drinking, hard-riding country squire. But the gem of my
collection is coming and there is the setting all ready for it."
He pointed to a space over which "Naval Signals" was printed.

"But you have a good dossier there already."

"Out of date and waste paper. The Admiralty in some way got the
alarm and every code has been changed. It was a blow, Baron--the
worst setback in my whole campaign. But thanks to my check-book
and the good Altamont all will be well to-night."

The Baron looked at his watch and gave a guttural exclamation of
disappointment.

"Well, I really can wait no longer. You can imagine that things
are moving at present in Carlton Terrace and that we have all to
be at our posts. I had hoped to be able to bring news of your
great coup. Did Altamont name no hour?"

Von Bork pushed over a telegram.

Will come without fail to-night and bring new sparking plugs.

Altamont.

"Sparking plugs, eh?"

"You see he poses as a motor expert and I keep a full garage. In
our code everything likely to come up is named after some spare
part. If he talks of a radiator it is a battleship, of an oil