I always had ideas of my own about mine fields, as you may remember.

I started with Scotland, and then they moved me down here.
The Admiralty thought they'd be mighty clever, and they insisted upon my keeping my job secret.

It led to a little trouble with Philippa, but I think we are through with all that .-- I suppose you know that those two young women have been engaged in a regular conspiracy, Dick ?" "I know a little," Richard replied gravely, "and I'm sure you will believe that I wouldn't have countenanced it for a moment if I'd had any idea what they were up to." "I'm sure you wouldn't," Sir Henry agreed.

"Anyway, it led to no harm." "Maderstrom, then," Richard asked, with a sudden more complete apprehension of the affair, "was over here to spy upon you ?" "That's the ticket," Sir Henry assented.
Richard frowned.
"And he bribed Philippa and Helen with my liberty!" "Don't you worry about that," his brother-in-law begged.

"They must have known by instinct that a chap like Maderstrom couldn't do any harm." "Where is he now ?" Richard asked eagerly.