“She told Samuel, the fellow who runs the Palaceum, that she escaped from Brussels!” interposed the Chief.
The Frenchman threw his hands above his head.
“Escaped, escaped? Ah, oui, par exemple, in a German Staff car. As I have told my colleague here,” he went on, addressing the Admiral, “she escaped to Metz, the headquarters of the Army Group commanded by the... the... how do you say? the Prince Imperial?”
“The Crown Prince,” rectified the Chief.
“Ah, oui,—the Crown Prince. Messieurs, we have absolute testimony that this woman lived for nearly two years either in Metz or Berlin, and further, that at Metz, the Crown Prince was a constant visitor at her house. She was one of the ladies who nearly precipitated a definite rupture between the Crown Prince and his wife. Mon Admiral,” he went on, addressing the First Sea Lord again, “that this woman should be at large is a direct menace to the security of this country and of mine. It is only this morning that I at length received from Paris the facts which I have just laid before you. It is for you to order your action accordingly!”
The little Frenchman folded his arms pompously and gazed at the ceiling.
“How does she explain her movements prior to her coming to this country” the First Sea Lord asked the Chief.
For an answer the Chief pressed the bell.
“Samuel, who engaged her, is outside. You shall hear her story from him,” he said.
Samuel entered, exuding business acumen, prosperity, geniality. He nodded brightly to the Chief and stood expectant.