Chapter 8

           Icamedowntobreakfastnextmorning,aftereighthoursofblesseddreamlesssleep,tofindSirWalterdecodingatelegraminthemidstofmuffinsandmarmalade.Hisfreshrosinessofyesterdayseemedathoughttarnished.

           “Ihadabusyhouronthetelephoneafteryouwenttobed,”hesaid.“IgotmyChieftospeaktotheFirstLordandtheSecretaryforWar,andtheyarebringingRoyeroveradaysooner.Thiswireclinchesit.HewillbeinLondonatfive.OddthatthecodewordforaSous-chefd’ÉtatMajor-Generalshouldbe‘Porker.’”

           Hedirectedmetothehotdishesandwenton.

           “NotthatIthinkitwilldomuchgood.Ifyourfriendswerecleverenoughtofindoutthefirstarrangementtheyarecleverenoughtodiscoverthechange.Iwouldgivemyheadtoknowwheretheleakis.WebelievedtherewereonlyfivemeninEnglandwhoknewaboutRoyer’svisit,andyoumaybecertaintherewerefewerinFrance,fortheymanagethesethingsbetterthere.”

           WhileIatehecontinuedtotalk,makingmetomysurpriseapresentofhisfullconfidence.

           “Canthedispositionsnotbechanged?”Iasked.

           “Theycould,”hesaid.“Butwewanttoavoidthatifpossible.Theyaretheresultofimmensethought,andnoalterationwouldbeasgood.Besides,ononeortwopointschangeissimplyimpossible.Still,somethingcouldbedone,Isuppose,ifitwereabsolutelynecessary.Butyouseethedifficulty,Hannay.OurenemiesarenotgoingtobesuchfoolsastopickRoyer’spocketoranychildishgamelikethat.