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〃Wonder what old Anselman's thinking about；〃 one man asked another in an opposite corner。
〃Money bags；〃 was the prompt reply。 〃The man thinks money； he dreams money； he lives money。 He lives like a prince but he has no pleasures。 》From ten in the morning till two； he sites in his office in Lombard Street； and the pulse of the city beats differently in his absence。〃
〃I wonder！〃 the other murmured。
Other people had wondered； too。 Still the keen blue eyes looked across through the misty atmosphere at the grey building opposite。 Men and women passed before him in a constant； unseen procession。 No one came and spoke to him； no one interfered with his meditations。 The two men who had been discussing him passed out of the room presently one of them glanced backwards in his direction。
〃After all； I suppose；〃 he observed； as he passed down the hall； 〃there is something great about wealth or else one wouldn't believe that old Anselman there was thinking of his money…bags。 Why； here's Granet。 Good fellow！ I'd no idea you'd joined this august company of old fogies。〃
Granet smiled as he shook hands。
〃I haven't；〃 he explained。 〃You have to be a millionaire； don't you； and a great political bug； before they'd let you in？ No place for poor soldiers！ I have to be content with the Rag。〃
〃Poor devil！〃 his friend remarked sympathetically；〃best cooking； best wines in London。 These Service men look after themselves all right。 What are you doing here； anyhow； Granet？〃
〃I'm dining with my uncle；〃 Granet replied； quickly。
〃Sir Alfred's in there； waiting for you；〃 his friend told him； indicating the door；〃he has been sitting at the window watching for you； in fact。 So long！〃
The two men passed out and Granet was ushered into the smoking…room。 Sir Alfred came back from his reverie and was greeted by his nephew cordially。 The two men sat by the window for a few moments in silence。
〃An aperitif？〃 Sir Alfred suggested。 〃Capital！〃
They drank mixed vermouth。 Sir Alfred picked up an evening paper from his side。
〃Any news？〃 he asked。
〃Nothing fresh；〃 Granet replied。 〃The whole worlds excited about this submarine affair。 Looks as though we'd got the measure of those Johnnies； doesn't it？〃
〃It does indeed；〃 Sir Alfred agreed。 〃Two submarines； one after the other； two of the latest class； too； destroyed within a few miles and without a word of explanation。 No wonder every one's excited about it！〃
〃They're fearfully bucked at the Admiralty； I believe；〃 Granet remarked。 〃Of course； they'll pretend that they had this new dodge or whatever it may be； up their sleeves all the time。〃
Sir Alfred nodded。
〃Well；〃 he said； 〃come in to dinner； young fellow。 You shall entertain me with tales of your adventures whilst you compare our cuisine here with your own commissariat。〃
They passed on into the strangers' dining…room； a small but cheerful apartment opening out of the general dining…room。 The head…waiter ushered them unctuously to a small table set in the far corner of the room。
〃I have obeyed your wishes； Sir Alfred；〃 he announced； as they seated themselves。 〃No one else will be dining anywhere near you。〃
Sir Alfred nodded。
〃Knowing how modest you soldiers are in talking of your exploits；〃 he remarked to Granet； 〃I have pleaded for seclusion。 Here； in the intervals of our being served with dinner； you can spin me yarns of the Front。 The whole thing fascinates me。 I want to hear the story of your escape。〃
They seated themselves； and Sir Alfred studied the menu for a moment through his eyeglass。 After the service of the soup they were alone。 He leaned a little across the table。
〃Ronnie；〃 he said； 〃I thought it was better to ask you here than to have you down at the city。〃
Granet nodded。
〃This seems all right；〃 he admitted； glancing around。 〃Well； one part of the great work is finished。 I have lived for eleven days not quite sure when I wasn't going to be stood up with my back to the light at the Tower。 Now it's over。〃
〃You've seen Pailleton？〃
〃Seen him； impressed him； given him the document。 He has his plans all made。〃
〃Good！ Very good！〃
Sir Alfred ate soup for several moments as though it were the best soup on earth and nothing else was worth consideration。 Then he laid down his spoon。
〃Magnificent！〃 he said。 〃Now listenthese submarines。 There was a Taube close at hand and I can tell you something which the Admiralty here are keeping dark； with their tongues in their cheeks。 Both those submarines were sunk under water。〃
〃I guessed it；〃 Granet replied coolly。 〃I not only guessed it but I came very near the key of the whole thing。〃
A waiter appeared with the next course； followed by the wine steward； carrying champagne。 Sir Alfred nodded approvingly。
〃Just four minutes in the ice；〃 he instructed； 〃not longer。 What you tell me about the champagne country is； I must confess； a relief；〃 he added； turning to Granet。 〃It may not affect us quite so much； but personally I believe that the whole world is happier and better when champagne is cheap。 It is the bottled gaiety of the nation。 A nation of ginger ale drinkers would be doomed before they reached the second generation。 1900 Pommery； this； Ronnie； and I drink your health。 If I May be allowed one moment's sentiment；〃 he added； raising his glass； 〃let me say that I drink your health from the bottom of my hear； with all the admiration which a man of my age feels for you younger fellows who are fighting for us and our country。〃
They drank the toast in silence。 In a moment or two they were alone again。
〃Go on； Ronnie；〃 his uncle said。 〃I am interested。〃
〃I met Conyers the other day；〃 Granet proceeded； 〃the man who commands the 'Scorpion。' I managed to get an invitation down to Portsmouth to have lunch with him on his ship。 I went down with his sister and the young lady he is engaged to marry。 On deck there was a structure of some sort covered up。 I tried to make inquires about it but they headed me off pretty quick。 There was even a sentry standing on guard before itwouldn't let me even feel the shape of it。 However； I hadn't given up hope when there came a wirelessno guests to be allowed on board。 Conyers had to pack us all off back to the hotel； without stopping even for lunch。 From the hotel I got a telescope and I saw a pinnace with half…a…dozen workmen； and a pilot who was evidently an engineer； land on board。 They seemed to be completing the adjustments of some new piece of mechanism。 Then they steamed away out of sight of the land。〃
〃A busy life； yours； Ronnie；〃 Sir Alfred remarked； after a moments pause。 〃What about it now？ I've had two urgent messages from Berlin this morning。〃
〃It's pretty difficult；〃 Granet acknowledged。 〃The Scorpion's out in the Channel or the North Sea。 No getting at her。 And I don't believe there's another destroyer yet fitted with this apparatus； whatever it may be。〃
〃They must be making them somewhere； though；〃 Sir Alfred remarked。
His nephew nodded。
〃To think；〃 he muttered； 〃that we've two hundred men spread out at Tyneside； Woolwich and Portsmouth； and not one of them go on to this！ A nation of spies； indeed！