"Excuse me, sir. But you do not give me any idea of what my duties will consist--to whom I am to report, or how? I really don't quite follow you; unless, of course, the despatch contains more enlightenment." "Naturally the despatch will give full instructions to the gentleman you are to meet. He will seek you under the name of Mr. Jim. You will reply by mentioning two other names or words which you must now commit to memory, but not to paper. So far as your duties are concerned, _you have the fullest discretion; remember to use discretion_. You will work entirely on your own initiative. Henceforth you will be known to the Service as 'Jim.' And in saying good-bye, I may as well add, if you have not already done so, it might be advisable to seriously consider such testamentary dispositions as you are minded to complete." FOOTNOTES: [1] _John Bull,_ January 29th, 1916. [2] _Ibid._, February 12th, 1916. [3] This gentleman subsequently died a glorious death in the service of his country. He was shot when on active service in South Africa. [4] The author would not have felt at liberty to mention this gentleman by name except for the fact that his connection with the Secret Service was made public in the Press on the Trebitsch Lincoln affair. CHAPTER II SECRET SERVICE ORGANISATIONS, COMPARISONS, AND INCIDENTALS ESPIONAGE IN PAST AGES--MODERN BRITISH SECRET SERVICE FOUNDED, 1910--POSSIBLE IMPROVEMENTS--COMPARISONS--JEALOUSIES OF BIG DEPARTMENTS--EXAMPLES OF RECKLESS EXTRAVAGANCE--BUSINESS MEN WANTED--ECONOMIES IN THE SECRET SERVICE--BUNGLING INCOMPETENCE--IMPASSIVENESS OF THE FOREIGN OFFICE--GERMAN WAR METHODS--FRENCH AND DUTCH SECRET SERVICE--MILITARY INTELLIGENCE, B.C.--RISE AND DEVELOPMENT OF GERMAN SECRET SERVICE--THE EFFICIENCY OF SCOTLAND YARD--DETAILS OF GERMAN FOREIGN PROPAGANDA AND EXPENDITURE--BRITISH SECRET SERVICE, ITS COST AND FRUGALITIES--MAJOR HENRI LE CARON--NATHAN HALE--SIMILITUDE OF THE LIFE OF A SECRET SERVICE AGENT. Not until the reign of Henry VII. and the days of the great Cardinal Wolsey do we hear speak of organised systems of Secret Service. Cromwell encouraged the department, whilst Charles II. seems to have arranged grants for its continuance equivalent to £500,000 per annum. Pitt was a firm supporter of the service, and Canning is said to have paid £20,000 for the treaty of Tilsit. In earlier times, British Intelligence Agents were attached to the Chancelleries of our Ministers abroad, as is the case to-day with nearly every nation, except our own. Remuneration was given commensurate with the risks and service. But from the 'sixties the pay diminished and the department faded away from being an asset of much general valuable utility.