Lessingham, in the course of
which I asked him to explain his method of reaching here, and his
last habitation. He simply fenced with me in the most barefaced
fashion. He practically declined to give me any account of himself."
Philippa rose and rang the bell.
"I suppose I must give you some tea," she said, "although you seem
to have come here on purpose to make my head ache."
"My object in coming here," Captain Griffiths rejoined, a little
stiffly, "is to save you some measure of personal annoyance."
"Oh, please don't think that I am ungrateful," Philippa begged.
"Of course, it is all some absurd mistake, and I'm sure we shall get
to the bottom of it presently--Tell me what you think of the storm?"
she added, as Mills entered with the tea tray. "Do you think it
will get any worse, because I am terrified to death already?"
"I am no judge of the weather here," he confessed. "I believe the
fishermen are preparing for something unusual."
She seated herself before the tea tray and insisted upon performing
her duties as hostess. Afterwards she laid her hand upon his arm
and addressed him with an air of complete candour.
"Now, Captain Griffiths," she began, "do listen to me. Just one
moment of common sense, if you please. What do you suppose there
could possibly be in our harmless seaside village to induce any one
to risk his life by coming here on behalf of the Secret Service of
Germany?"
"Dreymarsh," Captain Griffiths replied, "was not made a prohibited
area for nothing.
Pages:
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181