now. My heart----"

"What I can't get at even yet," said Gorman, "is the idea in the
Emperor's mind. He piles up scrap iron and ridiculous-looking cisterns
in a cave. He deluges the place with petrol. He sets a spy on Donovan.
Now what the devil does he do it for?"

The King shrugged his shoulders.

"_Real Politik_, perhaps," he said. "But how do I know? I am a king,
certainly. But I am not a whale on the sea of _Real Politik_. Your
whale is a fish that bores, always. Perhaps if you ask Fritz he will
know."

"By the way," said Donovan, "what's the man's real name?"

"Once," said the King, "he was Calmet, M. de Calmet. At that time he
was French. Later he was Heyduk, a Captain in the army of Megalia.
Also he was Freidwig, and he came from Stockholm. He was for some time
the Count Pozzaro. I have also heard----"

"That's enough for me," said Donovan. "I'll stick to Smith as long as
he'll answer to it. Seems simpler."

Gorman rose from his chair and crossed the balcony. He stood for a
minute or two looking out at the bay. Smith's boat, rowed steadily,
reached the side of the steamer. Smith climbed on board.

"I shouldn't wonder," said Gorman, "if we've seen the last of our
friend Smith."

"I hope not," said Donovan. "Why do you think so?"

"Well," said Gorman, "if I were in his shoes I think I should stay in
the Megalian navy. It'll be rather awkward for him now we've found him
out."

"He will return," said the King.

"I shouldn't," said Gorman. "Of course that admiral, being the kind of
man he is, it's risky to stay with him; but then Smith has got to take
risks whatever he does. And he may have some sort of safe conduct from
the Emperor which will make the admiral nervous about cutting his
throat."

"He will return," said the King. "It is plain that the Emperor has
said to him: 'Follow the smell of the American.' He will not leave
it."

"Oh, of course," said Gorman. "I'm always forgetting the Emperor. If
he has given definite orders of that kind they'll be obeyed. I daresay
Smith is telegraphing for definite instructions at this moment. They
have a wireless installation, so I suppose he can."

"Behold," said the King. "My luggage descends to the boat. Smith will
follow. Did I not tell you?"

Two sailors were lowering various suit-cases and bags into the boat. A
few minutes later Smith dropped from the steamer's side and took the
oars.

"Donovan," said Gorman, "the Emperor is evidently really anxio