"We were both presented to the Countess Ripoli, sir," Darrin answered,
at once.

"And at the Countess's request, I took a little turn with her on one
of the verandas, sir," Dan added.

"Tell me all about the Countess and your meeting with her, Mr.
Dalzell," Admiral Timworth directed.

So Dan plunged at once into a narration of his chat with the Countess,
to which Admiral Timworth listened attentively.

"Ripoli?" he mused aloud, at last. "I do not recall the name as that
of a supposed secret service agent. Ripoli? Let me see."

From a drawer of his desk the Admiral drew out an indexed book. He
turned over, presumably, to the letter "R," then scanned the writing
on several pages.

"She has not been reported to me as a suspected secret service agent
of any country," said the fleet commander, aloud. "Yet she may very
likely be a spy in the service of some ring of international
trouble-makers. I will enter her name now, though I cannot place
anything positive against it."

"If either of us should meet the Countess Ripoli again, sir," queried
Dan, "have you any orders, sir, in that event?"

"If you do meet her," replied the admiral, "do not be too distant with
her, and do not let her see that she is in any sense under suspicion.
Just treat her as you would any charming woman whom you might meet
socially. However, should you meet her again, you may report the fact
to me. I shall doubtless have some further instructions for you,
gentlemen, but that is all for the present. Captain, you will remain."

Formally saluting their superiors, Dave and Dan withdrew and returned
to Dave's quarters. For half an hour Dan remained chatting with Dave,
then went to his own quarters.

By daylight the "Hudson" was under way again, bound for Naples. Dan
and Dave were called to stand their watches, and life on the
battleship went on as usual.

It was but an hour after daylight when Admiral Timworth, who had
remained up the rest of the night with Flag Lieutenant Simpson, sent a
long message to the Navy Department at Washington. The message
crackled out over the "Hudson's" wireless aerials, and was soon
afterward received in Washington at the huge naval wireless station
there.

"Good night, Simpson," said the Admiral, when his flag lieutenant
reported that the message was in the hands of the wireless operator.

"Shall I leave any instructions for your being called, sir?" asked
Lieutenant Simpson.

"Have me called at ten o'clock,