"I do not care, _mon cher_ Gerald! There is evil work in progress, somewhere; I am confident. Why should Thornton be acquainted or have anything to do with our arch-enemy, Ernst Halbmayr? Remember how cleverly he escaped you six months ago in Rotterdam!" "But we trapped the woman," I rejoined grimly. "And there was a firing party at Versailles." "And there is somebody to be trapped here also," persisted Madame Gabrielle. "You will surely not give up yet?" While we were still discussing the matter a page-boy brought a telegram. Luigi took it from the lad and, dismissing him, handed the message to me. It was from Aubert in Lisbon, and it conveyed the significant news that this man Thornton had left for Lucerne, and that Garcia was travelling by the same train. "He has just sent a telegram to Syberg at the _poste restante_," the message concluded. After this, of course, there could be no question of our abandoning our task. There was evidently something afoot, and just as evidently Lucerne was likely to be the scene of some lively incidents. Luigi did not lose a second. He rang the bell, and immediately another page-boy appeared. "Go at once to the _poste restante_," he said, "and ask for a telegram for Syberg. They know you come from me, so there will be no need of a letter. Don't forget the name--S-y-b-e-r-g. And make haste." The boy disappeared instantly, and for a quarter of an hour we waited in feverish impatience for his return. When he came back he brought with him the message we wanted. Opening it, I read in French, as follows: To Syberg, Poste Restante, Lucerne. "Received good news from London. Meads" (_the man in London whose suspicions had been aroused_) "is now with us, so business can proceed. Leaving for Lucerne to-night. Shall see T. in Paris to arrange further details and transit of machinery. Thyra" (_the Christian name of Madame Bohman_) "will meet E.H." (_was this Ernst Halbmayr_?) "at Geneva on the 15th." This message was unsigned, but it confirmed the impression given us by Aubert's wire that events were on foot, and at once the three of us plunged with renewed energy into our plan of campaign. "There can be no doubt," I said, "that `E.H.' refers to Halbmayr, and probably he is directing the whole of the intricate affair." "Very likely," said Luigi dryly, "but I do not see that we have much more light on what direction against the British the conspirators, if they really are German agents, intend to work." "True, but that is just what we have to find out," I replied. "From what Johnson-Meads states, the plot in some way relates to the British submarines. At present I am just as much in the dark as you are. If Halbmayr is directing operations you may depend upon it that some really serious coup is intended, for Halbmayr never troubles his head about the small affairs. Don't forget that next to Steinhauer he is the man the Koniggratzer-strasse puts most implicit faith in."