"Naturally," I admitted.

"With a list of the places to be fortified, eh? The positions to be
held and the general distribution of troops? No doubt, too, you have
gone into the railway and commissariat arrangements?"

"All these details," I assented, "have gone through my hands."

He dabbed his forehead with a corner of his handkerchief. There was a
streak of purple colour in his checks. He kept his bloodshot eyes fixed
upon me.

"I will tell you something, Guy," he said, "which will astonish you.
You realize for yourself, of course, that such details as you have
spoken of can never be kept altogether secret? There are always
leakages, sometimes very considerable leakages. Yes, Guy," he added,
"there are people, friends of mine in Paris, who are willing to pay a
very large sum of money--such a large sum of money that it is worth
dividing, Guy--for just a bare outline of the whole scheme. Foolish!
Of course it is foolish. But with them money is no object. They think
they are getting value for it. Absurd! But, Guy, what should you say
to five thousand pounds?"

"It is a large sum," I answered.

He plucked me by the sleeve. His eyes were hungering already for the
gold.

"We can get it," he whispered hoarsely. "No trouble to you--no risk. I
can make all the arrangements. You have only to hand me the documents."

"I must think it over," I said.

He leaned back in his chair.

"Why?" he asked. "What need is there to hesitate? The chance may slip
by. There are many others on the look out."

"There is no one outside the Military Board save myself who could give
these particulars," I said slowly.

"But my friends," he said sharply. "Theirs is a foolish offer. They
may change their minds. Guy, my boy, I know the world well. Let me
give you a word of advice. When a good thing turns up, don't play with
it. The men who decide quickly are the men who do things."

I thrust my hand into my breast-pocket and drew out a roll of papers.

"Supposing I have already decided," I said.

His eyes gleamed with excitement. He almost snatched at the papers, but
I held them out of his reach. Then with a sharp little cry the woman
stood suddenly between us. There was a look almost of horror on her
pale strained face, as she held out her hand as though to push me away.

"Guy, are you mad?" she cried.

The veins stood out upon my father's forehead. He regarded her with
mingled anger and surprise.

"What do you mean, Maud?" he exc