The Double TraitorOppenheim, E. Phillips (Edward Phillips)
General
The Double Traitor
Oppenheim, E. Phillips (Edward Phillips)
Spy stories
Norgate spent an utterly fruitless morning on the day after his arrival
in London. After a lengthy but entirely unsatisfactory visit to the
Foreign Office, he presented himself soon after midday at Scotland Yard.
"I should like," he announced, "to see the Chief Commissioner of
the Police."
The official to whom he addressed his enquiry eyed him tolerantly.
"Have you, by any chance, an appointment?" he asked.
"None," Norgate admitted. "I only arrived from the Continent this
morning."
The policeman shook his head slowly.
"It is quite impossible, sir," he said, "to see Sir Philip without an
appointment. Your best course would be to write and state your business,
and his secretary will then fix a time for you to call."
"Very much obliged to you, I'm sure," Norgate replied. "However, my
business is urgent, and if I can't see Sir Philip Morse, I will see some
one else in authority."
Norgate was regaled with a copy of _The Times_ and a seat in a
barely-furnished waiting-room. In about twenty minutes he was told that a
Mr. Tyritt would see him, and was promptly shown into the presence of
that gentleman. Mr. Tyritt was a burly and black-bearded person of
something more than middle-age. He glanced down at Norgate's card in a
somewhat puzzled manner and motioned him to a seat.
"What can I do for you, sir?" he enquired. "Sir Philip is very much
engaged for the next few days, but perhaps you can tell me your
business?"
"I have just arrived from Berlin," Norgate explained. "Would you care to
possess a complete list of German spies in this country?"
Mr. Tyritt's face was not one capable of showing the most profound
emotion. Nevertheless, he seemed a little taken aback.
"A list of German spies?" he repeated. "Dear me, that sounds very
interesting!"
He took up Norgate's card and glanced at it. The action was, in its way,
significant.
"You probably don't know who I am," Norgate continued. "I have been in
the Diplomatic Service for eight years. Until a few days ago, I was
attached to the Embassy in Berlin."
Mr. Tyritt was somewhat impressed by the statement.
"Have you any objection to telling me how you became possessed of this
information?"
"None whatever," was the prompt reply. "You shall hear the whole story."
Norgate told him, as briefly as possible, of his meeting with Selingman,
their conversation, and the subsequent happenings, including the
interview which he had overheard on the golf links at Knocke. When he had
finished, there was a brief silence.
"Sounds rather like a page out of a novel, doesn't it, Mr. Norgate?" the
police official remarked at last.
"It may," Norgate assented drily. "I can't help what it sounds like. It
happens to be the exact truth."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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