Sir Henry took up the Homburg hat from the table by his side.
"Better take your hat," he suggested.
Lessingham paused, accepted it, and looked steadfastly at the donor.
"You knew from the first ?" he asked.
"From the very first," Sir Henry assured him.

"Don't look so confounded," he went on consolingly.

"Remember that espionage is the only profession in which it is an honour to fail." Philippa came a little shyly into her husband's arms, as he turned back into the room.

The tenderness in his own face, however, and a little catch in his voice, broke down at once the wall of reserve which had grown up between them.
"My dear little woman!" he murmured.

"My little sweetheart! You don't know how I've ached to explain everything to you--including the Russian ladies." "Explain them at once, sir!" Philippa insisted, pretending to draw her face away for a moment.
"They were the wife and sister-in-law of the Russian Admiral, Draskieff, who was sent over to report upon our method of mine laying," he told her.
"You and I have to go up to a little dinner they are giving to-morrow or the next day." "Oh, dear, what an idiot I was!" Philippa exclaimed ruefully.