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〃Don't you breathe a word about having been board the 'Scorpion；'〃 Conyers begged quickly。 〃They wink at it down here； so long as it's done discreetly； but it's positively against the rules； you know。〃
〃Righto！〃 Granet agreed。 〃There isn't a soul I'm likely to mention it to。〃
〃I'll come over to the Ship as soon as I can get away；〃 Conyers promised。
They raced across the mile of broken water to the landing…stage。 They were all a little silent。 Olive was frankly disappointed； Geraldine was busy with her thoughts。 Granet's gaze seemed rivetted upon the 〃Scorpion。〃 Another pinnace had drawn up alongside and a little company of men were boarding her。
〃I only hope that they really have hit upon a device to rid the sea of these cursed submarines！〃 he remarked； as they made their way across the dock。 〃I see the brutes have taken to sinking fishing boats now。〃
〃Ralph believes that they have got something；〃 Olive declared eagerly。 〃He is simply aching to get to work。〃
〃Sailors are all so jolly sanguine；〃 Granet reminded her。 〃They are doing something pretty useful with nets； of course； in the way your brother was beginning to explain to me when Major Thomson chipped in； but they could only keep a fixed channel clear in that way。 What they really need is some way of tackling them when they are under water。 Here we are at last。 I hope you girls are as hungry as I am。〃
They lunched in leisurely fashion； Olive in particular glancing often towards the door； and afterwards they sat about in the lounge； drinking their coffee。 Granet had seemed to be in high spirits throughout the meal； and told the girls many little anecdotes of his adventures at the Front。 Afterwards； however； he became silent； and finally； with a word of excuse； strolled off alone。 Olive looked once more at the clock。
〃Ralph doesn't seem to be coming back； does he？〃 she sighed。 〃Let's walk a little way down to the landing…stage。〃
The two girls strolled out and made their way towards the harbour。 They could see the 〃Scorpion〃 but there was no sign of any pinnace leaving her。 Reluctantly they turned back towards the hotel。
〃I wonder what has become of Captain Granet？〃 Olive asked。
Geraldine stopped short。 There was a little frown gathering upon her forehead。 She pointed up to the roof of the hotel； where a man was crouching with a telescope glued to his eyes。 He lowered it almost as they paused； and waved his hand to them。
〃Can't see any sign of Conyers；〃 he shouted。 〃I'm waiting for the pinnace。 Come up here。 There's such a ripping view。〃
They entered the hotel in silence。
〃I don't believe；〃 Geraldine remarked uneasily； 〃that Ralph would like that。〃
They made their way to the top of the house and were escorted by a buxom chambermaid to what was practically a step…ladder opening out on to a skylight。 From here they crawled on to the roof； where they found Granet comfortably ensconced with his back to a chimney； smoking a cigarette。
〃This is rather one on your brother；〃 he chuckled。
〃Where did you find the telescope？〃 Geraldine asked。
〃I borrowed it from downstairs；〃 he answered。 〃Do come and have a look。 You can see the Scorpion quite distinctly。 All the officers seem to be gathered around that mysterious structure on the upper deck。 I thought at first it was a stand for a gun but it isn't。〃
Olive held out her hand for the telescope but Geraldine shook her head。 There was a troubled expression in her eyes。
〃I suppose it's awfully silly； Captain Granet；〃 she said； 〃but honestly； I don't think Ralph would take it as a joke at all if he knew that we were up here； trying to find out what was going on。〃
Olive set down the telescope promptly。
〃I didn't think of that；〃 she murmured。
Granet laughed easily。
〃Perhaps you are right；〃 he admitted。 〃All the same； we are a little exceptionally placed； aren't we？his sister； his fiancee； and〃
He broke off suddenly。 A hand had been laid upon his shoulder。 A small； dark man； who had come round the corner of the chimney unperceived； was standing immediately behind him。
〃I must trouble you all for your names and addresses； if you please；〃 he announced quietly。
The two girls stared at him； dumbfounded。 Granet； however； remained perfectly at his ease。 He laid down the telescope and scrutinised the newcomer。
〃I really don't altogether see；〃 he remarked good humouredly； 〃why I should give 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 Southseaunless 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 somewheresays 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 isn't really so late；〃 she remarked； 〃and I dare say； if the poor man's been travelling all day； he'd like to say good…night to you。〃
Geraldine made a little grimace。
〃I shall go into the morning room and wait for him；〃 she announced。 〃He'll very likely find me asleep。〃
The Admiral looked up from behind th