"Well," said John Dene, rising, "you lose the odd trick, that's all; and," he added significantly as he took a step towards the door, "when it all comes out, you'll lose your jobs too." "Really, Mr. Dene," protested Sir Lyster, flushing slightly. John Dene swung round on his heel. "If you'd spent three years of your life and over a million dollars on a boat, and come three thousand miles to offer it to someone for nothing, and were told to wait till God knows which day what week, well, you'd be rattled too. In T'ronto we size up a man before he's had time to say he's pleased to meet us, and we'd buy a mountain quicker than you'd ask your neighbour to pass the marmalade at breakfast." Whilst John Dene was speaking, Sir Lyster had been revolving the matter swiftly in his mind. He was impressed by his visitor's fearlessness. A self-made man himself, he admired independence and freedom of speech in others. He was not oblivious to the truth of John Dene's hint of what would happen if another nation, even an allied nation, were to acquire a valuable invention that had been declined by Great Britain. He remembered the Fokker scandal. He decided to temporise. "If," continued John Dene, "I was asking for money, I'd understand; but I won't take a red cent, and more than that I go bail to the tune of a quarter of a million dollars that I deliver the goods." He strode up and down the room, twirling his cigar, and flinging his short, sharp sentences at the two men, who, to his mind, stood as barriers to an Allied triumph. "If you will sit down, Mr. Dene," said Sir Lyster suavely, "I'll explain." John Dene hesitated for a moment, then humped himself into a chair, gazing moodily before him. "We quite appreciate your--er--patriotism and public-spiritedness in----" "Here, cut it out," broke in John Dene. "Do you want the _Destroyer_ or don't you?" Sir Lyster recoiled as if he had been struck. He had been First Lord too short a time for the gilt to be worn off his dignity. Seeing his Chief about to reply in a way that he suspected might end the interview, Admiral Heyworth interposed. "May I suggest that under the circumstances we consult Mr. Llewellyn John?" "That's bully," broke in John Dene without giving Sir Lyster a chance of replying. "They say he's got pep." Bowing to the inevitable, Sir Lyster picked up the telephone-receiver. "Get me through to the Prime Minister," he said. The three men waited in silence for the response. As the bell rang, Sir Lyster swiftly raised the receiver to his ear. "Yes, the Prime Minister. Sir Lyster Grayne speaking." There was a pause. "Grayne speaking, yes. Can I come round with Admiral Heyworth and an--er--inventor? It's very important." He listened for a moment, then added, "Yes, we'll come at once." "Now, Mr. Dene," said Sir Lyster, as he rose and picked up his hat, "I hope we shall be able to--er----" He did not finish the sentence; but led the way to the door.