Number 70, Berlin: A Story of Britain's PerilLe Queux, William
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Number 70, Berlin: A Story of Britain's Peril
Le Queux, William
War stories; World War, 1914-1918 -- Fiction
Slowly it came out accurately registered on the long green paper ribbon,
which, when it stopped, Rodwell tore off and carefully rolled up in
order to decipher it at his leisure by aid of his little cipher-book.
Then, after a brief pause, he placed his fingers upon the key and, with
an expert touch, inquired if he were yet through to Number Seventy
Berlin?
The answer came in the affirmative.
A few moments later he tapped out the letters G.S.F.A.--the code
pass-word which automatically by the calendar was so often changed. He
received the answer G.L.G.S. Then, according to rule, he gave his own
registered number--that of "0740." Every spy of Germany is registered
by number in the department presided over by Dr Steinhauer.
Fully five minutes elapsed before he received the permission to proceed.
Then, finding himself in direct communication with the headquarters of
the Imperial Secret Service, that argus-eyed bureau known as "Number 70
Berlin," he began his report with the usual preamble, as follows:
"On Imperial War Service. Most Urgent. Naval. From 0740, to Berlin
70. Transmitted Personally. February 22nd, 1915.
"Source of information G.27, British Admiralty. American liners
_Ellenborough_ and _Desborough_ leave Plymouth to-day with drafts for
Alexandria. Four troop-ships also leave Plymouth for Dardanelles on
Friday next, and three leave Southampton to-day. Names of latter are
_Cardigan_, _Lamberhead_, and _Turleigh_. All are escorted to
Gibraltar, but not farther. In future all drafts for Mediterranean
ports embark at Plymouth. Suggest Pola be informed by wireless, if
none of our submarines are in Mediterranean. Are there any? Await
reply. Burchardt Number 6503 left for Amsterdam with important
information last night. Grossman 3684 was arrested in Hartlepool
yesterday. Nothing found upon him. Will probably be released.
Expecting visit of B--shortly. Tell him to call in secret upon 0740
in London. End of message."
Then he sat back and waited for the reply to his inquiry regarding the
submarines of the Fatherland. He knew that even at that early hour the
great bureau in the Koeniger-gratzerstrasse, the eyes and ears of the
German nation, was all agog, and that one of the sub-directors would
certainly be on duty. They never failed to answer any question put to
them.
Old Small entered with the news that the bacon was ready, therefore he
ordered it to be brought in, and as he sat at the table of the old
sewing-machine awaiting the response, he ate the homely breakfast with a
distinct relish. He did not notice the look of hatred in old Small's
eyes.
Suddenly Stendel, on Wangeroog, asked if he had finished with Berlin, to
which message he answered that he was waiting for a reply.
"I have another message," Stendel tapped out. "Will you take it?--very
short."
"G.G.F.," replied Rodwell, which in the war-code meant "Am ready to
receive message."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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