"I shall be staying at the Savoy," he added, "and if you'll give me your address I'll wire you the money. The American Ambassador is a friend of mine, and will lend me sufficient till I can cable my bank." The Lieutenant hesitated for a moment, not because he had any reason to doubt the speaker, but because he was almost penniless himself at the moment. Still, he could not help feeling sorry for the man in this unfortunate predicament, and decided to borrow the money from the captain of the _Panther_. "Might be in a mess like this myself some day," he reflected, as, telling Smythe to wait a moment, he hurried away to interview the skipper. The latter promptly lent him five pounds, and, as Lawless was about to leave, called him back. "By the way, what about that fellow you found on the _Nimrod_?" he said. "He has no papers and nothing whatever to prove his identity. I have orders to proceed at once to Portsmouth, or I'd hand him over to the authorities for them to make investigations." "I was going to take him ashore myself," answered the Lieutenant. "Oh, then, that's all right." The two men shook hands, and Lawless returned to Smythe, who was waiting for him at the gangway. "All serene," he said, thrusting five one pound notes into the man's hand. "Now we'd better get ashore." They were landed at the Great Western jetty, and Smythe told Lawless he wanted to catch the first train to London. At Millbay Station they shook hands and said "Good-bye," after which the Lieutenant went on to Devonport to report himself. On the following morning, when he was preparing to depart for Dundee, a telegram arrived ordering him to proceed to the Admiralty. He reached London in the afternoon, and duly presented himself at the particular room mentioned in his instructions. On entering he found a group of officers seated at a table in a manner unpleasantly reminiscent of a court-martial. He was asked for and gave a brief account of his adventures after flying to the assistance of the _Nimrod_, and then one of the officers handed him a photograph. "Do you recognise this person?" he asked. "Why, yes," replied the Lieutenant. "It's the man named Smythe, whom I found unconscious in his bunk." The officers exchanged significant glances, and the one who had produced the photograph turned once more to the Lieutenant. "We understand from the Captain of the _Panther_ that the man went ashore with you at Plymouth," he said. "Yes, and I lent him a fiver to get to London with. Here's his card," and Lawless produced the visiting card which the rescued passenger had given him. "You have not heard from him since?" asked the officer, after glancing at the card. "No, sir," answered the Lieutenant innocently. "It's quite possible he hasn't been able to see the Ambassador yet." "Quite," said the other drily. "This man who gave his name as Smythe is really Reichster, the notorious German-American spy for whose capture a reward of £500 has been offered."