"
"Where is he now?" Richard asked eagerly. "Helen insisted upon
keeping me out of the way but we've heard all sorts of rumours. The
Commandant has been up here after him, hasn't he?"
"Yes, and I sent him away with a flea in his ear! I don't like the
fellow."
"And Maderstrom?"
"The pseudo-Mr. Lessingham, eh?" Sir Henry observed. "Well, to tell
you the truth, Dick, if there is one person I am a little sorry for
in the history of the last few weeks, it's Maderstrom."
"You, too?" Richard exclaimed. "Why, every one seems crazy about
the fellow."
Sir Henry nodded.
"I remember him in your college days, Dick. He was a gentleman and
a good sort, only unfortunately his mother was a German. He did his
bit of soldiering with the Prussian Guards at the beginning of the
war, got a knock and volunteered for the Secret Service. They sent
him over here. The fellow must have no end of pluck, for, as I dare
say you know, they let him down from the observation car of a
Zeppelin. He finds his way here all right, makes his silly little
bargain with our dear but gullible womenkind, and sets himself to
watch--to watch me, mind. The whole affair is too ridiculously
transparent. For a time he can't bring himself even to touch my
papers here, although, as it happens, they wouldn't have done him
the least bit of good.
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