"Well?"
"They absolutely refuse to believe us! Notwithstanding everything that we have put before them, the Channel Squadron has sailed for Kiel."
Lady Dennisford was a woman born for emergencies. She made no remark. She simply asked the one sensible question:
"What can I do?"
"Lord Esherville is your cousin, is he not?"
"Yes!"
"He is an influential member of the Cabinet. Will you go to him, tell him what you know of us, tell him who Guest is and his history? Try and convince him that we are not cranks, and that the country is really in the deadliest peril. Get him to see Polloch at once. Both Guest and myself are watched, because we have taken a café which is frequented by these people, but we will arrange a meeting, somehow. Try and get us a hearing."
She rose to her feet.
"When?"
"It must be within the next thirty-six hours," I answered, "or it will be too late."