"With Lord Blenavon's assistance," my father continued, "we did at first very well. Since his--er--departure we have not been so fortunate. I will be quite candid. We have not succeeded at all. Our friends pay generously, but they pay by results. As a consequence your stepmother and I are nearly penniless. This fact induces me to make you a special--a very special--offer." My stepmother seemed about to speak. She checked herself, however. "Go on," I said. My father coughed. There was a bottle upon the table, and he helped himself from it. "My nerves," he remarked, "are in a shocking state this morning. Can I offer you anything?" I shook my head. My father poured out nearly a glass full of the raw spirit, diluted it with a little, a very little, water, and drank it off. "Your labours, my dear boy," he continued, "I refer, of course, to the labours of the Military Council, are, I believe, concentrated upon a general scheme of defence against any possible invasion on the part of France. Quite a scare you people seem to be in. Not that one can wonder at it. These military manoeuvres of our friends across the water are just a little obvious even to John Bull, eh? You don't answer. Quite right, quite right! Never commit yourself uselessly. It is very good diplomacy. Let me see, where was I? Ah! The general scheme of defence is, of course, known to you?" "Naturally," I admitted. "With a list of the places to be fortified, eh? The positions to be held and the general distribution of troops? No doubt, too, you have gone into the railway and commissariat arrangements?" "All these details," I assented, "have gone through my hands." He dabbed his forehead with a corner of his handkerchief. There was a streak of purple colour in his checks. He kept his bloodshot eyes fixed upon me. "I will tell you something, Guy," he said, "which will astonish you. You realize for yourself, of course, that such details as you have spoken of can never be kept altogether secret? There are always leakages, sometimes very considerable leakages. Yes, Guy," he added, "there are people, friends of mine in Paris, who are willing to pay a very large sum of money--such a large sum of money that it is worth dividing, Guy--for just a bare outline of the whole scheme. Foolish! Of course it is foolish. But with them money is no object. They think they are getting value for it. Absurd! But, Guy, what should you say to five thousand pounds?" "It is a large sum," I answered. He plucked me by the sleeve. His eyes were hungering already for the gold. "We can get it," he whispered hoarsely. "No trouble to you--no risk. I can make all the arrangements. You have only to hand me the documents." "I must think it over," I said. He leaned back in his chair. "Why?" he asked. "What need is there to hesitate? The chance may slip by. There are many others on the look out." "There is no one outside the Military Board save myself who could give these particulars," I said slowly.