Sant of the Secret Service: Some Revelations of Spies and SpyingLe Queux, William
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Sant of the Secret Service: Some Revelations of Spies and Spying
Le Queux, William
Spy stories; World War, 1914-1918 -- Secret service -- Fiction
"Shackleton was undoubtedly a foreigner and I should say probably a
German," the watchmaker, now a corporal, told me. "When he left he
asked me to forward any letters that might come for him, and gave me the
address--`Care of Soulsby, High Street, Bristol.'"
With that information I went straight from the British front to the
great Severn port. Here I found that Soulsby kept a newsagent's shop
near Bristol Bridge, to which letters could be addressed. He did a big
business in this way, for the address was very handy for sea-going men.
Soulsby at first refused to give me the smallest information about his
clients, but a sight of my authority opened his mouth, and as soon as he
realised that something serious was on foot he was only too willing to
help me.
"Of course, Mr Sant," he said, "you will understand I have no knowledge
whatever of the man. But I know that the Bristol Channel ports are full
of spies, and it is very generally believed that few vessels leave here
unknown to the German submarines lurking about the mouth of the Channel.
If I can help you at all, I shall be delighted."
I then learned that Shackleton had called about a week before, taking
away several letters addressed to him, and that he usually called at
intervals of a week or ten days. Soulsby promised to let me know at
once as soon as he came again, and I wired to the wily Aubert to come to
Bristol and keep observation.
Within three days, as I walked with my assistant along Victoria Street
towards Temple Meads, he pointed out a middle-aged, keen-eyed,
dark-haired man, who had little of the appearance of a Teuton. He
looked like a well-dressed, prosperous business man. Yet it was he who
had induced the unfortunate Pasquet to steal the herbethite, and he was
certainly engaged in some nefarious and deadly plot. For although the
actual volume of the stolen explosive was not great, so tremendous was
its power that the quantity in the hands of our foes was sufficient to
wreak almost unimaginable havoc in half a dozen cities in England. Mr
Herbeth had looked very grave when he learned from Pasquet through me
that the amount stolen was enough to fill two of the small cans used to
hold golden syrup--about a pint and a half altogether.
"I hope monsieur will trace it in time," he said earnestly. "There is
enough of it in their possession to destroy half London."
We soon found out that Shackleton was living in furnished rooms at
Clifton and had one close friend, who, after some difficulty, we proved
to be his accomplice Norman.
One morning Aubert arrived at my hotel and reported that the pair had
gone to the station and taken tickets for London. At once I advised
Madame Gabrielle by telephone to be on the platform at Paddington and
watch them wherever they went. I myself took the next train to London,
and, driving to Curzon Street, awaited her report.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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