“I should say so,” agreed Jane.
“Here was I watching old Hoff for our government, and Kramer watching me for your navy and Fleck watching both of us. It was a funny jumble.”
“But about that uniform?” Jane persisted.
“When the old man got to ragging me a bit, I felt I must do something to convince him I was all right. I suggested trying to get a British uniform and maybe learning thereby some secrets. It delighted him hugely. Of course I just went down to Colonel Brook-White and got my own uniform, and that was all there was to that.”
“It puzzled Mr. Carter, though, how you got it in and out of the house. He used to open every bundle that came for Mr. Hoff.”
Sir Frederic laughed delightedly.
“I had a messenger who used to bring it back and forth in a big lady’s hat-box. It always was addressed to you, my dear, but the boy had instructions to deliver it to me.”
“Humph,” snapped Jane with mock indignation. “And when did you first find out that I was helping Chief Fleck watch you?”
“I suspected it from the start. Kramer told me how you’d become acquainted with him. Then when I heard you ’phoning Carter about the bookstore I knew for certain.”
“Oh, that’s one thing now I wanted to ask about—those messages Hoff left in the bookstore. Who were they for?”