“Innocent! You couldn’t get shag like that anywhere but in Norfolk.”
It must have been an hour later when another officer entered and saluted.
“Message from the G.H.Q., sir,” he said.
“Well?”
“They have arrested the gardener at the convent of St. Eloise, and they have every reason to believe that he is the notorious Paul Jouperts.”
The colonel stood up, and his eyes beamed. He came over to old Sam and shook his hand.
“Mr. Gates,” he said, “you are an old brick. You will probably hear more of this. You have probably been the means of delivering something very useful into our hands. Your own honor is vindicated. A loving Government will probably award you five shillings or a Victoria Cross or something of that sort. In the meantime, what can I do for you?”
Old Sam scratched his chin.
“I want to get back ’ome,” he said.
“Well, even that might be arranged.”