jerky
sentences. Ross knew his parent's little mannerism.

"One moment, pater," he exclaimed. "We're in an awful hurry too----"

"Don't look like it," growled the Admiral good-naturedly. "You were
ambling out like an old shellback. Always execute orders at the
double: that's my advice to budding midshipmen. Well, what is it?"

As briefly as possible, Ross told his parent of the rebuff Mr. Hyde and
he had received, and of the matter that brought them at 50 miles an
hour from a remote Sussex coast-guard station.

Making a hurried excuse to his companion, the Admiral skipped up the
steps into the lobby, Ross and his fellow-traveller following closely.

The policeman naturally asked for no pass from a Flag officer in
uniform, but he was on the point of stopping his companions when the
messenger recognized the Admiral as his former captain. His apologies
surprised even the stolid policeman.

"Don't apologize for doing your duty, my man," remarked Admiral
Trefusis. "Hope you're fit. Must have a yarn with you when I've more
time. Come along, Ross."

Having seen Mr. Hyde and Ross safely to t