"Eighteen knots, sir."
"Increase to twenty-two, then.... What's that—signalling?"
"Destroyers request permission to part company, sir."
"Hoist the affirmative. All right, Mr. Farrar. Keep me well posted should anything untoward occur."
The captain left the bridge and the sub communicated his instructions to the lieutenant on duty as Officer of the Watch.
"Jolly rummy," commented Mr. Sitwell. "Did the Owner look at all surprised?"
"Not so far as I could see," replied the sub.
"Then I expect the Commander-in-Chief has had warning that there's a swarm of U-boats off the Irish coast.... Starboard four, quartermaster."
The destroyers had flung about and were tearing off in the direction of Trecurnow Harbour; the Scilly patrol had been left astern, and the "Tantalus" was alone in the midst of a waste of white-topped waves. She was now beginning to follow a zigzag course—a precaution invariably taken when within the U-boat zone.
Nigel Farrar felt convinced that the captain was uneasy in his mind on the subject of the wireless orders. In view of the presence of diplomats and other Government Civil Officials on board, the peremptory removal of the destroyer escort seemed very bad policy. But the orders had been given in secret code, and had to be obeyed without demur.