“I’ve heard nothing of it.”
“What?” from a chorus.
“Information is getting out somewhere. I violate no confidences in telling you. The War Office is perturbed.”
“How terrible!” said Lady Joyliffe. “And don’t they suspect?”
“That’s the worst of it. The Germans got wind of some of Lord Kitchener’s plans and some of the Admiralty’s—which nobody knew but those very near the men at the top.”
“A spy in that circle—unbelievable,” said Kipshaven.
“My authority is a man of importance. Fortunately no damage has been done. The story goes that we’re issuing false statements in certain channels to mislead the enemy and find the culprit.”
“But how does the news reach the Germans?” asked Rizzio.
“No one knows. By courier to the coast and then by fast motor-boat perhaps; or by aëroplane. It’s very mysterious. A huge Taube, yellow in color, flying over the North Sea between England and the continent has been sighted and reported by English vessels again and again and each flight has coincided with some unexpected move on the part of the enemy. Once it was seen just before the raid at Falmouth, again before the Zeppelin visit to Sandringham.”
“A yellow dove!” said Lady Kipshaven. “A bird of ill omen, surely.”