Тридцять дев’ять ступенів

           Thatwastheidea,andaprettygoodonetoo.Honeyandfairspeeches,andthenastrokeinthedark.WhileweweretalkingaboutthegoodwillandgoodintentionsofGermanyourcoastwouldbesilentlyringedwithmines,andsubmarineswouldbewaitingforeverybattleship.

           Butallthisdependeduponthethirdthing,whichwasduetohappenonJune15th.IwouldneverhavegraspedthisifIhadn’toncehappenedtomeetaFrenchstaffofficer,comingbackfromWestAfrica,whohadtoldmealotofthings.Onewasthat,inspiteofallthenonsensetalkedinParliament,therewasarealworkingalliancebetweenFranceandBritain,andthatthetwoGeneralStaffsmeteverynowandthen,andmadeplansforjointactionincaseofwar.Well,inJuneaverygreatswellwascomingoverfromParis,andhewasgoingtogetnothinglessthanastatementofthedispositionoftheBritishHomeFleetonmobilization.AtleastIgathereditwassomethinglikethat;anyhow,itwassomethinguncommonlyimportant.

           Butonthe15thdayofJunethereweretobeothersinLondon—others,atwhomIcouldonlyguess.Scudderwascontenttocallthemcollectivelythe“BlackStone”.TheyrepresentednotourAllies,butourdeadlyfoes;andtheinformation,destinedforFrance,wastobedivertedtotheirpockets.Anditwastobeused,remember—usedaweekortwolater,withgreatgunsandswifttorpedoes,suddenlyinthedarknessofasummernight.

           ThiswasthestoryIhadbeendecipheringinabackroomofacountryinn,overlookingacabbagegarden.