Out in the hall, a moment later, they heard a harsh voice of command.
The hall door was opened and closed behind the sound of retreating footsteps.
"Sir Henry," Lessingham reminded him, "I have not asked for your intervention." "My dear fellow, you wouldn't," was the prompt reply.

"As for the little trouble that has happened in the North Sea, don't take it too much to heart, it was entirely the fault of the people who sent you here." "The fault of the people who sent me here," Lessingham repeated.

"I scarcely understand." "It's simple enough," Sir Henry continued.

"You see, you are about as fit to be a spy as Philippa, my wife here, is to be a detective.

You possess the one insuperable obstacle of having the instincts of a gentleman .-- Come, come," he went on, "we have nothing more to say to one another.