"Some day, young man," thought he, "you will be ruler of the King's Navy."
He pushed back the chart towards the naval officer; then turned towards John.
"You can go, Treves," he said, "with the General's permission."
Whiston nodded.
John saluted and withdrew from the room.
As Manton passed out into the asphalted courtyard he met Chief Gunner Ewins.
"Well, Ewins," he said, "what about your wife's dangerous illness?"
"She wasn't ill at all, sir. I can't make it out—I've just got a letter from her to-day, saying she's as well as ever she was."
"Of course, she never sent the wire," explained John.
"Who could have sent it?" said Ewins, looking at John with puzzled eyes; "it's a silly sort of joke to play on anybody, sir."