"As what? Would it make it any easier to have Smith, or Gates or Levinsky or some such personage announced? Would it make this place easier of access to me?" Von Rintelen swung his cane over the back of a chair, hung his hat over the same piece of furniture and stood rolling his immaculate chamois gloves from his hands. This done, with a care and precision that seemed to make each movement a ceremony, he removed the brown Van Dyke beard that had adorned his countenance, and stood revealed to his confrere in his true personage. Stepping to Albert's side he said in lowered tones: "You say you are glad to see me; you may feel differently when I tell you the news I bring." Albert turned quickly. "Good or bad?" "Bad," answered Rintelen. He reached into his pocket and brought out a slip of paper, unfolding it as he held it for Albert to read. Dr. Albert glanced over it, then frowned, inquiringly. "Well, what of this? Is it not right that Germany should place bombs on ships leaving American ports? I see here a list of ten or twelve sugar vessels which are now at sea, with bombs in their cargoes due to explode some time today. What of that? These are orders being carried out." Von Rintelen pointed. "Read the last line again carefully, my friend. The _Cragside_ is listed there and--the Cragside is still in port!" For a moment of tense silence the plotters stared at each other, consternation growing in the expression Albert bent upon Rintelen. "What! And there are bombs in the _Cragside's_ hold?" Von Rintelen nodded. "Five of them--sewed into sugar sacks. They are due to explode any time now." Dr. Albert paced the floor, hands folded behind him, a frown deepening the lines of his face. He stopped and looked at Von Rintelen. "And that means that the _Cragside_ will burn at her dock--" Von Rintelen nodded again. "Naturally." "And there will be an investigation. More of these infernal American reporters asking questions and seeking to find the causes of things. More Secret Service men running about, and with their keen perception, certain to find these things we wished concealed! Who's mistake is this?" Dr. Albert glared at Von Rintelen, annoyance fast growing into anger as the danger of the situation took hold of him. Von Rintelen shrugged his shoulders. "No one's mistake. The agents were told to put bombs aboard sugar ships to destroy as many sugar cargoes as possible. They obeyed orders. The _Cragside_ sailed three days ago when the other ships left port. Something went wrong, she returned for repairs, and is now in port as I have just told you. And the bomb in her hold is due to explode today."