ive my name and address to a perfect stranger just because he
asks for it."

The man opened his coat and displayed a badge.

"I am on Government service, sir."

"Well, I am Captain Granet, back from the Front with dispatches a few
days ago," Granet told him. "This is Miss Conyers, sister of Commander
Conyers of the _Scorpion,_ and Miss Olive Moreton, his fiancee. We are
waiting for Commander Conyers at the present moment, and we were just
looking to see if the pinnace had started. Is it against the law to use
a telescope in Portsmouth?"

The man made a few notes in his pocket-book. Then he opened the trapdoor
and stood on one side.

"No one is allowed out here, sir," he said. "The hotel people are to
blame for not having the door locked. I shall have to make a report but
I have no doubt that your explanation will be accepted. Will you be so
good as to descend, please?"

Granet struggled to his feet and turned towards his companions.

"The fellow's quite right," he decided. "I am only glad that the
Government are looking after things so. The Admiralty are much more
go-ahead in this way than we are. I vote we have out the car and go down
the front to Southsea--unless we are under arrest?" he added pleasantly,
turning towards the man who had accosted them.

"You are at liberty to do whatever you please, sir," was the polite
reply. "In any case, I think it would be quite useless of you to wait
for Commander Conyers."

"Why?" Olive asked quickly.

"The _Scorpion_ has just received orders to leave on this evening's
tide, madam," the man announced. "You can see that she is moving even
now."

They looked out across the harbour. The smoke was pouring from the
funnels of the destroyer. Already she had swung around and was steaming
slowly towards the Channel.

"She's off, right enough!" Granet exclaimed. "Nothing left for us, then,
but London."

CHAPTER XII

Geraldine, a few hours later, set down the telephone receiver with a
little sigh of resignation. Lady Conyers glanced up inquiringly from her
book.

"Was that some one wanting to come and see you at this time of night,
Geraldine?" she asked.

Geraldine yawned.

"It's Hugh," she explained. "He has rung up from the War Office or
somewhere--says he has just got back from France and wants to see me
at once. I think he might have waited till to-morrow morning. I can
scarcely keep my eyes open, I am so sleepy."

Lady Conyers glanced at the clock.

"It