d. It was a
receipted bill, made out in the name of one unknown to those present,
though perhaps an alias for Gortchky himself. The bill was for a
shipment of storage batteries. At the bottom of the sheet was a
filled-in certificate signed by a French government official, to the
effect that the batteries had been shipped into Italy "for laboratory
purposes of scientific research." Just below this statement was an
official Italian certificate of approval, showing that the batteries
had been admitted into Italy. In time of war, with the frontier
guarded tenfold more vigilantly than in ordinary times, such
certificates are vitally necessary to make shipments from France into
Italy possible.

"In other words, sir," Dave went on eagerly, when the fleet commander
scanned his face closely, "it needed some very clever underhand work,
very plausibly managed, to make it possible to buy those batteries in
France and to secure their admittance into Italy."

"Why?" quizzed Admiral Timworth, as though he did not know the answer
himself.

"Because, sir," Dave went on keenly, full of professional knowledge of
the subject, "these batteries are the best that the French make for
use aboard submarines."

"True," nodded the fleet commander. "What then?"

"Why, sir, by the use of the cleverest kind of lying that spies can
do, Gortchky and his associates have hoodwinked the French and Italian
governments into believing that the batteries are to be lawfully used
for research purposes, when, as a matter of fact, they are to be used
aboard a submarine which the plotters intend to use for destroying a
British battleship."

"We will admit, then," said Admiral Timworth, as a poser, "that the
plotters have probably gotten into Italy storage batteries that can be
used serviceably on a submarine. But where and how can the plotters
have obtained the submarine craft itself? Or, if they haven't got it
yet, how are they to obtain one? For submarines are not sold in open
market, and it would be difficult to steal one."

"I cannot answer that, as yet, sir," Dave admitted gravely.

"And such storage batteries might be used for purposes of scientific
research," continued the fleet commander.

"Yes, sir; but the habits of the buyers should be considered, should
they not? Gortchky and his associates can be hardly believed to be
interested in science. On the other hand, they are arch plotters,
which would lead us to suppose that they have bought thes