"It's splendid, the outlay is enormous, it will be perfectly justified if war breaks out; everything will rise rapidly, and there'll be a tremendous taxation," said Alan.
"What would you advise?" asked Fraser.
"Risk it and buy as you suggest," said Alan.
"There is no risk if you allude to war; it's bound to come. Do you know there are thousands of German spies in this country? There are two or three here in the firm, and they've got to go," said Fraser.
Alan laughed.
"You'll make a clean sweep of them?" he said.
"Yes, and no delay about it. There's——" and he mentioned the names.
"Are you of my opinion?"
"Yes; you must give them some reason, they work well."
"They all do, but it's in their interests—I mean the interests of their country. They worm out secrets, they are utterly unscrupulous, nothing is safe from them," said Fraser.
"Then out with them. I say, Fraser, you get hold of some remarkable information; how do you manage it?" asked Alan.