“Oh,” he growled, “I see.” And then, “Tell me how the matter was arranged that Captain Byfield should deliver those papers.”
“Maxwell managed it through a cipher. The War Office had grown suspicious and all the usual channels were closed. Byfield was frightened and refused to deliver further messages. So Maxwell hit upon the scheme of the cigarette papers to be delivered to Hammersley. I could not receive them from Byfield because of your instructions not to let my interests be known to anyone in England but Maxwell—you thought the time was not ripe for me to play my coup.”
“Yes,” said von Stromberg dryly, “but the time is ripe now and you are not there to play it.”
“But this affair was of such importance——”
“Yes, yes,” the general broke in quickly, “go on.”
“It was the day of an anniversary always celebrated for me by Lady Heathcote, whose house, as you know, is one of the most exclusive in England and above suspicion. I invited the guests and Maxwell communicated with Hammersley, arranging the manner of the exchange which was accomplished. My demand upon Hammersley was made in accordance with your orders. It was a test of his loyalty. He failed.”
“Do you think he had an opportunity to glance at the papers, I mean between the time he received them and the time of your demand of him?”
“Yes. He studied them for a moment behind the curtains of an alcove in the drawing-room. I was watching. I saw his shadow as he bent over to the light of the lamp.”
“By that you mean he had a hope that they might be spurious?”
“Yes, Excellenz. When it was discovered that there was a leak, false orders were issued to test the different departments of the War Office.”