"Can you possibly recollect," inquired the other, "from your books, what store of six-inch ammunition there was?"
Fortunately John recollected the number of shells exactly.
"I see," commented the cross-examiner. "But your statement doesn't tally with my present knowledge."
"I am speaking of six weeks ago, sir; since then there would have been a heavy gun practice," John added promptly.
The elder gentleman leaned back in his chair.
"These are all details which a spy would make a great point of observing." He looked steadily into John's face, until John became conscious of nothing but his keen, grey eyes. They were kindly eyes, but the intensity of his glance was something that John had never before experienced. He looked back frankly into the elder man's face.
"I suppose they are, sir," he answered, "but they came to me in my ordinary course of work."
"How many fort candles were there in the storeroom?" asked the other, casually.
"Eight dozen, sir."
Dacent Smith nodded, as though satisfied.