Sir Edward, looking small in the big armchair, was seated with his legs crossed. He was reading some document and without a sign of recognition he kept me standing there, it must have been ten minutes. I noticed that he glanced at me now and then above the top of the paper. Abruptly he told me to have a seat. When I said that I preferred to stand, he nodded and pulling open a drawer took from it a folder that, as subsequent events verified, I suspected to be a report on me. There was another period during which he seemed to be unaware of my presence, and I took advantage of it to size up my man. He impressed me as being one of those intolerable, typically English icicles, which only that nation seems able to produce in her public servants. Presumably through a century-long contact with the races of the East, the English diplomat of the Sir Edward Grey type presents the bland, imperturbable, non-committal, almost inane expression of the Oriental that hardly gives one any criterion of the tremendous power of perception and concentration beneath the mask.
After twirling his fingers, he said:
"I presume you are familiar with Germany's naval activity."
"Up to a certain point, sir."
"What point?" he asked quickly.
"I am familiar only with the Intelligence Department of the Admiralty," I replied.
"Their system?" he asked. "Is it so extensive and efficient as we have been led to believe?"
"That cannot be exaggerated."
At this Sir Edward began to throw out innuendoes to which I replied in like vein. The interview was not progressing. Finally he came out with what was in his mind.
Do you know if any officials or naval officers are selling or negotiating to sell information to Foreign Intelligence Departments?"