The Spy in Black

by J. Storer Clouston

"Commander!" exclaimed Mr Drummond with a menacing sniff. "But you just called him Captain."

"Commanders get the courtesy title of Captain," explained the lieutenant, rising as he spoke. "Thank you very much, Mr Drummond. There's only one thing more I'd like to say——"

"Ay, but there are several things I'd like to say!" said Mr Drummond very firmly. "I want to know what's the meaning of this outrage to my friend. What's your theory?"

Before the war Lieutenant Topham had been an officer in a passenger liner, but he had already acquired in great perfection the real Navy mask.

"It seems rather mysterious," he replied—in a most unsuitably light and indifferent tone, Mr Drummond considered.

"But surely you have some ideas!"

The Lieutenant shook his head.

"We'll probably get to the bottom of it sooner or later."

"A good deal later than sooner, I'm afraid," said Mr Drummond severely. "You've informed the police, I presume."

"The affair is not in my hands, Mr Drummond."