He was furious with Marie Louise. He had had hopes of her, and she had fooled him. These Americans were no longer dependable. And then he heard footsteps on the walk, quick footsteps that spelled hurry. Nicky drew aside to let the speeder pass; but instead he heard a constabular "Hay!" and his shoulder-blades winced. It was only Jake Nuddle. Jake had no newspaper to sell, but he had an idea for a collaboration which would bring him some of that easy money the Germans were squandering like drunken sailors. "You was just talkin' to my sister-in-law," said Jake. "Ah, you are then the brother of Marie Louise?" "Yep, and I couldn't help hearin' a little of what passed between you." Jake's slyness had a detective-like air in Nicky's anxious eyes. He warned himself to be on guard. Jake said: "I'm for Germany unanimous. I think it's a rotten shame for America to go into this war. And some of us Americans are sayin' we won't stand for it. We don't own no Congersmen; we're only the protelarriat, as the feller says; but we're goin' to put this country on the bum, and that's what old Kaiser Bill wants we should do, or I miss my guess, hay?" Nicky was cautious: "How do you propose to help the All Highest?" "Sabotodge." "You interest me," said Nicky. They had come to one of the circles that moon the plan of Washington. Nicky motioned Jake to a bench, where they could command the approach and be, like good children, seen and not heard. Jake outlined his plan. When Nicky Easton had rung Marie Louise's bell he had not imagined how much help Marie Louise would render him in giving him the precious privilege of meeting her unprepossessing brother-in-law; nor had she dreamed what peril she was preparing for Davidge in planning to secure for him and his shipyard the services of this same Jake, as lazy and as amiable as any side-winder rattlesnake that ever basked in the sunlit sand. BOOK IV AT THE SHIPYARD [Illustration: There was something hallowed and awesome about it all. It had a cathedral majesty.] CHAPTER I Davidge despised a man who broke his contracts. He broke one with himself and despised himself. He broke his contract to ignore the existence of Marie Louise. The next time he came to Washington he sought her out. He called up the Widdicombe home and learned that she had moved. She had no telephone yet, for it took a vast amount of time to get any but a governmental telephone installed. So he noted her address, and after some hesitation decided to call. If she did not want to see him, her butler could tell him that she was out. He called. Marie Louise had tried in vain to get in servants who would stay. Abbie talked to them familiarly--and so did Jake. The virtuous ones left because of Jake, and the others left because of Abbie. So Abbie went to the door when Davidge called. He supposed that the butler was having a day off and the cook was answering the bell. He offered his card to Abbie.