Thompson grunted.
"No," he said brusquely; "can't be done. It's not of sufficient interest to the general public."
"Not when a naval officer is involved?"
"H'm—well, I'll tell you. Send your man. If the stuff's of use to us we'll pay all expenses. Anything out of the ordinary he can wire us. If there's nothing meriting notice we'll only pay a quarter of the expenses. Game?"
Something seemed to whisper in the mind of the Yachtman's Journal editor: "Accept his terms. You'll be sorry if you don't."
"Agreed," he replied.
"Right! Ring off," was Thompson's laconic acceptance, and he resumed his chair in order to tackle the final proofs of the evening's issue.
Shortly after eleven Gordon Stirling, amateur yachtsman and yachting correspondent of The Yachtman's Journal, received a wire from town:
"Proceed to Delfzyl. Wire report if urgent. All expenses guaranteed.
"EDITOR."