"It is most important," Pachmann warned him; "and I shall trust you not to forget. How do you like your work here?"
"Very well, sir. I find it very interesting."
"I shall have you back in the service, nevertheless, one of these days," Pachmann said. "Perhaps sooner than you think," he added.
"I am always ready, sir," said Fritz.
Pachmann drew out a cigar and lighted it.
"Go ahead with your work," he said. "There is no music to me so pleasant as the snapping of the spark."
Fritz laughed.
"I know that, sir," he said. "I have an extra receiver, if you care to put it on."
"Yes, give it to me," said the Admiral; and in a moment it, too, was connected with the detector.
Fritz replaced his own, started his converter and snapped out into the air the signal which told the waiting world that the operator of the Ottilie was ready to receive anything it might have to communicate. Almost at once Southampton answered, and there was a little preliminary tuning, till the signals came clear and strong. Then Fritz drew a pad toward him, picked up a freshly sharpened pencil, and told Southampton to go ahead.