r give up and start a dairy."

"How is the _Destroyer_ progressing?" enquired Sir Lyster with the
object of changing the conversation.

"Fine," was the reply. "Your man had better be ready on Friday. One
of my boys'll pick him up, Jim Grant's his name."

"Sir Goliath Maggie has appointed Commander Ryles," said Sir Lyster.

"Well, let him be ready by Friday. Grant'll pick him up on his way
north. Your man can't mistake him, little chap with red hair all over
him. Don't forget to call off your boys;" and with that John Dene was
gone.

Ten minutes later Sir Bridgman North found the First Lord sitting at
his table, apparently deep in thought.

"I can see John Dene's been here," laughed Sir Bridgman. "You and
Blair both show all the outward visible signs of having been
'gingered-up.'"

Sir Lyster smiled feebly. He felt that Sir Bridgman was wearing the
joke a little threadbare.

"He's been here about one of his men picking up Ryles on his way to
Auchinlech," said Sir Lyster. "A little man with red hair all over him
was his description."

"That seems pretty comprehensive," remarked Sir Bridgman. "He'd better
go right through and pick up Ryles at Scapa. They'll probably
appreciate him there. It's rather dull for 'em."

"I take it that Mr. Dene will follow in a day or two. It----" Sir
Lyster paused; then, seeing that he was expected to finish his
sentence, he added, "It will really be something of a relief. He quite
upset Rickards a few days ago over some requisitions. I've never known
him so annoyed."

"Profane, you mean," laughed Sir Bridgman. "What happened?"

"Apparently he objected to being called a dancing lizard, and told to
quit his funny work." Sir Lyster smiled as if finding consolation in
the fact that another had suffered at the hands of John Dene.

"It's nothing to what he did to poor old Rayner," laughed Sir Bridgman.
"A dear old chap, you know, but rather of the old blue-water school."

Sir Lyster nodded. He remembered that Admiral Rayner seemed to take a
delight in reminding him of his civilian status. With Sir Lyster he
was always as technical in his language as a midshipman back from his
first cruise.

"Rayner wanted to fit up the Toronto with an Archie gun, and John Dene
told him to cut it out. Rayner protested that he was the better judge
and all that sort of thing. John Dene ended by telling poor old Rayner
that next time he'd better come in a dressing-gown, as he'd b