"Someone's let the cat out of the bag," declared the Commander-in-Chief. "It's an absolute mystery to me how intelligence does leak out. Now, what's to be done, Elphinhaye? What Q-boat does the message refer to?"
"Q 171, sir," replied the secretary, never at a loss to supply the requisite information. "She was the old Tollerdale, and was adapted at Leith in January last."
"Who's her commanding officer?"
Elphinhaye had to consult a current Navy List.
"Morpeth, sir. George Morpeth, an R.N.R. officer with the D.S.C."
"By Gad! Morpeth! I knew him at Trecurnow," exclaimed the Admiral. "Smart fellow, but a bit of a rough diamond. I've no doubt that he can take care of himself, but all the same——"
"We could wireless him, sir."
"And warn every Fritz on this side of Germany," declared the Commander-in-Chief. "No, no, Elphinhaye. We must think of a better plan—one that, with luck, will entail a clean sweep of every Fritz who dares to poke his nose outside his kennel."
Twenty minutes later the joyful signal was received by the Nth Light Cruiser Squadron and the Z Destroyer Flotilla:—
"Raise steam for thirty knots and prepare for immediate action on clearing harbour."